Alisa Walsh Reports from City National Grove of Anaheim's KitchenSync Networking Event

As Director of Business Development Alisa attends networking events each and every week. While Alisa loves to mingle and see colleagues and make new friends, one event especially stands out - and it takes place in a kitchen!
Most private affairs end up with friends and family gathering around the kitchen table. The same concept works in a networking setting. The casualness takes the stress out of the networking aspect. Alisa and City National Grove of Anaheim's Candi Lombard report.

Alisa Walsh: 
I love Kitchensync because it is an interactive event.
Many networking events are fantastic and they always offer really amazing food and beverage.
However, at Kitchensync we are mingling in an environment familiar to us professionally as we also share an experience.  We sell experiences to our clients after all. Having a networking experience adds extra value to this event.
You get to spend time working next to potential clients or industry partners. We laugh as we learn more about kitchen ware and how to cook together. The chef, Thomas Ramirez, is really creative and so passionate about education. He is always willing to answer questions and assist.
Candi Lombard conceived and organizes Kitchensync and provides wine and snacks. It really is a lot of fun. It is also less intimidating than the regular events where you have to walk around and introduce yourself.
Kitchensync events consist of fairly small groups, about 20 people at the most at a time.
Furthermore the communal aspect of working as a team in a familiar environment creates opportunities for more in-depth conversations. We share our kitchen and cooking related personal experiences and learn a lot more about each other as people.
Every time I mention to colleagues that I will attend they comment that they love Kitchensync as well.
We all look forward to. It is a win win. I have learned how to cook a few things and I have built not only professional relationships but made real friends.

Alisa Walsh (on the right) and Candi Lombard, Director of Special Event Sales and Marketing, City National Grove of Anaheim, Managed by Nederlander Concerts and Alisa.

To learn more about booking events at City National Grove Anaheim, please visit their WEBSITE and/or  email Candi at clombard@nederlander.com.



EW: Candi, what feedback do you receive? We hear nothing but raves.

Candi Lombard: 
Those that come to Kitchensync love the teaching aspect, but are more impressed by the fun we have as a group, and how relaxed they feel when it’s over. Everyone that has attended feels grateful to be included and almost always says the same thing “Wow, that was so much fun, when is the next one?”

EW: How does one get invited?

Candi Lombard: 
We invite all kinds of current, past and prospective Grove partners to Kitchensync, our local corporate clients, VCB partners, fundraising professionals and hospitality related vendors. If we have a new client who is thinking of using the Grove, or has, well, you have now made it to the Kitchensync invite list.

EW: What is the secret recipe for the success (no pun intended)?

Candi Lombard: 
Fun recipes, ( if you have never cooked  in your life, you will feel like you can when you’ve attended Kitchensync.)
Fun attendees
Our fabulous Executive Chef Thomas Ramirez, amazing Chef and teacher.
Start early and end early… you almost always get home in time for dinner, except the difference is, you made it in class and its ready to go so you can enjoy the rest of your evening.
My goal with Kitchensync was to establish an environment where we could entertain, network and learn about each other in a casual setting where our guards our let down a bit so we could “SYNC” up!


Thank you for reading!