Seacoast gets ready for chambers’ expo

If all business is about relationships, no Seacoast event better reflects that reality better than “Bridging the Seacoast,” this year’s edition of the annual Seacoast Chambers Business Expo.

The event – now in its 16th year – is presented by seven area chambers of commerce, together with New Hampshire Business Review, Public Service of New Hampshire, the N.H. Department of Resources and Economic Development, the Employee Support of the Guard and Reserve, Exhibit Source Maine, SER Expos, a variety of print and radio media and hundreds of local businesses, all to celebrate and promote doing business on the Seacoast.

This year’s event is new in every sense of the word. there’s a new logo, new time frame, new location, new keynote luncheon and new workshops, all planned with a focus on member-to-member relationship-building,.

The event will be held on Thursday, October 28th at Flextronics at Pease Tradeport from noon to 7pm. The entire event is underwritten by PSNH and sponsored by Lightship Telecom, TTLC, Feliciano Limousine, Unitil, LifeSize Graphics, D.F. Richard and Northeast Credit Union. The expo is open to chamber members and their guests. The sponsoring chambers are the Greater Dover, Greater Rochester, Somersworth, Hampton Area, Greater Portsmouth, Exeter Area, and Greater York, Maine, chambers of commerce.

Kicking off the event will be featured luncheon speaker corporate trainer Marilyn Berry of Integrity Systems, which offers an ongoing, needs-focused sales curriculum designed to help organizations develop more professional sales teams, strengthen client relationships, and decrease the high cost of turnover.

“Marilyn’s presentation is a home run, and it elicits positive feedback from directors, CEOs and line staff alike,” said Steve Boucher, public relations and marketing director of DRED, who attended a recent presentation by Berry.

Sponsors of the keynote luncheon are PSNH, D.F. Richard, Lightship Telecom, LifeSize Graphics and Northeast Credit Union. Tickets for the luncheon are available in advance through the Greater York Region Chamber by calling 207-363-4422. Cost is $20 per person and includes lunch and admission to the expo.

Afternoon workshops include:

• “Integrity Selling for the 21st Century,” presented by Marilyn Berry

• ”Finding Great Clients: 10 Strategies to Attract Clients that Repurchase, Refer and Pay You What You Are Worth,” with Scott Channell

• “Advocating for Small Business — How It Benefits Your Business,” with Geoff O’Hara, Northeast regional director of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

• “Tools for Growing Your Business,” presented by the New Hampshire and Maine Small Business Development Centers

The expo, which will be held from 5 to 7 p.m., will be a joint chamber Business After Hours. A cash bar as well as refreshments will be provided by Galley Hatch Catering throughout the entire event. Also providing After Hours will be J. Ellen’s Café and Wine Bar, Warren’s Lobster House and the Orchard Street Chop Shop.

For more information about the Seacoast Chambers Business Expo, visit seacoastexpo.com or call one of the sponsoring chambers of commerce: Dover, 742-2218; Exeter, 772-2411; Hampton, 926-8718; Portsmouth, 436-3988; Rochester, 332-5080; Somersworth, 692-7175; or York, 207-363-4422.