Few cities it seems have fewer degrees of separation when it comes to personal or business relationships than Winnipeg. So when MITT got the nod to host the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce’s recent After Business Mixer—which mixes a casual after-work vibe with a mini tradeshow format—the college made the most of this unique opportunity to connect with local businesses and build connections between its programs and would-be employers’ needs.

A strong contingent of local organizations showed up and turned the Deltas into a bustling hub of info booths. As guests networked and learned more about their fellow Chamber members’ products and services, Bev Stuart, Associate Vice President, Business Development and Strategic Initiatives, handled host duties, welcoming the crowd to MITT and talking about the college’s strong Chamber connection: not only is she a member, but Bev also serves on the Chamber’s Leadership Council.
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Staff and faculty were on hand to connect with any guest who wanted to know more about MITT, a pair of campus tours provided about a dozen or so attendees their first—and up close—look at what the college offers, and Chef Sachin prepared some of the delicious eats for the gathering.

Students took part in the evening as well. Event caterers, Diversity Catering, enlisted a handful of students from Hotel and Hospitality Services, providing them some valuable work experience as servers, and learners from some of MITT’s post-graduate programs, along with their instructors, made one-on-one connections with local business members.

​“Every chance we get to build that bridge of understanding between education and employment is so meaningful,” said Bev Stuart. “Tonight, we introduced MITT to a new audience, we introduced our students to potential future contacts or employers, we showcased our potential and, true to form, we engaged and we listened to our valuable industry and business partners. It was wonderful that we got to be host venue and I’m grateful to the Chamber for the opportunity.” ​