Albany Chamber hosts annual ‘Biz Expo,’ welcomes new military families

ALBANY – The Albany Civic Center was a bustling hub of connectivity Thursday afternoon, as the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Biz Expo.

About 45 vendors from different sectors of the community – local businesses, nonprofits, educational institutions and more — gathered to show off their products and network. This year’s event placed a special emphasis on welcoming the Albany area’s military families as part of Blue Star Welcome Week 2025. 

Blue Star Families is a nonprofit aimed at supporting and empowering military families by connecting them with individuals and organizations within their communities. The Albany Chamber was selected as a Blue Star Families outpost earlier in 2025, a designation that represents the chamber’s ongoing efforts to maintain Albany as a military community of excellence. 

As an outpost, the Albany Chamber has to implement programs tailored to the unique needs of southwest Georgia’s military families. At the Business Expo, the chamber offered a designated event room for military family members to get connected with resources. 

Andra Reventlow, an advisory board member for the Military Spouse’s Club of Albany, said the Blue Star designation is just another way the Albany Chamber is trying to create a bridge to bring the Albany community and its military families together. 

“I can access Blue Star Families from home online, and that’s fine, but to know they’re offering it – the city or the chamber – makes Albany … more of a military friendly town,” she said. 

Georgia Congressman Sandford Bishop, D-Albany, traveled from D.C. to present at the Biz Expo. He said as co-chair of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, he works to pay strict attention to the unique challenges that military family members face.

“We want to make sure transitions are good and that the communities where they relocate are military friendly,” Bishop said. “This event is an opportunity to welcome the families, help them connect and build the relationships as they transition from one duty station to the Good Life City. 

“We want them to enjoy their time and to thrive here in Albany.” 

The businesses poised to share resources at the Biz Expo were diverse, from Albany’s Molson Coors Brewery to the Albany Area YMCA to Turner Job Corps. 

Pastor Yaz Johnson, the account manager and marketing director for First Media Services, which owns several local radio stations, said his business attends the expo each year for networking opportunities. 

“There’s a lot of opportunity out there … from all walks of life, all different kinds of businesses,” he said. “We may need each other.”

Just one hour into the expo, Johnson said he had already met other businesses interested in partnering or using each other’s services. 

Michael Smith, the director of events and hospitality for Resora at New Communities, was manning the booth for the Sherrod Institute. It was the organization’s first time attending the expo. 

“We’re trying to get out in the community more,” Smith said. “So many people don’t even know we’re here. 

As guests approached the booth they marveled over pamphlets and booklets showcasing the grand New Communities property. Smith told them about the opportunities available on the property – from airbnb stays, farming education, an event center and more. He even exchanged contact information to discuss plans to potentially use part of the property for hunting. 

Other newcomers included representatives from Five Star Credit Union, a regional credit union that first formed in Cedar Springs. The credit union’s first Albany location is under construction on South Slappey Boulevard, and Kristy Everson, the financial center manager, said it is set to open in 2026. 

“We are in a lot of rural communities, but we are excited to be in Albany … one of the bigger ones,” she said. 

Everson said the expo gave the credit union a chance to get into the Albany community and gain exposure ahead of the grand opening.