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19th Annual Business Expo fires up cylinders
Whatcom Business Week packed with networking and training opportunities
by NWBM staff

Summer’s gone and it’s time to get down to business. And with the 2005 Whatcom County Business Expo and Conference on the horizon for October, local businesses are having the chance to do just that.
As part of the Whatcom Business Week, the Expo promises to be an opportunity for businesses throughout the region to display new products, establish network contacts, or just simply size up the competition.
With humble beginnings 19 years ago, this year’s Expo will be jointly hosted by Northwest Business Monthly magazine and the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Last year’s event was sold out with approximately 60 exhibitors and several hundred visitors.
“It’s the biggest business event of its kind north of Everett,” said Tony Larson, event organizer and Northwest Business Monthly publisher.
Taking place on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Best Western Lakeway Inn in Bellingham, the Expo will also include an all-day conference hosted by the Western Washington University Small Business Development Center and Whatcom Community College. With an official grand opening at 11 a.m., the Expo will open its doors at 10 a.m. for early browsers and will include a special lunch.
“It’s not only a networking event,” said Larson. “We provide an opportunity for people to pick up on the issues, ideas, and innovations that drive our business community.”
The 2005 Whatcom Business Conference will feature a mix of sixteen seminars to help enhance business ownership and management skills, while also allowing opportunities to network with other business professionals. Conference attendees can choose to follow one of four seminar tracks throughout the day: marketing, management, finance, and technology. Some sample seminars include “Top 10 tax saving strategies for small business owners,” and “Improving your search engine optimization.”
In addition to the 16 seminars, event organizer and Small Business Development Center Director Tom Dorr said there would be a specific technology room sponsored by Northwest Computers, which will showcase new technological options for businesses.
“Microsoft and Intel are going to be there,” he said.
Limited booths and sponsorship opportunities are still available at the Expo for business of all sizes.
The day will end with what’s been touted as the Chamber’s largest “Business after Business” event of the year. Starting at 5 p.m., the Chamber and the Northwest Business Monthly will be hosting buffet-style hor’deurves and drinks from local brewpubs such as the award-winning Boundary Bay Brewery.
“Bring lots of business cards,” Larson said.
Other events throughout Whatcom Business Week include the 23rd Annual Professional Woman of the Year Banquet on Monday, Oct. 24, sponsored by Whatcom Women in Business, the Small Business Development Center and Northwest Business Monthly. Local executive and organizational coach Janet Ott will be the featured speaker.
On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Cascade Marketing Association will also be presenting a marketing workshop titled “From Scattershot to Bull’s Eye – A one-day workshop to get your marketing plan done.”
“Local businesses are the backbone of our economy. By honoring them and providing training and networking opportunities in a real concentrated way, our goal is to help stimulate those businesses to bigger and better things,” Dorr said.
For more information regarding sponsorship or reserving a booth at the 2005 Whatcom County Business Expo and Conference, call 360-671-3933.

19th Annual Business Expo fires up cylinders Whatcom Business Week packed with networking and training opportunities by NWBM staff Summer’s gone and it’s time to get down to business. And with the 2005 Whatcom County Business Expo and Conference on the horizon for October, local businesses are having the chance to do just that. As part of the Whatcom Business Week, the Expo promises to be an opportunity for businesses throughout the region to display new products, establish network contacts, or just simply size up the competition. With humble beginnings 19 years ago, this year’s Expo will be jointly hosted by Northwest Business Monthly magazine and the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Last year’s event was sold out with approximately 60 exhibitors and several hundred visitors. “It’s the biggest business event of its kind north of Everett,” said Tony Larson, event organizer and Northwest Business Monthly publisher. Taking place on Thursday, Oct. 27 at the Best Western Lakeway Inn in Bellingham, the Expo will also include an all-day conference hosted by the Western Washington University Small Business Development Center and Whatcom Community College. With an official grand opening at 11 a.m., the Expo will open its doors at 10 a.m. for early browsers and will include a special lunch. “It’s not only a networking event,” said Larson. “We provide an opportunity for people to pick up on the issues, ideas, and innovations that drive our business community.” The 2005 Whatcom Business Conference will feature a mix of sixteen seminars to help enhance business ownership and management skills, while also allowing opportunities to network with other business professionals. Conference attendees can choose to follow one of four seminar tracks throughout the day: marketing, management, finance, and technology. Some sample seminars include “Top 10 tax saving strategies for small business owners,” and “Improving your search engine optimization.” In addition to the 16 seminars, event organizer and Small Business Development Center Director Tom Dorr said there would be a specific technology room sponsored by Northwest Computers, which will showcase new technological options for businesses. “Microsoft and Intel are going to be there,” he said. Limited booths and sponsorship opportunities are still available at the Expo for business of all sizes. The day will end with what’s been touted as the Chamber’s largest “Business after Business” event of the year. Starting at 5 p.m., the Chamber and the Northwest Business Monthly will be hosting buffet-style hor’deurves and drinks from local brewpubs such as the award-winning Boundary Bay Brewery. “Bring lots of business cards,” Larson said. Other events throughout Whatcom Business Week include the 23rd Annual Professional Woman of the Year Banquet on Monday, Oct. 24, sponsored by Whatcom Women in Business, the Small Business Development Center and Northwest Business Monthly. Local executive and organizational coach Janet Ott will be the featured speaker. On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Cascade Marketing Association will also be presenting a marketing workshop titled “From Scattershot to Bull’s Eye – A one-day workshop to get your marketing plan done.” “Local businesses are the backbone of our economy. By honoring them and providing training and networking opportunities in a real concentrated way, our goal is to help stimulate those businesses to bigger and better things,” Dorr said. For more information regarding sponsorship or reserving a booth at the 2005 Whatcom County Business Expo and Conference, call 360-671-3933.		ear’s Whatcom County Business Expo featured a full-house of professionals throughout the region.
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