Third Annual Speed Networking Event:
Fun, Fast-paced and Fantastic
Who would have thought that a 7:30 am networking event, plus the day after a holiday, would have had more than 40 people show up ready to meet and mingle virtually! That is exactly what happened on Tuesday morning Jan. 19. The CREW-St. Louis 3rd Annual Speed Networking event went virtual. Balke Brown served as host, and Ann Schmelzle did a great job managing the questions and making sure it was a success!
Connie Kroenung with Working Spaces says, “I was very impressed with the Speed Networking Event! It was a great way to virtually engage with members and non-members alike. I made many new connections! Ann did a wonderful job hosting. The questions that were provided were great icebreakers and lots of fun. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it. I even heard someone say they wanted to do this every month. That is definitely something to consider because we can all benefit from more opportunities to network.”
For those that were not able to attend the event, let me give a quick rundown on how the event went. There were 10 rounds of questions and in each round there were two random questions that each person in the room could answer that would help everyone get to know each other and break the ice. There was a trick though. There was a time limit and everyone LOVED to talk! The great part was that for each round you were randomly put into a room that had anywhere from three to five people in that room. You found fresh faces and voices in nearly every room. Besides fun, you got to talk not only about the questions but also your company and yourself.
Elizabeth Graff with Ross & Baruzzini says, “Like most business developers I’m so over virtual events, but CREW’s speed networking event was done in a way that I was able to have casual but meaningful conversations with several folks I wouldn’t have met otherwise.”
Not only did a lot of members show up to the virtual networking event, but there was a great turn out of non-members checking out CREW!
“In practically every round there was at least one person in my room that was not a current member of CREW-St. Louis that was planning on joining before COVID happened and then decided to wait a little bit. Then they came to the speed networking event and saw how awesome it was and now can’t wait to join the fun,” states Trish Jensen with Millicare.
All in all, the event was a huge success! Kudos to all those that participated and a special thanks to Ann Schmelzle and her team with Balke Brown.