18th Annual Business Expo at NY Hilton

September 19, 2019

On September 19th, 2019, the Chamber hosted its 18th annual business expo and conference at the NY Hilton Midtown. The event began with a huge networking coffee sponsored by New York RX Card that allowed everybody to meet the hundreds of exhibitors, members and special guests that were in attendance for what has become Metro NY’s longest running expo. Other major sponsors included: T Mobile, SBT Advantage Bank, Aloft Hotels, Passera Fine Arts Portraits, Insperity, Tigress Financial and Linton Robinson & Higgins LLC.

This year our conferences included a special segment sponsored by ZOHO that promoted their software that helps small businesses by including over 40 + business apps all in one package. We also had a government services panel that helped our members learn programs that could help them at the federal, state and city level. In attendance were: a) Mark Gjonaj, Chair of the NYC Council Small Business Committee, b) Brenda Stuart-Luke, the IRS senior stakeholder liaison taxpayer compliance, c) Neil Gilberg, the NYS Business Advocate for Worker’s Comp, and) Peter Fehnel from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Also back by popular demand was Harry Dannenberg and the NYC SCORE counselors whom hosted roundtables discussions on marketing, retail, internet, finance and public relations.

This year’s expo included a packed crowd for our Taste of NYC luncheon where we honored: Frank Gomez of Latin Insights with the Hispanic Heritage Award; Hazel Cathers of the Soldiers’, Sailors’ , Marines’, Coast Guard & Airmen’s Club with the Veteran’s Assistance Award & Neil Gilberg of NYS Worker’s Comp Bd with the Public Service Award. Previous winners have included; Nick Lugo of the NYC Hispanic Chamber; Captain Michael Day, the US Coast Guard NY Sector Commander and NYC Police Commissioner James O’Neill. Participating restaurants; included: Kellari Taverna, Cesca , Mari Vanna, Good Eats Catering, Ghar Inc., STK Steakhouse and the Halal Guys.

Once again; we had a strong international presence including our trusted trading partners: the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce & Industry; the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce; the Saemangeum “Korea” Development & Investment Agency; the Kingdom of Bahrain; the Russian American Foundation; the Eurasia Business Council; the Taiwan Trade group and the Jamaican Promotions Corporation. We also honored Miss Immigrant USA and our sister chamber awards went to the Rivertown’s Chamber (Dobbs Ferry, Irvington, Ardsley on the Hudson & Hastings) and the Greenwich Village/Chelsea Chamber for all the great work they do helping small businesses.

At the closing reception; we featured our newest program; “the Gold Shield” which helps Veteran’s groups and was promoted by Salem Media’s 970 AM Radio Host Frank Morano and Chamber TV’s Michael Mills of TeleStory Pictures.