All year long, the monthly events, including breakfast meetings and Business-After-Hours receptions, presented by the Androscoggin County Chamber of Commerce, the largest local business membership and advocacy organization in Maine, provide area business people with some of the most robust networking opportunities in the state.

Ticketed breakfasts are virtually all sellouts, and the roster of speakers address a full range of topics important to the community in a close, personal style and format that is well matched to the Chamber’s members. Folks in the community have the chance to become better acquainted, not just with one another, but especially with the sponsors and exhibitors at breakfast gatherings, and the BAH events provide a detailed and thorough connection to a specific member organization each month.

And since the B2B is the biggest networking event of the year, with more than 2,500 visitors expected, it makes sense that the Chamber’s two big monthly networking events be included in the full-day experience of the show.

Breakfast will be served at the Ramada Conference Center, at 7:15 a.m., but those attending are urged to arrive no later than 7 a.m. to take maximum advantage of the networking opportunity, and to have an extra cup of coffee at the start of a busy day.

As has been the pattern for the past couple of years, the B2B breakfast will feature a panel of local entrepreneurs who will share their unique stories about life and work in our community. The 2014 cohort includes Hillary Dow, of Live.Work.Play.Maine; Susan Hall, of The Vault; Kim Jacques, of Revelation Massage; and Paul Ramsden, of Solapix.

No stranger to Chamber members, Hillary Dow founded LWPM in the fall of 2013, and the company’s mission is to “provide both a marketing platform and an engine for economic growth in Maine, with one goal: stabilize Maine’s workforce … LWPM helps companies, nonprofit organizations and municipalities recruit and retain employees by showing and promoting what it means to live, work, and play in Maine.”

The Vault, Susan Hall’s unique specialty wine and craft beer store on Lisbon Street, has demystified fine wine and beer for L-A’s increasingly discerning palettes. The Vault is a one-of-a-kind shop that provides education without the attitude. They feature an array of wines and craft beers for every budget and are happy to fill special orders. They also assemble gift baskets for gift giving and custom design.

Revelation Massage, in Auburn, has created a new niche in the burgeoning field of health and wellness, and personal improvement, by providing high-quality massage therapy and whole health education services throughout Lewiston, Wales and Turner. Their Membership Program makes customized health and wellness therapy an affordable and accessible component of a holistic approach to wellness, and the business has quickly established itself as a prominent local success story and committed corporate citizen.

Solapix, on Strawberry Avenue in Lewiston, is another great example of an innovative business model that typifies the new economy. Their imaginative product portfolio begins uses stunning stock photography and your cherished photos, and is brought to life in a new way by fusing photos and art onto exquisite home décor items. The impressive aesthetics, unimaginable depth and vibrancy provided by their imaging process, and a virtually unlimited number of design options will enable you to create a conversation piece that stands out, stands alone, and which will be cherished for a lifetime.

Breakfast panelists will share their own vision and business models with the crowd and each other, and there will be lots of time for questions and for getting to know these outstanding members of our business community. And all that, dynamic and exciting as it is, is just the beginning of a full day of similar experiences that concludes with the annual B2B-BAH.

The after-hours event has become the traditional closing to the trade show each year. It will take place between 4:30 to 6 p.m. in the concourse/food court area of the Colisee, and as usual it is expected that about 600 people will attend this biggest event of the year of its kind.

The B2B is all about networking, after all, getting up close and personal, and the concluding BAH brings it all home. Time to party!

The Garden Grille and Bar at the Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch in downtown Auburn

Buffalo Wild Wings in Auburn

Pinky D’s Food Truck in Lisbon Falls

Labadie’s Bakery in Lewiston

Mockin Bird outer Route 4 Auburn

Pinky D’s

Pinky D’s, owned and operated by thirty year culinary professional Randy Smith and his wife Deborah, serves gourmet diner food with a twist, and makes each dish an experience. Pinky D’s Food truck, built by Randy himself, is their latest creation. Randy started his food trucks before there were laws or permits in most of Maine for them. Their personality, chef skills and marketing skills made this dream of a food truck a perfect business.

The Garden Grille and Bar

The newest addition to the recently renovated Hilton Garden Inn Auburn Riverwatch, The Garden Grille and Bar features breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as Tuesdays nights on the patio all summer long. Join us on Tuesday nights for Executive Chef Bradley’s new patio menu, drink specials live music and more. For more information, call 207-514-2222.

Labadie’s Bakery

Labadie’s Bakery, a third generation, family-owned business, was established in 1920, and continues to make quality treats from their original Lewiston location.

Renown for being Maine’s earliest claim to whoopee pies — Labadie’s first started selling the pies in 1925! Not only do they make Maine’s official treat, they also create many other delicious desserts including cream rolls, eclairs, donuts, cookies, and more.

Buffalo Wild Wings

The best place in Central Maine to enjoy Wings, Beer and Sports. Bring the kids. We are 100 percent kid friendly. We also show UFC pay per view events, NHL, NBA, NFL and MLB. Located just off the rotary at 648 Turner Street in Auburn, we provide take-out for the family and a Large Order Take-Out menu for big events or parties. With 30 beers on tap and 17 different signature sauces to choose from the possibilities are endless. Come check us out.

Mockin Bird Restaurant

At Mockin Birds they don’t do happy hours, they do happy days, when they run specials all day. Located just a couple minutes past Lake Auburn, their goal is to make Mockin Birds happening place, where people bring their families. In addition to the pizza, with its homemade dough, sauce and secret blends of spices and cheese, their most popular dishes are the big and little racks of ribs, made with their own special BBQ sauce, and the baked haddock.

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