New York City history was made on Sept. 22 at the NYS Armory located at Manhattans 68 Lexington Avenue, when The Greater N.Y. Chamber of Commerce hosted its 15th Annual Business Expo.
This expo was significantly different in several ways as President / CEO Mark Jaffe wanted GNYCC (New York’s Official Regional Chamber Servicing All Five Boroughs plus Westchester) to assist all New Yorkers, including New York’s unemployed and underemployed populations. (Due to the current recession crisis affecting the U.S.)
Jaffe felt that with the Chamber being connected to 20,000 NYC businesses, there must be a way to unite the massive NYC unemployed and underemployed populace with the direct connections that could literally change their lives.
Therefore, he devised nothing short of a spectacular plan to make it happen. A series of meetings were held between President Jaffe and his friend, President Nick Lugo of the New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (This Chamber represents the Latino business community for NY’s Five Boroughs). The meetings resulted in the two Chambers joining forces for the event. The result of all the efforts was the biggest business expo featuring 92 companies with their owners and key executives under one roof meeting directly with other business people and New York’s job seeking population connecting with the same.
The event sponsored by Wells Fargo Banking Corp. received an unprecedented four political proclamations and two city citations as follows: Two proclamations from Senator John Sampson’s office – One for GNYCC and one for NYCHC, two citations from NYC Comptroller John Lui – One for GNTCCC and the other for NYCHC. (Who also served as the events keynote speaker.)
These acknowledgments were in addition to Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer’s Two proclamations which declared in the Borough of Manhattan that it was officially “The Greater NY Chamber of Commerce Business Expo Fair Day” and “New York City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Expo Fair Day.”
NYC’s Rescare – Back to Work Program was represented by attendee – Job Developer Marvin Kipp, who left with several new direct contacts for the program’s job seeking participants.
Innovative job seeker – Ms. Guan Wang, who went from table to table, walked away with more than 50 direct contacts from the business owners and top executives for her job search by simply mentioning that she was a freelancer who had volunteered for the day.
A fellow attendee and avid job seeker – Ms. Charisse Griffin arrived late (6:30 p.m.) just in time for the ongoing network reception, stated that in that short time, she walked away with some contacts and was thrilled that she did walk 15 blocks to get there because she got results.
The networking reception featured a fashion show, open bar and all the food that one could eat. Multi Cultural Media Alliance official media photographers – Roland Hyde and Tracey Noel-Fuller agreed that the event venue reminded them of the Jacob Javit’s Center Expo’s, but they both liked the theme, “It’s not what you know, but who you know that can make the difference in your lives and all the people you would like to know can be found at the days event.”
The Chamber issued free N.Y. paid medical prescription discount cards to all attendees, upon request through President Chez Ciccone of the Chamber RX Cards.
Jaffe stated he sincerely hopes that other business expo organizers will follow the example of the event by being inclusive of New York’s often ignored population especially during these recessionary times.
