PLAINS TWP., — It was a holiday party. Sort of. Actually, it was a Post-Holiday Party, the first one the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce and the Women’s Network put together.
“Everyone is so busy before the holidays, so we decided to go in this direction,” said Brandi Bartush, administrator and events coordinator for the Chamber. “A holiday party tends to be more formal, but this is just a couple of hours to get together and enjoy the evening.”
The idea was to set aside a few hours to let business people mingle, share ideas, learn about each other’s endeavors.
So, the Chamber rolled out the welcome mat at the Holiday Inn East Mountain and hoped people would accept the invitation. More than 70 did, ranging from attorneys and insurance agents to beauticians, realtors and entrepreneurs.
Many in the crowd were members of the Women’s Network, a branch of the Chamber that promotes women in business. Others said they were on hand to support the network as well as getting to know other business holders in the Greater Pittston Area.
They filled the Bistro at the hotel complex with some of the later arrivals forced to find tables in the lounge area.
The “mingling” part got off to a fitful start as people sat with their friends or the folks they arrived with and caught up on their own news, but the Chamber’s executive vice president, Michelle Mikutish, said she had plans to remedy that once she finished her greeting chores at the front table.
The Sperazza Duo did it part as well, offering what it called “low-key” classic rock. The father-son team of Eric and Mike could pull from a decades-old music set as a back beat for the party.
“We’ve been together since I was born. Literally,” said son Mike, who said it’s nice to be able to work with his dad. Their “regular” band is also a family operation with mom, Jenny, on drums and cousin, Michael, on lead guitar, but the guitar-keyboard combo was more than enough for the smaller Bistro room.
Four of the folks from Sky Zone sat near, enjoying the tunes.
“This is a good time,” said Jeff Bowne, who said he and Ed Kerns started the trampoline franchise in 2014 and have recently moved to a larger facility. “We haven’t gotten to the food yet, though.”
Their associates, Alicia Haduck and Abby Tyson, planned to check out the offerings right away.
On the other side of the room, Bob Tyson, no relation to Abby, enjoyed a brew by the bar and had a supply of business cards from his new business, Farmer’s Insurance.
“I’m a new member of the Chamber,” he said. “I just joined a couple of months ago. Decided to come out tonight and see what this is all about.”
Bill Joyce, from Joyce Insurance, and his date, Sarah Ruane, arrived a bit late and also eyed the food table during conversations with other guests.
“We’ll be filling plates in a little bit,” Joyce said. “But right now, we’re just having a great time.”
The noise and chatter of conversation in the room was a sign that most of the people who came out on the rainy night for the gathering were also having a good time.
The gathering is part of a new initiative for the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce. And it’s a start on a new direction for the organization itself, Bartush said.
The Women’s Network and the Chamber have a line-up of social events planned for various times during the early part of the year for starters, including a “Ladies in Red” night in February, an open house on St. Patrick’s Day Parade day as well as a St. Patrick’s Day dinner and a Community Reading day in April.
“For so long we have been looking at industrial development,” she said. “Now, we’re transitioning to member relations, benefits and networking. It’s building our community.”
