POTSDAM -- Area business owners who attended the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce’s June “Spotlight” event at the Maple Run Emporium Tuesday all agreed on at least one thing -- no one realized there were so many maple syrup-related products in the world.

The new store in Potsdam and its owner, Mary Hilton, hosted the Spotlight, the monthly chamber networking event designed to bring business people from across the county together to meet and learn about each other.

Also in the spotlight Tuesday evening and making presentations were Big Ben Designs and owner Jessica Rood of Potsdam; Scott and Rhonda Thompson of C-R Little Builders, Inc., Canton; and Rudy Ford Jr. and Rudy Ford Sr., of MPF Clean LLC, commercial and residential cleaning service of Ogdensburg.

Local representatives of national firms were also on hand: Jackie Sedgwick of Paychex, Inc., and Kelly Buell of UnitedHealthcare.

“The best antidote to ‘bad economy’ stories are these Spotlights,” St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Pat McKeown said. “It’s uplifting to meet and hear from our own homegrown entrepreneurs, who bring creativity and drive to so many different kinds of business. It’s obvious that St. Lawrence County has the people and the talent to push through the tough times and come out stronger.”

Maple Run Emporium owner Hilton told the nearly 60 in attendance that a longtime fascination with maple syrup production led to her store at 49 Market Street in Potsdam, which drew great reviews from the Spotlight crowd. The expansive space holds more than 200 maple syrup products and a host of related items for the kitchen and home.

The next Spotlight will be Tuesday, July 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Dar’s Restaurant in Massena. Upcoming Spotlights will be at Off the Hook Bed and Breakfast in Ogdensburg and Dodge Pond, owned by NYSARC, in Fine.

Admission for each Spotlight is $5 per person. Invitations are extended to all members of the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, although anyone interested may attend to find out more about the Chamber and the local business community. Businesses highlighted at each event are all Chamber members.

For more information on Spotlight events and the St. Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce, including the many benefits of membership, call 386-4000 or visit www.northcountryguide.com