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Ochi Corporate celebrates first year

Published:Sunday | April 17, 2011 | 12:00 AM
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From left: Coyotito Bramwell and Tancia Brown of Innovative Accounting, and Candice Buchanan of RE TV pay close attention to Charmaine Deane of Sunset Jamaica Grande. - Contributed photos
Staff of Ian Fleming International Airport (from left): Clarence Thomas, André Thomas, Tanisha Smith-Henry, Claudille Sydial, Claude Service.
Out for Ochi Corporate first anniversary are from left: SuperClubs' Marie Mills and Evette Treston and Shaw Park Beach Hotel's Claudette Reynolds.
Captured on camera from left: Joseheth Blake of First Choice Finance; Debra Freak of Jamaica Inn; Annabelle Lyn of First Choice Finance; Deidre Pryce of Di Foto Shoppe and Annaliese Karram of Nationwide Insurance.
Diageo's Jason Peart and Stephanie Hector.
From left: Natalie Boreland of Sunset Jamaica Grande, Claudille Sydial of Ian Fleming International Airport and Deidre Pryce of Di Foto Shoppe pose for the social pages.
From left: Judie O'Sullivan and guests Tariq Lodhi from Holland and Azra Lodhi from England play a game of ludo.
From left: Janet Taylor of Vision Land Management, Tanya Williams, L&G Williams Hardware, and Denneisha Blair of NCB St Ann's Bay are engaged in conversation.
From left: Peter Hanson, Vana Taylor and Gilbert Blackwood pose for the camera.
NCB's Denneisha Blair tries out this Trail Blazer from Chukka Caribbean Adventures, one of the sponsors for the evening.
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Carl Gilchrist, Gleaner Writer

Ochi Corporate celebrated its first anniversary on Friday, April 8, pulling a good-size crowd of business-minded folks to Island Village in Ocho Rios to enjoy the offerings.

"It has been a successful first," said initiator, Sunset Jamaica Grande's general manager, Clifton Reader. He said the turnout has grown from some 25 at the first meeting last April to over 200 Friday night.

"I'm really proud of it and we hope to continue growing from strength to strength," Reader told The Gleaner.

Community focus

The original focus of Ochi Corporate, that of allowing persons to make business connections, will be broadened over the ensuing year to allow more community focus. This includes the setting up of scholarships for students in St Ann, Reader said.

To facilitate this, Ochi Corporate would stage, fund-raising events and Reader appealed to corporate St Ann to support the venture when it gets under way.

But have objectives been met over the past year?

"Very much so," said Reader. "The objective was to build a group where young professionals especially can come in, greet each other and hopefully tie up some business deals, that is what it's all about, making connections. I have tied some up myself."

There were appetising snacks, courtesy of Dimtri Konidis' two super restaurants, the Greek-themed Mykonos and the Mexican flavoured Caliente; live music by Sunset Jamaica Grande's resident band, Main Ingredients, fashion by Montego Bay's Pablo Palair and dance music by Code Red. There were also giveaways of movie tickets to Cove theatre and dinner at Evita's Italian Restaurant.

Among the sponsors for the evening were Mykonos Restaurant, Caliente Bar and Grill, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, Diageo, Sunset Jamaica Grande, Margaritaville, and Island Village.