Tag Archives: chamber of commerce

Northside Networking Group Chicago

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Always good to be back in people meeting mode. Thanks to Northside Networking Group, moderated by C.J. Jelinek, for another stellar speed networking event hosted by a number of area chambers of commerce including West Ridge, Uptown, Edgewater, Andersonville, and Rogers Park.

This business get-together took place at Mysore Restaurant on Devon Street featuring vegetarian cuisine from India. The savory pancake was very good as was the lentil dish and curry with rice.

I kicked off the event with a nice chat with Robert Taylor from Republic Bank.

This was a great opportunity to meet a number of new people as well as say hello to a few “old” friends, Bernie Small, Joe “the Plumber,” Tom Stuenkel, John Golden, Kate Alpert, Mike Shapiro, Mark Hernandez, and Marty Becklenberg to name a few.

New contacts included insurance professionals Mary Jane Alagheband, Benjamin Neikrug, and Jennifer Winterburn; Regina Rodriguez-Martin the “Content Conductor,” Dick Freund of Chemcraft Industries providing cleaning supplies; Nancye Rivera bookkeeping services, Diane Mardavich massage therapy, Angie Bender interior designer, therapist Joslyn Jelinek, and Joseph Szuba providing cost reduction services to help businesses save money on infrastructure costs.

Paloma Vargas from Fizz Word of Mouth Marketing stood out with her pitch for Burrow, the luxury couch for real life. Paloma mentioned that Burrow will bring a couch to a local event for the purpose of promoting word of mouth promotion. Very innovative and grassroots. I love it!

Nice to see that Chicago Children’s Choir is doing community outreach. I am acquainted with this organization through my wife Julie, who is the director of The Lake Shore Music Studio providing piano lessons for all ages. Many of her young music students, over the years, have been involved in the CCC as well.

Very happy to meet fellow audiovisual creative Michael Rataj of Bulb Brain Creative. I am always looking for ways to collaborate.

Finally thanks to David Levine from  Illinois Nut & Candy for supplying each of us with a delicious chocolate business card. This idea is just in time for the holiday season look for more information at http://raisingthecandybar.com .

This will not be my last networking event of the year but still a good time for my blog readers to consider your plans for expanding your network in 2019.

I am hoping to work with Scott Winterroth at CreativeYearEver.com to create some kind of business expansion workshop in January or February. In the meantime, you can get a jumpstart by downloading his workbook or signing up for his kickoff event.

Midwest Writers Association is planning to have me give a “How to Use Video” workshop probably at the Skokie Library in February.

As always consider reading my book or signing up for one of my online courses.

Look for my theater reviews at ChicagoTheaterandArts.com and be sure to visit ChicagoBroadcastingNetwork.com to see interesting activities and people in Chicago.

My video production portfolio is at RenoWeb.net .

 

 

 

 

Lincoln Bend Chamber Meeting at Sunset Pho Chicago Northside

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This is the first meeting I attended as a member of the Lincoln Bend Chamber of Commerce near my home on the far northside of Chicago. The meeting conducted by Executive Director Mimi Acciari was held at Sunset Pho a seafood bar & grill across the street from the new nature center adjacent to Rosehill Cemetery on Western Avenue. The restaurant offers a fusion of delicious Croatian and Vietnamese cuisine.  As a video and digital communications specialist I spoke with owners Zel and Ngoc Stakic about helping them turn one of their many TV screens into a digital display featuring photos and videos of their dishes as well as periodic specials and event information.

The meeting featured remarks by the area Alderman Patrick O’Connor and 20th District Police Commander Sean Loughran who gave a kind of “State of the Neighborhood Address” from a business point-of-view. The good news is that this is perhaps the quietest neighborhood in the city as it relates to police calls and crime. Shhhh! Don’t tell anyone. But they both cautioned that the news was not a cause for complacency. “Area businesses are on the front line when it comes to noticing potential issues,” said Commander Loughran. The take-away message was, “If you see something – – say something.” Don’t be shy about reporting situations that look dangerous or out of place.

The meeting gave me the chance to say hello and get reacquainted with a few people I have met before, notably Joe from Hollywood Auto and Ivan from VPT Restaurant.

My lunch companions were Georgina, Byline Bank Branch Manager at Budlong Woods/Bowmanville Branch on Western who introduced me to her compatriot Vicki Bittar, Byline Branch Manager from the 2935 West Peterson Avenue branch. I had a chance to say hello to chiropractic physician, Ifeoma Okorafor and spoke briefly with Laura Roth, Director of Development and Communications at Friedman Place, a Community for Adults Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired.  As a former president of the Chicago Uptown Lions Club I have had a lot of experience working with issues related to individuals with visual challenges.  Laura tells me that Friedman Place will be holding an open house and fundraiser very soon and also plans to host an upcoming chamber meeting providing an opportunity for the business community to experience firsthand what the facility has to offer their residents. Others in attendance were the family that operates Latin Bliss located near Friedman Place at “the bend” on Lincoln Avenue.

On my way out I had a chance to speak with Tom Stark, Manager of the Budlong Woods Branch of the Chicago Public Library. He and I initiated plans to offer a panel discussion related to non-fiction book writing presented by members of Midwest Writers Association of which I am outreach chairman. Look for details of that event coming soon.

Thanks to everyone for a warm welcome as I look forward to meeting the other members and learning more about area businesses.

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Reno Lovison provides marketing and business video production services at RenoWeb.net