South Cobb Area Business Associations Partner for First Joint After-Hours Event

Submitted by Wayne Dodd

 In today’s challenging market place, there has never been a more important time to make your business connect at the local level through networking.  We currently have 11 business associations in Cobb County, and historically, they have, for the most part, been autonomous in their approach to outside activities, such as “meet and greets” and “after-hours” events.  Since being challenged by incoming Cobb Chamber of Commerce President David Connell this year to go beyond the norm and to work together for a better community, several local business associations, have taken up the baton and put wings on what President Connell is saying!

On Wednesday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., an event is taking place that is sanctioned by the Cobb Chamber and hosted by CEO Steve Guy at the corporate headquarters of Entertainment Design Group in Austell.  The Cobb Chamber’s President’s challenge is being played out by a joint After-Hours event sponsored by the Austell, Powder Springs, South Cobb and Paulding County Business Associations along with Georgia Power, Mableton Business Exchange, EDG, Parti Gras and Mother’s Finest Catering.

I'm just starting my fifth term as the president of the South Cobb Business Association. I think this event is ground-breaking and is one of the first of its kind to not only involve several local business associations but also to bring into play, another business association across the county border, with Paulding being on board as a sponsor.

We can only hope that this will kick start and challenge many other associations, both business and others, to climb on board and cross those historical lines that have been adhered to so delicately in the past!

This particular function is intended, of course, for networking but also is intended to show to our business community that we really promote and mean business by giving them opportunities to network and to highlight business success stories by showcasing EDG. There are local giants and small companies alike that have made a huge difference within our communities and need to be given credit for such, and I can assure you that EDG meets that qualification.

We are indeed honored to not only have a company with the credentials of EDG in our midst, but also so very happy to have been invited to utilize their tremendously creative and massive facilities for the historical hosting of this fresh new event.

The event is free, as well as the food and drinks, with no advance registration according to Dodd, who stated “that the only qualification to get in is to have a pocket full of business cards for distribution”! There will also be several door prizes given out at random donated by several local businesses.

Dodd did recommend that “if you plan to attend, get there early because no one needs to miss any opportunity to propose business in this current market and environment plus I assure you that the crowds will be there early”!