WAYNE, NJ – With Gov. Murphy lifting many of the restrictions on indoor and outdoor gatherings and with millions of people fully vaccinated, it is beginning to feel like there is a chance for a bit of our old normalcy to start slowly coming back.
The pandemic drove many aspects of our lives to a virtual setting, including business networking, however online virtual networking via platforms like Zoom, just wasn’t cutting it.
For people who work in sales or business development as well as small business owners who need to constantly seek new opportunities to grow, online virtual networking was better than nothing. But, for many, virtual networking seemed to lack the personal touch, a sense of real connection and the opportunity to have conversations with people to foster relationships.
With warm weather here, TAPinto Wayne decided to offer live, in-person networking opportunities for smaller groups, outdoors, under the tent at the Taphouse in Wayne. The first event was May 4 and future events will happen on the first Tuesday of every month at 12:30 p.m. at the Taphouse on French Hill Rd in Wayne.
TAPinto’s first luncheon was a success as every face held a smile, there was a happy energy under the tent and the buzz of conversation in the air. It was just good for the soul to be with people again.
The Wayne Surgical Center and Elite Surgical Center were the sponsors, which meant that CEO, Dennis Simmons paid for everyone’s lunch and had an opportunity to speak about his state-of-the-art outpatient surgical centers that offer an alternative to traditional hospital-based surgeries.
“I am so happy to see people again,” said Simmons with a big smile of his own. “And to be outside on a beautiful day with you great people.”
The event was limited to 25 people and was “sold out” with the full 25 people in attendance. Everyone had an opportunity to just chat, before Ferris, the owner of TAPinto Wayne welcomed everyone, and introduced Simmons as well as the MC “for the evening” Tommy Hilcken of Tommy Hilcken Productions. As a motivational speaker and public speaking trainer and coach, Hilcken was the right choice for MC.
Each participant had the opportunity to stand and introduce themselves and their business before boxed lunches were served.
TAPinto raffled off a “Q and A” featured article, which Adriana Farley, a Wellness Advocate from SEMPRE, won. She is getting used to winning TAPinto prizes. Farley won three raffle prizes during last year’s TAPinto scavenger hunt “WayneQuest.”
“I’m just going to keep coming to your events,” said Farley with a laugh.
“I can’t tell you how much I have missed being able to meet people in person,” said Kristyn Quinton, the Director of Sales at the Home2Suites by Hilton.
Quinton must’ve missed that a lot, because she has arranged to have Home2Suites by Hilton to sponsor the next TAPinto business luncheon on June 1.
Registration for the June 1 event has just opened. Email Ferris to sign up: [email protected]
If you are interested in having your business sponsor future events, email Ferris as well.