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Speed Networking Event Brings Together Black-Owned
Businesses
Sojourner’s Truth Staff
Local entrepreneurs
participated in Speed Networking Event held at Club
Evolution on December 4 2017. Participants are given a
number from 1-4; each set of tables is given a color: red or
blue.
The host announces which
numbers should sit across from each other at which
color-coded location. Each session is three minutes.
If there is a match,
participants exchange business cards. If there is no match
there is no pressure to share contact information. The
purpose of the time limits is for everyone to meet everyone
else in the room.
There were several social
media breaks throughout the session, raffle giveaways and of
course great conversation.
Speed Networking occurs
once every quarter at Club Evolution hosted by Fruition
owners Valerie Thompson and Tera Johnson. The two joined
forces in an attempt to bring together minority business
owners with fun and free networking events which results.
Thompson is a graphic
designer and University of Toledo alumna and owns her own
business, LEAP Graphics, which focuses on corporate event
design, established in 2005.
Leap Graphics helps plan, design and coordinate the
production of invitation packages, displays and collateral
for corporate events. They assist program directors, event
coordinators, fundraisers and marketing professionals in
bringing their companies’ event theme to life through smart
strategy and compelling graphics.
Johnson has been baking
all her life. She is the owner of Sweet Experience, cheese
cakes in a jar. Johnson said she and Thompson wanted to
provide resources for small businesses to develop a 30
second pitch. They have been holding speed networking events
for a year at Evolution.
If you want to participate
in the next Speed Networking event Feb 5 RSVP on Eventbrite
and follow on social media @Fruition419 and Club Evolution.
Some of the participants
in attendance:
LaShanna Alfred, author
and speaker, You Change L.L.C.; Kymberly Pullom, Chemical
Dependency, New Concepts; Asia Nail, jewelrybBlogger, I
RockGems, (Wants to network jewelers and cultural
appropriation); Tianna Newby, Urban Radio Hot 97.3 and Mix
95.7, Advertising Marketing, (wants to help teach small
business how to adapt to change, maintain and thrive);
Shamika Ferrell, World Venture Group “Sam Club of
Vacations,” recent Owens Graduate received “Outstanding
Student of the Year” award; Brennon Kelly, Chiropractor
doing residency at Rebel Chiropractor in Waterville prior to
graduating from Life University of Atlanta; Dennis Seldon,
Western Southern, (To protect families, educate people about
financial literacy because a little knowledge can change the
tree direction); Cheyenne Brown, The Brown Agency (2014),
Home, auto life and business insurance, (Thinks it’s
important to pass information to children, was inspired to
work in this field after Step Father sudden death. Wants to
help prevent that in our community.); Amber Byrd,
Photographer, A Byrd’s Eye Photo est. 2012 (Started in event
planning and allowed to bridge business skills with artistic
abilities.)
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