MORE THAN 100 BUSINESSES TO EXHIBIT AT EXPO THIS WEEK

Nowadays the big buzz is about the information superhighway, the Internet, the World Wide Web, home pages, downloading, search engines and networks.

Nineteen percent of the nation's consumers have already accessed the Internet. Another 12 percent is expected to join that list within a year.

Many schools and hospitals, including those in Southeast Missouri, are connected to the Internet, which gives them direct links to the latest educational and medical information.

People attending this week's "Business Expo '96," Tuesday and Wednesday, at the Show Me Center can learn more about "surfing the net."

"A number of companies which will be displaying their products during the two-day expo will provide information about the Internet," said Linda Minner, special projects and marketing director for the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce.

The expo was developed by the Chamber's public relations committee.

Business Expo '96 is being held in conjunction with the annual business conference, sponsored by the chamber's university relations committee and the Harrison College of Business at Southeast Missouri University.

The business conference will be held Wednesday, 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. and will feature John Gorby as presenter.

Internet Gateway Inc. will have a live connection to the Internet at the Show Me Center and will explain how to go about getting on the Internet. LDD Inc. and MVP will each have Internet demonstrations. RV Productions Inc. and Softworks USA Inc. will display Web Page designs for the Internet.

Some 85 companies will display their products in more than 100 spaces at the Show Me Center.

Coad Chevrolet, Southeast Missouri Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center will occupy most spaces at the Expo. Travel agencies, manufacturers, banks, printing services, telecommunications providers, medical services, retail and other services, are among exhibitors.

The Expo opens at 1 p.m. Tuesday and will feature a number of speakers during the first day. A session on "The University Procurement Process: How to Do Business with Southeast Missouri State University," will be held at 2 p.m. Speakers include Laura Stock, director of the purchasing department, and Kathy Mangles, budget analyst for the facility management department.

Other programs included during the first day:

3 p.m. -- Ron Gitlin, of MIH Inc., discussion of "Office Ergonomics."

3:30 p.m. -- "Intern Partnerships" will be discussed by Dr. Dennis Holt, assistant provost; Dr. Bert J. Kellerman, professor of marketing; Dr. Charles Kupchella, provost; and Dr. Gerald McDougall, dean, Harrison College of Business.

4 p.m. -- "Unleashing the Power of Your Laser or Ink Jet Printer," by Steve Price, Avery-Dennison Inc.

5 p.m. -- Chamber of Commerce's "Business After Hours."

The Expo will continue Wednesday with programs to start at 1 p.m.. Price will speak at 1, and Gitlin at 1:30. "Corporate Fitness and Wellness" will be presented at 2 by Bill Logan, wellness coordinator, and Marsha Holloway, health promotions specialist with St. Francis Medical Center Health and Rehabilitation.

"Effective Use of Your Advertising Dollar" is the theme of Wednesday's 1996 Business Conference.

Gorby, president of Douglas Britt Co., a Chicago-area management consulting firm headquartered in St. Charles, Ill., will present the three-hour conference, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.

Conference registration will be 7 to 7:30 a.m., with breakfast served at 7:30.

Gorby has developed and presented sales, management and personal development programs throughout North America. Gorby previously served as marketing executive with Procter & Gamble, and as group vice president of Curtis Communications Group. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, with bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration.

BUSINESS EXPO '96 TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY

Companies, businesses and others with exhibits at the Business Expo '96 are:

Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, Red Letter Communications, The ImageMaker, KFVS-12, Southwestern Bell Yellow Pages, Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, Advance Business Systems, Drury Hotel Group of Cape Girardeau, Osborne Office Equipment, Ameritech Cellular, Tipton Linen and Uniform Service, Crescent Moon Indoor Advertising, Personnel Support Inc., Air Evac Aviation, Kessigner Specific Chiropractic, Office Interior and Design, Horizon Screen Printing & Promotional Products, Target and Century 21 Key Realty.

A.G. Edwards & Sons Inc., Concord Printing Services, Cape Kil Pest Control, Raben Tire Co., Mercantile Bank of Cape Girardeau, JCS/Tel Link, Regional Occupational Medicine Associates, Southeast Missouri Hospital, MVP, Doctors' Park Surgery Inc., GenEx; Cape Central Renaissance, General Clay Co dba General Sign Co., Elite Travel Inc., Brown & Bigelow Promotional Products, Q-9/Talk Sports 1120; Manpower Temporary Service Inc., DMX For Business and Superior Office Products.

First National Bank, Ryder, HealthLink Inc., Enterprise Rent A Car, HealthSouth Rehabilitation, Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield, LDD Inc., Landstar Ranger, KMC Construction/Service Master, RV Productions Inc., Softworks USA Inc., Cape Girardeau Area Vo-Tech School, Interquest Information Services, Humana Health Care, Southeast Missourian/Business Today; Coad Chevrolet Inc., Kinsey Document Solutions, Mail Boxes, Etc., Mid-America Hotels Corp. Inc., Internet Gateway Inc., TCI Cablevision, Union Planters Bank and Craftsman Office Supply.

Fox 23 KBSI, Computer Plus Inc., Boatmen's Bank; St. Francis Medical Center, Commerce Bank, Kwik-Kopy Printing, Data Business Systems Inc., Mead Environmental Associates Inc., U.S. Postal Service, SEMO Specialties & Sports, Heartland Telephone Services, Wallpaper for Less, Johnson's Siding and Replacement Windows, M&W Packaging U.S. Inc., Union Electric, Orthopaedic Associates of Southeast Missouri, Commercial Real Estate Specialists Inc., Immediate Health Care, Roosevelt Bank, Dial A Page, and Fru-Con.