HIA-LI trade show returns Thursday as an in-person event

The HIA-LI’s annual trade show and conference will again be a one-day, in-person event after going virtual last year over two days because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The business group, formerly called the Hauppauge Industrial Association, has scheduled its 33rd trade show for Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Long Island Hilton in Melville.

"It’s essential for the Long Island business sector to emerge strongly from the jarring [economic] downturn triggered by COVID-19," said HIA-LI executive director Terri Alessi-Miceli. The trade show "provides an ideal opportunity to help make this happen. Regional business leaders will be re-engaging in person for the first time in a long time."

HIA-LI chairman Richard Humann, CEO of H2M Architects + Engineers in Melville, agreed, saying in-person "networking remains essential to business growth, especially amid the circumstances imposed by today’s pandemic."

Admission is free except for an 8 a.m. executive breakfast featuring commercial real estate executives from Engel Burman, Rechler Equity and Tritec Real Estate Co. discussing how to grow the regional economy. That event costs $50 to attend in person and $25 to attend virtually.

Show attendees must register in advance; those who haven't been vaccinated for COVID-19 must wear a mask.

The show will include more than 100 exhibitors plus seminars on leadership techniques, online marketing, cybersecurity, hiring and selling strategies.

For more information or to register go to hia-li.org/hia-li-events/tradeshow2020/ or call 631-543-5355.

By James T. Madore

james.madore@newsday.comJamesTMadore

James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news including the economy, development, and the relationship between government and business. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.