Fostering Connection in a Hybrid World

Navigating virtual burnout with creative opportunities

Along with most of the world, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, all of our events at the Boulder Chamber went virtual. We adopted new technology and transitioned all of our in-person events to be offered fully online. But after months and months of virtual programming, 2021 brought a different kind of challenge — one that you may have felt — burnout from virtual experiences.

In a year where you were presented with more options than ever for virtual events, networking opportunities, panels, and more, you likely had to be very selective about what to attend. Art class or happy hour? Networking group or expert panel? Fundraising gala or live streamed concert? Not to mention, choosing to spend another hour of screen time after a day spent on Zoom was a lot to ask, when unplugging from technology was also an option.

“Once everyone went virtual, there were more opportunities for people to choose from to spend their time, both in their professional and personal lives,” says Maye Cordero, Director of Marketing and Events at the Boulder Chamber. “We had to put some extra thought into how we could make our events and programs as attractive and relevant as possible for our members so that they would want to come.”

We kept circling back to one guiding question when planning our virtual events in a year of widespread virtual burnout: How could we provide you, our Boulder Chamber members, with the most value possible? Searching for creative opportunities to boost spirits and foster connection, here’s what we found…

Hybrid events to facilitate connection

After being fully virtual for so long, members like you shared that you were really missing faceto-face connection with other business leaders and people in the community. After all, maintaining connections and developing new ones has been a challenge throughout the pandemic, and many of us have been craving

meaningful connection with others.

With some COVID-19 restrictions loosening in 2021, we dipped our toes into a hybrid model for gatherings, allowing members to choose to attend in-person or tune in virtually based on comfort level — offering increased event accessibility to our community. The Chamber invested in Owl meeting technology, a 360-degree video camera, to facilitate connection between both in-person and virtual attendees.

Our Business Women’s Leadership Group met bi-monthly and used the Owl camera to facilitate a hybrid experience for the group. If you tuned in virtually, you could see both the speaker and the in-person audience — and vice versa. So much nonverbal communication happens at gatherings like these, and the Owl is able to capture it all.

You may have experienced the fun spin that our Coffee with John gatherings took in 2021, with a hybrid of in-person and virtual attendees. While some members chatted in-person, a facilitator kept those who joined virtually engaged in conversation, bringing together many familiar faces.

“Connection is all about capturing people’s interactions and seeing their facial expressions,” says Cordero. With the right technology, valuable connections can be facilitated — even through a screen!

The traditional Boulder Star Lighting Ceremony will now be permanently livestreamed through our YouTube Channel. (November 2021)

Welcoming speakers from beyond Boulder

A new development for the Chamber this year was live streaming our signature events, which we’ve never done before. Not only has this allowed us to reach a broader audience, but it opened up doors to welcome guest speakers and performers from beyond Boulder — resulting in a more enriching and dynamic experience for you.

The Celebration of Leadership is one of our longest standing and most beloved annual events, as we come together to recognize the positive

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impact leaders and organizations have made for our economy and community. In 2021, the event featured a small group inperson at Hotel Boulderado, a larger virtual audience, and even a virtual entertainer! “The entertainment for the evening was provided by Mysto the Magi, who streamed in to perform from Durango,” says Cordero. “People weren’t expecting it, but it worked really well.”

At this year’s annual Economic Forecast, we were able to host Senator John Hickelooper, who live streamed from Washington D.C. to have a conversation with our MC on-stage for our in-person and virtual audiences. This expert take on the economic statistics and trends for the Boulder area was made possible through virtual technology.

Knocking down geographical boundaries

“Technology is helping us knock geographical boundaries down,” says Cordero. “Members can live in a different city or state and stay connected with us.” When Boulder Chamber member Nancy Chin-Wagner relocated to Las Vegas, she was able to remain as one of our most active ambassador and stay connected with business owners in Boulder — strengthening our local business environment from outof-town and spreading our mission beyond Boulder!

During the emergency situation following the Marshall Fire, having a strong virtual structure already in place made all the difference in coordinating response efforts efficiently. Cordero reflects, “Many people were still in holiday mode or traveling during the fires, and technology made it possible to get resources and information out to our community, wherever they were.” Technology has served as a crucial tool in meeting people where they are, and has allowed our leaders to get their voices heard — an important need for everyday life and especially during times of crisis.

Bright lights on the horizon

As we move into 2022, we’re putting more energy into bringing back engaging and exciting in-person events, gatherings, and educational opportunities that celebrate and connect our vibrant Boulder community — but with added technology to accommodate your level of comfort. We’ll continue to keep in mind health restrictions and orders from the Boulder County Health Department, following the procedures and guidelines to ensure that our events are as safe as they can be.

Looking towards the year ahead, we’re most excited about a few events: the Esprit Venture Challenge, where entrepreneurs pitch their ideas for a $10,000 prize; the Bolder Boulder 10k race, where we’ll host a space to cheer on runners; and the Boulder Star lighting back at the CU campus, where we’ll join together as a community to celebrate the strength of Boulder.

“We’re back to in-person events, but doing it in a way that is safe for everyone,” says Cordero. We hope to connect with you soon — whether in-person or through a screen!

Hybrid Coffee with John event, welcoming attendees in person and virtually. (June 2021)

Maye Cordero Director of Marketing and Events | maye.cordero@boulderchamber.com Derek Pedersen Events and Programs Specialist | derek.pedersen@boulderchamber.com

I have had great success in establishing personal and business friendships and resources since I starting attending Boulder Chamber events 7 years ago. My company has been a member for close to 20 years and when I started here I realized what a great resource it would be for me. I can’t imagine a week without something going on from the Boulder Chamber and how I look forward to seeing everyone at each event!

Peter Rosato | Change Home Mortgage| BOULDER CHAMBER Member