Highland Park, IL, October 12, 2009 - Larry Bloom, owner of ATI Graphics, a full-service graphic design and web development firm based in Highland Park, Ill., was featured in the Business section (CareerBuilder page) of the Chicago Tribune on Sunday, October 11.

Bloom, who founded his own business nearly 13 years ago, is one of the founding members of The Business Networker's Expo and Social Media Fair taking place at Mission Hills Country Club in Northbrook on Friday, October 23. The Chicago Tribune featured the Expo on its Sunday CareerBuilder page and extensively quoted Bloom in an article entitled, “Training Ground.” The article focused on the importance of networking for small businesses.

“The majority of recent projects have come from contacts I made networking,” says Bloom, who admits that the idea of reciting his 30-second elevator pitch made him uneasy at first. “Like many small business owners, I had largely gotten new clients via word of mouth and referral. But the playing field has changed -- there is more competition and the best way to get referrals these days is to network.”

According to Bloom, networking is not about trying to make the next sale. It’s about helping others who will then hopefully turn around and help you. “I consider it good business karma because you never know where your next client might come from.”

Bloom has had so much success from his networking efforts that along with three of his colleagues, JD Gershbein of Owlish Communications, Chad Coe of Coe Financial Group and Amy Spitzer of Amy on Call, he is organizing The Business Networker's Expo and Social Media Fair, an event createed to promote networking for small and mid-sized businesses.  Bloom developed the Web site for the event and produced all the promotional materials. He also secured several sponsors and strategic partnerships, including TribLocal, a division of Tribune Media.

Bloom notes that the Expo will provide an opportunity for business owners to meet, learn about one another, find mutual areas of interest and discover mutual contacts. The all-day event will also feature speakers discussing the important role that social networking sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter can play in helping to generate leads and ultimately new business.

Bloom says that interest in the Expo is high and that the sponsorships quickly sold out. “Networking is extremely valuable. People know that this is the way to find a job, start a new career, reinvigorate a company and develop new professional – and even personal – relationships."

“I have not only made some great business contacts but also good friends through networking,” adds Bloom. “Who better to refer you than somebody who not only knows your business but can also speak to your integrity as a person. It’s really a win-win.”

For more information on the Small Business Expo and Social Media Fair taking place on October 23, check out  www.biznetexpo.com. To read the Chicago Tribune article, click here.

To learn more about Bloom and his company’s clients and services, visit www.atigraphics.com.