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The one-day annual Buy Lehigh Valley Expo is in full swing today at Stabler Arena at Lehigh University in Bethlehem. In its 31st year, the business-to-business event is held by the Women’s Business Council and Small Business Council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce and features more than 100 booths and exhibitors from various fields and industries. The expo runs until 3 p.m. Some of the companies and businesses include Corporate Images, Advanced Business Equipment, John Yurconic Agency and Talen Energy. Throughout the day, additional chamber events are being held at the expo. From 2-3 p.m., chamber president and CEO Tony Iannelli will moderate Taste of the Valley, which is a panel of restaurant owners: Hanna Bonner of Taza Truck, Louie Belletieri of Louie’s Restaurant and Louie’s Catering, Chris Duarte of The Bayou and Grain, Elaine Pivinski of Franklin Hill Vineyard and Josh Palmer of Maxim’s 22 Bistro & Brasserie. There also will be a Steel Chef Competition, featuring chefs Shawn Doyle of Savory Grille, Christian Gonzalez of the Hamilton Kitchen & Bar and Ellen Paredes of Iron Lakes Country Club. Competition emcee will be Ashley Russo of ASR Media Productions. Judges are Ted Heeps of Heeps Meats, Steve Patterson of TD Bank and community activist Ilene Wood. Lehigh Valley Legends II, a lunch panel of local business people, was held from 11 a.m.-noon, with panelists Tony Salvaggio, founder and CEO of Computer Aid; Richard Anderson, president and CEO of St. Luke’s University Health Network; Jane Ervin, former CEO of Community Services for Children and former Lehigh County Executive; and Jim Morgans, former football coach at Parkland, Salisbury, Central Catholic (Allentown) and Freedom high schools. Iannelli also was the moderator for this panel. “What I hope to gain is to make more connections,” said Suzanne Tercha, benefits consultant for Murray Securus, based in Lancaster, which has a booth at the expo. “There is a tremendous amount of growth for us in the Lehigh Valley.” Admission and parking for the expo and events are free. Read the article here.