Brandon Business Expo And Taste Of Brandon Hosts 210 Exhibitors And More Than 2,800 Attendees, Chamber Reports (May 15, 2008) - # - MyPaperNow.com

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The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce hosted its 20th annual Brandon Business Expo and Taste of Brandon. Close to 3,000 people attended, including exhibitor and visitor alike. At the Expo, lots of people were asked to describe the greater Brandon area. As one exhibitor put it, Brandon is "small enough to be friendly but large enough for your business."

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From Cheddar's Casual Cafe, left to right, Lee Barley, Erin Long, Karri Barnett, Joe Zock, Sabra Spranger, Rafael Arroyo, Crystal Gavin, Jimenez Rufino, Nancy Morris, Art Welhoelter (president of the Q's Restaurant Group), Andy Dennis, John Sullivan (general manager) and Chris Deck.

From left, Krystal Shiver and Karen and Jessica Walker, of Sweetie's Delights.

Sweetie's Del9ghts: winner of "Best Dessert."

"Brandon is known for a wide range of shopping and really, really good restaurants," said Hope Burgess, left. "Brandon is really good for entertainment and food," added Courtney Summerall, center. Said A.J. Marte, right: "Brandon is really known for the people, who are very nice." All three eighth-graders are set to graduate from Randall Middle School.

"Best Booth" went to the Tea Cup Tea Room. From left, Jennifer Davis, proprietor Lynn Davis (no relation), Jade Guethle and Davis' son, Cameron.

The runner-up award for Best Booth went to the Osprey Observer. Representing the community newspaper are founder, editor and publisher Marie Gilmore, second from right, with, from left, Michelle Colesanti, Patricia Tracy and A.J. Rodriguez.

The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce hosted its 20th Brandon Business Expo and Taste of Brandon at the Florida State Fairgrounds. With this year's chamber chairman, Marsh Rainey, is Anne Nymark, co-founder of the Greater Brandon Community Foundation.

Greater Brandon "is a brilliant balance, with the urban sprawl coming in from Tampa and, at the same time, a very tight community feeling," said University of South Florida student Kristen Shalosky, center, with college schoolmates Jenna Miller, left, and Becky Killik. Shalosky and Killik graduated from Bloomingdale High School in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Miller graduated from a high school in Lakeland.

Greater Brandon "is a great place to bring your family because even when you're a little kid you can walk to everything," said Becky Killik, right, with, from left, Jenna Miller and Kristen and Michael Shalosky. "It's very multi-faceted," added Miller. "There's something for everyone to enjoy, from little kids to adults to business people to craftsmen." Said Michael: "It has a go-big or go-home attitude about it. There's only two choices. You give it your all or you don't go at all."

From Cheddar's Casual Cafe, left to right, Lee Barley, Erin Long, Karri Barnett, Joe Zock, Sabra Spranger, Rafael Arroyo, Crystal Gavin, Jimenez Rufino, Nancy Morris, Art Welhoelter (president of the Q's Restaurant Group), Andy Dennis, John Sullivan (general manager) and Chris Deck.

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