On Wednesday, May 14th, The New Jersey Cooperator and parent company Yale Robbins, Inc. hosted the first-ever annual New Jersey Condo, HOA & Co-op Expo at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus.

Nearly 150 exhibitors lined the aisles of the Meadowlands, and some 2,000 attendees—including board members, HOA staff, and residents—interacted face-to-face with vendors and service providers offering the latest word in everything from property management software to security systems.

“The New Jersey Cooperator’s goal in presenting an all-Jersey Expo is to provide a gathering place for managing agents and board members to meet with vendors and service providers, network with industry colleagues, and gain information and insight to help them manage their communities better,” says Yale Robbins, president of Yale Robbins, Inc. and publisher of The New Jersey Cooperator. “We made it a point to present attendees and exhibitors with a broad array of diverse opportunities at this first Expo, and we expect the event to grow and evolve with each passing year.”

Expo exhibitors also benefited from their presence at the show. Geri Kruszewski, marketing/events manager for Cranford-based window company Renewal By Andersen, said that “This was really the first time we’ve put a lot of effort into this type of event, and it was a great show for us. The whole event was very professional and smooth. From a vendor standpoint, there was good traffic throughout the day and we got a lot of appropriate contacts. We’re already committed to expanding our booth at next year’s show.”

Expo attendees were treated to an array of educational opportunities in the form of a quartet of in-depth seminars presented by industry experts, as well as free advice from volunteer industry professionals, a bookstore stocked with dozens of useful titles, a cyber café with fast Internet access, and a well-appointed food court.

Throughout the day, attendees also had the chance to win valuable goodies from both The New Jersey Cooperator and many exhibitors, including iPod products, flat-screen TVs, event tickets, free services from vendors, and more.

“Obviously we expected a strong turnout for the Expo,” says Robbins, “but we were just blown away by the enthusiasm of both our exhibitors and our attendees. At the end of the day, the new show is just a fantastic opportunity for people working in New Jersey’s condo and HOA market to meet face-to-face with their colleagues and expand their knowledge and resources.”

Plans for next year’s May 13, 2009 New Jersey Expo are already underway—stay tuned to The New Jersey Cooperator and www.nj-expo.com for details, deadlines, and other Expo-related information!