'We are connectors'
Ali Shute, left, Callie Cabe, center, and Janie Roth enjoy the 2023 Coeur d'Alene Regional Chamber's Business and Job Fair at The Coeur d'Alene Resort.
Since coming on board three years ago as president and CEO of the Coeur d’Alene Regional Chamber, Linda Coppess has made what she called one “obvious observation.”
“Here in North Idaho, people do business with people they know, people they build relationships with, and who give back to the community,” she said.
And that is the very heart of networking: knowing people, building relationships, and giving back.
“People care about community issues and they want to do business with people who are actively engaged,” Coppess said as she sat in her office offering a view of Lake Coeur d’Alene.
Chamber events, about 30 each year, are anchored around two objectives: Provide interesting speakers who have important content on key local issues; and networking.
“Every event we do starts with a minimum of 30 minutes of networking time,” Coppess said. “That’s your time to get to know the business community.”
The chamber has a membership outreach committee of about 20 whose job is to act like church greeters: Smile, say hello, offer a warm welcome and engage in conversation.
“The heart of networking is asking questions,” Coppess said.
Questions about their business, challenges and who they would like to meet are a way to make networking easy.
“We are connectors,” Coppess said.
She said it is a bit ironic that she is at heart an introvert and her role is leading the chamber, which means constantly engaging with people.
“In this job, I have to pull the extrovert out of me,” Coppess said.
“It's funny for me to be in a job that I’m facilitating networking opportunities for our business community when networking is a hard thing for me to do,” she said.
But Coppess and staff do it well.
Typical chamber events attract crowds from about 100 to 500. Since her arrival, chamber membership has grown about 35%, from around 750 to nearly 1,000. The energy level is high and enthusiasm is evident as members mingle.
Such crowds can be intimidating if you’re new, which is why Coppess and team create a welcoming atmosphere.
She is convinced of the basic human need to connect with others.
“I think that’s at the heart of it,” Coppess said. “Our desire to connect people.”
The end result of networking?
More customers. Increased business. Deeper community ties. Names matched with faces. Referrals.
Because in places like Coeur d’Alene, it’s not enough to have your brand out there, Coppess said. Engagement with the community, concern about what is happening, support of nonprofits, helping where needed, is part of the deal.
“If you’re new to town, people get to know who you are and understand your business,” Coppess said. “Your business can grow. That's ultimately what we hope we can help facilitate.”
“Giving back, it kind of sets you apart,” she added.
Coppess said the heart of the chamber is to serve the community, be relevant, help businesses thrive and members to grow.
“Networking is a key piece of everything we do,” Coppess said.
