When my husband Steve and I moved to Parkland in 2017, it was a tremendous change for our family. We proudly became first-time homeowners and first-time car owners (we had been living in subway-friendly Manhattan for years), and we embraced the opportunity to send our daughter Alexa to the Phylis J. Green Early Childhood Center, at which we all quickly made lots of friends. That said, working full-time from home every day in our “two-person office” left us — a public relations executive and a journalist, respectively — feeling pretty isolated from the business community. We tried switching it up, setting up our laptops at the Parkland Library, Starbucks, and finally Carmela Coffee Company (which we still love). However, we missed having the in-person connections with our clients and fellow remote-working colleagues that we had enjoyed throughout our careers in New York City.
Earlier this year, we learned about the Kol Tikvah Business Networking Group (KTBNG), which operates with an unapologetic yet welcoming mission: to provide a forum for business professionals to develop meaningful relationships, mentorships, and friendships, as well as to help build each others’ businesses, making an impact upon our community and upon the world. A professional networking group…in Parkland…at our own synagogue? Sign us up!
Since forming in February 2019 and meeting biweekly on Thursday mornings, dozens of business professionals have attended our KTBNG events so far, averaging 25 people each time. Already, nearly every member has received or given referrals, and many have closed new business as a result of joining the group. And, beyond the intrinsic value of these business referrals, the networking is meaningful, the connections are valued, the relationships are genuine, and the meetings are, dare I admit, fun. After working from home and coffee shops for nearly two years in Parkland, Steve and I suddenly found ourselves surrounded by smart and interesting attorneys, financial planners, journalists, marketers, travel agents, mental health professionals, physicians, and insurance brokers — all comprised of members of our Kol Tikvah community. Starting in September, they’re gearing up for an even stronger membership, as congregants will be able to join the group as part of their temple-renewal process. This initiative will bring bigger and better networking opportunities, along with even more programming.
The KTBNG Group is open to all Congregation Kol Tikvah members, as well as Early Childhood Center parents. Not sure if it’s for you? Prospective CKT members and ECC parents are invited to join us for the next gathering, which is the first and third Thursday of every month from 7:45-8:45 am.
How can you find out more about joining our group? Look for the registration form in your CKT renewal packet — or simply add our Fall 2019 kickoff event (Thursday, September 5th) to your calendars now. Looking forward to seeing you at the next gathering! Save the dates for upcoming KTBNG meetings at 7:45am: July 18th; August 1st & 15th; September 5th & 19th; October 3rd & 17th; November 7th & November 21st; and December 5th & 19th.
Lisa Hagendorf Brenner is founder of Centerpiece Public Relations, a boutique PR firm specializing in start-ups and small businesses.