There are networking groups for all kinds of special interests, so why not one about beer, wondered Jason Schneider who does new business development and social media management for digital marketing firm Kkom Inc.
And thus was Hopportunity Networking “Networking over a Pint” born.
“After having a few people ask me why there is not a networking group based on meeting at breweries I started to give it some consideration of starting a group,” says Schneider.
“I am part of a small business community called The Idea Collective and they have a brainstorming event called Idea Slam twice a week. Idea Slams are where members of the Idea Collective get an opportunity for problem solving and group brainstorming with other members. I brought up this idea of the Networking Group and through brainstorming was able to craft what is now Hopportunity Networking ‘Networking over a Pint’."
Schneider says the group will meet monthly on a Tuesday night (in an effort to prevent scheduling conflicts with other networking groups) at 5 p.m. The first meeting is set for Nov. 15 at Component Brewing in the Lincoln Warehouse in Bay View.
After an introduction and and a short presentation by the to brewery, which will have the opportunity to mine the assembled group for assistance with ideas or just about anything. Afterward, the remainder of the event will be, “open networking over a pint,” as Schneider says.
The group will ask the host breweries, taprooms and beer gardens to help promote the event but are not expected to offer any discounts or specials, unless they want to.
“I look forward to group being a spot where everyone can make connections in business – to grow their business and get help where needed – along with making some brewery connections,” says Schneider.
“At ‘Networking over a Pint,’ the pint does not just have to be beer it can be water, soda, seltzer, etc., as I want to include both beer and non-beer drinkers.
In addition to Schneider, who also runs the Everything Wisconsin & USA Microbreweries Facebook group – the group’s board includes Zackary Davis, CEO of Better View Home Improvements; Dwayne Buchanan, Associate Director of Client Solutions for Vaco; Jared Lemcke, Realtor at Keller Williams Realty-Milwaukee Southwest; and Alan M Fischer, AAMS Senior Wealth Manager at Great Lakes Wealth Advisors.
Future meetings are set for Dec. 13 at Rebellion Brewing in Cedarburg, Jan. 24 at Wizard Works in the Third Ward and Feb. 21 at Layman Brewing in West Allis.
Future meetings will also be listed online.
If you’d like more information, or to join, visit the group’s LinkedIn or Facebook profiles.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
