network in fast lane
By LAUREN BONIFACIO Special to the Daily Press
DOWNTOWN — The local chamber of commerce plans to be a match maker for its members — but it’s strictly business.
To help some of its shyer members get together, the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce plans on setting them up on blind dates, business style.
It’s called high-speed networking, said Chamber president and CEO Kathy Dodson. And she isn’t talking computers.
Playing off the speed dating craze, where singles can meet a whole room of potential mates via timed mini-dates, speed networking might just be able to facilitate some business partnerships made in heaven.
“It takes a lot of courage to go up to people you don’t know and introduce yourself,” Dodson said. “We wanted to get a smaller, more intimate group and add some structure to the networking.”
The inaugural event planned for later this month will be limited to 40 people, Dodson said, and is open to all chamber members. Participants will be randomly paired off on four six-minute “dates,” when they will get a chance to exchange introductions, networking tips and
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 13, 2004. Read the original PDF.