Dan Rowland recognizes the importance of coming together.
The graphic designer and owner of Rowland Creative helps new technology companies establish a brand and identity so their interactions with other business can be as successful as possible.
On Thursday, he came together with leaders from over 80 other business at the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County’s annual Business Expo. Professionals in industries ranging from health care to construction gathered to share tips and build new connections in the local economy.
Mark Higgins of the Link Computer Corporation says that while competition is an integral part of the free market, so is cooperation.
“Working together is an important part of any economy. Here we have all the various exhibitors chatting and developing relationships,” Higgins says. “That’s the basis of things like joint marketing endeavors and partnerships on projects – those things happen at these shows.”
When businesses are able to work together, it encourages greater growth in the local economy, Higgins says. Though Centre County has shown steady growth when compared to nearby counties over recent years, Higgins says this is an unfair comparison.
Centre County has Penn State, which he calls “an incredible advantage no one else has.” Higgins also says the CBICC is one the best run chambers he’s encountered, giving Centre County a big leg up on the competition. He feels Centre County should compare its growth to larger metropolitan areas or other university towns, which will inspire even greater growth.
“The local business community really supports each other,” Higgins says. “But we need to work even harder at coming together.”
The expo was also a chance for some other organizations to make an impact on the local business scene. Rotelli Pizza, along with 11 other restaurants, dazzled expo-goers with free food as part of the “County Cuisine” initiative.
For Rotelli manager Samantha Daye, the expo was a practical chance to get the restaurant’s name and food out to a wider audience. She says as the day went on and word spread, more and more people came out to try their buffalo chicken mac and cheese and chicken marsala.
Even Thon – while not strictly a business – made an appearance at the expo. Matt Butler, a donor alumni relations captain with Thon, says the expo gives the student-run philanthropy another chance to spread the word and increase awareness and raise money to battle pediatric cancer.
“This is especially important to help make people realize that we’re not just one weekend; we’re a year-round fundraising effort,” Butler says.
CBICC Communications Director Lesley Kistner says the event also featured several seminars before opening to the public on the importance of social media. The businesses in attendance learned about the growing role of social media in the marketplace and how it can be implemented into a marketing plan.
“Events like this are important because we can have a big impact on the success of companies in this area,” Rowland says. “We all want to see this area succeed, and not just because it’s a workplace. This is a lifelong commitment.”
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