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Most of us can meet-and-greet our way through an industry or evening event, particularly if there's a glass of wine nearby. Even more of us know how to use Facebook or LinkedIn to re-establish acquaintances and make new connections. But how many could start from scratch and create a living, breathing network of 1,600 members within seven months?
Chris Crowell is the founder and president of East Coast Connected (ECC), an organization that was launched last year to encourage the exchange of ideas, and build business ties, amongst Atlantic Canadians living in Toronto. ECC has achieved this by hosting forums, seminars, luncheons and evening activities, and by developing partnerships with universities, companies and governments in Ontario and across Atlantic Canada.
The group is model for anyone seeking to not only identify people with similar interests or backgrounds, but to then gather them together, online and in person. The techniques applied, and lessons learned, should be of interest to anyone interested in bolstering their networking skills.
A lawyer by training, as well as an MBA grad, Mr. Crowell is a senior associate director with Bell Canada in Toronto. He was recently named the 2008 recipient of Dalhousie University's Outstanding Young Alumnus Award. Mr. Crowell was here earlier to discuss how ECC came together and what others can take from the experience.
