Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce Hosts 2nd Annual Business Expo

Providing residents with resources and information and connecting them to area businesses were the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce’s goals during the Oct. 10 2nd Annual Business Expo. It was also the Chamber’s goal to allow area businesses and community groups to spread the word about their organizations and to network with other businesses and residents. The Expo took place at the Moreno Valley Mall’s lower level Sears Court, a change from last year’s inaugural event, which took place at the Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center, shared Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Oscar Valdepeña. “We were able to expand this year, and we decided to hold the event at the Mall this year to bring more people to this area, but also to let them know about other community organizations and businesses. We want to let visitors know what businesses are here and what’s available in their surrounding areas,” said Valdepeña. With about 50 vendors on site during Thursday’s event, and the larger event space, Valdepena said he and the Chamber hoped to see more visitors stop by. Last year’s event garnered just about 300 people with 45 vendors, he shared. Vendors were on site to hand out information and chat with visitors on anything from storage to transmission to fitness, to name a few, shared Valdepeña. Service clubs and health practitioners also held booths to pass out information on their organizations, and the Riverside Medical Clinic provided flu shots to expo visitors at a reduced cost of $10. Aristotle McDaniel is a Territory Development Manager overseeing Moreno Valley for Office Depot. Office Depot on Thursday raffled off a gift basket to one lucky winner worth some $400, including prizes like a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 and wireless keyboard. The winner will be chosen by Chamber Board Members at a future meeting. “We help businesses small, medium or large, because we know how tough it is,” said McDaniel. “We work with all businesses and we’re actively involved in our communities. To see the look of thanks on someone’s face, and to hear their genuine appreciation, that’s why I do [this].” McDaniel explained further that he was participating in the Expo this year to pass along information about Office Depot’s services, and to reach out to other businesses and business owners in the area to help advance their companies. Sandy Ramirez is on the Moreno Valley Chamber Board of Directors but also owns Moreno Valley Flower Box, which has been in business for the last 10 years. She set up a booth at the Expo event, where she was passing out information on the fresh arrangements her flower shop provides. She explained, “For businesses, [expos like this] let us show what we have to offer. A lot of times, especially in my line of work, we do business over the phone, so customers don’t get a visual idea of what I have. This way, [with a booth], they can.” Beth Coffee stopped by the Expo with her husband John and their grandchildren, John, 7, and Megan, 8. “We went to the mall and saw the expo and decided to take a look,” said Beth, a 10-year Moreno Valley resident, as other visitors shuffled from booth-to-booth in the lower level of the mall. “I think it’s very beneficial for residents. I see a lot of people here, and I’ve learned quite a bit. Joseph Ross, a realtor with Tarbell Realtors, shared that he was happy to be a part of the expo, having just joined the Moreno Valley Chamber a little over a month ago. “It’s nice to network with businesses in town. This is a good source of information in the city. It helps me to be better informed, so I can then inform new buyers in the area about what’s going on in the [community],” he said. Ania Tinjaca is the Director of Business Development for Destiny Home Health Agency. A cancer survivor herself, and the mother of a son who is also a cancer survivor, Tinjaca was providing visitors with information on how to keep healthy, and advising them to get regularly scheduled checkups and make time to see their doctors. “It’s important that young people, especially, take control of their bodies and protect them—seniors as well. Cancer has no boundaries,” she said. She was also handing out information on volunteer opportunities with the agency. “There are a lot of things you can do in your community to help others [who are ill],” she said. “Mostly we want people to be aware and careful. Education and being proactive” are two ways to do that, she said. Other vendors at the event included community service groups, colleges and trade schools, restaurants and City Departments.Among the many organizations and businesses who participated were: Office Depot; Bank of America; Viper-1 Security Services, Inc.; Brunswick Zone; The Salvation Army; Tarbell, Realtors; Polly's Pies; Riverside Physician Network; Destiny Hospice Care; Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; SIATech; Rancho Belago Realty; Integrated Care Communities; California Small Business Development Center, Inland Empire; Universal Strike; ICare Home Healthcare; Moreno Valley Banquet Halls; and various Moreno Valley City Departments. Valdepeña shared that the event is one the Chamber will continue to host annually.