About 300 people packed the Civic Center banquet room for an upbeat luncheon saluting small business, and hundreds more streamed through the Business Expo featuring booths set up by area businesses in the arena. This is the day to celebrate business in Asheville. This is my fourth year at the expo. I think we are beginning to develop a synergy with this event. The secret is not found in the best-selling books and magazines touting the latest theory of management, although they may contain some good information, he said.
Great leaders lead out of their humanity.
Business people were taking advantage of the networking opportunities at the expo, meeting and greeting current and prospective customers and business contacts. Vonda Williams, sales manager for Continental Airlines, was fielding questions about Continental s new nonstop service set to start July 2. Hensley said the chamber was able to add Hot Tip seminars to this year s expo for the first time. The 90-minute sessions featured experts giving useful tips on subjects of special interest to small business owners. During the luncheon the chamber recognized nominees for its Small Business Leader of the Year awards and the Athena Award.