Flagship Enterprise Center

| 2701 Enterprise Drive | Anderson, IN 46013 | 765.622.0100

ANDERSON, Ind. — While a big part of the Get Linked Expo and Conference is about businesses expanding their footprint and growing, organizers said there is much more to this event.

“Trying out the new zones — Link, Launch, Learn — is something that you can’t do at most trade shows,” Get Linked program Tammy Rimer said. “The link to the future has some really important growth and development opportunities. It isn’t just about making business connections on a regional level but connecting with the city and community on what is happening on that level.”

In the launch zone, Weeks Communications is helping launch four new companies.

“People think the economy is dead,” she said. “These are Madison County companies that are launching and growing. People can come and check out what they are doing and get involved in these new businesses.”

Anderson-based Air Buoyant, innovators in aerospace technology, will be using the Get Linked Expo to unveil their latest technology — the Jet Cart.

Air Buoyant CEO Pete Bitar said the Jet Cart was created with the clear vision of creating a safe new racing sport, so engineers there have combined aerospace and racing technologies.

The Jet Cart is in beta testing, and the new sport that it would create will appeal to youths and family who enjoy racing but want a safe and unique experience, Bitar said. The vehicle is small, with high acceleration and a completely controlled jet engine.

The visionary team at Air Buoyant took a love of racing and blended it with a high-tech image of future and current technologies to create a new, exciting and safe new straight-line racing sport, Bitar said.

Recent racing tragedies have spotlighted the need for safer racing technologies, and Air Buoyant believes their controlled system is the answer, he said.

Harrison College’s Anderson campus is participating in the Expo, giving students from the business school the opportunity to network and interact with local businesses from the eight counties participating. Fifteen students and instructors from five different classes will represent the campus at the Expo, networking with local businesses in attendance.

“It is my first time going to the Expo,” business management student Bryant Kube said. “I am excited to see what this is all about.”

Students designed curriculum-based projects for the Expo. One of the student-designed projects is a networking brochure that will be used by the students attending to help them better understand the value of networking in the business community.

“The main point of the expo is for businesses to build relationships with each other and help achieve the goals for each business,” said Coleen Rector, campus program coordinator for the School of Business. “Our students will have the opportunity to observe this interaction and to see the creation of each relationship.”

Kristi Cronk, a student from the business management program, agreed.

“This is a great way get out in the community and really interact with local businesses,” she said.

A representative from one of the event’s sponsors, Community Hospital Anderson, said the hospital is happy to be involved in something that supports and promotes businesses and organizations in the community.

“This event will be a great opportunity for people and businesses to connect,” said Leah Campbell, Community Director of Marketing and Community Relations. “We plan to showcase information about our da Vinci surgical program at the expo. … We want people in this area to know what we have to offer and how our technology can benefit them.”

Rimer said another important aspect to the event is the conference Friday. Tickets are still available for both the expo and conference.

“This is one of the biggest conferences going on in this area,” she said. “There are big names — Dale Carnegie and Sales Artists — you are not going to get this caliber of a workshop and education on business development at this kind of level with a ticket price of $139 anywhere else.”

And although the business development support and education will be great, Rimer stressed that like the expo, the conference will be a good time for networking, fun and building relationships with other business decision makers.

Contact Abbey Doyle: 640-4805, abbey.doyle@heraldbulletin.com