The annual Small Business Expo is returning to Chicago for its second year in a row and is already slated to welcome over 5,000 registered attendees and 100+ interactive booths, demos and brand exhibits. The national event, which travels through the country's top 10 cities for small business, is expecting an unprecedented turnout for one of their largest and most activity-packed shows ever.
Chicago's own Bill Rancic (first winner of NBC's The Apprentice,media personality and Chicago area luxury real estate developer) will be headlining the event to talk about innovation and entrepreneurship in corporate America, this year's theme at the Expo.
"I'm from Chicago and I started my first small business here, so I understand what it means to try and build something in this city.Chicago is amazing for small business owners and has really flourished in the last few years. We're in one of the greatest places to chase after your American dream, and I can't wait to motivate people to just go for it at the Small Business Expo," says Rancic.
The free, one-day event will include dozens of open workshops and educational seminars specifically geared toward the unique needs ofChicago's small business leaders. Topics include online and social media marketing, SEO, managing employee benefit plans, small business financing, email marketing, sales and revenue strategies, and team productivity among other valuable programs.
"We've seen the small business community really grow and change since we were first here in 2014," says Small Business Expo founderZachary Lezberg. "The city has put a lot of resources into building local independent establishments and nearly 50% of Chicagoworkers are employed by a small business. Even more interesting is that we're seeing a surge in businesses less than a year old, so it's really important for us to bring new technologies, ideas and education to an epicenter like this."
This year's Presenting Sponsor Act! and Platinum Presenting Sponsor Powerteam International will be joined by Platinum Sponsor Emerge212 Office Space. Silver Sponsors include Bank of America, Benchmark Email, Chop Shop & 1st Ward Events, Elo Touch Solutions, Entrepreneur Media, Insiders Circle International, kintone, Life In Half A Second, Misaic, North American Bancard, ReachLocal, Trycera Financial, Inc. and Valeo360.
Event Details
The Chicago Small Business Expo is a FREE, one day event and will take place on April 9th from 9:30am to 5pm at The Navy Pier (Festival Hall B), 600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611.
To learn more about The Small Business Expo's full schedule of Chicago events and free online registration, visit http://www.thesmallbusinessexpo.com/chicago/.