Marketing, Advertising And PR Networking

The local job market continues to grow, and that is good news for the economy and a leading networking group. The Long Island Marketing Networking Group has become one of the fastest growing professional organizations in Nassau and Suffolk counties.

Through word of mouth, LinkedIn, Facebook and collaboration with other organizations, the organization provides informative and fun after-work events for both employed and displaced marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Monthly meetings with featured speakers are held on Tuesday evenings. Discussion topics include marketing strategies, online business objectives and content creation to address the diverse responsibilities of executives in the marketing communications sector.

Informal Start

The group began informally during the economic downturn that occurred more than 10 years ago. Several talented but unemployed executives shared their stories at the employment center in Hauppauge. They discussed their job search options and tactics as they assisted each other with moral support and job leads.

Larry Drago of Smithtown participated in these discussions. He quickly expanded the informal gathering by creating the Long Island Marketing Job Seekers Group. Attendance swelled with out-of-work executives from Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. The meetings provided the forum for many people to share their ideas and provide mutual support that fostered the job search process. Drago has remained the driving force behind the organization during all these years.

Group Transformation

As the economy improved and members found new positions, Drago noticed that attendance gradually dwindled at the daytime meetings. Since he always had planned to adjust the group's focus from a gathering of people hunting for new jobs to a broader all-inclusive marketing networking organization, Drago capitalized on the robust economy and job market to implement his plan that transformed the gathering into the Long Island Marketing Networking Group.

"Marketing professionals on Long Island need a forum to collaborate, learn and share their experiences," emphasized Drago. "The level of talent in the group is astounding, and members are more than happy to learn, share and help each other. I look forward to spearheading the charge to keep the group on a growth pattern and provide a conducive environment for all marketing, advertising, public relations and communications professionals of all levels."

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To learn more about the Long Island Marketing Networking Group, contact Larry Drago at limarketingng@gmail.com .

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The transformation included moving meetings to evening hours and adding presenters with specific expertise to share their thoughts and experiences with members. During all these years, though, at least one original concept remained -- the Long Island Marketing Networking Group does not charge membership or meeting fees.

The group has recruited its members from corporations and marketing/public relations agencies. Members now number more than 200 professionals from Altice USA, CA Technologies - a Broadcom Company, Canon USA, Globecomm, Hain Celestial Group and other companies and nonprofits. Business owners also have joined to network and to learn more about marketing, advertising, public relations and other communications topics.

"Over the years, I've truly enjoyed and benefitted from great content and conversations at the meetings as well as those that extended out into the parking lot and beyond," said Kevin Simms, a marketing and communications veteran who is the organization's vice chairperson. "I've forged valuable business and personal relationships with many talented people as a result."

In addition to monthly meetings, The Long Island Marketing Networking Group hosts quarterly networking events at local area restaurants. These events allow members to enjoy themselves as they continue to bond and learn. Drago also has expanded the group's outreach by collaborating with other local industry related organizations such as the Social Media Association.

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Mike Virgintino is the author of Freedomland U.S.A.: The Definitive History, the story about America's theme park located in The Bronx. Published by Theme Park Press, it can be found on Amazon, eBay and Goodreads.