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Business & Tech

Brandon Business Expo, Taste of Brandon Today

The annual event will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

The biggest day of the year for Greater Brandon area businesses kicks off Thursday, May 19 at the Florida State Fairgrounds but the preparations for the big day goes back almost a year.

Planning the Brandon Business Expo and “Taste of Brandon” began as soon as last year’s Expo ended, said Laura Simpson, vice president of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s office of engagement and programming. Simpson’s office organizes the Expo.

“As soon as one ends, we go ahead and starting planning for the next one. We receive reviews and evaluations from our participants after the event and so it’s a year-long process.”

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Now in its 23rd year, the Expo is the Chamber’s biggest event of the year in terms of marketing and community outreach, Simpson said. “It's one of the programs I have enjoyed seeing grow over the years because it’s definitely one of our premiere events that businesses look forward to,” said Simpson who has been working on the Expo since she started working for the Chamber 11 years ago.

Last year’s Expo attracted almost 2,500 guests, according to Simpson. She’s hoping for more this year. But while the number of visitors is one definition of success, Simpson’s criterion goes beyond the number of people who come through the doors.

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“We define success as the participating businesses finding and having access to new clients and customers, something that you can’t measure the day after the event.”

The event is set for 3:30–8 p.m., May 19 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Special Events Center, 4800 North U.S. 301. The event is open to the public and features business vendors and a taste-off with local restaurants.

More than 200 exhibitors are set to showcase their services, products and menu items and wares. Visitors will also be able to vote for “favorite tastes” from more than 25 restaurants and caterers. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at door. Parking is $5.

Call: (813) 689-1221.

 

2011 Exhibitor List  

  • AAA Auto Club South
  • ADT Security- Custom Home Services
  • Advanced Diagnostics & Hearing Solutions
  • Advantage Restoration & Contracting, Inc.
  • Amani Med Spa & Wellness Center
  • America Surveillance and Safety
  • American Travel Partners
  • American Water & Windows
  • America's Business Benefit Association
  • Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza
  • APAC Customer Services, Inc.
  • ArchiTech
  • Beef O'Brady's  "The Original"
  • Biltmore Inspirations
  • Bivins & Hemenway, P.A.
  • Bloomingdale Radiology Center
  • Brandon & SouthShore Times/St. Petersburg Times/tampabay.com /tbt*
  • Brandon Auto Mall
  • Brandon Travelworld
  • Brandon.Patch.com/ Bloomingdale.Patch.com
  • Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club
  • Buffalo Wild Wings
  • Cali Viejo Restaurant
  • Camden Royal Palms
  • CGM Services
  • Chick-fil-A at Lake Brandon Village
  • Cindy's Bucket of Bubbles
  • Consolidated Pest Control
  • Copper Bell Cafe
  • Costco Wholesale
  • Crowne Plaza Tampa East
  • DCSI, Inc. Security & Sound Systems
  • DirectBuy of Tampa Bay
  • Drug Screen Solutions, Inc.
  • Dusty's Camper World
  • Ed Morse Cadillac of Brandon
  • Extravaganza Productions
  • First Citrus Bank
  • Flooring America
  • Florida Career College
  • Florida Central Credit Union
  • Florida Multi-Media Services, Inc.
  • Florida Virtual School
  • Focus Magazine
  • Fortis Institute
  • FRUiTZOOM, Inc.
  • GFS Marketplace
  • Globe Voice, Inc.
  • Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce
  • Greater Brandon Community Foundation
  • GrillSmith Restaurants
  • Grow Financial Federal Credit Union/Bloomingdale
  • HART
  • Haskell Termite & Pest Control, Inc.
  • Hillsborough Community College
  • Hillsborough County Tampa Expressway Authority
  • HiTEC- Hillsborough Technical Education Centers
  • Hooters
  • Instruments of Change
  • Jaymer-Que Southern BBQ
  • LeAnne's Old Fashioned Cookies
  • Living Temple Chiropractic
  • Magruder Agency, Inc.
  • Mango's at Embassy Suites-Tampa/Brandon
  • Manpower
  • McDonalds2U.com
  • Melissa Snively State Farm Insurance
  • MetroPCS
  • Metropolitan Ministries
  • Mid America Apartment Communities
  • MidFlorida Credit Union
  • Mimi's Cafe
  • Mobile Meals, LLC
  • Money Mailer of Brandon
  • Montefu Consulting, Inc.
  • Moon Law Group, P.L.
  • Ms.Cyndi's Corner Café
  • MTO Clean
  • Nova Southeastern University
  • Operation Patriot, Inc.
  • Organo Gold
  • Osenton Law Offices, P.A.
  • Osprey Observer
  • Pacesetter Media
  • Planet Smoothie
  • Pro-Motions+Plus
  • Railroad & Industrial Federal Credit Union
  • Rasmussen College
  • Rory B. Weiner, P.A.
  • Rotary Club of Tampa East
  • Sam's Club
  • Savannah Court of Brandon
  • SBG/MY TV Tampa Bay
  • SCORE Chapter 203
  • Sencommunications, Inc.
  • Shake Portraits
  • Sinigual Contemporary Mexican Cuisine
  • Small Business Information Center
  • Smokey Bones Bar and Fire Grill
  • Southbay Sod
  • Stanley Steemer
  • Suncoast Community Health Centers, Inc.
  • Sunshine State Federal Savings & Loan Assn.
  • Tabitha's Tea
  • TakeOut Butler
  • Tampa Bay Business Journal
  • Tampa Electric Company/TECO Peoples Gas
  • The Catering Company
  • The Preserve at Alafia
  • The Rack-Sushi Bar & Billiards Lounge
  • The Resort & Club at Little Harbor
  • The Tampa Tribune
  • The Waiting Game Publication
  • Thornton Chiropractic Center, P.A.
  • Tire Mania
  • Traventours Events & Excursions, Inc.
  • Tres Amigos Cantina
  • Uncle Mike's Smokehouse Grill
  • Vanguard Management Group
  • Verizon FiOs
  • Village Inn
  • Westfield Brandon
  • Winthrop Liquors
  • YMCA-Brandon Family
  • You Fit
  • Zweibach Women's Health
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