Rochester Chamber of Commerce hosts first event of the year

(ABC 6 News) – Dozens of business leaders gathered at Reagan Advertising in Rochester on Friday morning for the first AM Espresso of the new year.

The networking event is put on once a month by the Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce, and is an opportunity for chamber and community members to promote their business, make personal connections, and enjoy some good coffee and breakfast.

People in attendance say its events like this have been very beneficial in helping businesses recover from the pandemic, cope with inflation, and navigate our local economy.

“I’m looking forward to meeting new people, making those connections, and making new friends,” says Katie Henning, Chamber Member and Marketing Manager at Vanicream. “Just to connect with other businesses and business leaders in the area, I think its great, especially when you’re working in business yourself, to build that community, get to know people, and potentially increase your customer base as well.”

Based on the large turnout, Kali Aldrich, the chamber’s membership director, says the outlook for 2023 looks very promising.

“I can see 2023 being a really good year for people,” says Aldrich. “People want to get out and about, especially after the pandemic and things like that, so, a lot of good people, a lot of new faces, which is really good to see.”

Members say if you know businesses or business owners wanting to become more involved in the community, this is a great way for them to get started.