Chamber

Business Expo - May 12, 2011 

2010 Chairman: Jim Gerlt, Bacon Heights Baptist Church

Click here to see the floor plan and a list of exhibitors at the 2010 Expo!

Click here for the 2010 Expo brochure, including our schedule of events!

Approximately 7,000 people attended the 2010 Lubbock Business Expo, “Moving Your Business in the Bright Direction,” on Thursday, May 13. Presented by Covenant Health System, the Expo is the Chamber’s crown jewel event for business-to-business and business-to-general public networking. Over 200 companies exhibited this year making numerous contacts with other businesses and prospective clients. This year marked the 17th consecutive Lubbock Business Expo! 

The day began with a celebratory Ribbon Cutting and the following words from the 2010 Business Expo Committee Chair Jim Gerlt, Executive Pastor of Bacon Heights Baptist Church: 

“Today we stand in testimony to the blessings of God, the resiliency of the people of Lubbock, and the vision and foresight of leaders. Forty years ago our city was grieving the death of many of our citizens and stunned at the loss of homes and businesses. Visionary leaders said, “We will not be defeated but will rebuild for the future.” Today we stand at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center as a result of their vision. One year ago we were dealing with the effects of the recession. We didn’t have as many businesses represented at the Expo. Many cities stopped having business expos. Not Lubbock. Today we are again enjoying the blessings of God, the resiliency of Lubbock, and the vision and foresight of our business leaders. Today, we have a sold-out Expo. Today over 200 of our businesses will showcase what they do. Today, we’re going to experience perhaps the best Expo in our history.”

Exhibitors and attendees alike enjoyed the enthusiastic, business-friendly atmosphere of the Expo, and many have reported doing weeks’ and months’ worth of business in that single day. Jeff Klotzman from Fox 34 kept the Business Expo energized with his lively interviews of major Business Expo sponsors, and Fox Talk 950 broadcasted live from the event.

First time exhibitor Sherry Hernandez from Custom Food Group said: “I enjoyed meeting up with current customers and the opportunities there to gain new business in both vending and coffee service. Our whole team had a great time!” 

Returning exhibitor Richard Casler from Lubbock Aero commented, “I would like to add how helpful every single person from the Chamber was. I was visited often and each and every one asked if there was anything they could do. Great job by some great people! Thank you. Also, Linda Gaither was visiting each booth and thanking each exhibitor for supporting the event and Lubbock, made me proud to call this my home. Looking forward to next year.”

The Holiday Inns of Lubbock said, “We received more leads this year than any other year.”

Post event exhibitor surveys expressed appreciation for the bright theme and event logo which was created by RD Thomas. Participants and exhibitors were also very enthusiastic about the addition of “Restaurant Row”. Nathan Cody, General Manager of Carino’s said, “We will definitely be participating in the Business Expo from now on, and feel this was the most beneficial event we have done to date. I believe that any restaurant company that decides not to put themselves on Restaurant Row is missing a golden opportunity.”

Corporate Sponsor Covenant Health System hosted health screenings, and also featured Covenant Stories and Covenant Bariatric Services. Other sponsors included: Fox 34, Fox Talk 950, Workforce Solutions South Plains, RD Thomas, Suddenlink, Miller Pro Audio, Want Ads 4 U, Chick-fil-A, Benchmark Business Solutions, Bodyworks, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, WesTex Document, Inc. Lubbock Power and Light, The Ranch at Dove Tree,  Hub City Beach Party, Dion’s Pizza, Switch I.T. Support, Childress Photography, Southwest Financial Group, Starbucks, Sam’s Club and Laser Magic.

Awards were presented to exhibitors for their booths in six categories: Best Use of Technology, Most Fun, Best First Time Exhibitor, Best Giveaway, Best Staff and Best of Show.

• Benchmark Business Solutions was awarded Best Use of Technology with its interactive display of various office machines.
• Action Printing was awarded Most Fun with staff wearing bright, Hawaiian shirts to complement a Hawaiian themed booth.
• Lubbock Moonlight Musicals was awarded Best First Time Exhibitor for their use of costumed actors and glitzy booth décor.
• Bates-Wells Promotional Products was awarded Best Giveaway for their fish shaped stress balls and fishing bobbers, pens, and themed koozies which tied to their booth theme of “Fishing for Business.” Staff decked out in fishing regalia assisted participants as they fished for their prizes from a fish pond complete with a bamboo fishing pole.
• Domino's Pizza was awarded Best Staff as their friendly, lively staff wore pizza shaped hats and had a great time serving samples of Domino’s Pizza.
• Best of Show went to first time exhibitors Lubbock Memorial Civic Center/Civic Lubbock for their extravagant Hollywood movie theme complete with movie posters, an ice sculpture, movie reel décor, and food sampling from Lubbock Civic Center approved caterers. Hourly drawings and grand prize drawings included discounts and gift certificates for new Civic Center bookings a well as tickets to upcoming productions of Fiddler on the Roof and the Lubbock Moonlight Musicals. The Civic Center/Civic Lubbock staff was very excited for their booth to have won the Best of Show award in their very first year of participation, and stated that they were very pleased with the traffic and their overall Business Expo experience. Patricia Tuthill, Senior Events Coordinator for the Civic Center said, “Our entire staff enjoyed putting together the booth. We feel like we were able to advertise to a new and different audience to promote all of our services and rentable space.”
• Award plaques were presented courtesy of Laser Magic.  

Almost 500 attendees participated in the Community Prayer Lunch, “Moving in the Bright Direction” and heard from Dr. John Coors as he discussed his faith based business and Circle of Light Ministry.

See below for photos of the day's events, courtesy of the Childress Photographic Group. The 2011 Business Expo is scheduled for May 12, so be sure and mark your calendars!

Some pictures from the 2010 Business Expo: