REPORTER:
THANKS GUYS.
ON MONDAY, GOVENOR ANDREW CUOMO ANNOUNCED GATHERINGS UP TO 25 PEOPLE ARE NOW PERMITTED.
HOWEVER, ONE LOCAL COMPANY FEELS UNEASY ABOUT THESE CHANGES.
TRACY:
I am not going to look to do a lot of events until September or October. I think there is still a learning curve, I need to know their comfortable, I would never want to jeopardize their safety or their comfort level.
REPORTER:
TRACEY CHAMBERLAIN HIGGINBOTHAM OWNS WOMEN TIES, A COMPANY PROMOTING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP ACROSS NEW YORK STATE.
HIGGINBOTHAM’S COMPANY HOSTS AT LEAST 15 EVENTS A YEAR BUT WITH COVID-19, IN PERSON EVENTS HAVE CHANGED TO ZOOM MEETNGS.
TRACY:
“There were many suggestions over the years of trying to do virtual, technology was becoming more valuable and I never wanted to embrace that because I know that women together in a room make stronger connections. So, all of a sudden with event spaces closing down, I immediately thought of zoom and doing online programs.”
REPORTER:
HIGGINBOTHAM’S EVENTS RANGE FROM 15-40 PARTICPANTS AND WITH EVENTS CAPPED AT 25, HIGGINBOTAM SAYS SAFETY AMONGST HER MEMBERS IS HER PRIORITY.
HOWEVER, SHE MISSES IN-PERSON PARTICIPATION AND BELIEVES HER MEMBERS DO AS WELL.
TRACY:
I have always said to members who don’t rely on technology, come to a live event, get out of your house, get out of your space, you’re going to feel different, so I think the biggest impact for me I am miss that personally but I feel my members aren’t making as many business connections they could because we are not together in person.
REPORTER:
HIGGINBOTHAM LOOKS FORWARD TO THE DAY HER MEMBERS CAN BE IN THE SAME ROOM AGAIN.
JULIANNA D’URZO, NCC NEWS.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — As the city of Syracuse starts to reopen, one local business has no plans for in person operations any time soon. The city of Syracuse entered phase three last week and it was announced on Monday that gatherings up to 25 people are now permitted.
One local company feels uneasy about these changes. Women TIES is a local business that promotes women entrepreneurship across the state of New York. The company is owned by Tracey Chamberlain Higginbotham and hosts at least 15 events a year but with COVID-19, in person events have changed to zoom meetings.
“There were many suggestions over the years of trying to do virtual, technology was becoming more valuable and I never wanted to embrace that because I know that women together in a room make stronger connections. So, all of a sudden with event spaces closing down, I immediately thought of zoom and doing online programs,” Higginbotham said.
Higginbothom’s events range from 15-40 participants. With events capped at 25, Higginbothom said safety amongst her members is her priority. However, she misses in-person participation and believes her members do as well.
“I have always said to members who don’t rely on technology, come to a live event, get out of your house, get out of your space, you’re going to feel different, so I think the biggest impact for me I am miss that personally but I feel my members aren’t making as many business connections they could because we are not together in person,” Higginbotham said.
Higginbothom looks forward to the day her members can be in the same room again.
