Hi, my name is Ryan Taylor, President of our organization Washington-Oregon Community Networking Group. We would like to invite you to attend our virtual monthly networking meeting. Our monthly meeting is on the third Monday of each month at noon via MS Teams.
If you’re interested in attending our meeting you can register by completing this registration form: Register for our Meetings – WA-OR Community Networking
You may also simply email info@waorcommunitynetworking.org and say “Register me,” or just come on to our next meeting at the following MS Teams link:
Date: Every Third Monday of The Month
Time: 12:00-1:00 pm Location: MS Teams
MS Teams Meeting Link: Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 283 713 082 814
Passcode: F6MX9DM7
What is Washington Oregon Community Networking Group?
Washington-Oregon Community Networking Group – Purpose: Our organization provides a vehicle for small businesses, general contractors, public agencies and private organizations to share opportunities, build partnerships, and strengthen our business community.
We focus on new and upcoming opportunities in Washington and Oregon, potential subcontracting needs, and opportunities to collaborate across industries.
Our dedicated team of Organizers, Advisors, and Facilitators continually work to enhance our organization and its benefits and opportunities. Each team member has an extensive background in Business Development, Community Engagement and supporting Small and Diverse Businesses and Large Enterprises.
What is our weekly meeting?
Every third Monday of the month, small businesses, general contractors, public agencies, and community organizations from Washington and Oregon come together for one purpose: to share what’s happening, and help each other find the next opportunity.
Our standing virtual meeting runs 12:00–1:00 PM on Microsoft Teams. It’s free to attend, and you can join as often — or as occasionally — as works for you.
Meeting Purpose:
This standing meeting provides a space for small businesses, general contractors, public agencies and private organizations to share opportunities, build partnerships, and strengthen our business community.
We focus on new and upcoming opportunities in Washington and Oregon, potential subcontracting needs, and opportunities to collaborate across industries. Attendance each month is optional.
What Happens in a Meeting
Each session follows a simple, fast-moving format designed to get real information into the room — not just small talk:
- Welcome & introductions — a quick kickoff so everyone knows who’s in the room.
- General contractor & subcontractor opportunities — GCs share upcoming projects and subcontracting needs.
- Public agency & nonprofit opportunities — agencies announce current and upcoming contracting needs.
- Private sector opportunities — private organizations highlight upcoming projects and bids.
- Guided networking — open time to connect, ask questions, and build relationships around the topics raised.
We typically share a short presentation covering regional projects and opportunities across Washington and Oregon, then open the floor so agencies and businesses alike can speak directly to what they’re working on.
Facilitated Networking
Knowing about an opportunity is one thing. Getting introduced to the right person is another. Facilitated networking is how we close that gap.
Rather than leaving connections to chance, we invite the general contractors and agency representatives who own a specific project onto the call, walk through what that project needs, and then make direct introductions to the businesses in the room who are positioned to help.
How It Works
- A GC or agency representative joins — either during the monthly meeting or in a dedicated session — and shares details on a specific project.
- We open the floor to businesses who are interested or qualified to be involved.
- We make the introduction directly, connecting interested businesses to the person actually managing the project.
Why It Matters
A general announcement gets attention. A direct introduction gets results. Facilitated networking gives small and diverse businesses a real path from “we heard about this project” to “we’re talking to the person making the decision.”
Who’s in the Room
Our meetings bring together a genuine cross-section of the regional business and public sector community. On average our meeting attendees generally in the following representatives from:
- Small and diverse businesses
- Public agency representatives
- Technical assistance providers
- General Contractors
- Corporations and other commercial enterprises
- Large & Small Nonprofit Organizations
- Higher Education Institutions
Location of Attendees Generally Include: Washington and Oregon, as well as attendees from Northern & Southern California, Idaho and Nevada.
Meeting Agenda – Virtual – Washington-Oregon Business Community Networking Meeting
| Time | Topic / Discussion Item | Facilitator |
| 12:00 pm 5 min | Introductions What is Washington-Oregon Community Networking Group? Meet our facilitation team. | Ryan/Cedric/Dan/George |
| 12:05 pm 10 min | Columbia River Bridge Updates Project Updates on CRBR Project | Ryan/Barbie |
| 12:15 pm 10 min | Construction – General Contractor/Subcontractor Opportunities Discus local consultant projects in Washington and Oregon | Ryan/Dan/George or Organizational Representatives Present |
| 12:25 10 min | Consultant Opportunities Discuss local construction projects in Washington and Oregon | Ryan/George/Dan or Organizational Representatives Present |
| 12:35 5 mins | Local Events Discus local events in Washington and Oregon | Cedric/Ryan |
| 12:40 pm 20 min | Networking Open space to connect and build relationships. | Ryan/Cedric/George/ Barbie/Dan/Veronica |
| 1:00 pm 1 min | Meeting Close Thank you and wrap-up. | Ryan/Cedric |
Who are our meeting organizers?
Meeting Organizers
- Ryan Taylor, Organizer & Facilitator – Golden Gift Consulting / GHS Communications | Business Development, Principal Management & Marketing Consultant | Business Development | Ryan@goldengiftconsulting.com | Ryan Taylor | LinkedIn | www.goldengiftconsulting.com
- Cedric Austin Organizer & Facilitator – Washington State Department of Enterprise Services Community Engagement Specialist Procurement Inclusion and Equity Program | Public Works Business Diversity Program | 360-890-0173 | cedric.austin@des.wa.gov | DES.wa.gov | Capitol.wa.gov | EAP.wa.gov
Facilitators & Advisors
- Georg Frost, Advisor – GW Frost & Associates LLC | Principal Consultant – Supplier Diversity & Business Development | george@gwfrost.com | (206) 852-6737 | www.gwfrost.com | George Frost | LinkedIn
- Daniel Seydel, Advisor – Platinum Group & Entrepreneurial Institute of Washington | Principal Consultant – Management & Business Development Consultant | Dan@platinumbusinessgroup.com| (206 406-0844 | platinumbusinessgroup.com | eiwashington.org | Daniel J. Seydel, II | LinkedIn
- Veronica Ybarra, Moderator & Advisor Golden Gift Consulting / GHS Communications | Small Business Consultant | RFP/Proposal Writing, Business Development | veronica@goldengiftconsulting.org | www.goldengiftconsulting.com
Guest Facilitators
- Barbara Alexander-Brown, Facilitator & Advisor – Washington State Department of Transportation| Economic Opportunities & Compliance Specialist – Interstate Bridge Replacement Project | Management & Business Development Expert | Barbara Alexander-Brown | LinkedIn | barbi.alexander@interstatebridge.org | 360-831-5303 | www.interstatebridge.org
