ADVISORY/Southfield Business Development Team and Southfield Chamber of Commerce to Present Second Annual Southfield Business Expo.

News/Assignment Editors

ADVISORY...for Wednesday (March 29)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Southfield Business Development Team is partnering with Southfield Chamber of Commerce in presenting the second annual Southfield Business Expo on Wednesday, March 29, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Southfield Civic Center Pavilion.

Five area business executives will be honored at an awards luncheon sponsored by Plante & Moran during the Expo. Award recipients were selected from the real estate industry by the City and Chamber for their outstanding commitment to Southfield as Michigan's No. 1 business address and in furthering Southfield's visibility as "The Center of It All"(TM) for Michigan business.

Honorees include C. Michael Kojaian, president of The Kojaian Companies, as Developer of the Year; Northwestern Corporate Center, a three-building office complex at 10 Mile and Northwestern renovated in 1999 by The Kojaian Companies, as Development of the Year; Steven Gordon, president of Signature Associates-ONCOR International, as Broker of the Year; and Gregg Leshman, property manager of Southfield Town Center, a Blackstone Real Estate Co. property, as Property Manager of the Year.

Johanna Cothery, chairman of Reid Manufacturing, will be honored as Businesswoman of the Year, in recognition of her long-standing commitment to the Southfield community and the Chamber. The award was created in support of National Business Women's Month.

Luncheon keynote speaker is Leslie Touma, vice president-corporate relations for Southfield-based Lear Corp., one of the nation's premier Tier One automotive suppliers.

Expo admission and parking are free. Luncheon tickets are $35 and available from the Chamber. Advance tickets are required.

"This event is an excellent opportunity for business-to-business networking and to share your corporate message, products and services with area businesses," noted Ed Powers, Chamber executive director.

"The Team is pleased to co-sponsor this event with the Chamber to showcase Southfield businesses and provide a venue for exposure to those within and outside of the community," added Barbara Bartos, Team manager.

Food service is available to Expo visitors in the Pavilion beginning at 2 p.m. from four Southfield-area restaurants: The Skyline Club, PizzaPapalis, Panera Bread and Vassel's Banquet Hall & Catering Center.

The event is sponsored in cooperation with Kinko's Corporate, Observer & Eccentric Newspapers, Comerica, Sagemark Consulting, WDFN-AM 1130, Airtouch Cellular, Providence Hospital and Medical Center, Siena Heights University, Telecheck Michigan, Old Kent Bank, Plante & Moran, The Answering Service, Inc., Peoples State Bank, Curtis 1000, Printed Business Communications and McLeod USA.

For tickets, call the Chamber, [phone]; or for information, call the Team, [phone]. VISA and MasterCard are accepted.