Reverse Trade Show a Success

More than 200 attend 1st Annual Reverse Trade Show
Chamber members rave about making key connections, building professional relationships

On the morning of the Chamber's 1st annual Reverse Trade Show, Phillip L. Frassinelli, Jr. was so energized he could barely sleep.

	Elaine Brown of Berks Digital talks with Mike Polak of     EJ Breneman during Opening Doors: Doing Business in  Berks, the Chamber’s 1st annual reverse trade show

"Yes, in fact I did wake up at 3 a.m. with a tremendous amount of excitement for the Reverse Trade Show because in the three years we have been heavily participating in Chamber events, there has never been one that had almost every prospect on our top 20 prospect list confirmed in attendance," said Frassinelli, License Owner of Spherion Staffing Services. "We were able to discuss with those key decision makers our ability as the third largest staffing agency in the world coupled with local ownership to deliver best-in-class people and service."

Frassinelli was among the more than 200 people who attended Opening Doors: Doing Business in Berks, the Chamber's 1st annual Reverse Trade Show on Thursday, June 14 at the Crowne Plaza in Wyomissing. T he event was sponsored by Met-Ed/A FirstEnergy Company, C&L Group, Greater Berks Development Fund and UPMC for You.

The first half of the event featured a "What It Takes" breakfast, which included informative remarks from Bruce Beardsley of COSTARS, the state's cooperative purchasing program; Brian Levan, owner of Levan Machine & Truck Equipment and Chamber Board Member; Toby Stanislaw of Met-Ed/A FirstEnergy Company; Geri Swift of the Women's Business Development Center; and Ama Erbynn of UGI Utilities. Sen. Judy Schwank and Congressman Jim Gerlach also made comments.

Following a ribbon cutting, Chamber members had the opportunity to meet with more than 30 purchasing reps from the area's largest companies, including: ArcelorMittal USA Plate - Conshohocken; Berks Area Regional Transportation Authority; Berks County Intermediate Unit/NAPM Reading; Bollman Hat Company; C & L Group, LLC; COSTARS; Carpenter Technology Corporation; Cambridge-Lee Industries, LLC; City of Reading; County of Berks; Customers Bank; EJ Breneman LP; East Penn Manufacturing Co., Inc.; Kutztown University; Levan Machine & Truck Equipment; RPA Engineering; Reading Area Community College; Reading Eagle Company; Rhoads Energy Corporation; SFS Intec, Inc.; Sweet Street Desserts, Inc.; The Reading Hospital and Medical Center; The Bachman Company; UGI Energy Services, Inc.; UGI Utilities, Inc. Met-Ed, A FirstEnergy Company; Morgan Corporation; NAPM Reading; PA Department of General Services; PPL Corporation; Penn State Berks; R.M. Palmer Company; RPA Engineering; Reading Area Community College; Reading Eagle Company; Rhoads Energy Corporation; SFS Intec, Inc.; Sweet Street Desserts, Inc.; The Reading Hospital and Medical Center; The Bachman Company; UGI Energy Services, Inc.; and UGI Utilities, Inc.

"I was very skeptical about attending the Reverse Trade Show. Being in the highway construction business and, constantly driving to projects and customer meetings I have little spare time. I thought spending three-quarters of a day tied to the show would be none productive and a waste of my time," said Mike Polak of EJ Breneman, which was named the #1 company in the Chamber's 2012 Top Growth Business Awards. "I am very happy to state that I found the show very beneficial to my company and myself, I am very happy to report that my 'wasted time' was also 'reversed' and was very fruitful, I am looking forward to next year's show,"

The Chamber has received fantastic feedback about the reverse trade show so far. Both purchasing reps and participants are already discussing next year's event.

Here's what some other participants had to say:

• "The Reverse Trade Show was well managed and gave us an opportunity to meet several local companies we didn't know existed and may prove to help us on future purchases. Our "Hats Off" to the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce and Industry! Glad to be a part of it!" -- Gregory D. Leach, Purchasing / Manufacturing Support at Bollman Hat Company
  
• "Thank you Gail Landis and GRCCI for listening to your membership and for delivering a first-class event." -- Phillip L. Frassinelli, Jr., License Owner at Spherion Staffing Services
  
• "This Reverse Trade Show event "opened doors" for local companies to present themselves for consideration by some of our larger companies and institutions. These larger organizations may be surprised to find that we have very qualified and capable resources like Hold Time Advantage right in our own back yard! The format is efficient, professional and welcoming. And the results?.....We anticipate new opportunities, satisfying relationships and positive support of our local economy!" -- David Green, President/Marketing Consultant at Hold Time Advantage