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Carmel Small Business Network meeting highlights events, volunteer outreach and community partnerships
Summary
Organizers outlined four network events for the year, asked businesses to sign up for a newsletter and volunteer lists, previewed marketing videos and a directory effort, and included community fundraisers and a fraud warning from a banking sponsor.
Organizers of the Carmel Small Business Network opened the meeting with event dates for the year and a series of community and business outreach initiatives intended to boost visibility and volunteerism for local businesses.
“My name is Kevin Whited. I'd like to welcome you to the first of the year Carmel Small Small Business Network meeting,” Kevin Whited said, introducing the gathering and noting the network plans four events in 2025 with two additions that organizers are still dating.
Attendees were asked to sign up for a weekly city newsletter via a QR code and to help the network clean up its contact list so organizers can publish a more complete Carmel Small Business Network directory. City marketing staff described a “community connections” video series that will highlight local businesses and invited owners to take part.
Mayor Sue Finkham and marketing staff encouraged business participation in volunteer programs the city is expanding, noting an interest in recruiting more senior volunteers for roles that match professional experience. The mayor also promoted upcoming events including the farmers market, a Cherry Blossom Festival with a sister‑city delegation from Japan, and a swimming World Aquatics event scheduled Oct. 10–12 at the natatorium that will bring hotel demand and out‑of‑town visitors.
The meeting included community partners and sponsors. Greg Gormong, a local postal carrier raising awareness for the nationwide Stamp Out Hunger food drive, asked small businesses to consider hosting donation boxes or promoting the May collection. “All food that we collect goes to local food banks,” he said.
Jim Badger, vice president and senior marketing officer at State Bank, which sponsored lunch, offered a fraud warning for business owners: he described an incident in which a controller clicked a malicious link, lost access to her phone and subsequently had funds wired out of her accounts. “If you get locked out of your phone, call your bank and tell them, you know, close everything down because they can empty your accounts,” Badger said.
Organizers thanked Just Love Coffee for donating coffee, Buffalo’s for lunch and State Bank for sponsorship, and said the next Small Business Network meetings will be June 3, Aug. 12 and Oct. 21; they also plan a later breakfast and a happy‑hour event. Kevin Whited said organizers will follow up with a database cleanup email so businesses can add names and company details for promotion and directory inclusion.
