Chamber events get business connections brewing
There’s something about the hum of conversation over a morning cup of coffee that sets the tone for a productive day. At the Quad Cities Chamber Coffee MeetUp, that energy, plus a little extra caffeine, is the catalyst for great business connections.
“This event is something I look forward to -- it’s high energy and always starts my Friday morning off on such a positive note,” said Deanna Jensen-Valliere, Manager, Member Engagement. “I love seeing our members engage and connect!”
As one of our most well-attended events, Coffee MeetUp brings together business owners, professionals and familiar faces from the Chamber for the simple purpose of conversation. No podiums or structured programming, just genuine networking time that can spark new ideas, friendships and opportunities. And on this particular Friday morning at Vibrant Coffee House + Kitchen, the room was full and the chit-chat lively.
“I decided to come to Coffee MeetUp because I’m a new member, so this is actually my first event,” said Danielle Scott, owner of Black Bear Marketing. “I was very excited to come here and check it out – for the networking and the opportunities. It’s a great showing – I can’t believe how many people are here! It’s been a great experience.”
Coffee MeetUp is one of the many Chamber events that help local professionals engage, collaborate and move their businesses forward. As a Chamber member, this event is free to you, and another way to market yourself.
“This is my first Coffee MeetUp. I wanted to come to be involved more in the community,” said Jessica Durbin, Electo-Freeze, H.C. Duke. “Our company is nationwide, but I know it’s important to be a part of local community events and charities, so this is a good way for me as a project manager to get in front of new faces – I haven’t met a lot of people in person, so this is a great opportunity.”
Michael Guyton of Northwestern Mutual agrees that the event is a perfect place to connect with new people. “My whole existence is networking -- the event is packed -- I’ve already met 10 people that I haven’t met before. It’s worth it to network and get my name out there. I look forward to many more events.”
Events like Coffee MeetUp are made possible, in part, by member sponsors like Quartet Senior Living. Emma Anderson of Quartet, said they decided to sponsor because they wanted to be more present in the community, spreading the word that the senior living facility is now here in the QC. “Senior living is a tough thing, and these are tough conversations, so we always want to be able to help people in times of crisis,” she said. “We’ve been a Chamber member for a while, but haven’t been overly involved. We were looking for more opportunities to be out in the community – so this was perfect.”
The Chamber is hosting two more events before the end of the year - including another popular networking event, Business Exchange on November 19 and Economic Forecast on December 5. Coffee MeetUp resumes for 2026 beginning on January 9.