W. H. CHAMBER NOTES The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce: All Networking is Global

BY CHRIS CONWAY

“You’re on mute!”

“We can’t see you. Click the red X on the camera in the lower left!”

“Oooooo, what’s your kitten’s name?”

For anyone who has spent any amount of time on ZOOM, Google Meets, Webex or any other virtual meeting platform, no further explanation is required. The prophecy foretold by The Jetsons over a half-century ago has finally become a reality - “video-telephone” has arrived. COVID-19 has forced us to connect with people in new ways. These virtual meetings extend well beyond the business world. Holiday celebrations, grandparent visits and even weddings and wakes have all gone virtual.

The West Hartford Chamber of Commerce was an early adopter of virtual programming. On Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Governor Lamont announced that the state would, for all intents and purposes, be shut down by Thursday. The Chamber moved swiftly by holding its monthly meeting of the Board of Directors on ZOOM the day of the announcement. The Chamber’s twice-per-month AM Connections was to meet that Friday at The Noah Webster Library. This meeting normally would attract 75 or more people from the area to network, share leads and learn about each other’s businesses. The Chamber staff elected to hold the meeting as scheduled on ZOOM. Over 40 of the regular attendees logged in to do what they normally do...network.

In spring 2020 during what is now colloquially referred to as “the early days of COVID,” some of the conversation surrounded topics such as how long this was going to last, how people were changing their business and how they were dealing with their family all being at home. Networking was still happening, leads were still being passed and people were sharing successes with working with one another.

Seeing the quick embrace of the virtual format by Chamber members, the Chamber staff elected to hold the meetings weekly rather than twice-amonth. Quickly, attendance grew to 60 people every week. Along with growing attendance, the geographical reach of the meeting also expanded. While the Chamber largely serves businesses in West Hartford and the adjoining towns, we do have members in southwestern Massachusetts. People from California, New Jersey and even Canada started logging in and networking with our local businesses.

“COVID has brought so many challenges to the way we do our work now, but it has also brought some unexpected and beneficial changes,” says Jennifer Van Beckum. “For instance, before COVID I never would have thought to network in other parts of the country and, indeed, even other parts of the world.” Jennifer works with Melaleuca. com, a company that specializes in wellness products. She is an active member of the West Hartford Chamber, even though she is based in MA. “I run the type of business where I can work anywhere in the country and in 19 other countries, as well,” Jennifer added. “When COVID hit, new networking groups began to crop up seemingly overnight. Someone invited me to one and then I got invited to another and now I am opening accounts in CA, GA, and even Canada! In this way, COVID has expanded our minds and broadened our horizons.”

Even local businesses have found that the virtual format has allowed them to expand the time they spend networking. With driving from meeting to meeting being replaced by logging in from your home/office/anywhere, more networking is now a reality. “When the West Hartford Chamber’s AM Connections event went virtual, it opened up opportunities not just for members, but for businesses all over West Hartford,” says Eric Lopkin, Founder of The Modern Observer Group, a coaching and business consulting company. “It made it much easier for West Hartford businesses to connect with partners and customers all over Connecticut and beyond. The Modern Observer Group is based in New Haven and I live in Middletown. While I have always been a supporter of the Connections meeting and the Chamber, switching to a virtual format made it possible for me to attend much more frequently and to build deeper relationships within the West Hartford community.”

While we all look forward to a time when the world resembles the “old ways,” The West Hartford Chamber has already set the framework for the “new normal” and the opportunities it will bring. n

Christopher Conway Executive Director West Hartford Chamber of Commerce 860.521.2300 - office 860.810.5663 - cell cconway@whchamber.com www.whchamber.com