The Alpharetta Business Association will provide a platform for dozens of local companies to promote their businesses at the first-ever Alpharetta Business Expo. The event is scheduled Aug. 29 from noon to 5:30 p.m. at the Alpharetta Marriott on Windward Parkway. “We’re hoping it will give Alpharetta businesses a really unique opportunity to showcase their businesses to the local business community [and] let everybody know who they are and what kind of products and services they have to offer,” said ABA member Karen Cashion, who is co-chairing the event. Danny Broadway, the association’s membership committee chairman, said they anticipate about 50 to 60 businesses to have booths at the inaugural affair. “As we changed our name two years ago from the Downtown Alpharetta Trade Association to the Alpharetta Business Association, we wanted to just get involved with all of Alpharetta,” he said. “So we’ve been really reaching out to all the areas of Alpharetta — not just downtown — and explaining who we are and what we want to accomplish for the city of Alpharetta, and we thought a great way to do that would be to go out and invite all of Alpharetta to get involved in a business expo.” However, the expo is not limited to only businesses operating within city limits. Nearby cities, like Roswell, Johns Creek, Cumming and Sandy Springs, are good partners to the Alpharetta business community, Broadway said, though ABA members do get discounted rates to showcase their companies at the expo. Admission is free for attendees who register through June 30 and $10 per person afterwards. “We hope to have a lot of attendees from Alpharetta and the surrounding areas — business people interested in networking and seeing what Alpharetta businesses have to offer,” Cashion said. The event will also spotlight cuisine from Alpharetta restaurants. “We’re going to highlight six restaurants that are going to have booths and hand out free samples of their food,” Broadway said. After the expo, the association will transition the evening to its monthly “after hours” member meeting, also hosted by the Alpharetta Marriott. Broadway said he hopes the expo encourages business professionals to become ABA members. Businesses looking to showcase their company at the expo must register in advance for a booth. Space is limited. Visit http://bit.ly/ ABAexpo2013 to register. The expo is not the only new event ABA has planned for this year. The association added a regular business breakfast series the first Tuesday of every month and will be hosting an inaugural golf tournament in July.

Responding to an investigation launched by the Johns Creek City Council, Mayor Mike Bodker said he is “disappointed that it has come to this.” The investigation centers around alleged violations of the city’s charter and ethics ordinance. Bodker said he welcomes the investigation as a chance to clear his name and any suspicion that has been placed upon him. “My actions have always been to do what I believe is best for the citizens and businesses of Johns Creek,” he said. Bodker said part of his responsibilities as mayor include speaking to people outside of city government. “Sometimes those conversations get misconstrued by others who are not a party to them,” he said. “I’ve tried to clear up each and every misunderstanding that I’ve ever been made aware of, and I would say that [this investigation] is indicative of the fact that that hasn’t clearly gotten across.” Bodker added, “One of the downsides of being the mayor — or a councilmember sometimes — is people will … sometimes on purpose state that you’ve said something or done something if it suits their needs. There have been many, many things that have been attributed to me that I’ve not even known about.” In a statement released Tuesday, Councilman Randall Johnson said the launch of the investigation follows “several reprimands of Mayor Bodker about certain questionable actions he’s taken over the last several years.” Johnson added, “There have been allegations that he’s repeatedly involved himself in actions and situations that were outside the will of council.” One such reprimand Bodker recalled involved the restoration of Rogers Bridge. As Bodker explained, before Johns Creek was chartered as a city, officials from Fulton County, Duluth and Gwinnett County came to an understanding to each contribute to the bridge restoration. “When we became a city, that project had not yet been done and Gwinnett and Duluth had apparently set aside their money but … [Johns Creek councilmembers] decided they did not want to move forward with that project,” he said. “I didn’t agree with the decision, but at the end of the day, the council decision is the council decision.” Bodker said he continued receiving calls from Duluth officials but told them he could not change council’s decision. When Brad Raffensperger was elected to council, Bodker explained the situation to him and asked if Raffensperger might want to meet with Duluth officials and take an objective look at the issue. “[Councilmembers] interpreted it as me trying to go against their will, and they reprimanded me,” Bodker said. In other instances of reprimand, Bodker said his actions have just been his attempt to back the will of the council and to gather information to make sure they had all the facts. Bodker said the investigation will not interfere with city operations and said he hopes it will move forward quickly and professionally. The city has contracted with Wilson, Morton & Downs of Decatur to handle the investigation, which could take up to six weeks. A report will be made public once the investigation is complete.

The Alpharetta Convention and Visitors Bureau is giving away 20 free entries to this year’s IronKids Alpharetta. On Sept. 15 at Wills Park, IronKids will return to the city for young athletes to participate in the triathlon. Athletes ages 6 to 15 can enter to win through July 31. The winners will be contacted and given the promotion registration code between Aug. 1 and 8. The IronKids competition in Alpharetta has been the largest of youth triathlons in the country for the last four years, with more than 1,300 athletes competing. The race includes three divisions: junior, intermediate and senior. All who participate will receive a medal and the top three finishers in each division will be awarded a placement trophy. To register for the free entry, visit www.awesomealpharetta.com.