Melissa Lopata, the new marketing coordinator for Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP), has announced her first event to help support local Sandy Hook businesses.

“It is a fun and informative fundraiser for Sandy Hook Organization For Prosperity and a great way for SHOP to reach out to local women-owned businesses and provide them with very motivating, innovative, and strategic marketing ideas,” Ms Lopata said in a notice to The Newtown Bee March 26.

The hastily planned event is set for Tuesday, April 8, at The Villa Restaurant, 4 Riverside Road. It will feature the expertise of business coach Patty Lennon.

While there is a private program scheduled for female business owners who are members of SHOP, the main public aspect of the gathering, from 7 to 8:30 pm, will be the motivational talk by Ms Lennon, who is a former Citicorp colleague of Ms Lopata’s.

Ms Lennon will be speaking on “Creating Big Buzz on Small Budgets.”

Ms Lopata promises a “fun, informative, and inspirational evening” during which Ms Lennon, will share:

*How to leverage the key marketing strategies already being used successfully in a business to grow revenue;

*Her number one secret to attract paying clients, so that business owners never have to go out looking for them again;

*How to transform social media from a painful pastime into a profit center of a business; and

*Why the best marketing never requires money.

For the $25 registration fee, attendees will enjoy a buffet dinner plus coffee, in addition to Ms Lennon’s talk.

The event will also include a cash bar for wine and beverages. Seating is limited so early registration is advised. Register at pattylennonsandyhook.eventbrite.com.

The restaurant is at 4 Riverside Road.

A portion of the proceeds will go to SHOP to help fund the costs of ongoing marketing initiatives to assist local business and property owners with economic recovery by bringing more visitors, shoppers and patrons back to the local village district.