Community Building
In 1727 Ben Franklin organized a junto group called “The Leather Apron.” This diverse group of colonists enjoyed gathering together to debate, read, converse, brain storm, and plan. Little did they know that their community group would one day lead to incredible innovations such as volunteer fire-fighting organizations, improved community safety through night watchmen, a public hospital, and the first public library.
Like Franklin’s junto, I believe community groups not only provide a sense of camaraderie, fellowship, and belonging, but they can also lead to incredible innovations, breakthroughs, and economic growth. For these reasons, and others, I have spent many years studying, observing, and building communities of various sizes and types.
Most recently, as the head of the Silicon Slopes Marketing Chapter, I have grown a community of marketers that consists of over 1,100 members. In 2023 alone, we hosted over 15 events, grew chapter membership exponentially, brought on new chapter leadership members, partnered with a handful of new sponsors, and announced a major marketing conference .
In addition to the Marketing Chapter, I also recently launched the Silicon Slopes SaaS chapter which is growing steadily and a community Facebook page for my city. From these experiences, and many others, I have learned how to grow and scale community groups, how to monetize them without jeopardizing authenticity and organic connection, and how to facilitate engagement and relationship building.
Community Image Gallery
