One of the most important functions of the Rhinelander Chamber of Commerce is the opportunity our member pool creates for networking. One of the greatest strengths of a community is the connection and support within its business community. The more people you know and have in your network, then the larger your pool is for great ideas at your business, for potential employees or even potential business partnerships down the road.

“Business After 5” is just one program sponsored by the chamber to help create these types of networking opportunities. You don’t have to be a chamber member, or even an employee at a chamber member business to come and participate in one of our Business After 5 events, we just want you to come and enjoy the chance to meet some new people and possibly make some very valuable professional connections.

This month our Business After 5 was held on Sept. 21. Each month a chamber member, or group of members, takes on hosting and planning the event. This month Cellcom, Wickersham Jewelry, Cooper Designs and the Rhinelander Brewing Company hosted the get together. For those members hosting the event, it provides an opportunity to bring potential new customers through your doors and show off the great products or services you can offer, not to mention you get the chance to meet great people in the Rhinelander area, all while enjoying food, drinks and entertainment.

Another program designed to help foster networks and connections in the Rhinelander area is the Young Professionals. While this group is designed for a slightly different audience the idea is still the same-connecting people within our community. The design of the Young Professionals Group is to allow the younger generation in Rhinelander to feel like a part of the community, create a social network for them and show them all the great things about Rhinelander, with the ultimate goal of enticing them to stay in the area and choose to continue their career path here in Rhinelander.

Again, to attend a Rhinelander Young Professionals outing, you don’t have to be a chamber member or work for a chamber member business; we just ask that you are looking to get involved in the community and make a few new friends and network connections. In fact, if you’d like to check out this group, join us on this Sunday, Sept. 25 at BucketHeads in downtown Rhinelander to watch the Packers-Bears game.

Both of these groups meet on a monthly basis, and each month the group attending includes new people, so that means your opportunities to network grow with each event. If you’re a chamber member who’s been coming to Business After 5 for years, bring a new business acquaintance or friend to the October meeting. The same goes for the Young Professionals Group-if you know someone who’s just recently moved the area, invite them to watch Sunday’s game at BucketHead’s to help start building their Rhinelander network.

If you’d like more information on the Chamber’s Business After 5 or Young Professionals, give me a call or send me an email at [email protected], and let us help start building your network today!

Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lara Reed is available at (715) 365-7464.