This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate
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