Join us at the Burlington CT Chamber of Commerce on the 3rd Thursday of every month! Connect with local business leaders, share updates, and discover new ways to support our vibrant community. Enjoy complimentary sandwiches and drinks while you network. Everyone is welcome—come see what we're all about!

Join us for this talk with Takina Shafer, founder and owner of SkatePort!

Ever wonder what it’s like to run a business that faces the hustle and bustle of Bridgeport’s streets? Our new Speaker Series gives you and inside look at the challenges, joys and unique perspective of local business owners whose establishments are woven into the fabric of our community.

MONTHLY MARKETING MEETUPS at HAYVN

IN-PERSON EVENT

Friday, 7/18/25: 9am-5pm

• 9:30am-10:30am: Ask The Experts
• 12pm-1pm: Marketing Collective Monthly Meetup
• 9am-5pm: Marketing Coworking Day - cowork at HAYVN for the day with your peers

COST

• HAYVN Members: Free with code on members portal. For help accessing members portal please email questions@hayvn.com
• Non-Members: $25, includes your day of coworking at HAYVN

LOCATION

• HAYVN Darien

Join us for HAYVN'S Monthly Marketing Meetups which may include:

• Connecting and exchanging insights and resources with fellow marketers across diverse fields, such as content creation, branding, design, video production, AI, and more.
• Featured expert guest speakers and workshops/training
• Ask The Experts
• Marketing Collective Meetup
• HAYVN Marketing Podcast
• How to participate in HAYVN's Marketing Cooperative
• Plus, marketers can cowork at HAYVN for the day

ABOUT ASK THE EXPERTS: 9:30am-10:30am

Join our interactive group session! Bring a burning marketing question and have it answered by HAYVN’s panel of multi-disciplinary marketing professionals. Open to public.

ABOUT THE MARKETING COLLECTIVE: 12pm-1pm

The HAYVN Marketing Collective is a dynamic group of marketing professionals who come together monthly to network, share insights, and exchange resources. Through guest speakers, interactive sessions, and masterminds, members collaborate to solve business challenges and work cross-functionally on paid marketing projects. This collective fosters innovation and teamwork, driving growth for businesses and entrepreneurs alike.

ABOUT HAYVN HUB FOR MARKETING

HAYVN’s membership boasts passionate marketers from every industry and marketing discipline – social, email, branding, strategy, design, video, copywriting, public relations and more. They provide a wealth of knowledge for the HAYVN community as well as a dynamic, supportive network for each other.

The HAYVN Hub for Marketing is the newest addition to HAYVN’s roster of subject matter hubs that currently include Sustainability and Social Impact, Health and Wellness, Empowering Women and Entrepreneurship – all adding to the diverse mix of talented professionals that are a part of fabric of HAYVN.

Questions? Contact communitymanager@hayvn.com

CAN'T MAKE THIS EVENT? Get on our email list for future event notifications.

CURIOUS ABOUT HAYVN? Book a tour

WANT TO SEE MORE? View our full calendar of events

The “Women in Power” event is dedicated to reuniting young ladies with the purpose of helping them find their path and boosting their self-confidence.

This workshop provides prospective business owners with the tools they need to create an effective business plan. Using a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis will help them be proactive instead of reactive.

It will assist in developing a real-world business strategy that is focused, realistic and tailored to your business.

• What a SWOT analysis is
• How to prepare a basic business plan
• How a SWOT analysis helps create a clear picture of an effective planning process by providing a reality check and help you think both short and long term
• How to use a SWOT analysis to provide an overall view of the key factors influencing the future of your business
• How to incorporate the results of the SWOT analysis into the preparation of a business plan

While in industry, Dr. Hoffman held positions ranging from research and development engineer, group manager, project manager to general manager. In aerospace, he worked on the space shuttle and the Titan rocket. He holds a patent for a Digital Scan Converter Employing an Accelerated Scan. He is the author of project management and capstone project books and more than twenty academic and technical papers. Dr. Hoffman teaches engineering management courses at Fairfield University. He recently retired as associate dean of the School of Engineering and Computing at Fairfield University.

Meta Roundtable: Empower Your Business with AI

Party at La Plage Westport &

Gold Coast Connect's Summer Networking Event!

Join us at Westport's premier party spot La Plage Westport.

Hosted by Randi Shapiro Lehrman

The Patio Bar is the place to be for Summer!

Meet, Mingle and Connect with the Gold Coast Connect Community at our Summer Networking Party, with networking the Gold Coast Connect Way!

La Plage Westport is a waterfront casual Restaurant & Oyster Bar showcasing a coastal cuisine focused on locally harvested seafood and shellfish, garden fresh produce and sustainable meats, served in a relaxed atmosphere with views of the Saugatuck River and Long Island Sound.

Event Location: La Plage Westport, 260 Compo Road South, Westport, CT 06880

Date: Tuesday Jul 22, 2025 - Hours: 6pm-9pm

Rain Date: July 23rd, 2025

Hors d'oeuvres, Music, Cash Bar, On the Patio

Mingle Tickets are $40 in Advance

About Gold Coast Connect

Gold Coast Connect is a Networking and Event Company, we produce a variety of events that connect businesses and consumers in a personal way. Our Social platforms are designed to promote our members businesses. Our Private Facebook Group for Fairfield County, CT has over 5000 active members, and is the ideal platform for our Gold Coast Members to connect, share and promote your businesses.

@GoldCoastConnect

https://www.facebook.com/groups/goldcoastconnect/

Business Facebook Page: https://business.facebook.com/GoldCoastConnectLLC

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goldcoastconnectllc/

More About La PLAGE Westport

La PLAGE Westport is located at, 260 Compo Road South, Westport, CT.

https://www.laplagewestport.com/

@LaPlageWestport

www.instagram.com/laplagewestport

www.facebook.com/laplagewestport

Description Chamber Business After Hours take place at a different member business the fourth Wednesday of each month.

The Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce is the voice of our business community and the premier business membership organization in the region. Each year, your Chamber helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses, professionals lead their organizations, and community leaders expand their reach in support of a vibrant business environment and a thriving local economy that benefits everyone.

This event offers new, existing, and potential members an opportunity to make connections with other Chamber members and staff. During the conversation, you will be able to introduce your organization to the other attendees. In addition, you will learn how we promote and serve the Valley business community and your individual business through advocacy and partnerships.

Your membership is an important investment in the future of our community and your business. As a Chamber member, you have access to a host of events and programs that will help you grow your business. Your Chamber membership provides you with cost-saving resources, valuable networking opportunities, and a chance to develop your business skills.

Please join the Staff and Ambassadors of the Greater Valley Chamber in-person for this FREE event.

Network with young professionals from Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Plainville, Plymouth, Thomaston, Wolcott, and beyond! You will be supporting two locally owned businesses, The Bristol Bazaar and Yellow King Brews, which are both members of the Central CT Chamber of Commerce.

This is an excellent place to network with other people interested in growing small businesses- whether you’re just getting started or have been in business for years, you will enjoy this refreshing perspective on achieving success.

During this interactive workshop, you will start to build your business plan – your roadmap for success.

You will get a pragmatic, straightforward tool for setting goals, developing action plans for achieving them, and measuring how you are doing.

You will learn about:

• How to research the market - your industry, customers, and competitors
• How to analyze your own business
• How to define/refine your business niche
• How to set business objectives
• How to create a simple action plan to achieve your objectives
• How to set up monthly tools to monitor your progress against your goals

Before the workshop, think about:

• What are your business goals? In both financial and personal terms
• What, specifically, is your product or service? Why would potential customers buy from you and not your competitor?

Presenter: Peter Tallian

Peter Tallian's expertise is in financial analysis, improving cash flow, budgeting, operations and team management. He has used these skills and put them to work in managing manufacturing, service and technology companies. Peter has worked with teams in the United States, Asia, Europe and Brazil. In his career with five very different companies, Peter has dealt with many significant challenges including growing revenue, effective pricing, cost management, accounts receivable and bankruptcy.

As a SCORE mentor, Peter has worked with about 40 entrepreneurs in a wide variety of businesses throughout Fairfield County over the past 3 years. He started his own business three years ago and is dealing with the challenges of growing a profitable business.

Join us for the bimonthly membership meeting held on the first Wednesday of every other month beginning Feb. 5, 2025 at different member locations.

2025 schedule:

• Wed. Feb. 5, 2025 | Location: Kent Memorial Library, 32 North Main St., co-hosted by The Kent Dispatch
• Wed. April 2, 2025 | Location: 109 Cheese Market, 6 Kent Green Blvd.
• Wed. June 4, 2025 | Location: Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St.
• Wed. Aug. 6, 2025| Location: Hudson Valley Preservation, 27 Maple St.
• Wed. Oct. 1, 2025 | Location: Wilson’s Café, 8 North Main St.
• Wed. Dec. 3, 2025 | Location: TBD

What is Code and Coffee? Code and Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you!

The Intro Circle

Near the beginning of the event (11:00 am), we do a standup in a circle:

• We first announce organizer announcements, updates, and logistics
• Round 1 - (7 secs max):
  • Your name
  • What you can help others with
  • What you would like help with
  • Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool.
• Round 2: Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too.

Community Discord - come hang out before and after: https://discord.com/invite/xZNGCz6uXg

We will be looking to take photos during the meet up. Let one of the organizers know if you would rather we not include you in the photos.

This workshop will provide an overview of Social Security payments, including eligibility, application processes, and strategies to maximize your retirement income. AARP New York is your wise friend - with the financial education you've been looking for!

About the Event AARP New York is proud to present Money Mindset, a bi-weekly series of virtual workshops designed to empower you with practical knowledge and skills for managing your money. From credit and debt to benefits and estate planning, each session will provide actionable insights to help you finesse your finances. On August 12, join us for Get Social Security Savvy. This workshop will provide an overview of Social Security payments, including eligibility, application processes, and strategies to maximize your retirement income. Register today! And please be sure to sign up for the next session in the series HERE.

How to Join Sign in to your aarp.org account or create an account to register for events. AARP membership is not required. You will receive an email with the Zoom link before the session. Consult your financial advisor for advice regarding your personal situation.

Description

The Central CT Chambers of Commerce's women's-only networking group.

The Morris Public Library Online presents the Women & Money Online Series: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets, on July 16, August 13, September 10, October 15, November 12, December 10 at 1 PM, with Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone, of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

The Women & Money Series is a way to empower and educate women of any age on financial matters that affect their lives. Morris patrons are invited to participate in the sessions on a monthly basis.

Register BELOW:

July 16th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets: 

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1m8oxsmVTQmPLxqw9Wzmkw#/registration

August 13th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets:

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JR07jXwjSf6RJy2IZvBRzw#/registration

September 10th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets: 

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_epE5rYgTRliog1eRrCwIRA#/registration

October 15th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets:

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_b5bTd0D4RDGV50-9BibX_w#/registration

November 12th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets:

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PQJyS6M7SJKbMztioEYnEQ#/registration

December 10th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets:

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yocfR_byTUinIZZTuRFp9w#/registration

Bios:

Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.

Liz Maccarone, CRPC®, SE-AWMA™

Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor

Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation.

Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures.

Get ready for a fun night of networking and leadership development with fellow CT CPCU members at Yard Goats Stadium!

Description

Join us at the Burlington CT Chamber of Commerce on the 3rd Thursday of every month! Connect with local business leaders, share updates, and discover new ways to support our vibrant community. Enjoy complimentary sandwiches and drinks while you network. Everyone is welcome—come see what we're all about!

The demand for consultants is growing. At this talk, you'll have a chance to determine if consulting is right for you and what is needed for success.

This program will be conducted by Mark Hehl, a successful independent consultant since 2001, whose clients included: Motorola, Duracell, Johnson & Johnson, Timex, Lufthansa, TIMEX, and others.

Mark will guide you through:

•How to start your practice with little investment.

• Is Consulting right for you.?

• Getting started

• A low-cost marketing system that works.

• How to sell deeper into organizations.

• Generating winning proposals.

• Ways to develop your skills inventory and your niche.

• When to use a contract / statement of work and when you shouldn’t.

• How to expand your business by power networking

Mark Hehl is a semi-retired consultant who is following his dreams by giving back as a public speaker and author. He is a former corporate executive and author of the book Amusing Confessions of an International Consultant. Mark has been involved in various technology transfer and operational excellence efforts in over 40 countries.

Join us at the Triumph OVER Trauma Empowerment Conference to learn how to overcome challenges and reclaim your power!

Network with young professionals from Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Plainville, Plymouth, Thomaston, Wolcott, and beyond! You will be supporting two locally owned businesses, The Bristol Bazaar and Yellow King Brews, which are both members of the Central CT Chamber of Commerce.

Join Founders & Coders: AI Match Night to pitch, connect, and team up with Yale SOM entrepreneurs and CS talents.

The Morris Public Library Online presents the Women & Money Online Series: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets, on July 16, August 13, September 10, October 15, November 12, December 10 at 1 PM, with Julia Strayer and Liz Maccarone, of Merrill Lynch Wealth Management.

The Women & Money Series is a way to empower and educate women of any age on financial matters that affect their lives. Morris patrons are invited to participate in the sessions on a monthly basis.

Register BELOW:

July 16th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets: 

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1m8oxsmVTQmPLxqw9Wzmkw#/registration

August 13th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets:

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JR07jXwjSf6RJy2IZvBRzw#/registration

September 10th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets: 

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_epE5rYgTRliog1eRrCwIRA#/registration

October 15th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets:

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_b5bTd0D4RDGV50-9BibX_w#/registration

November 12th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets:

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PQJyS6M7SJKbMztioEYnEQ#/registration

December 10th @ 1PM: How to Make Sense of Today’s Financial Markets:

https://darienlibrary.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_yocfR_byTUinIZZTuRFp9w#/registration

Bios:

Julia Strayer, CPWA®, CIMA®, CRPC®

Senior Vice President, Wealth Management Advisor

Prior to joining Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2000, Julia was a vice president and private banker for BankBoston’s Private Bank for 7 years, responsible for asset management and trust services. Previously, Julia worked in marketing for 9 years with Merrill. Julia has a BA from Ohio State University and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business. Julia has appeared on the CNBC show “Power Lunch,” CBS “This Morning,” WGCH’s “Women in Business,” in addition to featured articles in USA Today.

Liz Maccarone, CRPC®, SE-AWMA™

Vice President, Senior Financial Advisor

Liz joined Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in 2012. Liz works closely with high-net-worth individuals and their families to create personalized and comprehensive strategies that support their goals, including investment management, retirement planning, liability management, and multigenerational planning. Liz values the importance of establishing and cultivating relationships with families including the next generation.

Liz graduated from Fairfield University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Finance and Marketing. She began her career working at a boutique investment firm as a Business Development Associate, specializing in commodities and futures.

Description

Join the Burlington Chamber for an engaging evening of networking at Keystone Place at Newbury Brook in Torrington.

Join us at the Burlington CT Chamber of Commerce on the 3rd Thursday of every month! Connect with local business leaders, share updates, and discover new ways to support our vibrant community. Enjoy complimentary sandwiches and drinks while you network. Everyone is welcome—come see what we're all about!

Join Pioneer Health for a delicious meal where we'll be discussing the art of compounding pearls in a fun and interactive presentation!

Description

In proud partnership with The Mark Twain House, On Tuesdays We Wear Black LLC is hosting New England's Second annual premier professional training event! Join us for a one-day comprehensive workshop for business professionals where you'll learn about the most up-to-date grief and bereavement tools to help support loss in the workplace.

The Grief Awareness & Education Conference aims to provide meaningful insights and strategies to navigate grief, loss, and bereavement within the context of personal and organizational change. Through inspiring presentations and actionable takeaways, we seek to foster a deeper understanding of these universal experiences and empower attendees to embrace change with resilience and empathy.

Why Attend?

• Gain insights into how grief and loss impact individuals and organizations.
• Learn actionable strategies to embrace change and foster growth.
• Connect with like-minded professionals who are committed to creating supportive, empathetic workplaces.
• Hear from expert speakers sharing personal stories, research, and best practices.

Key Details:

The conference will feature a curated selection of 60-minute presentations by leading speakers, with opportunities for Q&A, interactive discussions, and networking.

Topics Covered:

• Personal resilience during times of loss
• Supporting teams through grief and transition
• The intersection of grief and professional growth
• Creating compassionate work environments

Who Should Attend?

• Business leaders and managers
• HR professionals
• Organizational development specialists
• Counselors and wellness advocates
• Anyone interested in understanding the role of grief in personal and professional settings

Tickets include lunch and a digital toolbox! This event is being facilitated by industry leading experts, who will speak on various facets of bereavement through a grief lens, which has been directly linked to increased retention rates as well as employee productivity.

Network with young professionals from Bristol, Burlington, Farmington, Plainville, Plymouth, Thomaston, Wolcott, and beyond! You will be supporting two locally owned businesses, The Bristol Bazaar and Yellow King Brews, which are both members of the Central CT Chamber of Commerce.

Join us for the bimonthly membership meeting held on the first Wednesday of every other month beginning Feb. 5, 2025 at different member locations.

2025 schedule:

• Wed. Feb. 5, 2025 | Location: Kent Memorial Library, 32 North Main St., co-hosted by The Kent Dispatch
• Wed. April 2, 2025 | Location: 109 Cheese Market, 6 Kent Green Blvd.
• Wed. June 4, 2025 | Location: Kent Art Association, 21 South Main St.
• Wed. Aug. 6, 2025| Location: Hudson Valley Preservation, 27 Maple St.
• Wed. Oct. 1, 2025 | Location: Wilson’s Café, 8 North Main St.
• Wed. Dec. 3, 2025 | Location: TBD