Sea-Comm Media's Strictly Business, Wilmington, NC's weekly business networking event (every Wednesday from 5-7PM) met for the first time at Grand Union Pub yesterday.
As Marge and I walked to the restaurant the first person we saw was Russ "Call me Doug" Hauptmann, Sea-Comm sales guy. Russ was planted in that spot with his mug of root beer and cell phone talking and smiling.
We paused for a moment at the door, before entering.
Inside it was a bit dark, but inviting and full of happy networking folk. From left to right below are Patricia Pietropaolo of Permanent Makeup, John Pietropaolo from the Metropolitan methadon center, Ezell and Anne Willard of All Kinds of Stuf promotional products, and Sea-Comm news guy Joe Catenacci.
At this table were Sea-Comm producer Paige Freeman, Scott Estrich owner of Complete Car Care, Sea-Comm account exec Amy "Just call me Jackie" Besterfeldt, photographer Robert Paige, and, with her back to the camera, PrePaid Legal's Trista Goforth.
The Cape Fear Rotary club was the beneficiary of this week's raffle ticket sales for sponsor supplied prizes.
Designer Kelly Cain Smith and new UNCW MPA grad Shamair Raison.
From N2 Publishing, Steve West and Robert Ridgeway.
Cape Fear National Golf Course Marketing Director Brad Walker and East Carolina Bank's Susan Cruse.
That's Marge Brown of SendOutCards, Vince Prisco who is starting a new venture and a new networking group, Lauren Formalarie of Carolina Coastal Concepts, and Barbara Nelson of Northwestern Mutual.
John and Patricia are not only photogenic, they're also always happy to stop and smile.
Marge and Stephanie Williams from Edward Jones.
The Huston's: Rick of InSphere Insurance Solutions and Elaine of Pre-Paid Legal. She also has a company that sells great bed sheets and Rick is passionate about cooking.
Two good guys, Michael Byrd of WordWrightWeb and (sorry, Fred) with his back to the camera, Fred Kumpel of Strickland's Window Coverings. I spent a lot of time talking about passions and business at this networking event and it turns out that Michael, besides being a runner, has great interest in dance. He takes weekly classes in Carolina Shag and Argentine Tango! What a great combination - I think Marge and I will go to the classes he attends to at least check them out.
Grand Union Pub has this great pool table, but notice that no one was playing. That's because the rooms were packed with busy networkers. Once again, it was fun, it was busy, and it was Strictly Business.
When we left after an hour or so, Russ was still outside. He put his phone down for a few seconds so I could grab this shot.
Next week Strictly Business will be at Beau Rivage Golf & Resort of Carolina Beach Road. Wednesday, 5-7. See you there.
