Networking Nonprofit Founder Switches Gears During Pandemic

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — In 2017, Mary Catherine Derin experienced several medical emergencies that left her legally blind and paralyzed from the waist down. She became unable to work any longer as an executive director of the local chamber of commerce.

Undeterred, she started a nonprofit to help support and promote locally owned small businesses called Coffee & Cocktails with MC (Mary Catherine). They host two free monthly networking events at locally owned small businesses. The networking events provide exposure for the host businesses and encourage entrepreneurs and solopreneurs to network and support other businesses.

"The businesses and organizations that I have worked with, and the professionals that attend my events have all been incredibly receptive. Many of them I knew from when I ran the chamber and many are new connections. They all appreciate that I have a passion for helping to promote small businesses and the casual and fun vibe that my events have. They were all very happy when they heard I was starting the nonprofit because it was very hard on all of us when I had to resign. They've been incredibly receptive," Derin told Patch.

The mobile bartender from Washington, D.C., that she utilizes for a happy hour vibe and the professional photographer who assisted found themselves without work from Derin, too. All events she had scheduled for 2020 had to be canceled. However, by thinking outside the box, Derin was able to keep her nonprofit afloat and continue to help promote local small businesses.

"Instead, I am doing Zoom chats and Facebook Live chats with different business owners to help introduce folks to them. I also do monthly e-newsletters with business spotlights focusing on different businesses. We are not a big nonprofit; however, we work to do our best to organically and authentically promote these great local gems," Derin said. "The businesses that I have lined up the Zoom chats with have been very happy to have the opportunity to get exposure for their
business. It's also allowing businesses that do not have a brick and mortar, and therefore cannot host an event, to get exposure."

Business owners who attend the networking events, both, previously in-person and now online, come from a wide variety of industries.

"The businesses that hosted the events were everything from hair salons, accountants, to restaurants and even a local horse farm that is a nonprofit. We try and do events at all sorts of different businesses, because when you spotlight different types of businesses you attract brand new people at each event," she said. "The business people who attend, as well as the business that hosts an event, or now is participating in the Zoom chat, is getting the opportunity to make new potential business connections, as well as making new friends. A lot of people who come to my events are not coming to promote themselves or their own business, but coming because they want to learn about the business that is hosting. My events are open to anyone."