Society of Professionals holds first networking event

by | Oct 5, 2016 | Other News

A new business in the newly created ViBe district of Virginia Beach proved to be the perfect setting for the inaugural event of the newest Jewish group in Hampton Roads.

The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Society of Professionals held its launch party on Tuesday, September 13 at 1701, a collaborative work and office space on Baltic Ave. More than 70 community members—from all age groups and business affiliations—gathered in one of 1701’s open areas to mingle, network and learn more about each other, the Society and the Federation.

The after-work cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception was the culmination of months of planning. Members of the longstanding UJFT Maimonides Society—an organization of medical professionals who gave $1,000 or more to the Federation, found they often attended events held by a newer affinity group, the UJFT Business and Legal Society, and vice versa.

A new business in the newly created ViBe district of Virginia Beach proved to be the perfect setting for the inaugural event of the newest Jewish group in Hampton Roads. The United Jewish Federation of Tidewater’s Society of Professionals held its launch party on Tuesday, September 13 at 1701, a collaborative work and office space on Baltic Ave. More than 70 community members—from all age groups and business affiliations—gathered in one of 1701’s open areas to mingle, network and learn more about each other, the Society and the Federation. The after-work cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception was the culmination of months of planning. Members of the longstanding UJFT Maimonides Society—an organization of medical professionals who gave $1,000 or more to the Federation, found they often attended events held by a newer affinity group, the UJFT Business and Legal Society, and vice versa. In their brief welcome remarks, Society co-chairs Stacey Neuman and Greg Zittrain explained that the most logical, helpful and forward thinking thing to do was form a new group, combining not just doctors and lawyers and business execs, but all Jewish professionals—whether just starting out or well-established.

“We started realizing there’s a lot of commonalities [among us], and we decided anybody who wants to be here, we’re interested in having,” says Zittrain. “I think we have a real opportunity… to create something here, to build community.

Standing near Neumann and Zittrain was Jeff Werby, co-owner of 1701 with business partner Lisa DeNoia, who also attended. Werby is active in the Young Adult Division of the UJFT and says he looks forward to the new group.“We’re going to have a real emphasis on getting to know each other,” he says. “This organization is going to be something we own, and so we’re going to define the events, we’re going to figure out how we’re going to get people to come, and frankly, having the party here tonight is also what it’s about—this is a business that’s all about bringing people together, which is what we want to support, and what we do as a Federation.”

The entrepreneur and technology expert didn’t fit in with the defined labels of membership outlined by the former affinity groups, but that’s not the case with the Society, where all Jewish professionals are accepted.

Werby was pleased to host the launch party—for the opportunity to network with Jewish professionals, to showcase the Beach’s first coworking space, to possibly gain new clients, and, certainly, to help promote the importance of supporting UJFT.

Neumann noted there were a number of people she hadn’t seen at Federation events before. Introducing herself, she found some are new to Tidewater, some came at the suggestion of friends and others expressed interest in expanding their professional circles.

Amy Kurfist was one of the evening’s bright, new faces. Kurfist moved to Tidewater four months ago to attend a Ph.D. program at Old Dominion University after years spent living and working in Manhattan.

“I moved here not knowing a single person, but I’m looking to build a life here and knew an immediate place for me to start was the Jewish community,” Kurfist says. “Coming to the launch party was an opportunity to meet people and grow my personal and professional network.”

Seth White was involved with the Jewish community as a child and teen. Now in his 20s, White is receptive to becoming involved again, and when asked by a colleague if he wanted to attend the event, he thought, “why not?”

“I go to a lot of meet ups like this, but they’re mostly with people who work in real estate,” says Seth White, an agent with Chantel Ray Real Estate. “It’s been great meeting people who work in other professions, and reconnecting with friends I haven’t seen in 10 or 15 years.”

For more information about the United Jewish Federation Society of Professionals and to sign up for notices of upcoming networking or social opportunities, contact Jasmine Amitay at 757-965-6138, or become a friend of the Society on Facebook: www.fb.com/ ujftsocietyofprofessionals.