Approximately 350 members of chambers across Northwest Indiana (NWI) gathered together at the US Steel Yard Stadium for an exciting game. This is the first event of such caliber, with members from 14 chambers across the Region getting together to eat, watch a classic game, and connect.
Crossroads Chamber, the serving chamber for NWI, hosted the large event to connect business to business. Deann Patena, president and CEO of Crossroads, reached out to the Gary Southshore Railcats home stadium, and an event was planned to help bring members together.
“It is great timing for this event,” Patena said. “The suites were recently renovated and combined to make one large suite, so there is space to host such a large group. We chambers all work together. We have our events and host our outings, but this event allows us all to get together and connect across the Region.”
Members of the chambers from all across NWI, as well as their families, were full of smiles and laughs throughout the evening. There were plenty of refreshments, the conversation was plenty, and there was even a DJ booth playing catchy tunes. The executives of the 14 chambers in attendance were invited on to the field to each throw a pitch.
The Gary Southshore Railcats is a well-known team for residents of NWI. Hosting the event at a Railcats game brought forth a welcoming, fun, and casual environment for members to connect. The stadium and its games are known by NWI residents to be an exciting outing to attend. Members were able to connect over their passion for helping their community and fostering a healthy economy accompanied by the excitement of a ballgame.
The theme of the evening could be summed up in one word: unity. Executive Vice President of the Valpo Chamber Vanessa Lynch testified to the good work and necessity of a chamber for the growth of a community, and the power of bringing people together.
“The work we do isn’t just bringing a business to a city,” Lynch said. “We create a better quality of life. In the past, our cities in the Region have been very separate. Tonight, we’re all here for Northwest Indiana. We’re celebrating all the wins. Getting together like this shows that we are willing to stand together and work together to better our communities.”
Indeed members connected despite their geographical differences. Members from Cedar Lake all the way to Michigan City talked, laughed, and shared stories. The volume was uproarious. The benefit of coming together across the Region as a unified front was not lost on anyone, especially Renee Connelly, the Marketing Consultant of the Gary Southshore Railcats.
“Every one of us has something to share with someone,” Connelly said. “When we all get together, we are all helping each other out. Through networking, we are working to serve others.”
The NWI Chamber Night brought together members to celebrate and support each other. Experts in many fields from entertainment to healthcare attended and shared their knowledge. Teamwork and unity brought members together with such success, the Patena hopes to make such an outing an annual event.
“All of the presidents of the chambers meet quarterly,” Patena said. “It’s such an advantage, though, to get all of the members together as well. The plan is to continue to get together like this at least once a year.”
To learn more about the Crossroads Chamber and its mission to improve NWI, visit crossroadschamber.org.