Assemblyman Christopher Friend, next to Debbie Howard who’s just cut the ribbon, joined students from the Owego Apalachin School District, business owners, Mr. Moneybags, and local politicians to officially open the Tioga Business Show 2013 at the Owego Treadway Inn and Conference Center on Oct. 10, 2013. (Photo by Rick Stilson)
Tioga Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Marte Sauerbrey talks with television reporters in front of a big Monopoly board, part of this year’s Business Show theme of ‘Game On!’ The 2013 Tioga Business Show was held on Oct. 10, 2013 at the Owego Treadway. (Photo by Rick Stilson)
On the left is Mr. Moneybags, portrayed by Doug Weeks, who performs various characters through his Yesterday’s Gentleman business in Owego. On the right is Ryan Weurthner, with one of the Sign Waving for Dummies units he sells or rents to businesses or special events, including Halloween. (Photo by Rick Stilson)
Pianist Rick Pedro talks with Tioga County Chamber of Commerce Board Chairwoman Debbie Howard during the Tioga Business Show 2013. (Photo by Rick Stilson)
WEBO’s Dave Radigan broadcasts live from the Tioga Business 2013 show held at the Owego Treadway on Oct. 5, 2013. (Photo by Rick Stilson)
From left, Laurie McKeveny and Shauna Monell stand next to the Owego School’s display that offered design plans for the new elementary school to be constructed in Owego. The display was part of the business show held Oct. 10, 2013 at the Owego Treadway Inn and Conference Center in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Dave Friedman from euPAWria displays his pet products at the Tioga Business Show held Oct. 10, 2013 at the Owego Treadway Inn and Conference Center in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Brian Eldridge, executive director of Tioga United Way, stands near his display set up at the Tioga Business Show held Oct. 10, 2013 at the Owego Treadway Inn and Conference Center in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)
Nelric Ng and Brittni-Shannon Williams are pictured with their Verizon display during the Tioga Business Show held Oct. 10, 2013 at the Owego Treadway Inn and Conference Center in Owego, N.Y. (Photo by Wendy Post)
The Tioga County Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Business Show at the Owego Treadway Inn and Conference Center on Oct. 10, 2013. With a theme of ‘Game On!,’ Tioga Business 2013 started at 9:30 a.m. with a ribbon cutting on the steps to the second floor of the Treadway’s convention center.
Each year a theme is chosen to have fun with, according to Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Marte Sauerbrey. It’s Sauerbrey’s fourteenth year organizing the annual business show. “It’s a challenge to make it better every year,” she said, “but it’s a great, positive day and the Chamber appreciates the support of all the businesses.”
“She built it into this,” Wayne Clark said of Sauerbrey. Clark was one of the early arrivals to the business show, joining around 200 other people to get the day off on the right foot.
Another well-wisher who showed up for the ribbon cutting was Town of Owego Supervisor Don Castellucci. “It’s nice to be here,” Castellucci said, “I look forward to it every year. It’s a good chance to see people that you don’t get to see very often.” Castellucci added that the business show showcases the county’s business and promotes buying local.
“Every year they do an excellent job,” Castellucci said of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce.
Craig Jochum, candidate for Town of Owego Board, came to the show to do a little campaigning before he got back to work. “It’s nice to come here and see old friends,” Jochum said, “and part of having a community is having events like this.”
Among the new businesses at this year’s show was YeaMan Athletics, whose table was sponsored by Berkshire-based Tioga Hardwoods, according to Sauerbrey. “Every year Tioga Hardwoods sponsors a new business’s table,” Sauerbrey added. Tioga Hardwoods does not wish to have a table at the show, instead for the last five years they’ve sponsored someone new.
Another business rolling out its new product was Sign Waving for Dummies. PAPA really made a splash at the show, enticing visitors to go up to the second floor to see the booths up there. PAPA stands for Portable Advertising Platform Apparatus, something that business owner Joel Levy first saw during a trip to Las Vegas. Levy now builds PAPA in Apalachin, and after extensive testing, he recently placed the first two units at Brothers 2 in Endwell and Down to Earth Whole Foods, who put it on the roof!
The apparatus waves a sign about in front of a mannequin, which can be dressed in any manner the customer wishes including ghoulish costumes in front of a house for Halloween. “I can have the sign motion activated,” Ryan Wuerthner said of the units, “and you can put anything you want on the sign!” Weurthner and Levy were directing businesses and people to their website SignWavingForDummies.com for more information about renting the units.
With another successful show under their belts, Sauerbrey said planning for the 2014 show will begin next May. Businesses interested can call the Chamber of Commerce at (607) 687-2020 for more information and to be added to the list. Interested entrepreneurs can also contact the Chamber through their website, www.tiogachamber.com.