When you hear the word “networking,” you may immediately picture a professional event where you make awkward small talk and hand out business cards. Networking, however, can be done in so many different ways.

One of our goals with FLEX is to help young professionals meet one another in a comfortable environment. While we do have some fancier events, like FLEX Presents, and we encourage FLEX members to attend Chamber mixers, there are plenty of opportunities for less formal networking.

FLEX socials are a great example. At our Summer Kick-Off in June, we sat around a campfire, played yard games, kayaked, and camped. On August 12 at our Coffee Chat, we’ll just be hanging out at Iron Furnace Coffee before work drinking coffee and eating pastries.

“I’m from this area, but recently moved home from college and appreciated the opportunity to connect with people this summer,” said Morgan Pifer, Venango Chamber Intern. “By attending Be Here and FLEX events, I was able to network with so many people while having fun and not feeling pressured to act a certain way.”

Volunteering is another way to network without attending an actual “networking event.” Many connections were made in July while young professionals handed out treats at the Oil Heritage Ice Cream Social and filled beer packages at Bike ‘n Brew.

“At a normal social networking event you have to make a conversation from scratch with people that you don’t know, which can be difficult for an introvert,” said FLEX Member Zach Miller. “Volunteering is a better way for someone like myself because it gives a common activity to work on or talk about rather than having to generate a conversation from scratch. It’s been nice meeting people in the area that I otherwise wouldn’t have.”

Networking doesn’t have to be intimidating. We encourage you to join us at an upcoming event or social, whether it’s more formal or casual. Here are some opportunities:
• FLEX Coffee Chat: Friday, August 12, 7-8AM, Iron Furnace Coffee
• Lee James Mixer: Thursday, August 4, 5-7PM, Office of State Rep. R. Lee James
• Foxburg Mixer: Wednesday, August 10, 5-7PM, Foxburg Businesses
• Venango Chamber Steak Fry: Thursday, August 18, 4PM, Oil City Boat Club
• Cranberry Festival: Saturday, September 17, Cranberry Mall
• FLEX Speaker Series: Tentatively planned for October

Have questions or want to learn more about these events? Contact us at flex@venangochamber.org or visit venangochamber.org/events.

This article was published in the Future Leaders & Entrepreneurs Exchange’s (FLEX) August 2022 edition of the FLEX Your Ideas (FYI) Newsletter.