More than 20 local business leaders invite the residents of Greene, Montgomery and surrounding counties to attend the 2012 Greater Dayton Professionals Business Showcase. Free admission and open to the public, as well as business professionals, the showcase runs from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 18, at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3520 Pentagon Park Blvd. in Beavercreek.
Visitors will have the opportunity to network, enjoy complimentary refreshments, register to win door prizes and receive special offers from participating businesses. Exhibitors include Marty Walling Construction, LLC, Vitas Hospice, Murphy’s Autocare and Tire, Hartzler Digital Media, Matulka Insurance Agency, Manning & Associates CPAs, and Gorman’s Specialty Group, just to name a few. Local entrepreneur and author Greg McAfee (McAfee Heating and Air) will be on hand from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. to sign copies of his book, It’s (My) Your Dream.
According to the organizers, the event is designed to introduce the public to a resource of business owners dedicated to supporting each other and the community. “Our business showcase is a way to demonstrate how local companies can work together to succeed and support the local economy,” says GDP public relations coordinator Gery L. Deer, creative director of GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing.
At 6:30 p.m., Deer will give a brief keynote address touching on the ways consumers can benefit from buying local for everything from landscaping to car insurance.“Locally owned businesses offer the community a variety of competitively positioned products and services often dismissed by consumers because of misconceptions,” he says. “Local buying should be more than a slogan and we want to show people the advantages of doing business in your own community.”
The Greater Dayton Professionals is one of 23 Dayton area chapters of BNI (Business Network International), the international referral organization started by networking guru Dr. Ivan Misner in 1985. With more than 6,000 chapters world-wide the goal of BNI is to help members develop a profitable referral network free of internal competition, something unavailable from chamber organizations or service clubs.
The Greater Dayton Professionals chapter of BNI meets every Thursday morning, from 7:30 a.m. until 9 a.m. at City Barbeque, 2330 B N. Fairfield Rd. in Beavercreek. The group still has several open occupational categories and welcomes visitors to attend any meeting.
Door prizes for the showcase have been provided by The Wine Loft, Cherry House Café, Fox and Hound, My Favorite Muffin, and Friesinger’s Fine Chocolates. Promotional considerations provided by GLD Enterprises Commercial Writing.
For more information and a complete list of participating businesses, including a downloadable flier, go online to www.greaterdaytonpros.com. Pre-registration is requested but not required.