Expo offered networking, resources to businesses

Over 100 exhibitors representing business, industry, the nonprofit world and education turned out for the Governor’s Conference on Business 2015.

Helping enterprising northern Nevadans improve their bottom line proved to be the overarching theme in the Business Resource Expo at the Atlantis where attendees networked, learned and shared business resources.

At the Aug. 25 event, business leaders, policymakers and educators interacted with small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

It was a jam-packed schedule.

In addition to discussing such topics as access to workforce education, IT security, the commerce tax and taking in a business pitch competition a la Shark Tank, the event also served up lunch with some Tesla flavor. The guest speaker for the afternoon luncheon was Diarmuid O’Connell, vice president of business development for the automaker, which is building a gigafactory in the region.

Attendance for the conference’s second appearance in northern Nevada — the event was last held in Las Vegas — exceeded organizers’ expectations. The conference attracted 600 attendees, which organizers consider a reflection of the burgeoning small business environment in the state.

Attendees said they also liked the amount of information and resources available through the conference’s vendors and agency booths, which included financing sources as well as several small business agencies.

Faces from the conference are seen on these pages.