Something?s brewing in the Baltimore region.
Koffee Talk, a networking group of more than 80 area marketing professionals, had its monthly meeting at Baltimore?s Best Party Entertainers in Towson on Wednesday.
For some, it?s a welcome opportunity to meet with old friends, with members calling it a “community.”
“This is a great bunch of people,” said Loury Davis, the special events coordinator for Saul Ewing and two-year advisory board member of the group. “People continue to come because they develop friendships, and it?s best to do business with friends.”
While many groups focus their events around speakers or presentations, Koffee Talk focuses on having its members speak to each other. Throughout the year, the group holds 11 breakfast meetings and 10 happy hours. Using a unique twist on both, the breakfast meetings have a substantial time allotted for group interaction and feature an informational speaker from the community. Meanwhile at the happy hours, a different local nonprofit is selected each week to display its work and receive donations at the door.
Philanthropy is an important element, and Koffee Talk is known for its Koffee Cup Regatta fundraiser, which last year raised $35,000 for area nonprofit Destination Bright Future.
“Some of the top marketing professionals are involved [with the group],” said Bill Pisano, the director of branch operations for Stephen James Associates, a sponsor of Koffee Talk. “It?s a great way to get in front of a lot of important people.”
Started five years ago as a meeting over coffee at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Koffee Talk has come a long way. Founded in 2002 by Suzanne “Lovey” St. Pellicer of Lightning Golf & Promotions in Owings Mills, the group has even had its name trademarked and a brand of coffee named after it, and it is looking at expanding across the state.
St. Pellicer said she wants people “to come to Koffee Talk and feel like they have met someone new and formed a professional relationship and feel a connection to the community.”
More information
» For more information about events or membership, visit koffeetalk.net.
