By Rachel Diffendal, PRO New England, Communications and Support Coordinator
On July 20th, and August 24th PRO New England organized two unofficial networking events given the moniker, “PRO Summer Meetups.” PRO members and a few curious non-members met at Quincy’s Marina Bay Break Rock Brewing Co. and Waltham’s Mighty Squirrel Brewing Co. for a brew and chance to chat.
Caption: from left: Diane Burcz, Diane Burcz Interior Design, Julie Dalton, Platt Builders, Cheryl Savitt, Savvy Words, Michelle Southworth, MWI Fiber-shield, and Corey Nuffer, Kevin Cradock Builders
Caption: from left: Stuart Parsons, S.M. Parsons Architects and Steve Hanson, A Yard and A Half Landscaping
If you know PRO, you know how crucial in-person professional events are to build and foster relationships and generate business growth and opportunity. PRO hosts a myriad of events throughout the year including our five signature events, monthly member meetings, and dinner meetings. These events are pivotal to our member base and our organization identity as a whole.
Capturing the spirit of PRO’s annual events, PRO Summer Meetups intend to celebrate a casual no-pressure environment to network, share a laugh, and click a glass with fellow industry members. Our July 20th and August 24th attendees both enjoyed beautiful New England summer evenings swapping anecdotes and business cards enjoying the relaxed atmosphere. As we look to the future we’re striving to create as many face-to-face opportunities as feasible to both engage our members, and encourage non-members to join.
Caption: from left: Dan Abramson, SimpleHome, Ted Gowdy, Gowdy Design Build, Natasha Clarke, Simply Windows, Priscilla Lima, Divine Stoneworks, and Fred Anderson, Anderson Landscape Construction.
Caption: from left: Michael Palmer, Kevin Cradock Builders, Justin Zeller, Red House Design Build, Dan Abramson, SimpleHome, and Natasha Clarke, Simply Windows.
Summer is a busy time of year packed with work obligations and projects, family time, and (hopefully) much deserved vacations. With this in mind, our PRO Summer Meetups can keep members engaged with PRO that may not have the time allowance needed for larger industry events. These casual after work gatherings also provide a great stepping stone for new PRO members to begin building connections and getting to know fellow members.
A new PRO member attending the PRO Summer Meetups had the following to say: “Being a new member and still learning about PRO and its members, it was great to take some time to network and introduce myself in such a fun, easygoing atmosphere. While chatting with other attendees, I even managed to gain a new client,” commented Gustavo Teza from Advanced Green Insulation & Fireplace.
PRO’s organizational philosophy serves to connect our members to encourage collaboration on projects and continue to expand our network and reach. Events are an effective and enjoyable method by which to engage our network and generate interest from outside parties. Our two PRO Summer Meetups were both well attended and received positive feedback furthering our belief that in-person events are invaluable in our industry.
Beyond professional gains, in-person networking especially in the remodeling industry rekindles a sense of community among artisans, contractors, designers, and suppliers. Engaging in face-to-face interactions fosters a supportive ecosystem where knowledge sharing, skill enhancement, and mutual encouragement flourish. The synergy born from such interactions can drive the industry forward, pushing the boundaries of design and construction.
If you are ever curious to learn more about PRO Summer Meetups or have a location or activity to suggest, please reach out via email to Rachel@pro-ne.org.