Roaring good time at Business Expo 2020
CHERYL SCHWEIZER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years AGO
Games, prizes, business information and 1920s costumes were part of the evening at Business Expo 2020 on Tuesday.
The ’20s were back for sure at the Business Expo 2020, sponsored by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday night.
Candy, games, prizes, even a little information about businesses were all part of Business Expo 2020 on Tuesday.
Candy, games, prizes, even a little information about businesses were all part of Business Expo 2020 on Tuesday.
Many of the exhibitors at Business Expo 2020 dressed the part for the ‘New Roaring ’20s’ theme.
Bean bags were among the games at the Business Expo 2020 sponsored by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Business owners got a chance to talk about their services at the Business Expo 2020.
Business owners got a chance to talk about their services at the Business Expo 2020.
Candy, games, prizes, even a little information about businesses were all part of Business Expo 2020 on Tuesday.
Cheryl Schweizer/Columbia Basin Herald Business owners could get the word out, and customers could find out about businesses and services at Business Expo 2020.
Most booths at the Business Expo 2020 offered drawings for customers.
Games, prizes, business information and 1920s costumes were part of the evening at Business Expo 2020 on Tuesday.
Senior Reporter Cheryl Schweizer is a journalist with more than 30 years of experience serving small communities in the Pacific Northwest. She began her post-high-school education at Treasure Valley Community College and enerned her journalism degree at Oregon State University. After working for multiple publications, she has settled down at the Columbia Basin Herald and has been a staple of the newsroom for more than a decade. Schweizer’s dedication to her communities and profession has earned her the nickname “The Baroness of Bylines.” She covers a variety of beats including health, business and various municipalities. | January 21, 2020 11:39 PM
Chamber rings in ‘The New Roaring ’20s’
MOSES LAKE — Games, drawings, prizes and information on local businesses were available in almost every booth at Business Expo 2020 on Tuesday night.
It was sponsored by the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce.
Vendors filled the Commercial Building at the Grant County Fairgrounds, and Chamber executive director Debbie Doran-Martinez said about 60 businesses and organizations had booths. The expo drew at least 600 visitors in the first two hours or so, she said.
Most booths had games; they were playing Jenga at the Allstate booth. Steve Crapson opened his insurance business in April 2019, he said, and the expo offered him a good opportunity to introduce the agency to new customers and talk with existing customers.
The Chamber has a monthly business showcase, Business After Hours – but being monthly, it can only highlight so many businesses each year. The expo allowed more businesses and organizations that are members of the Chamber to get information out about their services, Doran-Martinez said.
The game at Bud Clary was a bean bag toss. The crews at its dealerships parked some brand-new vehicles right in the middle of the building, just in case anybody was looking for a new rig. “A great event for all the businesses to come together,” said Pat Custer, general manager of the Ford and Honda dealerships.
The expo gave buyers a look at the company’s dealerships, even if they weren’t ready to sign the papers that night. “Awareness of who we are and what we do.”
The night’s theme was “The New Roaring ’20s,” and the LocalTel booth was all about the 1920s, complete with a picture of the most famous 1920s gangster of them all, Al Capone. Manager Herman Schreven sported a fedora and a big (fake) cigar. “A good way to get our name out there,” he said.
LocalTel is relatively new to Moses Lake – the local office has been open about two years – and the expo is a way to “introduce us to the community. It gives us a chance to just have fun with people.”
Cameron Golightly is a managing associate at Design West architects, and was at the Moses Lake School District booth giving people a sneak peek at the new Groff Elementary. The display included a drawing of the proposed layout and flooring, paint colors, and other materials. The expo gave district officials the chance to highlight progress on the project, he said.
The Moses Lake Fire Department brought some drawings too, showing specifications of new fire trucks that have been ordered and will be delivered next year. The fire department also brought a sample of its recently purchased fire helmets. “A lot of good questions for us,” said chief Brett Bastian.
Dinner was served by Pillar Rock Grill, and Dale Roth provided the music.
The expo is a good way for people to learn what’s available in Moses Lake, Doran-Martinez said. “Try and break that myth we have to go out of town to get what we need. We don’t. It’s right here.”
Cheryl Schweizer can be reached via email at education@columbiabasinherald.com.
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