By By EDWIN MODLIN II
Staff Writer
An almost-continuous deluge didn’t stop businesses, exhibitors and the public from taking part in the third-annual Business Expo held at the Washington Civic Center on Thursday.
“It’s a place where businesses can lay their wares and goods to show what they have to offer,” said Catherine Glover, the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce’s executive director. The chamber organizes the event.
Gina Amaxopulos, a housing specialist with Washington Housing Inc. was there, promoting WHI, a housing agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. WHI serves seven counties, including Beaufort County.
“What we do is help people get approved for home loans,” Amaxopulos said. “We get them mortgage-ready and make for sure they don’t get taken advantage of.”
Amaxopulos said WHI recently helped close on 14 homes for clients.
Kim Barrett, a customer service and marketing specialist with National Spinning Co., was at the event promoting Caron International and Hampton Art.
According to Barrett, Caron International has handmade yard that it sells to major retailers and independent stores.
“The other part of the company is the Hampton Art division,” she said. “They have really jumped on the trend of scrapbooking and rubber stamps and different wood-stamping products and packets.
“Together, we really have a handle on the craft market and a really exciting business. We just love being in eastern North Carolina. Most people have no idea that our business is based right here in Washington. We have 32 acres here in Washington.”
Zack Mixon, with A.R. Chesson Construction Co., spent his time at the event promoting the need for construction contractors in and around the Beaufort County area.
“A.R. Chesson Construction Co. corporate headquarters is based out of Williamston,” he said, “but we are a commercial contractor, and we do work all around eastern North Carolina.
Pam Shadle, director of marketing and public relations with Beaufort Regional Health System, said, “We’re here promoting the whole health system, but specifically Inner Banks Urgent Care and what we can do for business and industry, such as getting employees better when they’re sick so they can get back to work in a timely manner.”
Brooks Cleaton, community educator with Community Health Care &Hospice, at the Business Expo for a similar purpose related to the health-care field.
CHC&H, which Cleaton said is the largest health-care and hospice provider in North Carolina and South Carolina, has an office in Washington. It takes care of people in their homes so they don’t have to go to a clinic or a hospital.
“What I do is help people understand what a community health-care and hospice is and how to pay for it,” Cleaton said. “It’s a wonderful service, as we have patients being taken care of who have terminal cancer, as well as patients with HIV to all different types of diseases.
“It’s a wonderful service, as we go directly to the patients’ homes. Often that is what’s best for them in many cases and takes a huge burden off of them so they don’t have to travel.”
Cleaton added they have a full team that takes care of patients with all kinds of illnesses.
“We provide all of that,” he said. “And it is covered by Medicare as well.”
Anyone wanting to promote his or her business at the 2011 Business Expo should contact Glover at the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce, 946-9168.