Business Expo packs ATEC building

61 local businesses filled the ATEC Building at Big Bend Community College Tuesday night for the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours and Expo event.

The event attracted a variety of businesses and organizations from around the Basin, including Gesa Credit Union, Central Washington University, and Clifton Larson Allen.

The networking event was so well attended, in fact, that several organizations' tables were set up in the hallway outside of ATEC's main conference room.

Michael's on the Lake provided hors d'oeuvres for those in attendance while they took the opportunity to learn more about the vendors.

Gesa Credit Union and Inland Cellular were set up in front of the stage, where six lucky people were selected to compete for a 55" TV.

Clifton Larson Allen's Donna Goode survived a head-to-head bean bag toss game to advance to the final contest against five other finalists. Large blow-up dice were rolled and the person whose number came up advanced their NFL figurine downfield. When Goode marched her miniature New England Patriot across the goal line, the 55" LG TV became hers.

Several other businesses held drawings for gift baskets and other prizes. A handful of Seahawks fans went home happy with an assortment of gear, including a signed photo of Russell Wilson, a mini-helmet signed by Tyler Lockett, his and hers Seahawks watches, and his and hers jerseys.

The jerseys were the prize offered by Feller Orthodontics. Dr. David Feller said the jerseys are a way to give back to a great community and thanked them for supporting the food drive his office held prior to Christmas. "We collected over 150 pounds of food. We couldn't lift the bucket."

Michaelle Boetger and her husband had a busy night. In addition to presenting their two booths – one for Michaelle's graphic design business and another for their Wiggle Butt Sitters pet-sitting service – she won a Bluetooth speaker in one of the drawings and was a finalist for the TV giveaway, after having won her bean-bag toss match.

Inland Cellular held a drawing for their gift basket that included a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 and a gift card to Michael's, but, the 55" TV was the grand prize of the night.

Gesa Area Manager Nathaniel Prior, agreed. "We have the best giveaways."