
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 16, 1994                    TAG: 9406160523 
SECTION: BUSINESS                     PAGE: D1    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: By GAGE HARTER, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940616                                 LENGTH: Medium

FROM MASSAGE TO MESSAGE, THE MEDIUM WAS CALLED BIZFEST

{LEAD} Firm handshakes and an exchange of business cards usually launch the networking process.

Sometimes schmoozing even elevates to a back slap.

{REST} Not only was there plenty of handshaking and back slapping at the First Annual BizFest held Wednesday on the grounds of Norfolk Academy, there was some back rubbing going on, too.

``Wow, it feels wonderful,'' said Sean Fox of Tire America as he received a professional massage from Pamela Best.

Best and the American Massage Therapy Association paid the $395 fee to attend the show because, ``I'm here to educate people on the benefits of touch.''

Borrowing from Virginia Beach's Mayfest, Chesapeake's A Taste of Chesapeake and Norfolk's Seafest, the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce created BizFest. The result, the chamber hopes, will be the largest networking and outdoor trade fair for this region.

Despite the scorching weather, more than 2,000 bought tickets while 73 companies offered exhibits. Companies ranged from DePaul Hospital to Triple R Ranch.

Many exhibitors displayed colorful billboards and distributed brochures, surveys and gifts. Freedom Ford even employed pro Mike Fentress to give golfers advice.

One of the more ambitious exhibits was Virginia Pro Hoops Inc. Hoops is attempting to bring a United States Basketball League team to Hampton Roads. In fact, it has organized a game between two USBL teams for Saturday.

``Basically, it makes a lot of sense for us to be here,'' said Hoops representative Raymond White. ``This is a way to introduce potential corporate sponsors to us.''

But it wasn't all work.

Under striped tents, people gathered to eat steaming-hot shrimp and drink cold lemonade while two bands played. Almost everyone donned the usual summer attire - shorts and a T-shirt.

Jack Williams of Kimnach Ford epitomized this new way of doing business. He sat comfortably in a lawn chair, a fan blowing at his back, a phone at his disposal while informing passersby about the new line of Fords.

``It's a tough life, isn't it?'' Williams said.

``Last week we were at the Eck Corporation's horseshoe competition, and since have sold two cars to people we met there.''

by CNB