John Miller walked into the JAX Chamber Trade Show on Tuesday with a purpose.
The ever-networking Jacksonville Beach attorney visited each of the real estate professionals, bankers, mortgage brokers and financial planners among the 70 exhibitors at the event.
The annual trade show provides chamber members the opportunity to market directly to their peers and the public in a “business-after-hours” setting.
Miller’s Rock Solid Business Law firm helps customers with real estate matters, estate planning and business transactions, among other services.
“The thing that’s easy about this event is that you can see who will be displaying beforehand — and I’ve got my list in my pocket,” Miller said midway during the three-hour exposition at the University of North Florida.
“I talk to the folks and if we seem to have a good connection or synergy between us, I’ll follow up,” he said.
The chamber’s 2016 small business leader of the year, Miller also stopped by other booths that struck his fancy, shaking lots of hands, making new friends and renewing old acquaintances.
Along the way, he bumped into a Realtor who asked for — and received — a legal referral from Miller.
“You not only come to these things looking for business, you come to help others, if you can,” he said.
The annual networking-and-business development event — organized by the chamber’s Beaches Division for about 15 years — drew about 400 visitors.
Patrons paid $5 in advance and $10 at the door. Admission included samplings from local restaurants and a beverage.
Amanda Patch, the Beaches Division director, said the event has grown every year.
“The exhibitors are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase their products and services, and our members really love to come together for some great networking and to build camaraderie,” she said.
Among the more popular stops for trade show patrons was Aviation Systems Engineering Co.’s exhibit.
The company provides commercial aerial services and had a large, multi-rotor drone displayed.
“Do we make drones or do we provide a service?” was the most frequently asked question posed at the show, said Brent Klavon, the company’s unmanned aircraft systems manager.
The answer: “We don’t make them.”
Rather, the company’s flight department owns, leases and operates drones for a variety of projects for clients ranging from agriculture business operators to disaster response providers.
The unmanned aircraft take photographs and videos, collecting data that can be turned into information to make businesses and organizations more efficient.
“We’re here (at the trade show) to hopefully find a prospect or two and also to get our brand out there,” Klavon said. “We want to be the dominant drone company in town.”
Jacksonville newcomers Terry and Lisa Bunch set up shop to promote The Flying Locksmiths after recently becoming the Northeast Florida franchisee for the Boston-based company.
The 70-year-old firm’s founder started the business while training to become an aviator.
“He came home from the war and was working on his pilot’s license and ended up becoming the local locksmith,” Lisa Bunch said.
Hence, the name.
Specializing in commercial services, the Bunches became The Flying Locksmiths’ second franchisee after the company expanded nationally in 2015.
The couple, who left retirement after learning about the opportunity through a franchise “matchmaking” service, has hired three locksmiths.
Business is good, Lisa Bunch said.
“We think we are on to something special,” she said.
While Aviation Systems Engineering and The Flying Locksmiths were first-time exhibitors at the annual event, that wasn’t the case for The Haskell Co.
The Jacksonville commercial and industrial construction and engineering firm continually seeks opportunities to support the chamber and promote the firm’s services locally, said Haskell project manager Matthew Garman.
Haskell’s display featured a banner highlighting its Jacksonville projects, including EverBank Field enhancements and the recent Mercedes-Benz parts distribution center expansion.
“Not a lot of people understand that we do work right here in Jacksonville,” Garman said.