Two area Chambers of Commerce are hosting the 11th Annual Business Showcase on March 24th at the Samoset Resort, where local businesses showcase their products and services to other businesses and to the general public.

The showcase, hosted by Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville and the Rockland-Thomaston Area chambers of commerce is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and is free to the public. The lead sponsors are Staples and Bangor Internationl Airport.

This year's show is shaping up to be a great one in terms of the number of exhibitors, informative seminars and overall attendance.

Local businesses will occupy more than 100 booths at the showcase.

The Keynote address (sponsored by Union Trust) will feature Jeffery Sosnaud, Deputy Commissioner, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development. This will be from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.

In addition to the tradeshow and resource area, the event will feature several seminars, led by area business experts.

The seminar schedule is a follows:
11:00 to 12:15 p.m. -- "The Art of Closing the Sale," presented by Scott Sanfino, principal of the Sandler Sales Institute.

1:00 to 2:15 p.m. -- "So You Want a Web Site- What Then? - Help for the non-Technical Business Owner," (sponsored by Midcoast Review) presented by Rich Dieffenbach of Allure Creative, Inc.

1:00 to 2:15 p.m. -- "My Business is on the Web - What Next?" (sponsored by J&B Diversified Associates, Inc.) with a panel of speakers from various business sectors -- Kristin Collins of VillageSoup, Greg Closter of Screaming Planet Productions, Bill Batty, Jr. of Midcoast Internet Solutions and James Arseneau of J&B Diversified Associates, Inc.

2:30 to 3:45 p.m. -- "Mixing Media. Advertising with a purpose ... and a plan," (sponsored by Elm St. Printing) presented by Joe Ryan of Adventure Advertising.

A Business Reception, hosted by the Samoset Resort, will be located in the Knox County Ballroom from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Door and raffle prizes will be posted at 4:30 p.m. in the Knox County Ballroom. Courtesy carry-alls for the event will be provided by Union Trust and will be available at Chamber's tables located in the main entrance.

In addition to the business-to-business promotion that takes place at the show, the business showcase will again host 70 high school students from Camden Hills Regional, Rockland District, and Medomak Valley high schools. The students will have the opportunity to find out more about business opportunities in the midcoast and throughout the state. The students will also attend a brown bag Business/Education Partnership presentation from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.

About J&B Diversified Associates, Inc.

J&B Diversified Associates, Inc. is a leading provider of e-business solutions in the New England region. J&B solutions enable companies of all sizes to cost-effectively change the technology, structure, processes and culture of their organization. These solutions include network design and management, systems integration, web design and hosting, and telephone communication systems. The company was founded in 1991 and remains a profitable, privately held corporation. For more information, visit the J&B website at www.jbda..com or call 800-450-1190.

For more information; contact James Arseneau, Chief Executive Officer, J&B Diversified Associates, at 207-338-1138 (jarseneau@jbda.com).