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Dynamic Keynoters, Networking Event on Tap for Market Show 2010

ACCGS President Russell Denver says a down economy is not a reason to stay on the sidelines for a big trade show like the Market event slated for May 5 at the MassMutual Center.

In fact, these are the times when companies should be front and center, he told BusinessWest, adding that a show like Market gives businesses a chance to differentiate themselves from the competition and put their products and services — not to mention their perseverance in the face of tough conditions — on display.

“The show will provide an opportunity for companies to show they’re not only surviving, they’re thriving,” he said. “And it can give them an edge that companies not exhibiting won’t have; when others are pulling back, they’ll be standing out and differentiating themselves.

“Trade shows remain a comparatively low-cost way to effectively market a company,” he continued, adding that participating companies can put their name and services in front of hundreds of other exhibitors and visitors.

Despite this reasoning, Denver knows that some business owners will need some additional incentives to invest the time, energy, and money needed to participate in the 2010 Business Market Show. So he and others at the Affiliated Chambers are providing them.

“We’re upping the ante,” said Denver, who used that phrase to characterize everything from the speakers at breakfast and lunch to the Cinco de Mayo Networking After Hours Event.

Concerning the former, the lineup consists of breakfast keynote speaker Jeff Taylor, founder of Monster.com, while at lunch (which will have a separate fee), Charlie Baker, Republican candidate for governor and former CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, will take to the podium.

“We’ve always had dynamic, informative speakers, but we’re very excited about this year’s keynoters,” said Denver. “Jeff Taylor has an incredible story to tell, one that inspires all small-business owners, and with the passage of health care reform legislation, there should be a lot of interest in what Charlie Baker has to say, and many questions as well.”

As for the networking event, it will be a blend of the long-running Taste of the Market event that has wrapped up the last several market shows and the Affiliated Chambers’ monthly After 5 networking programs, said Diane Swanson, events manager for the ACCGS.

Area restaurants and caterers are still being lined up for the day-capping event, said Swanson, which will have a festive, Cinco de Mayo flavor to it, and should keep many attendees at the Market show through the afternoon, while spurring some later arrivals as well.

Overall, sales for the show have been solid, said Swanson, noting that they are down slightly from previous years, an obvious result of the still-sluggish economy, but should approach the 200-booth level, which is the traditional goal for the Market show.

Attendees will find a number of value-added elements to the show, Swanson continued, adding that, for the fourth consective year, DiGrigoli Salons will be offering free haircuts, and there will be several giveaways. Meanwhile, there are two morning seminars:

• From 10 to 10:45 a.m. in Room 1 will be a program titled “2010 and the Roth IRA Conversion Opportunity.” Speakers will be David Veale, senior vice president, AXA Equitable; John L. Carty, CRPS, vice president and financial advisor, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney; and Patrick Willcutts, CFP, CIMA, vice president and financial advisor, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney.

• And from 11 to 11:45 a.m. in Room 2 will be a program titled “Social Networking and the Workplace: a Discussion of the Business and Legal Issues Arising Out of Employees’ Use of Facebook, Linkedln, Twitter, and Other Social Networking Applications.” The speaker will be Kimberly A. Klimczuk, Esq., a partner with Northampton-based Royal & Klimczuk, LLC.

There is still plenty of time to become part of the trade show, said Swanson. To register, or for more information, call (413) 755-1313 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              (413) 755-1313      end_of_the_skype_highlighting, or e-mail[email protected].