Valley Chamber business expo draws a crowd: ‘It’s good to get your name out there’

Hundreds of people filled the top floor of a Shelton office building on Wednesday to learn about all the products and services available from businesses in the Valley.

“There’s a nice, steady crowd,” Bill Purcell said of the 12th Annual Valley Business Expo, Health Fair and Taste, which took place on Research Drive this year.

Purcell is president of the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the business-to-business event every year. It is free to attend and open to the public.

About 70 exhibitors rented tables to show their wares, distribute give-aways and mingle with visitors (see a complete list of vendors at the end of this article). “This is a great cross-section of the Valley,” Purcell said. “There’s a lot of energy here. And the food is always a hit.”

‘It’s good to get out there’

Restaurants, caterers and bakeries were among the exhibitors.

Joe DeVellis of Giove’s Pizza Kitchen in Shelton was offering pizza slices, focaccia and other edible items to visitors.

“This reinforces our role in the community,” DeVellis said. “There’s a lot of people here I know but it’s good to get out there and shake some hands.”

Giove’s also has locations in Fairfield and Trumbull as well as Carl Anthony’s Restaurant in Monroe.

Other exhibitors included those in professional services, banking, insurance, real estate, heathcare, education, printing, communications, technology, energy, lodging, space organizing and nonprofit work.

An excellent way to network

Robert J. Lesko of the DiMatteo Group, a Shelton firm offering insurance, financial, tax and accounting services, said business expos are good ways to network.

“We have a lot of clients here,” said Lesko, a Greater Valley Chamber board member. “It’s good to get your name out there. And it’s important to support the chamber.”

Rebecca D’Agostino of the DiMatteo Group said the company has added clients by attending business expos through the years. “It’s a way to start a conversation with people,” she said.

Promoting a practice in Shelton

Dr. Ronald Linden was at the expo to highlight his Shelton dental practice, White Hills Family Dental. The practice opened in 1980 and moved three years later to its current location on Route 110.

“We have a very loyal clientele,” Linden said. “With some people, we’re serving the third generation.”

Angelo Maione, owner of AriBella Restaurant in Huntington Center, was offering food samples and distributing 10%-off cards. “You have to mingle with people and get to know other business owners in the area,” Maione said. “It’s a good way to market your products. It’s good to be seen.”

Tech Talk seminars

The Business Expo went from 3-6:30 p.m. and also offered a series of 10-minute Tech Talk sessions. Topics ranged from top computer maintenance tips to how to use social media.

There were free health screenings and wellness information.

Expo sponsors are the United Illuminating Company, Verizon Wireless, and Valley Chamber Healthcare Council.

List of exhibitors

Exhibitors at this year’s Valley Business Expo, Health Fair and Taste on April 24 were:

Ad-Merica

Al-Lynn Sales

American Medical Response

AriBella

AvalonBay Communities

BHCare

Bookkeeping Express

Chamber Insurance Trust

Comcast Business Class

Comdar Inc.

Confrancesco Chiropractic and Healing Art

Courtyard by Marriott

Connecticut Basement Systems

Connecticut Department of Public Health

Dave Grant Caterers

Dental Associates Of Connecticut

DiMatteo Group

Dr. Energy Saver Connecticut

Gateway Limousine

Giove's Pizza Kitchen

Golf Club at Oxford Greens

Great Event Decorations

Griffin Health Services

Hodson Realty

Home Instead Senior Care

Housatonic Community College

KKS Associates

Kokopelli School of Music and Arts

Lincoln Tech

Marco Pizzeria

The Marketing Department

Medi Weightloss Clinics

Merit Insurance Inc.

Minuteman Press

Molto Bene Italian America Kitchens

Moving With Hope Inc.

Mutual Security Credit Union

Newtown Savings Bank

Orkin Pest Control

OSHA

Opticare Eye Health and Vision Center

Parent Child Resource Center

Paws & Kisses Pet Sitting Services

Pearl Odyssey

Peoples United Bank

Peralta Design

Physical Therapy of Southern Connecticut

Royal Service Travel

Saha Sauces

SCORE

Shamrock Network Technologies

ShelfGenie

Speake Software

Sunset Shores Adult Day Health Center

Super Tees Screen Printing and Promotions

SuperSandwich

SurgeryPRO/Associated Medical

Sweet E's Confections

Talking Finger

TD Bank

Unicare

The United Illuminating Co.

Valley YMCA

Vazzy’s Shelton

Verizon Wireless

Vitalized Wellness

White Hills Family Dental

Wireless Zone of Derby

Women Business Development Council