Business shindig
R. HANS MILLER | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 12 months AGO
Expo attendees visit and have fun with vendors during the Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Business Expo on April 12. Chamber officials said this was the first expo they’d held and they hoped to make it an annual event.
R. HANS MILLER/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Business Expo included a wide variety of attendees and vendors. Local organizations such as the Kiwanis club showed up to speak with residents.
Vendors were able to show off their products at the expo and just talk with potential clients. Additionally, many visitors could be found visiting with friends at the event.
Managing Editor Rob Miller is a 4-year U.S. Army veteran who grew up in Western Montana in a community about the size of Soap Lake. An honors graduate of Texas State University, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Brandee, and their three dogs, Draco, Pepper and Cinnamon. He has one son, William. During his free time, he enjoys photography, video games, reading and working on the house he and his wife bought in Ephrata. He is passionate about the First Amendment and educating communities. | April 20, 2023 6:13 PM
EPHRATA – Ephrata Chamber of Commerce Director Rita Witte said she was excited at the response as the chamber hosted its first annual business expo during its April 12 business after-hours.
“I think my excitement was that everybody else was excited,” Witte said. “Everybody else was happy with how it went.”
Witte said the chamber had gotten good and constructive feedback regarding the event it held at the community center located at 112 Basin Street SW in Ephrata. The chamber was able to pull in nearly 50 vendors from a variety of industries, she said. Participating businesses included professionals ranging from retail shops and attorneys to health coaches and Ephrata-area nonprofits. Witte said the chamber is planning to make the expo an annual event with the next expo already set for April 10, 2024, because April is ideal to get events rolling for the year.
“It’s just a good time because January, February and March – (those are) pretty quiet months, so it’s a good time to put something in there to get some activity going,” Witte said.
In addition to vendors, potential clients visited the expo from off the street and connected with local businesses, which is one of the chamber’s main goals, she said.
Representatives from multiple participating businesses said they had been able to connect with potential clients, including fellow businesses they could collaborate with.
“It’s been fantastic,” said Lisa Hector with Ephrata Eye Care. “I think the show has been great. There’s been a lot more public interest rather than just the business owners (than I’d expected.) … I’m impressed. It’s been a lot of fun.”
The Ephrata Chamber of Commerce’s next big event is Sage-N-Sun, set for June 9-10, she said. The annual event draws lots of visitors to the area and the team at the chamber is working hard to make it a success, Witte said. The event will include a beer garden, food vendors, crafts, a parade, live music and entertainment, a fun run, the Wenatchee Youth Circus and other activities for visitors and locals to enjoy.
Witte said the chamber works to bring business owners and the community together through networking and a sense of community. The idea is to uplift people and support local businesses through the organization’s efforts.
“It’s promotion and trying to get people into our community,” Witte said.
R. Hans “Rob” Miller may be reached at editor@columbiabasinherald.com. He welcomes all feedback on the paper and any news tips community members might share.
Expo vendors:
Amy’s Artistic Expressions
Beckie’s on 1st Avenue
The Bookery
Churchill Mortgage
Clear Risk Solutions
Cloudview Farm
Columbia Basin Dispute Resolution Center
Columbia Basin hospital Foundation
Desert Oasis Designs
Devine Chiropractic & Sports Medicine
DOLZ (Dollie)
Ephrata Community Dental Clinic
Ephraa Eye Care, George Sisson
Ephrata Kiwanis Club
Ephrata Senior Center & ESC Thrift Store
First Interstate Bank
Four Seasons Farm Service
The Glamour Garage, Allison Scott
Goin’ Postal
Goron Gardens
GRANCO
Grant County Health District
Grant County Journal
Grant’s New & Renew
Grocery Outlet
Heart Matters
Heavenly Painting
Heavenly Roofing
iFIBER Communications
JBH Studio
Paul Lauzier Foundation
Moberg, Rathbone and Kearns, PLLC
Moore Furniture
Pillar Rock Accounting, LLC
QCL, Inc.
Roof Maxx
Rotary Club of Ephrata
Rustic Rooster
Sole Performance
TOPS WA 035
US Bank
Vyve Broadband
Windermere Real Estate
YM Taxes
Expo Volunteers:
Anyone wishing to get involved with the chamber can reach out to Witte, office staff or board members, she said. The chamber can be reached via email at ephratawachamber@gmail.com or by calling 509-754-4656. The office is open Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Those listed below volunteered to help during the expo.
Michelle Moss
Alayna Webb
Dick Moser
Susan Danby
John Moore
Chamber board member families
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