Sienna Bilancia / Lead Arts & Culture Writer
The expo networking event, women ran booths to promote their business.

International Women’s Day was on March 8 and on this same day, the Women in Business Expo was held at the TownePlace Suites by Marriott in Brantford. This free event was held for the second year in a row.

The event was run and put together by Samantha Gernhart, the founder of Clarity Marketing & Design, who said she spent months planning the expo. She organized the speakers, space and all advertising. She also held a networking event in the fall and then another event early this year.

“I saw a gap in our community where this type of event resource support was needed,” said Gernhart.

Last year was the first year that the expo ran. There were almost twice as many businesses a part of the event this year as well as many more people attended, just within the first hour there were well over a hundred people in attendance.

There were swag bags, guest speakers, a photo wall as well as so many opportunities to network and chances to meet so many women in business.

“It’s a day for women and I just had to be here,” said Ashlee Juneau, a realtor and business owner who said this was her second year at a booth for her business at the expo. “It’s just great to come here and collaborate with all of these other entrepreneurial women.”

There were a diverse group of guest speakers from marketing to wellness and finance to success stories. Each speaker was selected based on their skill set and wisdom that they could share with others. There was something for everyone and even if you didn’t find a guest speaker to your liking, then there were almost tables filled with businesswomen to talk to and network with.

For the first 100 people that attended the event, there were tote bags filled with goodies. Lots of businesses shared their business cards, there were also some water bottles, pens and newspapers. There was a little something for everyone including some candy for everyone’s sweet tooth. For those who got there later in the day, there were still business cards and other fun things to collect at each booth, including some games, like spin the wheel or tarot card reading. 

“We just look at it like a networking opportunity to meet other women in business,” said Sarah Gage, a Wealth Confidence coach, who attended the event.

This article was originally published in print Volume 23, Issue 8 on Thursday, April 4.