Regional business, tech expo grows

Northern Nevada's Regional Business and Tech Expo, once hosted solely by the Northern Nevada Development Authority, now includes a host of hosts: Carson City, Carson Valley, Dayton, Fernley and Reno-Sparks chambers of commerce, Churchill Economic Development Authority, and the Nevada Procurement Outreach Program.

More than 95 exhibitors had leased space as of early this month. Rates start at $200. Last year's expo drew 80 exhibitors. Also larger are the displays. Larger 8-by-10-foot booths will join the standard 6-foot tabletops. And, organizers expect attendance to grow from last year's 800. The public is invited and admission is free.

JFG Systems, Inc. returns each year, says Cheryle Schaum, sales manager, for a presence that's more about public relations than sales. "We get the opportunity to talk with our business neighbors and share with them about the newest technology."

Sponsoring company Wells Fargo looks at the expo as an extension of its community development, says Larry Rodriguez, vice president of relationships manager at the company's Nevada commercial banking group. The bank returns each year to meet the business owners. And, this year Wells Fargo will field the 3 p.m. keynote speaker on the topic: Equipment lease, finance or cash.

On the lighter side, two exhibitors will announce contest winners at the expo.

Noble Studios invites firms to enter its "Marketing Makeover" contest. The prize includes Web site, logo design, and print collateral, as needed.

1-800-GOT-JUNK? invites businesses and individuals to enter unwanted "weird" items. The prize? The weird junk gets hauled away free of charge.

The expo is slated on Oct. 4 at 580 Mallory Way (the Nevada Appeal building) in Carson City from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. A networking mixer starts at 4 p.m.