Showcase to feature "big-name speaker"

by Abby Rogers

December 23,2009

The annual Business Showcase will feature one big surprise this year, along with several changes designed to boost attendance.

The Chamber of Commerce event on April 6 will feature a well-known speaker rather than several seminars, which organizers believe will increase participation.

"The big reason was the interest in the seminars had dropped, and we thought bringing in a big known-name speaker would attract more folks and be more appealing to more people," said Robert Quinn, co-chair of the event and an assistant vice president at Boone County National Bank.

Lili Vianello, co-chair and president of Visionworks Marketing & Communications, said they were looking for ways to revitalize the event, which led them to go with one big-name speaker.

"We're making a major investment to bring him in for the vitality of the event," Vianello said.

The Chamber will announce the name of the speaker in January, Vianello said.

"This national speaker will draw attention to the showcase that we don't think we've ever had before," Quinn said.

In another change this year, seminar booths will be closed for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to

1 p.m. to give those working at the booths a chance to hear the speaker. Each exhibitor will also be given one free luncheon ticket.

"It will hopefully help the people in the booths to take advantage of everything the showcase has to offer," Quinn said.

Showcase organizers are also working with local organizations to provide special activities. During the afternoon mixer, the Columbia Business Times will announce the Titan Award recipients, and the Women's Network will announce the Athena Award finalists.

The showcase will close at 5 p.m., which is 45 minutes earlier than previous events. Quinn said the decision to close the showcase early was based on feedback sponsors received last year and advice they received from Gerke & Associates, a management-consulting firm.

The showcase attendance typically is around 1,700. Vianello said organizers are hoping to draw an extra 500 people for the 2010 showcase.