A GLBT job fair - potentially a first for Middle Tennessee - will be part of a revamped 2007 Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce Life, Business Expo & Job Fair.
The event will be held on a week night and at a new venue as the Expo enters its third year.
"The expo, combined with the job fair, will make this year's event very business oriented," explained Shane Burkett, executive vice president, Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLBTCC) and chair of the chamber's event committee. "The job fair component is every exciting. it will offer companies the ability to recruit new employees from a very diverse and capable workforce."
Burkett said the event committee had chosen to move the Expo from last year's venue at LP Field (home of the Tennessee Titans) to City Hall Entertainment Space, a large expo center in Nashville's Gulch district. Last year the Expo attracted more than 500 people and more than 50 exhibitors.
"City Hall is a very exciting space," Burkett said. "We'll be able to go from a maximum of 56 exhibitors to 62 exhibitors."
City Hall is a former warehouse and has 12,000 square feet of available space. Burkett said Bar Twenty3, which is part of the City Hall Entertainment Space, also would be made available for Expo attendees. Bar Twenty3 is a two-story bar with a modern white-and-gray color scheme flanked with frosted-glass light towers that dominate both ends of the club.
"We'll have the space for training and workshops during the Expo hours," Burkett said. "And we'll be able to offer a mixer after the Expo officially closes at 10:00 p.m."
Burkett said the committee felt that moving the event from a Saturday to a week night would help boost attendance and be more "business friendly."
"People are already in the 'business mode' during the week," he said. "That's not always true when an event like this is held on a weekend. People will be able to drop by directly after work."
Members of the NGLBTCC event's committee include Burkett, Rick Harris, David Lazarus, Christopher Nadeau and Angie Petty.
Burkett said sponsor and exhibitor packages would be available by the end of April.
Event Details:
NGLBTCC Life & Business Expo & Job Fair
Thursday, Oct. 25
5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
City Hall Entertainment Space
405 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203
