Business Showcase bustling

Gardnerville Ranchos-based Pet Sitters Plus shared the stage and limelight with mega-corporation Starbucks at the eighth annual Carson Valley Business Showcase on Thursday, proving just how diverse business in Carson Valley is.

"This is the most fun event of the year," said Pet Sitters owner Debra Ross. "Everyone visits and gets free stuff, and I get a lot of referrals."

Pet Sitters was one of 90 businesses occupying booths at the Douglas County Fairgrounds pavilion. Hundreds of people continuously flowed through the doors sampling food, reading promotional brochures and pocketing business cards.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for the general public to learn about the businesses here," said Jenney Sartin, executive director of the Carson Valley Chamber of Commerce. "People that drive down the street and see a business and have no idea what it does, can come here and see what kind of services and products that business offers."

Representatives of the Starbucks roasting plant were encouraging people to try the company's new Pike Place roast "everyday" brew.

"This is great," said plant coordinator Kathy Oien. "Everybody comes in saying they love Starbucks, and they give us feedback on our stores."

A bank was looking to broaden its customer base.

"We are the only locally owned bank in the Valley," said Julie Kidd, chief financial officer for Carson River Community Bank, located off Jack's Valley Road near Target.

The bank just opened an administrative office in Gardnerville.

"The bank has been very well received, and the exposure here has been great," said Kidd.

Jim and Val Prather started a new business last year, the Entertainer, a wedding and event planner and equipment rental service. They said business is doing well, and the showcase is a way to connect with the community.

"You get out of this what you put into it," said Jim Prather.

Carson Valley Residential Care put a lot into its booth. Resident coordinator Paula Freud and director Karen Perry dressed up like the Clampetts from the "Beverly Hillbillies," sporting gray wigs and old-fashioned gowns.

"This is a tribute to our residents," said Freud, as she served opossum squares and pond scum bars to passerbys.

Frank Dressel of Gardnerville attends the event every year to check out new businesses, especially those serving food.

"Starbucks got my attention this year, but so did a lot of the different restaurants," he said.

Lori Baxter was serving dishes from her two restaurants, Wasabi's Sushi and Indigo Restaurant, both in Minden Village.

"I appreciate seeing new faces," she said.

But businesses weren't the only ones enticing new faces; many nonprofit organizations participated in the event, too.

Cheyanne Lane, an outreach coordinator for Tahoe Youth & Family Services, was encouraging businesses to sign up as "safe places," safe havens where kids can come in times of crisis, whether escaping a bad date or an abusive home situation.

"We're just trying to get the word out," she said.

It was the first showcase for Minden resident Jim Nelson.

"The locals are very friendly, and there's a variety of things to check out," he said. "I think it's very important to support our local businesses."