Many thanks to the sponsors, vendors and attendees at the Annual Business & Consumer "Develop Your Business" Expo held last week at The Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza. All of the vendors, who presented a wide variety of products and services, had the opportunity to meet more potential clients in five hours than they could otherwise reach in two weeks or more.

Summit is a success

The Northwest Indiana Workforce Development Summit held Sept. 14 was deemed a success thanks to the partnership with Ivy Tech Community College-Northwest, Merrillville Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee, Town of Merrillville and the Center for Workforce Innovations.

Thanks and gratitude to financial the sponsors: Gold - Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana American Water, and Bronze- Commercial In-Sites, LLL, Centier Bank and NIPSCO. The following volunteers and breakout session presenters were also instrumental in the success: David Lasser of Commercial In-Sites, LLC; Howard Fink of the Town of Merrillville; Thomas Snyder, president of Ivy Tech Community College; Karen Orosz, Mickel Henderson, Bill Thon, Pam Shelhart, Terry Smith, all of Ivy Tech Community College; Linda Woloshansky, president of The Center For Workforce Innovations; Barb Grimsgrad and Sandra Alvarez, both of the Center for Workforce Innovations; Michelle Miller, Centier Bank; Jean Phelps, Express Employment Professionals; Cynthia Pruitt, Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Dick Pokorny, Panel Processing of Indiana, and Kyrstal Levi, Work One.

Longevity awards

Town of Merrillville and the Merrillville Chamber of Commerce would like to honor businesses with a Town of Merrillville Business Longevity Award.

We feel that those who have stood the test of time with continued faith and support deserve recognition. The criteria for the award is as follows: business must be located within the boundaries of the Town of Merrillville, founded before or after the incorporation of the Town (December 31, 1971), business does not have to be a dues paying Chamber member, and business must still be owned by founding family members.

Nomination letters may be forwarded to the chamber office at 255 W. 80th Place, Merrillville, IN 46410 by Oct. 10. Please include business name, owner's name(s), address, phone, date business opened and contact name of nominator if different than owner's name. Call Nancy Camp, Wise Way /Pay Low Foods, at (219) 650-6015 for more information.

Weigh loss options

There will be a free seminar on Weight Loss Surgical Options held from 1 to 2 p.m. Oct. 10 at 99 E. 86th Ave., Suite D, Merrillville.

Dr. Jeffrey Rosen, a surgeon who has 10 years experience in weight loss surgical procedures and is a Board Certified surgeon, will speak on the Lap-BAND and gastric bypass procedures. For reservations, call (866) 922-4592 or visit www.LifeWeigh.com for more details.

Edward C. Dernulc is executive director of the Merrillville Chamber of Commerce. Reach him at (219) 769-8180 or geninq@merrillville.coc.org. Opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.