What if you knew your next business partner or boss was waiting for you at the next networking event? You would most likely attend. Local business networking events are not always the top priority of business professionals. In a world full of certifications, training, and meetings, professionals have forgotten about the importance and benefits of a local networking event for professional and business development. What if you knew your next business partner or boss was waiting for you at the next networking event? In this blog, we break down the importance of in-person and virtual networking events and provide tips you can use to help grow your business and professional network.
Introducing yourself and your business to new small business owners at networking events is a big step in growing your professional network. One of the biggest benefits local networking events can provide to your business is the opportunity to expand its reach to a new market. For example, if your business is located in Downtown Kissimmee and you’re ready to open a second location, attending networking events in Saint Cloud will allow you to meet with business owners in that city and gain insight into what it’s like to be a Saint Cloud local entrepreneur. It might be intimidating to put you and your business out there, but remember, the goal in hosting network events is for business owners to establish a relationship beneficial for both parties.
Tip: Make sure to practice your elevator pitch and have plenty of business cards ready to hand out to those you meet.
Before you click ‘attend’ on the next event, consider exactly what you’re looking to gain. Exchanging information and furthering your knowledge is the foundation to building your network and growing your business. By attending local networking events in Kissimmee, Saint Cloud, and across Osceola County, you’ll be able to speak with knowledgeable and experienced business leaders. They can give you advice on advancing your career, provide insights on your industry and trends in the local market or industry. It’s always useful to hear different opinions and comments from people unrelated to your company. It’s a way to gain a new perspective that will benefit you and your business. Depending on the topic and your industry, you can become the expert in your field in the local market and become top of mind to those you meet who might need you and your services later down the line.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to talk about the goals you have for your company. Depending on who you meet, they might be able to help you meet your goals!
Since you’re networking with local business owners, it’s important to maintain a good relationship with the people you meet. Depending on the relationship you build, you can potentially impact your bottom line. For example, let’s say you own a coffee shop in Celebration. One day, you overhear a customer talk to their coworker about needing new decorations for their house. You remember your friend from a past networking event that creates unique home goods, who might be able to meet your customer’s needs. Ideally, you’re able to reference their business to your customers since you know the quality of their work. With that extra sale, your friend might then bring in her employees for an outing to your coffee shop, increasing sales that day. Networking events can help you build loyal and profitable relationships with business owners across a variety of industries.
Tip: Just because the networking event is over, your network building doesn’t have to stop there. Keep up with your professional network on what they’re up to with their business. A future referral to their business might come around to your business in a different way!
Networking opportunities are a great way to build up your business and enhance your professional development skills. Kissimmee and St. Cloud networking events can help introduce you to businessmen and women that can enhance your leadership and communication skills. Whether it’s a course or a webinar, you can see a positive impact on yourself and your business by developing these skills. Taking advantage of these new opportunities will help you grow as a powerful professional networker and help you become an industry leader.
Tip: It’s just as important to grow yourself professionally as it can help your business grow. When you’re meeting new people in your community, don’t be shy about asking what leadership or business development resources are helpful for professional growth.
These are just a few ways networking events in Osceola County can help grow your business and tips you can use to help master the next event you attend. Check out our events calendar to see what upcoming network events we have scheduled!
Last week the Downtown Kissimmee Area Council awarded their September/October Downtown Beautification & Innovation Award to TechCentral, part of the Osceola Library System. The Downtown Beautification Award has recently been renamed to include “Innovation,” a nod to the fact that sometimes the most impactful improvements to our downtown are not strictly visual. This award recognizes the efforts of Downtown businesses to make physical improvements or innovative enhancements to Downtown Kissimmee.
TechCentral is a high-tech maker space that is part of the Osceola Library System. Found on the second floor of Hart Memorial Central Library in Downtown, it is accessible to anyone who lives, works, or attends school in Osceola County. “Not everyone can afford a Mac computer, and certainly not everybody can have their own virtual reality headset,” said Library Director Amy Jones-Lee, “We’re happy to make that available so everybody can experience technology and what technology can do to better your life.”
When a visitor first enters TechCentral, they find themselves in the Virtual Reality Lobby. A TechCentral facilitator explained that after a training session, patrons can book the area and experience virtual reality, and a selection of headsets are available. The rest of the space offers a smorgasbord of tech options, including a sewing room, photography studio, recording studio, 3D printer, Mac computer stations, and a soundproof booth. While the goal is to teach users to be self-sufficient with the technology, TechCentral staff is on site to provide guidance to users. The space is perfect for those looking to explore potential career, or career enhancement, options. “It gives people the chance to come in and try something out before you want to completely dive in,” said Candice Casey, who oversees the project for the Library, “Maybe you want to try that as a new career, or maybe you don’t. So it’s the chance to try it first.”
The Mac Lab is located in a central area that supports the other rooms. Seven Mac desktop computers are available for use. They are loaded with Adobe Creative Suite and 3D printing software and any other programs needed to work on projects created in other rooms in the space.
In the recording studio we met up with Osceola County Commissioner Cheryl Grieb, who has already booked guitar lessons at TechCentral. When she perfects her new instrument, she can come in and record tracks. The recording studio includes recording equipment, a drum machine, industry-standard mics, various software, and much more. “I own a guitar and one of my bucket list items was to learn how to play that guitar,” Commissioner Grieb explained. The County Commission and County admin staff were instrumental (no pun intended) in bringing TechCentral to life.
In the photography studio, we spoke to LaVell Monger with RTW Photography. LaVell has partnered with TechCentral as a guest teacher. “It’s remembering how it was when I was younger and I first started. How can I do my part in the photography industry of cutting the next generation of photographers’ time in half – of learning the technical skills as well as giving them the eye?” said LaVell. The photography studio features high-end cameras that might be too pricey for most individuals along with professional lighting equipment and an assortment of backdrops, including a green screen. There is also a full, four wall, floor-to-ceiling, green screen room.
After a training session, library patrons may book each TechCentral feature for up to an hour at a time. Visit OsceolaLibrary.org/TechCentral to book. The Library’s YouTube page also features pre-visit instructional videos to get you prepared for your session. View our visit to TechCentral with Positively Osceola and the DKAC below.
Photos courtesy of RTW Photography.
On August 13, the Kissimmee/Osceola County Chamber of Commerce and The Chamber Foundation celebrated business at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort with our first ever Champions Jubilee. This event included the graduation of the Leadership Osceola Class of 2021, as well as the announcement of the winner of our Distinguished Leader Award and the business recipient of the Business Champion Award.
Leadership Osceola, which was born at the Chamber in 1989, just completed its first full year back under the Chamber umbrella in over two decades. Each year, a class of about 30 community leaders immerses themselves in Osceola County through interactive programming and hands-on experience. This year marked the 31st year of celebrating Leadership Osceola at Walt Disney World. 33 graduates of the program were honored this year and each received a certificate of completion from Chamber Vice President of Strategic Initiatives Sue Ring and 2019 Leadership Osceola graduate, and President, General Manager, & CEO of Kissimmee Utility Authority, Brian Horton. Class representative Abismael Abreu, Business Navigator with the City of St. Cloud, spoke about the class’s unconventional program year.
The 2021 Distinguished Leader Award was then presented by 2019 Distinguished Leader Mike Steigerwald, Kissimmee City Manager. After a nomination process, three finalists were selected for the 2021 Distinguished Leader Award. This award has been presented since 1992 to a Leadership Osceola graduate who has demonstrated community leadership, supported the Leadership Osceola County Program’s aims and goals, and empowered others to lead. The 2021 award went to Belinda Johnson-Cornett, CEO of Osceola Community Health Services over fellow finalists Kelly Trace, CEO of REACH, and Osceola County Tax Collector Bruce Vickers.
As “Champions for Business and Community,” the Chamber found it fitting to recognize a Small Business Champion with a new award this year. This Business Champion should possess many of the same qualities we celebrate in our individual leaders: spirit of service, engagement, and initiative. These businesses are woven into the fabric of our community creating jobs, providing opportunity, and often giving their time and resources for the greater good. The finalists for this inaugural award were Kathy Pierson Communications, RTW Photography, and Re/Max Premier Properties – Gladys Thayer. The award went to Kathy Pierson Communications.
Watch below for a recap of Leadership Osceola in 2021 and an overview of the graduating class of 2021:
