CenterState CEO announces new B2B Marketplace to replace Business Showcase

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — CenterState CEO today announced the upcoming B2B Marketplace, an event that is “succeeding the long-standing CEO Business Showcase.”

The marketplace, which is scheduled for Oct. 29 at the Oncenter, will provide area businesses the chance to participate in training and education programs and networking events.

 “After 23 years and valuable feedback from both our members and the business community, we are reshaping our traditional business showcase and delivering a targeted-engagement opportunity,” Jane Amico, vice president of chamber services at CenterState CEO, said in her remarks during the morning announcement at the CenterState CEO office in downtown Syracuse.

The event will include what CenterState CEO is calling the “business exchange,” which Amico referred to as “the key differentiator.”

 In its news release about the event, CenterState CEO describes the business exchange as a “structured forum to engage buyers and sellers identified by members as important to the growth and sustainability of their businesses.”

“It really provides direct qualified connections versus a traditional trade show, which is really much more of a visibility opportunity,” said Amico.

All meetings during the exchange are prescheduled and will take place at the exhibitor’s space at the Oncenter.

CenterState CEO wants its members to shift 10 percent of their purchases to local, independent businesses, which is similar to a program that the nonprofit SyracuseFirst announced March 25 and continues promoting.

 “We want participants to evaluate how and from who they purchase their goods and services,” Amico said.

The B2B Marketplace “really allows that to happen,” she added.

Founded in 2009, SyracuseFirst is a nonprofit network of locally owned, independent businesses and organizations “dedicated to building a sustainable community by encouraging citizens to ‘Think Local First,’” according to the group’s website.

CenterState CEO is partnering with Syracuse–based BTI The Travel Consultants, which is providing the software for the B2B Marketplace sign-up website.

The firm’s software allows firms to request meetings with other at the event, Lou Lemos, president and CEO of BTI The Travel Consultants, said during his remarks at the morning announcement.

“For all companies, large, medium, and small, we offer the ability to have a minimum of 18, 10-minute appointments,” said Lemos.

The website to sign up is available through the website of CenterState CEO, Lemos added.

In order to schedule business exchange meetings, exhibitors must register by Aug. 15, CenterState CEO said. Attendees should register by Sept. 1.

“I honestly believe this show will sell out of booths,” said Lemos.

The business exchange portion of the event will occur between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on that day. In that same time frame, the B2B Marketplace will also include the Economic Champions Luncheon, which begins at 12 p.m.

The event will also include a networking reception beginning that day at 4 p.m., Amico said.

Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com