The Zions Business Resource Center | February 28, 2007

When Shahar and Nashlah Boyayan started Buzz Boosters, a mother-daughter business that specializes in Internet strategies and social media, they knew that conventional advertising was expensive and wouldn’t help them build the community trust their small business
needed to thrive. 

What they needed was a networking opportunity, so they began to attend Utah First Fridays, a monthly networking event for small businesses held at the Miller Business Resource Center on the campus of Salt Lake Community College (SLCC).

“We’ve never missed a meeting,” says Shahar, who attributes the networking opportunities provided by Utah First Fridays for helping her business take off. “The first step for a small business is to position itself in the community, and networking at Utah First Fridays is one of the best ways to do that.”

Shahar says through Utah First Fridays she and daughter Nashlah have been able to meet with other small businesses and build relationships with little cost, other than the minimal $5 fee required to get into the networking events.

Utah First Fridays were organized by and for small business owners and entrepreneurs to help each other out. “This is the only networking opportunity of its kind in Utah,” says Pat Vaughn, program chair for Utah First Fridays and director of the Talent Access Program in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development (GOED). “There are no dues, no memberships, just a
simple $5 at the door to participate.”

Networking is typically uncomfortable and something most small business owners aren’t adept at, but Vaughn says Utah First Fridays are some of the most comfortable events entrepreneurs will attend. “They are informal entrepreneurial forums where entrepreneurs can break down the barriers of networking,” she says. Karen Gunn, chair for the Division of Business and Employer Outreach Ed Services at SLCC, says Utah First Friday networking events give small businesses a chance to share their ideas and best practices, build
entrepreneurship, and meet others from multiple
disciplines.

“We’ve been holding First Fridays for five years now and they have turned into solid business-building opportunities for many entrepreneurs,” Gunn says. “We typically have 70 to 130 people attend each event.” In addition to the networking opportunities, guest
presenters are occasionally brought in to speak about areas of interest to entrepreneurs. Past topics have primarily focused on marketing research, capital acquisition, and international export assistance.

“As a small, micro business owner, you can’t know everything,” says Vaughn. “Through Utah First Fridays small businesses have a chance to meet and learn from experts and each other.” Utah First Fridays are held on the first Friday of each month (naturally). This Friday’s event will highlight Chamber West, the second largest Chamber of Commerce in Utah, which takes in West Valley, Taylorsville, and Kearns. Networking and socializing will take place from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., followed by a roundtable discussion, and prizes. First Friday events are sponsored by GOED, Zions Bank and Salt Lake County.

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