Mat-Su Business After Hours: local business owners invited to free monthly networking event

WASILLA — Mat-Su Valley business owners are welcome to join a free networking event at the Schwabenhof bar Thursday, Aug. 3, starting at 7 p.m.

This monthly series is hosted by Mat-Su Business After Hours, a local group that works to connect local businesses and promote synergy amongst participating members.

John and Tara Rice founded this group in 2019 to provide a free and relaxing environment that encourages participants to be themselves. Tara said it helps put a face to local businesses and fosters meaningful connections.

"I just think it's great everyone’s getting to know each other on a personal level," Tara said. It's really a great way to showcase your business, and It's a great way to promote yourself to a bunch of people."

John said that it's been a fruitful journey so far. He said there's been a lot of participation and positive feedback. There are currently over 500 members on the Mat-Su Business After Hours Facebook page and that number continues to grow.

"We have a lot of different people in there," John said. "I think it's been a huge advancement for a lot of the businesses."

John said that at the end of the day, running a successful business comes down to the connections made with other businesses. He said the Valley is known for being a supportive community for new and existing businesses as long as there's a healthy level of positive interactions to build trust and rapport to flourish.

"The Valley's a great place to do business but a lot of it is who you know. The people out here don't want to spend their money just anywhere," John said.

Mat-Su Business After Hours meets at different locations across the Valley on the first Thursday of every month from 7 to 9 p.m.

Different business owners that are members of the group sponsor each event. This week's host is Mark Schmeling of New York Life. Brian Christopherson of Heaven's Best Carpet Care is hosting the next event.

All Mat-Su Business After Hours networking events are free to attend and they always feature free food, drinks, and drawings for various prizes.

All legitimate business owners or representatives from the organization are eligible to attend these events.

For more information, visit the official Mat-Su Business After Hours Facebook page.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com