Businesses and Community Members Unite for Annual Chamber Networking Night

A golden networking opportunity, the chance to meet other members of the community and delicious food were just a few of the attractions that drew attendees to the 10th annual Portage Community Business Night, which was hosted by the Chamber of Commerce on Thursday at Woodland Park.

The consensus among the community members and businesses in attendance was that the event has steadily grown each year. The evening also presented an attractive opportunity for businesses to showcase their products.

 “I think, from a chamber perspective, groups can’t advertise in the paper or anywhere else the way they could advertise here in front of 1,000 people to see a firsthand employee and to see what they do,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Terry Hufford said. “It eliminates a citizen going to the business or the business going to the citizen, they come to equal territory, they visit a little bit, they have a bite to eat and they go to another place.”

Porter Regional Hospital has become a fixture at the event, reserving a large corner space each year.

“Porter is participating in the event for many reasons,” Laurie Wehner-Evans said. “We’re doing a blood pressure screening to keep our community members healthy, we have a few other informational booths and we’re highlighting our Portage facility, our surgery center and our inpatient rehab center.”

Hufford said he thought the weather may keep some community members from turning out, but he said it was clear that the Community Business Night has become one that people mark on their calendars.

“The weather didn’t do a thing to us,” he said. “The goal is bringing the community together. The chamber should be helping businesses, but in the big picture we should be working for the community, and I think this event does it.”

Mike Lovings and Dave Parks co-chaired the event, but Hufford said the entire committee chipped in.

“Everybody’s in charge, yet nobody’s in charge,” Hufford said. “It’s shared wisdom. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing in life, if you share what you’re doing right, people will say that’s a good idea, and they grasp it and then run with it.”

According to Lovings, preparation for the event started in October 2012. The committee has stayed nearly intact for five years, allowing it to run the night smoothly year in and year out.

“I think everybody from Portage and the surrounding areas should come to this event,” Lovings said. “You get to sample some of the best food in the area and you get to sample some of the best vendors in the area. It’s spring, get out and mingle with the people; this is a great event.”

Midwest Family Credit Union CEO John Peterson aptly summed up the evening by simply stating, “PCBN is Portage.”

Neil McLaughlin of Minuteman Press said he has attended every year since opening his business nine years ago. The chamber’s event allows him to expand the brand to people who do not normally take the time to seek his company out.

“They’ve really got the community engaged,” he said. “A lot of it has been the action of the committee that they pull from the different businesses and then we’ve done a lot more advertising, trying to figure out the best way to get in front of the residents.”

Ideas in Motion Media employees were scattered across the line of booths, taking photos, doing interviews and making connections. Hufford said he was impressed by the number of PortageLife employees in attendance.

“I just appreciate PortageLife,” he said when asked if there was anything else he would like to add about the event. “I’ll tell you what, their advertisement is pretty simple, what’s positive in Portage, we’re going to bring to our community; and look at the representation of PortageLife here tonight. Chris Mahlmann is not only a good friend, but he’s a great human being that cares about people and better news than what gets reported other places. PortageLife fills that gap with all of the positive things going on, and we appreciate that.”

For many more photos from Thursday night's event, follow this link!