LICBDC Hosts Biggest Trade Show In Its History

The Long Island City Business Development Corporation (LICBDC) hosted its annual luncheon and trade show, one of the biggest business events in Queens each year, at Terrace on the Park on Wednesday, November 16. The trade show, which was free to attend, had over 145 vendors making it the largest LICBDC trade show on record.
“There is a nice mix; it’s very diverse,” said Dan Miner, LICBDC Senior Vice President and chief organizer of the event. “You have large companies; you have smaller companies; you have not-for-profit business service organizations.”
The event has grown tremendously in popularity in the past seven years with the number of exhibitors skyrocketing from 35 seven years ago to 145 at this year’s event.
“The juggling is scary, and it involves careful planning and inevitable last-minute adjustments,” Miner said. “This is the most we have ever had, and really the most that we can accommodate in this space.”
Vendors at the event were impressed with crowds of people it attracted and realized the benefits the event could potentially bring their company.
“We’re the platinum plus sponsor, and we like it because it’s a great event, and they always get a large turnout,” said Alfred Bottone, Sales Manager, Commercial New Business for HIP Health Plan of New York.
Another large company, HSBC Bank, hoped that the event would increase their exposure.
“We want to let people know who we are and expand our presence and support to the community,” said Nicolas Daniel Di Iorio, Assistant Vice President, Small Business Relationship Manager for HSBC Bank.
However, some smaller organizations also believe the event can have a major impact on their businesses.
“We have been a supporter of the LICBDC and this event since its inception,” said John Maltz, President of Greiner-Maltz, who said he has witnessed first-hand how the event has grown over the years, and at the same time, how the event has helped the businesses participating in it grow.
John L. Scott, Director of Financial and Business Services for the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, believes that long-term relationships can be developed from a simple conversation or business card exchange.
“In these type of events, you are not going to get immediate results, but in time something will happen,” Scott said.
In addition to the trade show, the LICBDC put together a panel of experts to offer a free seminar discussing services for women and minority-owned businesses.