2012 HELP Small Business Expo & Entrepreneurial Fair

Mayor Alan Arakawa will open the HELP business expo. Photo by Wendy Osher.

By Sonia Isotov

The 2012 “Harness Economic Leadership and Prosperity” (HELP) Small Business Expo and Entrepreneurial Fair will be held on Friday, April 13th from 5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at the King Kamehameha Golf Club in Waikapu.

This year’s speakers will include Mayor Alan Arakawa, Jane Sawyer, Hawaii District Director for the US Small Business Administration (SBA), Pamela Tumpap, President of the Maui Chamber of Commerce, Ryther Barbin, Business Attorney, Wendy Hornack, Owner of Island Support and Ermin Fergerstrom, HELP Expo founder and business owner.

Jane Sawyer, SBA Hawaii District Director will speak at HELP. Courtesy of SBA Hawaii.

This event consists of a business conference, vendor expo and networking mixer for small business owners who want to expand their business as well as for potential new business owners who are looking for resources to get started.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for the vendor expo, and at 5:30 p.m., Mayor Alan Arakawa will kick off the forum for industry experts and speakers to coach participants in the areas of business success and personal development. Presentations will be followed by a networking mixer, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Event sponsors include Central Pacific Bank, POS Systems, Business Network International (BNI) Hawaii, State Farm Insurance and Aloha Employment International.

Tickets are $26 and includes attendance to the business conference, the vendor expo and heavy pupus and one drink at the networking mixer.

For more information and to register, go to http://www.helpexpo.org. For information on sponsorship or a vendor table at the event, email at [email protected].