As much as we love familiar faces, having the same conversations with the same people can start to feel a little — er — claustrophobic after a while.

The real reward lies in stepping out of your comfort zone to meet someone new, which is something the 400 attendees at Wednesday night’s sold-out Redblacks Summer Rush were clearly up for. You know the old saying: a stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet.

Billed as the city’s largest networking event, the evening also raised thousands of dollars for OSEG (Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group) Foundation’s Backpack Program, helping to fill 140 school bags with basic supplies for students in need. The newly launched campaign has an end goal of 275 backpacks this school year.

The third annual event was co-chaired by a group of rising leaders: Lauren Epp,  formerly with OSEG and now working in event management at the University of Ottawa; Ottawa Interlock Repair owner Jonathan Gilman; seoplus+ co-founder and COO Brock Murray; and TD direct investing regional manager Talia Silvestri.

The evening was emceed by Melissa Lamb, who — as one of the early-rising hosts of CTV Morning Live — joked that she was up past her bedtime to help a good cause. Players from the Ottawa Redblacks and its cheerleading and dance team also turned out to show their support and to participate.

From left, Ottawa Redblacks players Daniel Adeboboye and Richie Leone, event emcee Melissa Lamb, and Ottawa Redblacks players Marco Dubois, Tyron Vrede and Justin Howell, at the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa dentist and community builder Dr. Nalin Bhargava came up with the idea for Summer Rush a few years back as a way of encouraging younger people to give back through volunteering. He kept hearing cynical claims about younger adults not stepping up. That’s simply not true, he opined.

“I’m just so happy to see this,” Bhargava told CiTC at the Redblacks Summer Rush, held at Infinity Convention Centre. The place was buzzing with the sounds of conversation and human connection. “I’m really impressed with the calibre, sense of community and the civic pride in Ottawa’s next generation. It can only mean good things for the city in the future.”

Bhargava also leads by example. His Southgate Dental was one of the many businesses to sponsor the event. As well, he is a long-time supporter of OSEG and its foundation, and serves on the executive committee of the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario as vice president.

Attendees participated in a series of speed networking sessions that helped them to make multiple new connections quickly. CiTC caught up with some of the leaders who agreed to host tables and asked them about their networking advice and strategies.

Intega IT president and CEO John Robinson, an ever-present figure on the social scene, was ready with a long list of “icebreaker” questions to use as a warm-up exercise for his groups. “That way, you get a little bit of a dialogue going, you get a vibe, and you can keep it more casual,” said Robinson. CiTC found out — by asking Robinson one of his own icebreaker questions — that he recharges when he’s low on energy by taking quick power naps.

Christie Lake Kids executive director Adrienne Vienneau was a table host at the event. As a finalist for a WBN Businesswoman of the Year Award, she came prepared with her top three networking tips. First: Always have your own answer ready for any question you ask, she advised, because people often turn the question back on you — especially if they’re unsure of their own response.

Second: If the connection is really clicking, ask if there’s anyone else in their network you should connect with. “It’s really important to keep the net growing,” she said.

Finally, she added: Follow up, whether via email or LinkedIn. That’s how you turn an introduction into a real connection, said Vienneau.

Sidi.io president Riaz Sidi was suffering from a touch of social fatigue prior to Redblacks Summer Rush and even questioned whether he was up to hosting a table that night. But, once there, he found the networking event to be “one of the best ones I’ve been to, actually.”

In particular, he found the attendees in the room to be warm and receptive. His table, No. 33, was packed with networkers. “All roads lead back to Table 33,” he joked.

Licensed paralegal and notary public Amri Murray, owner of AJ Murray Legal Services, at the networking table hosted by Riaz Sidi, president at Sidi.io, during the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Stéphane Giguère, CEO of Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, Ottawa Redblacks defensive lineman Kene Onyeka, and OSEG Foundation’s executive director Janice Barresi, who’s also vice-president of brand and social impact for OSEG (Ottawa Sports and Entertainment), at Infinity Convention Centre for the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Attendee Miguel Pinho (left) from Atlético Ottawa participated in a networking session with table host and Ottawa entrepreneur John Robinson, president and CEO of Intega IT, at the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Redblacks offensive lineman Dariusz Bladek with table hosts and WBN Businesswoman of the Year finalists (left) Julie Findlay (Mom in the Know) and Adrienne Vienneau (Christie Lake Kids) at Infinity Convention Centre for the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Shannon Morrison (community outreach coordinator at The Ottawa Cancer Foundation) and career development and LinkedIn workshop facilitator Lissa Appiah seen connecting with other business professionals and entrepreneurs at Infinity Convention Centre during the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From the seoplus+ team were, from left, Noah Desmarais, Serenna Taller, Annabelle Caron, Haley Wells, Abigail Lyons, Julia Rachkovska and Derek Cosgrove at the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser, held at Infinity Convention Centre, in support of OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, Redblacks Summer Rush emcee Melissa Lamb with Ashley Richer, senior manager of special events and sponsorship for OSEG (Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group) Foundation at the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Among the business leaders who understand the power of networking is Steve Wilson, a partner at Escape Manor. Getting out there and meeting people has helped his business create collaborations with several local organizations, from museums (the Diefenbunker and Canadian Museum of Nature) to an iconic hotel it’s currently in discussions with.

Wilson, who is an outgoing guy, shared that one of his secrets to getting energized for networking is to drink some Red Bull. “I literally stopped on the way here to get this (can) because I golfed this morning, and am feeling a little lethargic right now, but I want to be ‘on’.”

Incidentally, the entrepreneur also squeezes in some jumping jacks to psych himself up before phone or television interviews.

Table host Jenny Chen, CEO of Catalais Consulting, hoped to offer encouraging advice to young professionals and entrepreneurs. “It’s okay to fail,” said Chen, who believes the key lies in how one learns and grows from setbacks. “Failing forward is what I like to say.”

How convenient for table host Soley Soucie, founder of The Treehouse Group of Companies, that a photo booth was right next to her table. She took each of her groups over for a fun group shot during her session, building a little collection of photo mementos.

​​Soucie, a big believer in the power of networking, said she makes it a priority. “It’s so important; it’s what has built my business,” she added.

CiTC witnessed many new connections that might not have happened if participants had simply stuck with their usual cliques, instead of being encouraged to meet new people.

“It’s easy to find people that you already know, but this setup, where you move from table to table, pushes you to meet new people, and that’s exactly what you need when you go to a networking event,” said Shay Faisal, senior account manager for financing at BDC. He was seen in a one-on-one conversation with the highly accomplished Clare Beckton, who shared his sentiment. “I always love meeting younger people,” added Beckton, an award-winning women’s advocate and Fulbright Scholar.

From left, Jenny Chen (CEO of Catalais Consulting), Simran Kochar (flooring division manager, Stone Design Concepts), Soula Burrell (director of business development and membership at Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association) and Lindsey Suprunchuk (director of operations at Linebox Studio) at Redblacks Summer Rush held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Redblacks linebacker Tyron Vrede in conversation while, behind him, Heartfelt IT founder and CEO Sergey Poltev, who was also an event sponsor, is seen networking at Redblacks Summer Rush. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, table host Steve Harding (marketing and account director at Xactly Design & Advertising), Brock Gibson, associate director of the OSEG Foundation, Bell Media account executive Jake Rupert, and table host Steve Wilson, partner at Escape Manor, at the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Yves Laberge, vice president and general manager of Star Motors of Ottawa Mercedes-Benz, was out supporting the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser, held at Infinity Convention Centre, as a first-time sponsor and networking host. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Josh Raganold, business development manager at Welch LLP and a former co-chair of Redblacks Summer Rush, returned this year as a table host, and was seen in conversation with attendees Chi Opia, left, from family peer support organization Pleo, BDC account managers Meenakshi Senigarapu and Ophélie Louise. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, business development consultant Liz Ellwood (LE Strategies) and Rachel Roesner, director of sales in Ottawa for Germain Hôtels, seen networking at the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser, held at Infinity Convention Centre, for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Spotted in Southgate Dental’s networking section were, from left, hygienist Danielle Smail-Napier, guest Shannon Prevost, Ottawa Redblacks wide receiver Marco Dubois, Southgate Dental’s office manager Andrea Dombi-Dubois, Dr. Nalin Bhargava and hygienist Chelsea Clarke at Redblacks Summer Rush. Photo by Caroline Phillips

John Brooman, CEO at Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, spotted in a lively conversation at the seoplus+ networking station during the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser, held at Infinity Convention Centre, for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Clare Beckton, a former WBN Businesswoman of the Year Award winner, was seen making a connection with Shay Faisal, senior account manager for financing at BDC, during the RedBlacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Table host Soley Soucie, second from left, took each of her groups over to the nearby photo booth for a group shot during her networking sessions at the Redblacks Summer Rush event, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Table host Conrad Dickinson, founder of The Ottawa Business Club, in conversation during the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Caroline Phillips

From left, real estate broker Jenniffer Alvarenga (GoodStory) and Roy Beroff (Sidio.io) were among the attendees of Redblacks Summer Rush who made a strong professional connection based on their shared values. Photo by Caroline Phillips

Ottawa Redblacks football players and their cheerleading and dance team with event host Melissa Lamb (second from left, front row) during the Redblacks Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser, held at Infinity Convention Centre, in support of OSEG Foundation’s Backpack Program. Photo by Caroline Phillips

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WCPD, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Infinity Convention Centre, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, RBC, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law.

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