Connections MADE: Meet & Eat

Description

Ditch the boring lunches and join us for a Meet & Eat experience that's not just about business – it's about building connections, savoring scrumptious bites, and gaining inspiration that'll leave your taste buds and your networking game craving more. April's lunch will be provided by MADE Chamber member, Buffalo Wings & Rings.

Connections MADE: Meet & Eat is Mason Deerfield Chamber's popular networking event and offers lunch provided by a rotating member restaurant or venue. During the meeting members have a brief opportunity to introduce themselves and their business to the group, connect with new members, and expand their personal and professional networks. Guests of the April Meet & Eat will enjoy a brief business spotlight featuring Connections MADE Presenting Sponsor, Creative Contracting, Inc.

About April's Event

April's event will focus on small business development with guest speakers: Jim Buckner with Miami University's Small Business Development Center and Kim Snyder with Huntington Bank.
 

Jim Buckner Associate Director, Small Business Development Center Miami University Regionals	Kim Snyder Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager Huntington Bank

 
 

Learn More About April's Speakers

Jim Buckner
Associate Director, Small Business Development Center
Miami University Regionals

Jim is the Associate Director of the Miami University Small Business Development Center (MUSBDC). Jim advises and consults with small businesses on a variety of business issues. Jim’s primary engagement with small business clients focuses on how to connect the business dots between becoming and sustaining bankability with achieving access to capital.

In 2022 and 2023 Jim was recognized by the Ohio Department of Economic Development as the top preforming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Advisor/Counselor in the State of Ohio. Jim is the first SBDC Advisor/Counselor in Ohio to receive such recognition for two consecutive years.

With his 35 years of economic development and business experience, Jim has acquired a diverse set of business performance improvement skills that bring value to assisting small businesses navigate through solving challenges they face today and in the future.

In addition to his experiences, Jim is a Certified Business Advisor (CBA) that received his graduate degree from Xavier University (Cincinnati, Ohio) and undergraduate degree from Wilmington College (Wilmington, Ohio).

Kim Snyder
Vice President, Business Banking Relationship Manager
Huntington Bank

Kim is a vice president and business banking relationship manager at Huntington Bank. She has more than 35 years of banking experience, 33 of which have been in business banking in the Cincinnati area.  She acts as a trusted mentor and advisor to her small business customers. 
 
Prior to joining Huntington, Kim served for 12 years as a business banking senior relationship manager at Fifth Third Bank and was with Key Bank for 14½ years as a relationship manager in business banking.  Her banking experience, augmented by her experiences growing up in Michigan in a family-owned business, means that she understands the challenges of small business ownership and management.
 
Kim’s goal is to assist business owners in choosing financial solutions that are consistent with their short- and long-term business goals.  She offers a wide range of depository and lending solutions for any industry by utilizing her banking expertise and business knowledge.
 
Education
Kim earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Central Michigan University.  She stays current in business trends and financial options through regular seminar attendance and learns from every client encounter.
 
Community
Kim is active in The Referral Network, which is associated with the Sharonville Chamber of Commerce, and is a member of the Warren County Small Business Development Alliance.  She was recognized as a “Woman of the Year” in 2011/2012 by the National Association of Professional Women. Board Member with the Wave Foundation under the Newport Aquarium.
 
Kim was born and raised in Michigan.  She and her husband, Chris, live in Loveland and have three boys.