Hartford, Conn. (May 7, 2012) – The 2012 Connecticut Business Expo is set for June 7, 2012 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford. Come ready to connect, learn, grow and prosper at this year’s event, produced by Hartford Business Journal. With hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of attendees in 80,000 sq./ft. of show floor space , the 2012 Connecticut Business Expo will boast 25 free educational seminars, two keynote speakers and the return of the Business Author Series.
The 2012 Connecticut Business Expo will begin by showcasing Hartford Region's fastest growing private companies who have experienced phenomenal revenue or job growth year-over-year with a Business Champions Awards Breakfast from 7:15-8:45 a.m. Immediately following, attendees will have the opportunity to visit more than 180 exhibits, attend both a morning and afternoon keynote address, listen to a series of business authors and explore 25 educational tracks covering a variety of topics within sales, marketing, social media, technology and entrepreneurship/management. Throughout the day, Constant Contact will be providing professional development opportunities in their social media education hub. The event will conclude with a meet and greet at the 'Commissioners Reception' with honorary chair Commissioner Catherine Smith, from the Department of Economic and Community Development, held at the State of Connecticut Corridor and a networking event from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
The Expo will also feature two keynote addresses at Business in the Round. Mike Michalowicz, author of The Pumpkin Plan and The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur, will speak from 10:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. and Daymond John, Founder & CEO of FUBU, Star of ABC's Shark Tank and CEO of Shark Branding will be addressing the crowd from 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Seats are limited for both sessions that are sponsored by the Center for Research, Cox Business and The Pita Group. To register, visit: http://www.ctbexpo.com/show_schedule.php.
“We are thrilled to deliver what we believe is our most comprehensive and interactive Connecticut Business Expo yet,” said Gail Lebert, publisher, Hartford Business Journal. “This year’s event will showcase some of the region’s most successful and innovative companies complemented with a day of unmatched networking opportunities for individuals and businesses.”
There are also several new additions to this year’s event. SmallTalk, the winning idea from Startup Weekend Hartford 2011, will debut as the Expo’s official app. This free, web-based app will help connect users at the Expo through shared interests allowing them to meet up in real time. In celebration of their 100th anniversary, the Better Business Bureau will host a pavilion where like-minded and BBB Accredited Businesses can exhibit alongside each other. Finally, WNPR’s John Dankosky will be live broadcasting “Where We Live” from the Expo’s show floor theater, Business in the Round, from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. This interactive and intimate location will also host a handful of other entrepreneurial and well-known speakers throughout the day.
Leading up to the 2012 Connecticut Business Expo, Hartford Business Journal will be offering a series of free exhibitor eMarketing & Sales Workshops. On Tuesday, May 15 from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., Corissa St. Laurent, a public relations and marketing expert with Constant Contact, will host a seminar on using email and social media marketing to cost-effectively build booth traffic. On Wednesday, May 23 from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m., David Greco, President and CEO of SalesPreneur, who was recently featured on ABC’s hit show, Shark Tank, will speak about driving traffic, engaging attendees and provide tips about booth set up at the Expo. To register for these workshops contact Moira Rosek at 860-236-9992 x22 or email mrosek@Hartfordbusiness.com.
Admission to the CT Business Expo is FREE and open to the public. Attendees can pre-register at www.ctbexpo.com or at the door. Online pre-registrants will have the ability to print out name badges ahead of time and reserve their seats in educational seminars, show floor theater programs, and will not have to wait in line the day of the show. To exhibit, sponsor or attend the 2012 Connecticut Business Expo visit www.ctbexpo.com. For more information on the Business Champions Breakfast, visit www.metrohartford.com. Winners will be featured in a special award supplement published in the Hartford Business Journal and honored at the breakfast event the morning of the expo.
The 2012 Connecticut Business Expo is sponsored by: Comcast Business Class (presenting sponsor); COX Business, First Niagara, Pro Systems (platinum sponsors); University of Hartford, The Pita Group and SBDC (gold sponsors). Media partners are NBC Connecticut and WDRC; Supporters are Better Business Bureau and The Perfect Promotion. Event partners include: Co-Communications, Rider Productions, Keep In Touch Media, J. Fiereck Photography, Metropolitan Exposition and New Wave Industries.
