St. Pete's Gene Turovsky, Sarasota's Jessica, Marie and David Polimeni, Parrish's Wayne Parrish and Lakewood Ranch's Gareth Stevenson of Rite Technology.
Photo by Ian Swaby
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During the Tradeshow Tailgate Expo, the scene at Robarts Arena on Sept. 21 was a little different from past business expos by the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance.
The auditorium was filled with sports jerseys, football-shaped balloons, and fun opportunities in keeping with the event's newly chosen theme.
“A lot of people went a little outside of the box and really got into the game,” said business alliance president Brittany Lamont.
A few examples of the team spirit, she said, included social media competitions between different businesses, an opportunity to win Super Bowl tickets from Florida Cancer Specialists and a virtual reality football station by Rite Technology.
The scene was completed by the presence of the marching band from Bayshore Elementary in Bradenton, which circled the auditorium once while offering a performance.
The business alliance has been holding the expo since its inception, but this year, it decided to create a new experience for the event, which it had held in partnership with Longboat Key Chamber of Commerce in past years.
Some business owners said the experience was a win.
“A lot of people are trying the food. Everyone loved it,” said Sarasota's Ahmed Saad of Al Forno Mediterranean Grill & Subs. “People who hadn’t heard of us, have heard of us now, and it seems like everyone is going to come out.”
Sarasota's Sean Best and Palmetto's Tony Nichols of Roofing by Curry
Photo by Ian Swaby
Nicole Miller, a Brandon-based employee of Grapevine Communications in Lakewood Ranch, meets Maverick the Manatee, the State College of Florida mascot.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Peyton Davis and Georgia Sanacore of Cat Depot speak with Lakewood Ranch's John Holz.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Tandoor Indian Cuisine owner Poonam Maini
Photo by Ian Swaby
Lakewoo Ranch's Matt and Mackenzie Schafer of Shack Shine speak with Lakewood Ranch's Mark and Amanda Dalnodar.
Photo by Ian Swaby
St. Pete's Gene Turovsky, Sarasota's Jessica, Marie and David Polimeni, Parrish's Wayne Parrish and Lakewood Ranch's Gareth Stevenson of Rite Technology.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Lakewood Ranch's Maddie Anello and Jennifer Barbaro of Keiser University talk with Lakewood Ranch's Jason Ziarno.
Photo by Ian Swaby
This year, the Lakewood Ranch Busines Alliance decided to bring a tailgate theme to its expo.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Lakewood Ranch's Taylor Nelson tries out virtual reality with Rite Technology.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sarasota's Patrick O'Dell samples some offerings from Der Dutchman whose table is staffed by Sarasota's Mary and Mariah Miller.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Lakewood Ranch's Jan Busieie plays "What's in the Box?" assisted by Sarasota's Joshua Cockey, of Aginto.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Lakewood Ranch's Kelli Martinez and Alyson Battaglia serve popcorn with Legler, Murphy & Battaglia.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sarasota's Brendan Ward speaks with Sarasota's Corrie Moore and Brittany Bontell and Lakewood Ranch's Heather Terwilliger of Pure Home 365.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Bayshore Elementary students Kamden Cintron, Krys McGriff, Andrew Hargraves and Josh Bonilla-Grillo provided some of the musical accompaniment at the event, along with the rest of the school band.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sarasota's Ahmed Saad of Al Forno
Photo by Ian Swaby
Maverick the Manatee and Bradenton's Alexander Martinez of State College of Florida speak with Sarasota's Sydney Pollock of Everglades University.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Alicia Carden of Frosted Pink showcases treats to Lakewood Ranch's Cherri Kessler, Terri West and Bradenton's Bob MacDonald.
Photo by Ian Swaby
Sarasota's Paul Schott and Debbie Schaeffer of ServPro
Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.
