EVERETT, JAN. 9: As community leaders and professionals gathered in the hotel ballroom, voices slowly began to fill the space with laughter and chatter.
Old and new friends met, catching up on life and most importantly, their businesses.
Engage Everett is a volunteer-led monthly gathering offering a chance to network with fellow professionals, creatives and community leaders in a laid-back way.
Last night, Wednesday, Jan. 8 at the Delta Marriott they celebrated its 10th anniversary.
Rilee Louangphakdy, a member of Engage Everett, said that eliminating barriers to connect with others is a main goal of the group.
“We don’t have any membership or pay barriers because we’re not an official organization, and what I like to say is we are a fan club for Everett,” Louangphakdy said, “It makes it easier for people to just come and connect and that’s kind of how we hope it to be.”
Engage Everett has hosted 120 meetings, gathered in 108 local businesses, given away more than 480 raffle prizes and welcomed 96 speakers.
In 2015, local professionals wanted to create a networking group after the former Everett Chamber was absorbed in the Economic Alliance of Snohomish County (EASC) four years prior in 2011.
Leaders from WSU Everett, Puget PR, EASC, Downtown Everett Association, Leadership of Snohomish County and Everett Music Initiative created Engage Everett.
After the Chamber was absorbed, there was a need for networking events in Everett, Louangphakdy said.
“It was meant to be a casual opportunity for folks to live, work and play in Everett and get to know one another outside of the office,” a founding member wrote.
Angela Kuhn, owner of a local videography business, has been attending for more than 5 years.
“It is a great way to connect to other business owners, non-profits, government officials… At first, I came for the food, now I come for the friends,” Kuhn said.
With its laid back and “go with the flow” style it makes sense why 30-50 people attend these events each month.
The networking group has even inspired Marysville, Mill Creek, Snohomish and Monroe to form their own “Engage” gatherings.
“I like to think that Engage Everett is a safe space to network whether they’re experienced professionals or they’re like new timers or even just people who just want to connect to others… We welcome anybody to come,” Louangphakdy said.
In 2025, Engage Everett plans to partner with the Greater Everett Chamber of Commerce, which has been re-established this year.
Engage Everett meets every second Wednesday of the month. For more information see here.
Disclaimer: Our parent company, North Sound Media, is a partner and supporter of many businesses in the Everett area. In an effort to provide ethical and transparent journalism, The Everett Post has taken into consideration any potential bias arising from these connections. We strive to be as ethical and transparent as possible in our reporting.
