By Joan F. Simoneau, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – Almost 50 area schools, banks, food providers, realtors and other area businesses participated in the 20th annual Regional Business Expo held Oct. 3 at the Marlborough Courtyard Marriott. Many new products and services were displayed in workshops as owners and their staffs were on hand to answer questions and introduce new and innovative approaches.
“How to Stay Sane in a Crazy Market” was the subject of a retirement planning presentation made at the event. Mark Russo, CRPC, of Russo & Associates, a platinum financial services advisor, spoke about retirement planning as it pertains to today's economic environment and financial market. He stressed the importance of starting at an early age to have “a stream of income for the future.”
“Keeping your cool can be hard to do when the market goes on one of its periodic roller coaster rides. It's useful to have strategies in place that prepare you both financially and psychologically to handle market volatility,” he said. “Slow and steady wins the race.”
Neil Licht, founder and managing director-chief consultant of Here We Are, gave a presentation entitled “Learn How to Acquire Customers Online without Facing Competition.”? Matthew Mosher, a principal solutions engineer at EarthLink Business in Burlington, spoke on communications. Having over 20 years experience in telecommunications, he mentioned the many changes and how they can be advantageous to today's business owner.
Participating in the expo were: Advanced Math & Science Academy Charter School, Altriance Health, Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Avidia Bank, Becker College, Belfor Property Restoration, Best Western Royal Plaza, Black Box Programs, Catering Options, City Greetings, Clockwork Pizza, Commerce Bank, Cumulus Global, Dairy Queen, Dave's Landscape Management Company, Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU), Earthlink, Edie's Creations, Empire Pest Control, Employment Options, ERA Key Realty Services, Gentle Giant Moving Company, Inc.
Also attending were Harvard Sweet Boutique, Hudson High School, Immaculate Conception School, J. Hilburn, Marlborough Marriott, Marlborough High School, Community Newspaper Company , MetroWest Daily News, Marlborough Enterprise, Hudson Sun, Metrowest Visitors Bureau, Minuteman Press, Murphy Insurance, Pascarella Multimedia, Quinsigamond Community College, Rail Trail Flatbread Company, Russo & Associates, SCORE, SD Visuals Images, Sky High Studios, Small Business Development Center, Solex Payroll Systems, Square 1 Marketing, Sullivan Tire, TD Bank, The Buffet Way, The Reservoir, Verizon, and WCRN Radio.
Sponsors for this year's event were TD Bank, the MetroWest Daily News, MetroWest Visitors Bureau, Square 1 Marketing, DCU, WCRN Radio, Visual Images, and the Marlborough Marriott.