Event will address small entrepreneurs

Columbia County's thriving business community will be on display Thursday at the first Chamber of Commerce Business Expo.

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More than 40 small businesses will present their services and network with other entrepreneurs at the daylong event at the Augusta Doubletree Hotel on Perimeter Parkway, said Chris Baum, the chamber's director of programs.

The expo is open to the public. It begins at 11 a.m.

"This came about as a request from our membership to have a way to showcase what we have going on in Columbia County, businesswise," Baum said.

Charles Petty, a motivational speaker, will headline a noon luncheon and tell business leaders how to take their families with them and be successful. Tickets to the luncheon are $25 to $35.

"It's a very timely topic, in my opinion," Baum said of the luncheon. "I think all of us struggle today to figure out how we're going to blend family and professional success."

The expo, which is presented by The Columbia County News-Times and The Augusta Chronicle, continues in the afternoon with discussions about marketing, strategic advertising and retirement planning.

The afternoon discussions begin at 1:45 p.m. and are free to the public.

A special, members-only SuCCess Columbia County Style networking event follows the expo at 5:30 p.m. and features dancing lessons.

For more information about the event, contact the chamber at (706) 651-0018 or visit www.columbiacountychamber.com.