Special guest post by BCAMA member Rich Porayko, founding partner of Construction Creative, a Metro Vancouver marketing and communications agency.
The BCAMA Pure Networking event on October 8 was appropriately named; it was PURE networking. There is something about meeting in person over drinks and tapas that can’t be replicated by a social networking website. I have since summed up the sold out event to colleagues and friends as networking on steroids. Wisely held at intimate and upscale Whineos at Granville and Nelson, the place was already hopping when the party officially kicked off at 6:00 PM.
As a newly returning member to the BCAMA, I am veteran volunteer of social business meetings however I have never attended a professional function even close to the Pure Networking event. It’s safe to say that 100% of the people I spoke with were having a great time and indicated they would come back again.
Trina Mousseau, Creative Account Specialist for Inventa, shared her thoughts, “What I love about BCAMA events is that they are very well organized and are always strongly supported by very high caliber professionals. This has been great!”
First time BCAMA event attendee and Marketing and Events Coordinator for Globe Foundation Randall Cook agreed, “I just wanted to see what it’s all about and it’s great! Our office is close by and it is really, really convenient.”
With over 100 A-Types in the same room, everyone had their game face on and the mood was extremely upbeat and friendly with lots of smiles and welcoming faces. There was a positive buzz throughout the packed room and it was clear that confidence and optimism in the local industry was very high.
“I love it,” said first time BCAMA participant Asmin Chen, MBA Candidate 2010 and President of the Art of Selling and Negotiation Club at UBC’s Sauder School of Business. “I’ve heard so much about these events. A lot of people recommend BCAMA events to students starting their career as a great place to meet professionals in the industry.”
Steve Kim, BCAMA board member and President of Boilingpoint Communications, knows the value of attending the Association’s events, “Networking events like these provide the opportunity to meet like-minded people in a friendly and fun environment.”
Ashish Gurung, CEO Nu Experience Design explained his company comes to BCAMA meetings to network with marketing people, “Our company doesn’t create the strategy, however we create the tools that marketers use to communicate their message and this is a great venue to reach those marketers.”
Returning BCAMA event participant and CEO for QuickMobile, Patrick Payne summed it up in two sentences, “I came last year and this is a great event. This is pure networking.”
In addition to agreeing on the networking aspect, the people I spoke with were also very happy with the value. Pure Networking was a fun and informal night out at a cool boutique lounge seeing old friends and making new ones. All for only 15 bucks and it included a free drink and a ton of delicious tapas.
I look forward to attending the next Pure Networking event in late November.
Rich can be reached at richp@constructioncreative.com
View his profile at: www.linkedin.com/in/richporayko
Posts
