MATTOON - Paula Coker was going mobile during Thursday's Mattoon Chamber of Commerce Business Expo.

At one point, the retired teacher was puttering along in a bright blue electric four-wheeled scooter. "They're having me check this out," she said, as she cruised through the crowded walkway at a very slow pace.

Coker, a Business Expo veteran, checks out the new businesses and loads up on some fun. She usually uses a shopping cart to pack up brochures, candy and other giveaways from the Expo.

"I think it's a pretty good deal to see the local merchants and people from the colleges, too," Coker said. "If you get out here, you can see a lot. As a retired teacher, I've always said the more educated you can be, the better off you will be."

Natasha and Dennis Grayson were doing some grafting onto the Expo by helping promote Grayson Tree Farm, a new business. Though they did not have a booth rented, the Graysons spread the word among the thousands of people attending the annual event at Cross County Mall.

"This is our first time to the Expo. I am impressed with how many people are out here and how many booths are out here," said Natasha Grayson, as she shepherded part of the family "marketing team," 16-month-old Van and 3-year-old Ryleigh.

Don Muhs of Newton did some "bargain hunting."

"I saw in the paper this was going on here. I brought my wife for eye surgery, but we had to reschedule. So we're here," he said.

"I've got a few things already. I just look and like to talk to people," Muhs said.

Both were impressed with the number of visitors and the exhibits Thursday.

After receiving a tip on where to buy tickets, the Muhs headed to the Taste of Expo to pick their favorites from local food providers.

One benefit for Expo exhibitors is the "lightbulb moment," said Deanna Langhorst, manager of the Mattoon Holiday Inn Express.

"We will be open for six months on Sunday. But being here might remind people of what we are offering on group rates or for wedding parties. People might come by and say, 'Oh yeah, we might ask about (this or that),' " Langhorst said.

With music from local artists heard throughout the mall, the atmosphere for the 2008 edition of the Expo had an artistic bent. The theme of the Expo was "Portrait in Progress."

One progressive element of the Expo is showing how businesses and industries have evolved over the years. Some of the industry exhibitors included Anamet, which is celebrating a company 100th anniversary this weekend; Mattoon Precision, an award-winning company; and Mars Petcare, which drew the praise and stories of pet lovers.

"We ask them if they have a dog or cat, and usually, they say both. Then, we tell them about the Pedigree food products we produce at our plant. They love getting free treats for their pets. But they really love telling us about our pets," said Mary Morton, a Mars Petcare employee.

"This morning, it was really hopping. We had a lot of visitors," said Cheryl Hallet of Mars Petcare. "This gives them someone to talk to about their pets."

And what if the visitors did not own pets. Well, there were people treats in the form of candy made by the Mars candy division.

"If a husband says his wife thinks of him as the family pet, then we give him these," Morton said, with a laugh.

hmeeker@jg-tc.com|238-6869