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Local businesses showcased in ‘boomer' expo

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The Growing Young Expo of Austin will host its first expo this weekend and five local businesses will be showcased at the event, which is geared toward baby boomers.

The Growing Young Expo founder and CEO, Jane Dueease, said the expo's goal is to educate the baby boomer generation on specific issues including caregiving, health and wellness, travel, retirement and other lifestyle events.

“Our purpose is education,” Dueease said. “There are things they go through and experiences that are unique to them. You never understand until you get there.”

With more than 330,000 baby boomers living in Central Texas, Dueease said there is definitely a good audience, which has led to an overwhelming response from exhibitors and attendees for the expo. With 130 exhibitors scheduled, including five from the Cedar Park and Leander area, “response over all has just been amazing,” said Dueease.

Cedar Park businesses include Lakeline Oaks Retirement Community, Nationwide Floor and Window and Business Builders Network of Texas, along with Nikken and Your Local City in Leander. All will have booths at the event.

Trish Beach, district ambassador with Your Local City in Leander, said she heard about the expo from one of her ambassadors. Beach said the expo will be a good chance for them to “promote and showcase our members.”

Nikken distributor and representative Joe Higdon said the event is a good opportunity for people to learn about wellness and learn things they didn't know.

Doris Waggoner from the marketing team at Lakeline Oaks is excited about the expo and hopes it will bring more retired families to their community. “We're new here in the area and this is great exposure for us,” she said.

Business Builders Network of Texas CEO Marvin Cole agreed that the expo will be beneficial to business. “This is a great opportunity for my business to take advantage of because they're my market audience,” said Cole, who is also a speaker at the expo.

Dueease came up with the idea that blossomed into the Growing Young Expo six years ago after taking of her aging grandparents. “I found a real lack of information on caregiving and other issues,” she said. “There is a real need for trustworthy information.”

“They basically control most of the money,” said Ron Mackey, owner of Nationwide Floor and Windows. While the expo will bring out more than just baby boomers, “what better way than to target a particular age group,” he said.

Due to the response Dueease has received from Austin, she plans to have similar expos in Houston and Dallas in the future.

The expo, which will include 80 workshops and five different speakers including actress and author Marilu Henner, will be Saturday, Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Sept. 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $20. The expo will be at the Palmer Events Center, 900 Barton Springs Road, Austin.

For more information, visit their website at www.growing youngexpo.com

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