Josh Johnson, better know to HGTV’s Design Star fans as “Sparkle Josh," will headline this Thursday's Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce 2007 Life, Business & Career Expo presented by Chase Home Loans.

Johnson, an openly-gay interior designer from Hendersonville, will show fans how to “energize their home” during a workshop presented by Bridgestone. He will also talk about his recent experiences on Design Star.

Sparkle Josh recently made his climb to fame after making it to as one of the top five designers on HGTV’s Design Star. He was nick-named “Sparkle Josh” by his Design Star co-designers and was one of 11 designers competing in the second season of Design Star.

“I am so excited to be a part of the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce 2007 Life, Business & Career Expo,” said Johnson. “I hope all of my fans will come out and support this great event and learn how to energize their home.”

In addition to Johnson, two other local experts will be on hand to do home demonstrations. Renee Kasman, a pastry chief at Zola, will treat Expo visitors with a demonstration on “fall desserts”.  Jerry Ellis, a floral designer from the Blooming Boutique, will show how to make "the perfect floral arrangement."

The Expo will open its doors from 5 to 10 p.m., and an after-expo networking event will be held at Bar Twenty3 from 9 to 11 p.m. Bar Twenty3 is is a modern, two-story bar and is adjacent to the Expo location.

Ellis will go on stage with his presentation called "home flowers made easy" at 6 p.m.

Kasman will talk about "pastries you can make/fall pastry selection" at 7 p.m.

Johnson will go on stage at 8 p.m. to "energize your home" and his HGTV experience.

"We’re very excited to have these three home experts as part of the Expo,” said Shane Burkett, executive vice president of the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLBTCC). “This will be a great opportunity to come out and visit with local businesses, look for a new job, and learn some great tips for improving your home.”

This marks the third year of the Expo, which will be held City Hall Entertainment Space, a large meeting center in Nashville's Gulch district. Admission and parking are both free.

Burkett said he expects more than 1,500 people to attend the event. Five Hyatt $100 gift certificates will be given away, good at any Hyatt hotel.

Current sponsors (at press time) of the event include Chase Home Loans (Presenting); Bridgestone (Presidential level); Deloitte (Boardroom level); D2Design; Inside Out Nashville; The Nashville Scene; Out & About Newspaper and SBResults.

Current exhibitors (at press time - please continue to check our Web site for the most up-to-date listing) are:

SBResults

Solve Solutions

Terry Gordon, Village Real Estate

Deloitte

Tennessee Transgender P.A.

Planned Parenthood

Foliage Management

An Eye for Change

UBS Financial

Bridgestone

Out & About Newspaper

Inside Out Newspaper

Nashville Scene

The Blooming Boutique

D2Designs

Jeff Rymer, Village Real Estate

Forward Focus Mediation

Brooks Fund

Verizon Wireless

Nashville Pride Festival

Nashville Film Festival

Nashville Shakespear Festival

Dogs Love It

Healthy Home

Visual Eyes

Prepaid Legal Service

Natural Resources

Suntrust Bank

Crisis Assesment & Prevention Services

Tennessee Equality Project

Hyatt

Vanderbilt Medical Center - HIV Vaccine Trials

Freedom Press

Tribe Video Bar 

Nashville Pharmacy Services, LLC 

Jane Anderson, Village Real Estate

Booth spaces are limited to 62 and are priced at $150 for chamber members and $195 for non-chamber members. Non-profits booth prices are $150.

Members of the NGLBTCC event's committee that have worked on the Expo include Burkett, David Lazarus, Christopher Nadeau and Toni Pack.

Event Details:

NGLBTCC Life, Business and Career Expo
Thursday, Oct. 25
5 to 11:00 p.m.
City Hall Entertainment Space
405 12th Avenue South
Nashville, TN 37203