PHOTOS: Industry Show lures businesses for networking
Published 10:50 am Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Brian Fisher, left, speaks with Steve Lucchesi and Gus Fress of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries during the Industry Show Thursday at the Bob Bowers Civic Center. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Travis Woods, with the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce, speaks with Kasey Taylor of RT Technical during the event. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Eric West, left, Larry Kelley, executive director of the Port of Port Arthur, Leah Guillotte-Stark of HPP, and Anthony Theriot, director of engineering at the Port pause of a photo during the Industry Show. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Baron NDT employee Eric Wilder, left, owner Mike Benson, and employee Joel Garza at their booth. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Chelcie Barnett with Echo Group, left, speaks with Juanita Sanchez with Veritex Community Bank. (Mary Meaux/The News)
Elton Hollis III, left, and Joe Tant, president and CEO of the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce. (Mary Meaux/The News)
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For businesses such as Baron NDT, the Industry Show is a way to meet those that would benefit from their services.
Owner Mike Benson explained that as a subcontractor that works with a number of fabrication companies he is able to meet people he may not otherwise meet. “We’re one down the line,” Benson said of being a subcontractor. “These people built it, they need people to inspect it. It’s really important for us to be able to meet these people because they’re our customers. And when it comes to non-destructive testing, which is what we do, they aren’t aware of us unless we get out and meet them and shake hands with them.”
The Florida based company has an office in Beaumont on Eastex Freeway.
Baron NDT was one of 109 vendors with booths at the annual Industry Show that was presented by the Greater Port Arthur Chamber of Commerce at the Bob Bowers Civic Center.
Latisha Poledore with the Chamber of Commerce said the Industry Show has been called one of the largest networking events by some of the businesses represented.
There was so much interest by vendors that some had already signed up t return next year, Poledore added.
Visitors to the Industry Show were able to stroll down aisled filled with vendor booths representing industry giants and subcontractors in diverse fields.
The Port of Port Arthur was one of the vendors on site. Larry Kelley, executive Port director/CEO, said the event was a great venue to reach out to contractors in the area
“We basically have almost 200 vendors working at our Port and we have a contractor outreach program that encourages local women owned, minority owned, veteran and disabled veteran owned businesses,” Kelley said.
Not just the inside of the civic center was busy Thursday.
Massive cranes standing 100 and 265 feet above the ground heralded the 2024 Industry Show where a gathering of vendors networked at the Bob Bowers Civic Center.
Several of the truck cranes held a banner for the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 450. The giant truck cranes belong to signatory contractors Maxim Cranes, Deep South Crane and Rigging and Sarens Crane, Bryon Williams with Local 450, said.
