Keeping Community Partners Engaged: Thursday Morning Coffee at Le Gabrielle
Keeping Community Partners Engaged: Thursday Morning Coffee at Le Gabrielle
Several years ago, before Ben McDaniel ever entered the Economic Development profession, he invited a few people to meet him for coffee at a local coffee shop in downtown Winder. From that single event, the concept is now spreading across northeast Georgia.
McDaniel grew the coffee gathering in Winder from half a dozen in a coffee shop to around 20 people in the Le Gabrielle Crepes and Waffles restaurant in Winder. Two years ago, McDaniel took a position as Vice President of Economic Development in neighboring Walton County, and like Johnny Appleseed, he planted the seed of the Thursday morning gatherings at another Le Gabrielle location. The idea has taken root. From an initial 5 or 6 attendees, the Walton County gatherings have grown to about 40 people having breakfast together each Thursday morning. The original gatherings in Barrow County are continuing as well, with 20 to 25 people, and a similar group has started about 60 miles away in Elbert County.
The appeal, said McDaniel, is that people seem to be desiring more casual, less transactional networking, and meaty conversations.
“We offer a great place for non-aggressive networking,” McDaniel said.
McDaniel puts out a notice on Facebook and LinkedIn, tagging former attendees and encouraging them to invite others. Attendees often include the local mayors, county manager, local politicians, real estate professionals, builders, small business owners and others. “Small businesses have been the key,” McDaniel said. “You can’t have enough small businesses.”
There is one major rule that all attendees are expected to comply with: “We do not talk national politics.”
McDaniel said local politics are OK, and politicians come to the breakfasts to answer questions.
McDaniel emphasized the importance of making everyone feel welcome. When someone new comes in, he makes it a point to welcome them and show them the group is not a “cool kids club.”
“It matters a lot to me to make sure everyone is welcome and involved,” he said.
McDaniel said casual events like Thursday Morning Coffee can benefit EDOs by helping them to build relationships, ambassadors and advocates. He and other leaders in the community are able to explain complex and nuanced topics in conversations with the attendees. The events also help him to know what’s going on in the community, hear firsthand about the struggles of the small businesses, the realtors, the builders, etc. “I feel I have a better finger on the pulse of the community,” he said.
“The byproduct of relationships is business,” McDaniel said. “There are real business conversations taking place.”