WRITTEN BY WANDA CURTIS
Making connections with other local professionals creates an opportunity to exchange information, share insights and resources, and potentially help grow your business. Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping local business owners meet, connect, and network.
The Bangor Chamber serves as a central hub for many networking activities, said Chamber CEO/President Deb Neuman. Events like Business After Hours, Early Bird Breakfasts, and other events and activities throughout the year attract a mix of local business owners, civic leaders, and professionals.
The Chamber’s most popular and best attended events, said Neuman, are the monthly Business After Hours gatherings. Those are hosted by area business owners, sponsored by Versant, and typically draw close to 200 attendees, she said. There are presentations featuring a local business, an opportunity to mingle with other professionals, refreshments, and a chance to win prizes.
“Attendees enjoy these events to network with a variety of individuals from across the Bangor region,” Neuman said. “The Chamber’s ambassadors are there to welcome everyone and to ensure new attendees feel welcomed and are introduced to others.”
One business owner shared with Neuman that networking was always intimidating to her because she was an introvert. The woman decided to make it her goal to meet three new people at a Business After Hours event. She exceeded her goal and now volunteers as an ambassador to ensure that others don’t feel intimidated, Neuman said.
Business owners who are new to networking are advised to break free from their “group” when attending events to make new acquaintances. It’s often easier to hang out with people you already know, but that limits opportunities to expand your network, Neuman said.
“Circulate around and invite yourself into other groups,” she said. “Look for individuals who are standing alone or in the back of the room and introduce yourself. If that seems daunting, ask someone you know to introduce you to someone you don’t [know].”
When “breaking the ice,” Neuman recommends asking questions about a person’s line of work or asking whether they attend networking events very often. She said that a great way to remember people in a large crowd is to jot down information about them on their business card.
“It could be a note about something you talked about, something you want to follow up with them about, or something about them that you will remember,” she said.
Another opportunity to network offered by the Chamber is Fusion Bangor, which is held the first Thursday of each month. The focus is on providing opportunities for young professionals in the Bangor region to connect. They often welcome new professionals moving into the area, Neuman said.
The Chamber’s leadership program, Bangor Region Leadership Institute, offers participants the opportunity to meet and network with those in their class and with businesses and professionals in the region.
Other networking opportunities in the Bangor region, said Neuman, include Tuesday Forum, which is a networking group for professional women. BNI Bangor is another networking and referral organization. And of course there are many local civic organizations looking for members and volunteers. She said that downtown associations and local town offices might also have suggestions.
Volunteering is another great way to meet new people and expand one’s network.
The Heart of Maine United Way offers a volunteer matching website at volunteerme.homeunitedway.org. Nonprofits in the Bangor area such as Penquis, Eastern Maine Area Agency on Aging, Christine B. Foundation, Maine Discovery Museum, Bangor Humane Society, Northern Light Health, and local food pantries are often in need of volunteers, Neuman said.
The Chamber is available to answer questions, make introductions, and help business owners make connections. Neuman shared that a recent college graduate who hoped to stay in the Bangor area reached out to the Chamber for help sharing his résumé with local employers — which ultimately led to his being hired by a local company.
“Networking is all about making connections,” Neuman said.“Whether it be through attending events or asking one person to help introduce you to someone else. The Bangor region offers many opportunities to get out there and network.”.
