CADILLAC — The Cadillac area’s long-running business expo is returning this March but with a new name and a fresh focus.
Once a networking event primarily for local businesses, the newly renamed Career and Commerce Expo will now combine elements of the traditional expo with a job fair. Beth Miller, leadership and operations director for the Cadillac Area Chamber of Commerce said the event is designed to bridge the gap between businesses and the workforce — particularly students — while also giving local companies much-needed exposure.
“We have a talent pipeline initiative to help with workforce retention,” Miller said. “A big request we hear is that businesses want to keep students here after graduation because they need a strong workforce.”
The expo, scheduled for March 14 at The Wex, will take place just two weeks after the Mock It Then Rock It event, a long-standing initiative that helps students prepare for real-world job interviews. The expo will serve as a follow-up, giving students a chance to apply what they learned while connecting with potential employers.
Miller said the previous business expo saw mixed community participation and was put on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic. As businesses began recovering, it became clear that any revival needed a new approach.
“With businesses gearing up for the summer season and looking for workers — both seasonal and regular — it just made sense to reimagine the event,” she said. “If we can make this a one-stop shop for business and workforce needs, March is the perfect time of year.”
So far, 30 businesses have signed up to participate, with a goal of reaching at least 50. The expo is attracting companies from industries such as manufacturing, hospitality, nonprofits, and telecommunications, with most businesses located within a 40- to 50-mile radius of Cadillac.
While the event has a strong workforce focus, Miller emphasized that companies do not have to be hiring to participate.
“You don’t have to be looking for employees — it’s also about business exposure and community engagement,” she said. “And it’s free to attend.”
While Miller is focused on business participation, Schultz is leading efforts to get local students involved.
“We want to showcase the jobs we have here so younger generations want to stay,” Schultz said. “A lot of juniors and seniors want to move away for college, but we hope they consider coming back after graduation.”
Wexford-Missaukee Career Technical Center students, high school students from across the region, and even Cadillac eighth graders will attend as part of career exploration efforts.
While much of the expo is geared toward students, organizers stress that it is open to the entire community, including job seekers of all ages.
Schultz said the expo will be interactive, allowing businesses to showcase industries in an engaging way.
“We want this to be hands-on. We want businesses to be intentional about what they bring,” she said.
As for measuring success, Schultz said it’s simple: a diverse range of businesses and meaningful connections between attendees and employers.
Barring any major setbacks, she expects the Career and Commerce Expo to return in 2026.
The “Mock It Then Rock It” event is scheduled for 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Feb. 28 at Baker College of Cadillac. Anyone interested in volunteering can complete the online registration form at bit.ly/mock25. For more information, email kingka26@msu.edu or call (231) 779-9480.
Two weeks later, the Career and Commerce Expo is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 14 at the Wex. Miller said from 3 to 5 p.m. there will be a networking event to help businesses explore the possibility of collaborations and learning about resources in the community.
Businesses interested in participating or schools looking to bring groups of students can visit cadillac.org/events for more information. They can also email Miller at bmiller@cadillac.org. Although the early bird sign-up is over, Miller said they have extended it through Feb. 15 for readers of the Cadillac News. To utilize the special rate, she said interested businesses should use the code BIZEXPO2025.