Wichita Chamber, local businesses ready for Exposure 2015

As it did last year, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce’s annual business networking event is expected to draw more than 200 exhibitors, according to a chamber official.

Dubbed “Exposure,” the all day business-to-business networking function will take place Sept. 24 at Century II’s Expo Hall. Though the name of the event has changed over the years, this year’s affair will mark the 11th consecutive year that the chamber has put on a business networking experience.

“This year, the committee decided to have a theme about collisions and connections,” Angie Elliot, the chamber’s manager of business services, said Thursday. “We’ll also have a luncheon this year, which is something that is new.

“We hope people come out ready to network and have a good time. We had over 200 exhibitors last year and it will be about the same this year.”

While attendance to the event is free with a no-cost ticket supplied by the chamber, the luncheon – featuring Texas-based marketing guru Jeff Sieh – costs $40. Sieh is expected to talk about the importance of “creating and cross-promoting effective visual content” in order to generate business leads in the digital era, according to the chamber.

Suzie DeVaughn, founder of stress management firm Self-Care Specialists in Wichita, will be exhibiting for the first time this year at Exposure. DeVaughn said she signed up because it seemed like a good way to meet other business professionals and develop her company’s client base.

“It seems like it will be a great opportunity to be around a lot of people,” DeVaughn said. “It’s an opportunity for us to communicate what our business is all about and what we offer.”

The rest of the day will feature exhibits, drawings for door prizes, a “red carpet” mixer, awards and a social media contest. Some of the door prizes to be given away include Wichita State University men’s basketball tickets, free hotel stays and $100 Visa gift cards, according to the chamber.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit WichitaBusinessExposure.com or call the chamber at 316-265-7771.

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Wichita Chamber, local businesses ready for Exposure 2015."