If you’ve ever walked into an industry event and wondered what to say (or how to make it worth your time), this episode is for you.

Jennifer Hopper, Community Affairs Manager at ABC San Diego, breaks down what her role really does for members: building relationships in the community, creating connections that matter, and helping the merit shop story get heard in a way that lands.

Jennifer shares a simple approach to networking that doesn’t feel salesy, including how to start conversations, how to handle “big titles” without getting in your head, and the one move that makes people remember you fast: becoming the connector. She also touches on how she talks about merit shop apprenticeship and workforce opportunity when the conversation gets political, without turning it into a debate.

You’ll get:

• Easy ways to start conversations without sounding salesy.

• The “connector” strategy that builds your network fast and naturally.

• How ABCSD shares the merit shop apprenticeship message through people-first stories, not debates.

Resources: Connect with Jennifer Hopper

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