Inland Empire Business Networking Event Exceeds Expectations With Upwards of 2000 Attendees

The 2nd annual Inland Empire's Largest Mixer drew nearly 2,000 participants, a 25 percent increase from 2007, to what many consider the most well attended networking event in the region. Over 175 businesses exhibited in various industries ranging from finance to hospitality, education to media. The event was held October 22, 2008 at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California.

"We obtained more leads and found more possible referral partners than the last 3 smaller business expos we've participated in combined," said Andrew Lopez, President & CEO of Centerpointe Payroll Services. "Participating in Inland Empire's Largest Mixer was the best investment we've made all year."

Each year, the Mixer hopes to help encourage membership in one or several chambers of commerce, allowing a synergistic partnership to be created. Businesses are then able to extend their networks, foster new relationships, and boost their client base.

"Making connections and building relationships with Inland Empire's businesses is what it's all about, and what better way to do that than Inland Empire's Largest Mixer," said Tammy Collins of the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce. "This event gives us a chance to meet businesses that have not yet discovered the benefits of joining the Chamber and doing business in San Bernardino."

Inland Empire's Largest Mixer is an annual event that brings together local business organizations and Orange County's area chambers of commerce for an evening of professional networking and business outreach. An off-shoot from the original event -- L.A.'s Largest Mixer -- now in its 11th year, the event's format has been reproduced in other regions, including Las Vegas and Orange County. The event is produced by The Dave Linden Group, Inc.

For more information, including a complete list of exhibitors and sponsors, please visit http://www.iemixer.com or call 909-560-2800.

The event is sponsored by: Chambers of Commerce: Arcadia, Corona, Greater Riverside Hispanic, Hesperia, Highland Area, Irwindale, La Verne, Ontario, Pomona, Rialto, San Bernardino, San Dimas, Southern California Black, and Yucaipa. Business Organizations: American Women’s Business Association, Inland Empire Women's Business Center, CHARO - Community Development Corporation, For You Network (A NAFE Affiliate Network), National Association of Women Business Owners-Inland Empire, and Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Co-sponsors include: Advent Visual, Conexion, El Clasificado, Inland Empire Business Journal, Inland Empire Weekly, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, KOLA 99.9, KTIE 590, KZSW-TV, La Opinion, Meetings and Mixers, Ontario Convention Center, Owl Enterprises, ReEvolve Designs, PR Newswire, Redlands Daily Facts, The Sun, and Smart Levels Media.

TEAM Referral Network Golf Tournament Huge Success

On Thursday, October 16^th, the Largest Mixer exhibited at the fourth annual TEAM Referral Network Charity Golf Tournament. The event was held at the Sierra Lakes Golf Club in Fontana. The charities that benefited from the event included Building a Generation, Foothill Unity Center, Habitat for Humanity, McKinley Children’s Center, NPIEN, Serenity Foster Care/Adoptions, and The dA Center For The Arts.

After the actual tournament, dinner was held in a clubhouse that overlooked a beautiful view of the golf course. A DJ played an array of upbeat tunes that was comprised of 70’s hits, and even the classic 80’s tune, “Play That Funky Music.” Dinner featured everything from steak, chicken, salad, and a colorful fruit platter for dessert. There was even an open bar of wine and chardonnay, which seemed to be quite a welcome addition to dinner after a long day of golfing. A unique touch to the event was the table’s centerpieces. Each centerpiece was a square of grass that displayed a miniature golf set-up (hole with flag, golfball and tee), a quirky decorative touch to top off the fantastic atmosphere. Overall, it was an ideal setting to celebrate the end of a successful event.

A special portion of dinner was dedicated to announcing the winners of the golf tournament. The lucky winners of the day were Tyson Russell of Executive Business Services, and Stephen Andrews and Ace Chelsea of Touch and Peace.

The Largest Mixer would like to give a special shout out and thanks to Kelli Holmes, the president of TEAM Referral, for throwing yet another great event in support of another great cause.

TEAM Referral Network is a long time Largest Mixer participant, so they’ll of course be at Inland Empire’s Largest Mixer, which, by the way, is just a few short days away! Leave the golf clubs at home and come ready to mix and mingle with hundreds of business professionals and really expand your network.

Dave & Buster's Hosts IE Mixer VIP Kickoff Event

With the Inland Empire's Largest Mixer well on its way, the VIP kickoff event held on October 1, 2008 at Dave & Buster's served as the perfect springboard to help usher in the fast approaching event. Exhibitors and sponsors alike had the opportunity to meet one another, receive important information regarding the upcoming mixer, and get a head start towards a networking extravaganza.For the 2nd year in a row, the Inland Empire's VIP kickoff event was held at Dave & Busters, and for the 2nd year in a row, Dave & Buster's showed the staff at the Largest Mixer exactly why we keep coming back for more. The kickoff event featured a holiday theme to help get the attendants into the holiday spirit. In addition to an eclectic mix of music that included jazz and blues, hanging snowflakes were also peppered throughout the room to enhance the ambiance that much more. The tables were lit up with holiday lights, and the variety of food offered was second to none. A smorgasbord that not only included a carving station, but also a smores station with chocolate fondue were just a couple of choices that attendants had to pick from. Among the dozens of exhibitors in attendance were Classic Party Rentals, Conexion, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, Owl Enterprises, Smart Levels Media, and TEAM Referral Network. Advent Visual, another one of our exhibitors, didn't disappoint in the decorations department when it came to the balloon columns that they set up for the event.Event producer, Dave Linden, was also quite successful at winning over the crowd at the kickoff. The best moment of the night, in my humble opinion, was when Dave jested that "you get a good spot [at the mixer] if you kiss [his] ass." Sure enough, after the kickoff event was done and over with, a torrent of e-mails flooded his inbox which were, oddly enough, composed using much kinder words than usual.We usually don't like to take ourselves too seriously over here at the Largest Mixer, but, in all seriousness, we'd like to give a special shout out and thanks to Angela George and Jackie Mylenek of Dave & Buster's. Without their help and cooperation, the kickoff event would truly not have been possible. Take it from me, and on behalf of the Largest Mixer staff, that you should really consider hosting one of your own events, or maybe even your company's holiday parties there. I guarantee you that they won't disappoint.

Well, that about wraps it up over here at my end of the Largest Mixer. Until next time, make sure to visit http://www.largestmixer.com/iemixer to find out more information about Inland Empire's Mixer if you haven't done so already. The event, after all, is only about two weeks away, so get a move on before it's too late!

Photos Courtesy of Dacy Nottingham, Jobing.com

Corona Chamber's 9th Annual Business Expo and Career Day

Yesterday the Corona Chamber of Commerce launched its 9th Annual Business Expo and Career Day. The Largest Mixer was more than happy to be able to participate in such a great event. The Expo was set up in two large tents, which were luckily just big enough to accommodate the bustling throng of people that showed up. Amongst the crowd and exhibitors were some of the most innovative and forward thinking businesses in the greater Corona area. It was really the who's who of Corona and beyond!

(From left to right) Sonya Brown, Juli Roberts

and Anita Oshaben of the University of Redlands

(From left to right) Ben Cotton of LeTip, Norbert Cichocki of the Corona

Chamber of Commerce and Janet Johnston of The Brain Tickler

The Business Expo was the ideal venue to learn about local retail and service providers. With more than 100 exhibitors present, it was hard not to find a handful of companies that piqued our interest. We visited with upcoming Largest Mixer exhibitors University of Redlands, JS Publishing and Arrowhead Credit Union. Other exhibitors included IT Vizion, The Little Yellow Pages and many others.

(From left to right) Marcy Decato of Creative Solutions Marketing and

Joel Snyder and Todd Stewart of JS Solutions

The Largest Mixer would like to give special kudos to Bobby Spiegel, the President and CEO of the Corona Chamber of Commerce, for once again throwing a fantastic event!

Inland Empire Networking Business Event Takes Center Stage October 22 at Ontario Convention Center

Business networking shifts into high gear with Inland Empire's Largest Mixer II bringing together local businesses representing hundreds of industries and companies in the Inland Empire.

The goal of Inland Empire's Largest Mixer is to encourage membership in one or several chambers of commerce, allowing businesses to grow based on a wider network of support. The mixer also provides a chance for businesses to network with each other for mutual support. Businesses and individuals do not have to be affiliated with a chamber to attend the Mixer.

"Mixers are a great way to accomplish the first step of networking -- which is meeting people," commented Lisa Bailey, President/CEO, Irwindale Chamber of Commerce. "The next steps are following up, sharing information about your products or services and then determining how you can best work with or refer each other."

Scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, 2008 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., the event will ascend on the Ontario Convention Center, 2000 E. Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA 91764.

Admission is $20 per person which includes complimentary hors d'oeuvres and the opportunity to network with local "influentials" that comprise the uber savvy of the Inland Empire's business elite. The Mixer will feature over 170 exhibitors and an impressive list of local sponsors who share a common goal of business outreach and networking. Last year, over 1200 businesspeople attended the first annual Inland Empire's Largest Mixer.

The event is sponsored by: Chambers of Commerce: Arcadia, Colton, Corona, Greater Riverside Hispanic, Hesperia, Highland Area, Irwindale, La Verne, Ontario, Pomona, Rialto, San Bernardino, San Dimas, Southern California Black, and Yucaipa. Business Organizations: American Women's Business Association, CHARO -- Community Development Corporation, For You Network (A NAFE Affiliate Network), Inland Empire Women's Business Center, National Association of Women Business Owners-Inland Empire, and Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Inland Empire's Largest Mixer -- part social mixer, part business expo -- is the fourth installment in the "Largest Mixer" family of events that has already produced successful mixers for the past 10 years in Los Angeles, Orange County and Las Vegas.

For more information, including a complete list of exhibitors and sponsors, please visit www.iemixer.com or call 909-560-2800.