I attended the Speed Networking event hosted by the Young Fastener Professionals at the Vegas show on Wednesday. I think they have potentially hit on an event that could add some real value to the annual Vegas trip we all make. It really was not very complicated. Participants met at tables in groups of three people and then, after six minutes, people would rotate to new tables and it would be a fresh new set of three people. Melissa Patel of Field Fastener coordinated the traffic flow and did a terrific job for the YFP’s first attempt. The rotation would be complicated to explain here, but at the event it was easy to understand and flowed well. Was it perfect? No, of course not. But that was mostly due to a few individuals forgetting if they were to move to a higher or lower numbered table. But, it was no big deal. Once in a while a table of three turned into a table of four, but nothing got broke and no fistfights broke out and everybody managed to still network.
Right before the event I heard someone had commented that they did not think the YFP would get all the people who signed up to actually attend because the YFP made the event free. They were correct, not all 100 who signed up attended. I can’t tell you how many actually showed up but it was absolutely enough to make for a really good event. Maybe not 100 but I’d guess 70-80 people maybe more.
The networking event was a fresh, innovative idea done at the Vegas Show where very few new, fresh ideas are presented from year to year. Candidly speaking, somebody should have done this event years ago and I give credit to the YFP for taking it on. There was a wide range of ages at the event, which was really great. Inside the Vegas show, its not easy for a younger person to go introduce themselves to owners and national sales managers from a variety of companies, unless of course they already have some kind of existing business relationship. I was at a table where a supplier met an existing customer face to face for the first time. It went kind of like, “hey, I know your name, you’re one of our good customers. I was hoping to meet you tomorrow”. I saw people at the show run into people they met the previous day at the YFP event and acknowledge that they met at the event. I ran into several of my new acquaintances at the show and even at the Bourbon Room Thursday night. And while the Bourbon Room has its merits for gathering a large group of fastener people in one place, it’s not such a great place to hold a conversation or, for that matter, to hear yourself think. No problem talking at the YFP event
The YFP event was productive, professionally done and could really be a great event at future shows. And, knowing the board members Ryan Kertis, Bryan Wheeler, Aaron Shushan and Melissa Patel, I can pretty much guarantee you they are already talking about how to make it better next year. For those who signed up but did not show, you missed a good event. I hope this event gets bigger. This was not a millennial event, it was a really good networking event that just happened to be put on by millennials. So, don’t let the young people scare you and make sure to jump in on this event next time they do it.
The YFP networking event turned out to be a really good venue for the individuals from our Company who attended. The only drawback was the room got a bit loud with all conversations which was a little overwhelming at times. Our suggestion would be to hold it in a larger room and spread the tables out more to help eliminate some of the noise. Other than that, we really think YFP hit on something good and should look to continue having this event at future shows.