In the last five months, I have attended three Northside Networking Group meetings, one Devon Street in November and another at Ethiopian Diamond in Rogers Park in January.
These very nice events held roughly every two months, are led by web developer C.J. Jelinek and promoted by a number of Chambers of Commerce on Chicago’s Northside.
Today’s event was held at Pho Viet on Broadway near Argyle and fittingly hosted by Uptown United and the Uptown Chamber of Commerce represented by Greg Carroll.
Partly because of the location I took time to promote my Marketing /Video Production business and also made a particular point to promote my client South-East Asia Center (SEAC) an Uptown not-for-profit agency for whom I act as Outreach & Communications Coordinator and Special Projects Consultant.
I have been enjoying my tenure with SEAC this past two years working on diverse projects that have included, as an example, redoing their printed brochures, updating the website to WordPress, creating some video PSA’s broadcast on cable TV, creating a video training program, having a mural painted on the el track embankment alongside the property, and art directing the installation of a number of decorative banners along the organization’s parking lot near Ainslie.
On SEAC’s Foster Avenue location, that houses the after-school program, I was responsible for hiring contractors to add a beautiful reclaimed slate roof and enhancing the facade with new window graphics.
All of the public facing graphics, banners and murals project the theme of “Valuing Education” and depict children who have endured a difficult journey to obtain their education.
Contacts I have made through Northside Networking have contributed to providing resources I have needed to aid South-East Asia Center and other clients.
It was a pleasure as usual to see many familiar faces and have a chance to touch base with a number of business friends as well as set the stage for building new relationships.
Today I had a good conversation over lunch with Adi from theBulletin.io and learned much about their digital billboard platform
Reviewing my post from the November meeting I see that is where I first met Michael Rataj a fellow videographer. We got together for a snack at Chicago Joe’s shortly after that and he is now working on some videos and possible podcasts to submit to my ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com blog and podcast program.
As a result of that meeting, I had coffee dates with business coach Mike Shapiro at a bakery on Howard Street and Regina Rodriguez-Martin the “Content Conductor.” She and I have also encountered one another at a few other events which is really helping to build our relationship.
At the January meeting, I became reacquainted with Barbara Singal of Ease the Day who is in the process of potentially working with SEAC to help improve administrative processes.
There are several others who I have known for a while such as Joe the Plumber, Bernie Small, Erica Minchella and Marty Becklenberg and a few, like Paul Baraz, who have recently attended my monthly “Business Card to Business” networking meeting.
A favorite question at these events and other networking events is to identify who might be a good referral or strategic partner for you. This can be an enlightening exercise but I have always maintained that new business and referrals often come from the most unexpected places. Practically speaking I find it is effective to simply build connections with other business people who you come in contact with that seem to have a good “vibe” or “good energy” and who seem willing to take the time to better understand who you are and what you do.
So if you have met me at a networking event give me a call or send an email and suggests we have a telephone conversation, coffee or lunch and get busy developing a real meaningful relationship that is mutually beneficial.