Hosted by the Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce, the event drew about 400 attendees and featured 85 exhibitors. Photo courtesy of Adam Surridge, Capital Valley Marketing

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Long before first raffle tickets were dropped into prize boxes and before attendees filled the aisles lined with local businesses, the real purpose of the Rancho Cordova Business Expo was already taking shape: bringing people and businesses together.

At a time when networking often happens behind computer screens, the 15th Annual Rancho Cordova Business Expo transformed face-to-face conversations into opportunities for growth, partnership and community building on June 25.

Hosted by the Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce, the event drew about 400 attendees and featured 85 exhibitors representing industries ranging from health care and finance to government agencies, nonprofits and local service providers. Held under the theme “Where Business Meets Opportunity,” the expo focused on helping businesses connect, collaborate and expand their reach.

The expo floor reflected the diversity of Rancho Cordova’s business community. Photo courtesy of Adam Surridge, Capital Valley Marketing

“The goal of the Expo was to showcase the heart of the Rancho Cordova region’s business community: our local businesses,” said Diann Rogers, president and CEO of the Rancho Cordova Area Chamber of Commerce. “The event was designed to create opportunities for businesses to connect with one another and to give the broader community a chance to discover the variety of products, services and organizations that make this area a vibrant place to live, work and do business.”

Unlike traditional community fairs, the Rancho Cordova Business Expo has evolved into a business-to-business event designed to create meaningful professional relationships.

“What sets this Expo apart from a typical community expo or trade show is its intentional design to meet the evolving needs of our local business community,” Rogers said.

The Rancho Cordova Business Expo has evolved into a business-to-business event designed to create meaningful professional relationships. Photo courtesy of Adam Surridge, Capital Valley Marketing

She explained that the chamber has adapted the event over the years based on feedback from exhibitors and attendees. Following the workforce shortages that emerged during the pandemic, the expo previously included a job fair. As hiring challenges eased, organizers shifted their focus toward networking and business development opportunities.

Today, that approach includes an exhibitor mixer held the evening before the expo and an exhibitor break room designed to encourage conversations and collaboration throughout the day.

“Rather than simply filling a parking lot with booths, our goal is to create a setting where connections are made and business growth happens,” Rogers said.

Attendees were encouraged to visit booths through the Expo’s “Passport to Prizes” program. Photo courtesy of Adam Surridge, Capital Valley Marketing

The expo floor reflected the diversity of Rancho Cordova’s business community. Local entrepreneurs stood alongside established companies, community organizations and government agencies, all sharing resources and information with attendees.

Attendees were encouraged to visit booths through the Expo’s “Passport to Prizes” program, which rewarded participants for exploring the entire event. The program was designed to introduce visitors to organizations and industries they might not otherwise encounter while increasing engagement between exhibitors and attendees.

For city leaders, the event represented more than a networking opportunity. It showcased the role local businesses play in Rancho Cordova’s continued growth and success.

“We’re easily the most business-friendly city,” said Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood. “For every citizen that can work, we have three to four jobs.”

The program was designed to introduce visitors to organizations and industries they might not otherwise encounter. Photo courtesy of Adam Surridge, Capital Valley Marketing

Gatewood said local businesses help fund community improvements and services that residents rely on every day.

“They’re really the most important part of Rancho Cordova because they’re the ones that fund everything, all the crazy good stuff we get to do in the city,” Gatewood said.

The city, he added, has invested in programs designed to help businesses succeed, from grants and facade improvement programs to educational resources for entrepreneurs.

“We are trying to make sure that every business in Rancho has a chance to be successful and grow,” Gatewood said.

That commitment to supporting local businesses aligns closely with the chamber’s broader mission.

“Developing partnerships among local businesses is central to the Chamber’s mission,” Rogers said. “Our purpose is to advocate for, connect and empower businesses by creating opportunities, providing resources and growing together.”

For organizers, success is measured less by attendance numbers and more by the relationships formed throughout the day.

“Success means hearing that businesses found real value in the connections they made,” Rogers said. “If businesses leave with new customers, or even just one meaningful connection that helps them grow, we’ve accomplished our goal.”