There are people who can walk into a room full of strangers and start working it like they were born with a name tag on.

And then there’s everyone else.

For the latter, REDBLACKS Summer Rush might be one of the easier ways to get into the networking game.

The annual event returned Tuesday, bringing some 300 business and community members together at Infinity Convention Centre for an evening that combined networking, food and football players with a good cause. Proceeds support the OSEG Foundation’s REDBLACKS Back to School Initiative, with this year’s event raising enough to provide 500 backpacks filled with school supplies and other essentials to local children and families.

The evening was co-emceed by Melissa Lamb and Will Aiello from CTV Your Morning Ottawa.

Will Aiello and Melissa Lamb from CTV Your Morning Ottawa co-hosted the REDBLACKS Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation and its Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

What really sets Summer Rush apart, however, is its format.

Rather than throwing hundreds of people together and leaving them to fend for themselves, organizers break the evening into structured speed-networking sessions, with smaller groups gathering around table hosts before moving on.

In other words, you don’t spend the whole night talking to the five people you already know.

That’s one of the things co-chair Conrad Dickinson likes most about the event. Joining him in his volunteer leadership role were fellow co-chairs and young business leaders Jonathan Gilman, Danika Edirisinghe and Christopher Tannis, CEO of CT Consulting, Kognitive360 and Nspired and sponsor of three networking booths.

“It’s kind of the entry level of networking,” said Dickinson, who became involved after being approached by Summer Rush founder Dr. Nalin Bhargava, an Ottawa dentist and longtime community leader. The OSEG Foundation has since taken on the organization of Summer Rush, with Ashley MacCormack, senior manager of special events and sponsorship, playing a key role in pulling the event together.

“If you’re a first-time networker, this is the event you should go to,” said Dickinson, president of The Ottawa Business Club.

Dickinson likes that the format takes some of the awkwardness out of approaching strangers while pushing participants beyond their usual circles. “It’s just so easy to meet new people,” he said of the broad mix of industries represented.

From left, table host Jenny Chen, CEO of Catalais Consulting, and Jessica Holtom, business development and senior interior designer at Art Woods Office Supplies, at the REDBLACKS Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

OSEG’s vice-president of brand and social impact, Janice Barresi (left), with Ashley MacCormack, senior manager of special events and sponsorship at OSEG Foundation, at REDBLACKS Summer Rush, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

REDBLACKS Summer Rush, a networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative, was back at Infinity Convention Centre on Tuesday, August 11, 20206. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

From left, Tiah Moffatt, business development manager at Hire Value; Lynn Ferron, principal interiors, HOK Architects; city council candidate Christine Harrison and her campaign manager, Heather Grant; Nikki Darechuk, ND Consulting; Alex Miklosi, business operations coordinator at Ottawa Rapid FC; and Teegan Jackson-Forsyth, account manager at Ottawa Rapid FC, at REDBLACKS Summer Rush. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

First Avenue Investment Counsel senior associate Haniya Habibollahi was one of the table hosts at the REDBLACKS Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

From left, Lenns Rony, account manager at Ottawa Rapid FC; Zain Syed, cybersecurity student; Jenny Chen, CEO of Catalais Consulting; Darrian Hing, finance student; and Maran Kathirgamadasan, staff accountant at KPMG, at REDBLACKS Summer Rush, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

Merrique Richards, founder of Vellencia Strategies, and Keaton Basso, co-founder and co-owner of Verve Movement, participated in the speed networking at REDBLACKS Summer Rush, held at Infinity Convention Centre in support of the OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

Lina El-Khoury, senior client relationship manager at Scotiabank, Christopher Ouimet, portfolio manager at RBC Dominion Securities, and Douglas Lai, wealth advisor and portfolio manager at Scotia Wealth Management, at Infinity Convention Centre for REDBLACKS Summer Rush in support of OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

Jessica Holtom, business development and senior interior designer at Art Woods Office Supplies, and Sarah Vandenbelt, founder of Paradigm Commercial, seen networking at REDBLACKS Summer Rush in support of OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

For Jonathan Gilman, meeting someone is only half the job.

“You haven’t made a connection until you’ve followed up,” said Gilman, who was back for his third year as a co-chair.

He credits Dr. Bhargava with giving him the mentorship he needed to look beyond his own business and become more involved. Gilman had spent more than a decade building Ottawa Interlock Repair, with much of his attention focused inward.

Bhargava challenged him to get more involved.

“He said, ‘You’ve got to look outside yourself. You’re part of a community,’” recalled Gilman. Older generations of community leaders were eventually going to step aside, Bhargava told him, and younger people needed to be ready to step up.

Gilman took the message seriously.

What began as a volunteer role introduced him to a much larger world of fundraisers, event organizers, business leaders and community builders. “Maybe saying ‘life-changing’ sounds cliché, but it has definitely helped change the course of my life,” he said.

It also taught him that networking is less about collecting contacts and more about building relationships over time.

Resist the temptation to spend the entire conversation talking about how terrific you are, he advised. “Be nice to people. Ask thoughtful questions. Be friendly. Find things you have in common.”

And if walking up to someone you don’t know still feels uncomfortable, Gilman has this comforting thought to offer: “No one has ever gone to a networking event and thought, ‘Aw man, somebody said hi to me’.”

From left, Tennille Jago, special event sales manager, HISTORY Ottawa, Brianna Dusome, director of programs and community partnerships at Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa; Tahera Mufti, director of communications for Mayor Mark Sutcliffe; and Cleyon Laing, defensive lineman with the Ottawa RedBlacks, at REDBLACKS Summer Rush, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

REDBLACKS Summer Rush founder Dr. Nalin Bhargava, of Southgate Dental Ottawa, at the networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

From left, Suzanne Cyr, CEO of Cyrious Connections, Aidan Dumont (Desjardins Financial Security Independent Network) and Sharon Diamond, manager of membership and events at the Ottawa Board of Trade, at REDBLACKS Summer Rush, a networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation. Photo by  Amanda Thirkill

From left, veteran business leaders Kammal Tannis and Paul Hindo, Honorary Colonel of the Canadian Army, at REDBLACKS Summer Rush held at Infinity Convention Centre in support of the OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

From left, Bruce Dick, manager of Family Office Services at MNP, and Ismaël Sonou, founder of Sonou Consulting, at the REDBLACKS Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation’s Back to School Initiative. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

Table host Katie Faloon-Drew, a keynote speaker and coach, at REDBLACKS Summer Rush, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

From left, Dr. Anu Chadha, co-owner of Chadha Medical Clinic; Simran Kochar, business development and flooring division manager at Stone Design Concepts, Jenny Chen, CEO of Catalais Consulting; Lindsey Gibeau, headshot and personal brand photographer; and Brianna Dusome, director of  programs and community partnerships at Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa, at REDBLACKS Summer Rush, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

Danika Edirisinghe knows a thing or two about being the new person in the room.

It wasn’t all that long ago that she was just beginning to attend networking events herself. After going to Summer Rush, she liked the concept enough to ask Bhargava how she could get involved. She helped behind the scenes last year before stepping into a co-chair role this year.

Her role involved recruiting table hosts, which had an unexpected side benefit: the outreach introduced her to community leaders she hadn’t known before. “You really get to meet the best and the brightest,” she added.

For Edirisinghe, a financial associate with The Blostein-Beumer Investment Group at CIBC Wood Gundy, those relationships aren’t necessarily about finding her next client.

Some of those new connections become people she can confidently recommend to clients looking for an accountant, realtor, lawyer or other professional. “People trust us with their money, meaning they trust our opinion,” she said. “It gives me a great network of people in the business community, some of whom I can confidently recommend to my clients.”

She’s also made genuine friendships through networking, connecting with people she can bounce ideas off and grow alongside.

And while Summer Rush is built around forming new professional relationships, Edirisinghe recently got a reminder of what those connections are helping to support. She joined Gilman and other volunteers to fill backpacks with school supplies for children who might otherwise start the year without them.

“It makes such a big impact on their lives,” said Edirisinghe, who described the hands-on experience as such a proud moment. “You really feel like you’re making a difference.”

Jacob Beumer, investment advisor CIBC Wood Gundy, with team member Danika Edirisinghe, co-chair of the REDBLACKS Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for OSEG Foundation, held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

Ottawa REDBLACKS kicker Brett Lauther participated in the REDBLACKS Summer Rush networking event and fundraiser for the OSEG Foundation held at Infinity Convention Centre. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

Attendees of REDBLACKS Summer Rush seen networking during one of the speed sessions that encouraged young business professionals to meet new people. Photo by Amanda Thirkill

This article is made possible through sponsorship from Star Motors, WEALTH (WCPD), Syntax Strategic, RBC, Marilyn Wilson Dream Properties, ExecHealth, Altis Recruitment, Bell Canada, First Avenue Investment Counsel, Welch LLP, Brazeau Seller Law and Prime Benefits Group.

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