Restaurant expo gets high marks in poll of exhibitors

The Restaurant Association of Maryland's 2002 Mid-Atlantic Food, Beverage and Lodging Expo, held Oct. 23-24, was given top marks by its exhibitors in a poll and questionnaire given by members of the association's board of directors at the event's close.

Ninety-three percent of exhibitors surveyed said they planned to return to the expo next year; 88 percent said the Mid-Atlantic Expo was better than comparable events; and 81 percent said they thought more buyers attended than in previous years.

The Delaware Restaurant Association, the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, the Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association, the Maryland Hotel/Motel Association, the Maryland Liquor Store Association and the Korean-American Grocers and Licensed Beverage Foundation of Maryland were co-sponsors of the regional show.

The Columbia-based Restaurant Association of Maryland has 3,000 members.

Chapman Group aids donation of flooring

As a result of a monthlong effort, the Chapman Group, a national sales consulting firm with headquarters in Columbia, was instrumental in obtaining a donation of flooring for the new residential facility of Our House, a home and school for at-risk young men.

The flooring was received and installed in time for Thanksgiving, when residents moved into the new Our House facility, a 140-acre farm in Brookeville.

The Chapman Group facilitated the donation by its new client, Amtico International Inc., a flooring company with facilities in Coventry, England, and Atlanta, Ga.

Our House offers academic courses, vocational and life-skills training, group therapy and opportunities for community service to its residents.