NEWS - Lowcountry News

SBJ.com Staff Report

“To keep the economic engine moving, businesses will be fueling up on new contacts, sales leads and industry news at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce’s Business EXPO 2010, the region’s largest business-to-business marketing event,” according to Bill Myles, Chamber president.  The EXPO opens Weds. evening, and continues all day Thurs., Feb. 18.

More than 120 businesses and organizations are expected to exhibit in the 20,000 sq. ft. ballroom of the Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa located at Two Grasslawn Avenue • Hilton Head Island/

Last year, 2,000 people attended the EXPO, taking part in the Chamber’s face-to-face marketing opportunity.

The EXPO will feature keynote speaker Curt Mercadante, principal of Merc Strategy Group, LLC. who will talk on, "The Press Release is Dead: Using New Communications Tools to Build Your Business, Non-Profit or Campaign” at 4 p.m. on Feb. 18

Mercadante will discuss the use of social media in marketing, from Twitter to Facebook to blogs. His company utilizes technology to build winning strategic communications campaigns for corporations, non-profits and advocacy organizations, and he previously served as director of political and state affairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, one of the nation's largest business advocacy organizations.

Admission to the EXPO is $10, includes an After Hours ticket which offers food and beer and wine.

The two “After Hours” events on Feb. 17 and 18th are sponsored by Hargray Communications and Palmetto Electric Cooperative, Inc