ARTICLE
It’s Wednesday afternoon on a beautiful day at the Boardwalk as I write this weekly eNews article. The ocean breeze is delightful as the sun is sparkling off the Monterey Bay. The Boardwalk PA system is piping in background music bringing a festive vibe to the 2021 Biz Expo. Traditions and consistent event planning are common practice for organizations that host annual community events. For the first time in 34 years, the Santa Cruz County Chamber has moved the annual Biz Expo outside on the Boardwalk. We had internal conversations with our staff and Board members and the Boardwalk leadership — and they determined this was a grand idea. One of our 80-plus exhibitors stopped by the Chamber booth to say hello on her way to set up the Cabrillo College table. Kristin Fabos, Director of Marketing and Communications at Cabrillo College, stated: “I am looking forward to reconnecting with people in-person and letting them know about the wonderful educational programs and career opportunities that are available at Cabrillo College.” What a nice place to be on the Boardwalk for this year’s Biz Expo. The Chamber’s Biz Expo is the largest business-to-business and community network event in Santa Cruz County. By past tradition, the Chamber would hold the Biz Expo inside the Cocoanut Grove during the first quarter — as a kickoff to the new business year. The Biz Expo sets the tone for what the Chamber members’ business expectations would be by listening to their customers and partners. Of course, the Biz Expo serves as that one-stop opportunity to promote your programs, projects and people. Patty D. the Office Services representative for the Better Business Bureau stopped by to introduce herself; She stated, “The BBB is hoping to inform the public about the services the Better Business Bureau offers to the public.” She was excited to come to Santa Cruz and beat the heat in Silicon Valley. Oh, the benefit of working and living on the Central Coast. Tradition is a hard to break away from but today’s Expo was worth the 19-month wait to get our Chamber members, their customers and community safely together within public health safety guidelines. An unexpected pleasure with the summer-like weather, the Boardwalk, while not open for regular business operation during the weekdays after Labor Day was in full swing with tourists enjoying the Santa Cruz weather, cruising ’the Walk’ and visiting local businesses. I reached out to Chris Murphy, the President of the Warriors to get his impression of moving the Biz Expo outdoors. He commented, “The Warriors are very excited to participate in this year’s Chamber Business Expo! The thrill of having people at an in-person event combined with hosting at the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a combination that we would never want to miss. The Boardwalk continues to be a pillar for the Community, and to see them partnering up with the Santa Cruz County Chamber on a great event to support local businesses is awesome. We cannot wait to see all of these community members at our Santa Cruz Warriors home games starting in November!” This list of our 80 exhibitors is the A to Z of local Santa Cruz Countybusinesses, public agencies and non-profits. This showcase event is a special day for the Chamber as we watch our local community members mingling in with touring visitors as our exhibitors show their Santa Cruz pride. If you were an exhibitor, a business member or a community member strolling the Boardwalk, we would like to hear from you. What was your experience touring the Biz Expo? Would you like us to return to an inside venue or what about re-inventing the annual Biz Expo from an early spring inside event to a fall outdoor community event? Let us know your thoughts. In closing a big shout out to the Seaside Company and the Boardwalk team for hosting this year’s Biz Expo. Without your support it would have been impossible to hold this annual event. We look forward to seeing you at the next Chamber event – hosted outdoors at the Chaminade on September 16 with guest speaker Congressmen Jimmy Panetta. Registration closes end of day tomorrow, Friday, September 10, 2021.
It’s Wednesday afternoon on a beautiful day at the Boardwalk as I write this weekly eNews article. The ocean breeze is delightful as the sun is sparkling off the Monterey Bay. The Boardwalk PA system is piping in background music bringing a festive vibe to the 2021 Biz Expo.
Traditions and consistent event planning are common practice for organizations that host annual community events. For the first time in 34 years, the Santa Cruz County Chamber has moved the annual Biz Expo outside on the Boardwalk. We had internal conversations with our staff and Board members and the Boardwalk leadership — and they determined this was a grand idea.
One of our 80-plus exhibitors stopped by the Chamber booth to say hello on her way to set up the Cabrillo College table. Kristin Fabos, Director of Marketing and Communications at Cabrillo College, stated: “I am looking forward to reconnecting with people in-person and letting them know about the wonderful educational programs and career opportunities that are available at Cabrillo College.” What a nice place to be on the Boardwalk for this year’s Biz Expo.
The Chamber’s Biz Expo is the largest business-to-business and community network event in Santa Cruz County. By past tradition, the Chamber would hold the Biz Expo inside the Cocoanut Grove during the first quarter — as a kickoff to the new business year. The Biz Expo sets the tone for what the Chamber members’ business expectations would be by listening to their customers and partners. Of course, the Biz Expo serves as that one-stop opportunity to promote your programs, projects and people.
Patty D. the Office Services representative for the Better Business Bureau stopped by to introduce herself; She stated, “The BBB is hoping to inform the public about the services the Better Business Bureau offers to the public.” She was excited to come to Santa Cruz and beat the heat in Silicon Valley. Oh, the benefit of working and living on the Central Coast.
Tradition is a hard to break away from but today’s Expo was worth the 19-month wait to get our Chamber members, their customers and community safely together within public health safety guidelines. An unexpected pleasure with the summer-like weather, the Boardwalk, while not open for regular business operation during the weekdays after Labor Day was in full swing with tourists enjoying the Santa Cruz weather, cruising ’the Walk’ and visiting local businesses.
I reached out to Chris Murphy, the President of the Warriors to get his impression of moving the Biz Expo outdoors. He commented, “The Warriors are very excited to participate in this year’s Chamber Business Expo! The thrill of having people at an in-person event combined with hosting at the iconic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is a combination that we would never want to miss. The Boardwalk continues to be a pillar for the Community, and to see them partnering up with the Santa Cruz County Chamber on a great event to support local businesses is awesome. We cannot wait to see all of these community members at our Santa Cruz Warriors home games starting in November!”
This list of our 80 exhibitors is the A to Z of local Santa Cruz Countybusinesses, public agencies and non-profits. This showcase event is a special day for the Chamber as we watch our local community members mingling in with touring visitors as our exhibitors show their Santa Cruz pride.
If you were an exhibitor, a business member or a community member strolling the Boardwalk, we would like to hear from you. What was your experience touring the Biz Expo? Would you like us to return to an inside venue or what about re-inventing the annual Biz Expo from an early spring inside event to a fall outdoor community event? Let us know your thoughts.
In closing a big shout out to the Seaside Company and the Boardwalk team for hosting this year’s Biz Expo. Without your support it would have been impossible to hold this annual event.
We look forward to seeing you at the next Chamber event – hosted outdoors at the Chaminade on September 16 with guest speaker Congressmen Jimmy Panetta. Registration closes end of day tomorrow, Friday, September 10, 2021.