Just over a year ago, I had the good fortune to land a job at Anvil Media working for Kent Lewis managing all the operational components of a digital marketing agency. I invoice clients, manage finances, sign everyone up for all our benefits, be sure employees get paid each month, order paper, update the website, send weekly emails, plan events for the team along with the other members of the fun committee and more. However, one of the projects that I was lucky enough to get to manage as well is pdxMindShare. Last night concluded my first full year with Portland’s premiere career-focused workshop and networking event, and looking back, I can’t help but think fondly of it.
When I first walked into Anvil’s office, I was informed it would be best to find a new venue. So, I did. Trader Vic’s in the Pearl was more than happy to take in our group, and they have taken fantastic care of us ever since. September of 2013 was my first event, and having a new location and never having attended an event in the past, I didn’t know what to expect. I was lucky enough to already have the Fall speakers in place for the career-focused workshops, and I was even luckier to have Jenny Foss of JobJenny.com speak at the first one. We filled the room with over 80 participants, and had a blast as we learned how to “Stop Sucking at Your Job Search.”
Full speed ahead, our events have averaged about 60 each month and we’ve scrambled to offer everybody a seat to participate. We’ve hosted workshops on optimizing your free LinkedIn profile, networking, interviewing, successful habits to advance your career and one of my personal favorites, by Gordon Viggiano just before Thanksgiving of last year, was on overcoming adversity. Gordon had a serious stroke years ago, and listening to how he fought to get his life back and provide for his family was quite touching.
And there’s the people. Each month, we are greeted by long-time pdxMindShare supporters as well as many new faces. It’s great to interact with each and every person that stops by, and I’m always excited to hear about the best nuggets attendees get from our speakers, when great connections are made during networking, and most of all, when someone lands a new position from an employer they met at our event.
Portland is a small town, and we’ve heard it time and time again, but it helps to network! According to this article, we should be networking all the time…AND, we shouldn’t wait until we have to find a new job to start. To me, MindShare is a comfortable place to meet great Portland professionals and practice your personal pitch.
I look forward to what’s in store for the next year as well as having PSU’s Center for Executive and Professional Development, a long time partner of MindShare, speak in September, and to have Jenny Foss come back in October. I also look forward to seeing everyone again or meeting our next first-time attendee. Every month I walk away from our events satisfied that those in attendance are able to take away something that will help in their career endeavor.
I hope to see you soon!
Shannon
