Networking like a boss before 10 a.m.
A couple of our well-meaning readers (you know who you are – shoutout to our officemate Marc at SOCO) have pointed out a trending theme in our recent newsletters: adult beverages (i.e. local hangover hacks + French wine tasting). This morning, we’re detoxing our content.
Believe it or not, our team enjoys activities besides cheersing for the Boomerang – like gallery hopping, (gentle) hiking, football games, snorkeling and networking with local makers + shakers •in the morning• (read: not over the rocks).
Here are a couple of a.m. networking programs where you can get your coffee, croissant + company chat on before heading into the office.
👩💻 1 Million Cups Columbia | Wednesdays | 9 a.m. | Richland Library | 1431 Assembly St. | free | Come for the coffee + presentations from cool, local startups.
👨💻 Breakfast Meetings by Greater Cayce West Columbia Chamber of Commerce | fourth Tuesday of every month | networking 7:30-8 a.m., program 8-9 a.m. | see calendar for locations | $10 or free for Chamber members | Past speakers include Ray Tanner. 🐔
👩💻 BNI Capital City Referrals meetings | Thursdays | 7-8:30 a.m. | The Palmetto Club | 1231 Sumter St. | RSVP for free | Just one person per professional specialty is allowed in each chapter – check to see if you can fill out the team.
👨💻 2017 Power Breakfast series: The Talent Pipeline: Can we meet the challenge? by Columbia Regional Business Report | July 20 | 7:15-8:45 a.m. | DoubleTree by Hilton Columbia | 2100 Bush River Rd. | $30 | Part of a series of panels with local power players in various industries.
👩💻 Fall Cohort by Columbia Leadership Network | Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Spirit Communications Park Board Room | 1640 Freed Dr. | $129 for entire series, lunch included | Flex that leadership muscle. 💪
Registration’s already ended, but we’ll see some of you at this morning’s Free Times Breakfast Club Summer Series on climate change. 🌧 Bonus shoutout to Women in Philanthropy’s Food for Thought Breakfast series – are y’all bringing these back this fall? (We really liked them.)
And an ultimate Soda City Connector suggested simply dropping into Drip (Main or Five Points, your choice) every once in awhile to run into people who are up early, doing cool things in our city. ☕️ You’re bound to start up a convo with just about anyone – from Cola business brains to cocktail artisans. (Y’all know we couldn’t make a whole newsletter without another boozy reference.)
– Beth
