United for Growth: A Look Back at the D.C. & Baltimore Alumni Networking Events with M&T Bank

By Ivana Findlay, Alumni Network Program Coordinator | October 23, 2024

At ICIC, we’re always looking for new ways to support small business owners and help them grow through connection and education. In collaboration with M&T Bank, we recently hosted two remarkable networking events in Washington, D.C. on September 24 and Baltimore on September 26. With invitations extended to more than 700 small business owners across the respective networks, these events demonstrated the far-reaching impact of our collective efforts. The turnout for both events was impressive, with more than 60 attendees at each, creating vibrant spaces for business owners to network and build meaningful relationships.

The success of these events was driven by months of planning and collaboration between ICIC and M&T Bank, a lead sponsor for the event, along with Kaiser Permanente and The Menkiti Group. Both organizations were deeply committed to creating an impactful experience. Greg Smith, Executive Vice President and Business Banking Market Manager at M&T Bank, expressed, “When I was first introduced to ICIC, I could see right away the alignment between our two organizations in how we are both passionate about supporting, educating, and connecting small businesses in our communities.”

Every detail was carefully considered, from the venue’s logistics to ensuring that the right mix of business owners and partners would be present to foster meaningful connections. This dedication from both teams allowed for a seamless execution and created an environment where attendees could easily network and grow their businesses. Smith commented, “By partnering together, we could share our collective expertise and networks to bring financial education to even more business owners. We each have a network of approximately 350 small business owners who have gone through our financial education programs in the Baltimore and Greater Washington markets over the last four to five years. Post-program networking is critical for these entrepreneurs, so we wanted to create the space for these connections to happen.”

“Post-program networking is critical for these entrepreneurs, so we wanted to create the space for these connections to happen.”

The events also included exciting giveaways at the end of each session. Prizes ranged from business growth tools, like a government contracts readiness assessment, a real estate strategy session, and a security penetration testing report, to the highly coveted signed Baltimore Ravens helmet, and spa wellness package. These generous prizes, donated by ICIC’s steering committee members and M&T Bank, added elements of surprise and excitement while supporting our attendees’ professional growth.

Alumni Reflections

The events created rich networking opportunities, with attendees connecting with an average of nine people and establishing five new business relationships. Nik Sweeney, a member of the Baltimore Alumni Steering Committee, praised the event, saying, “The event was wonderful networking, and the venue was beautiful. This was a top-tier planned experience.” Summer Fleming, an ICIC alum, shared similar sentiments: “It made networking much easier, especially for people who tend to be not as outspoken or need more experience with communicating effectively and building partnerships while also building their brand!”

Feedback from the post-event survey highlighted the success of both events. Attendees rated their overall experience highly, with an average rating of 4 out of 5 for meeting their expectations. They also felt a strong sense of belonging, giving a 4.7 out of 5 rating for feeling welcomed. Participants also responded positively, with average ratings between 4 and 5, when asked about their connection to the ICIC alumni community, recommending ICIC events to other business owners, and attending future ICIC events.

These events are a testament to what can be achieved when organizations like ICIC and M&T Bank come together with a shared goal of empowering small businesses. We’re proud to have facilitated connections that can last a lifetime and are excited to continue exploring ways to collaborate in the future.