AUBURN - The business community in and around Cayuga County represents a great deal of diversity, a diversity which the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce strives to nourish and enrich.

It was this that first inspired the chamber to create the annual business expo, which is held at the Holiday Inn.

“It started as a way to welcome new members to the chamber,” said Terri Bridenbecker, executive director of the chamber. “But it has really grown from that. Since we started we have opened it up to the public and have made it a place for businesses in our community to get more exposure to the public and the other members of the business community.”

On Thursday evening, 37 different local businesses and organizations gathered in the Holiday Inn ballroom to network and get the word out about what is available right here in Cayuga County.

Those gathered represented a large cross section of the local business community ranging from catering to computers, banking to local charity organizations.

“Really that is the idea,” Bridenbecker said. “Our community and the members of the chamber are very diverse; we want to reflect that with this show.

“I think that is the great thing about it,” she said. “We give people the opportunity to network and see the diversity that is here in our community.”

According to Bridenbecker, recent reports and studies indicate that consumers are more likely to make purchases and support businesses that are known to be part of the chamber of commerce. That makes the expo a great opportunity for businesses to get their name out to both the public and fellow businesses, Bridenbecker said.

That was a major part of the draw for many of the businesses that attended.

Floyd G. House, executive chef for Premiere Catering, based in Liverpool, has attended the expo several times and has seen it be incredibly beneficial, allowing him to branch out from Syracuse and into Cayuga County.

“People know my cooking,” said House, who for many years served as head chef at the Springside Inn. “But this has really helped. I've been able to meet so many people and get to know them and establish relationships and get to speak with other business owners. That is one of the best things, to meet other people and be able to discuss the day to day things of running your own business.”

Adecco Employment Services has been a regular attendant of the expo for years. Adecco, which bridges the space between employer and employee, has found the expo to be a unique opportunity.

“We get a lot of people that stop by,” said Don Unger, branch manager of the Auburn's Adecco office. “We are here to help people solve their job situations and to help businesses find what they are looking for. From being here we've found a number of people will stop by and get information on what we can do to help them or their business meet their needs.”

Along with the businesses, is the American Cancer Society table. The table is there to help promote awareness, giving out information on early detection and regular medical checkups as well as promote events like Relay For Life.

“This really helps to make people more aware I think,” said Margaret DeNeve, special events coordinator for the American Cancer Society. “This really helps us to get the word out about things like early detection and our Relay For Life, but more than anything it just helps to promote awareness and what the American Cancer Society is here for.”