County of Brant Chamber of Commerce held a networking event at GrandBridge Energy on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.
The Business After Five, co-hosted by GrandBridge Energy and United Way Golden Horseshoe, gave local business owners a chance to meet, share advice and learn about the host company. Guests gathered for food and drinks, entered their business cards into a draw for prizes and later toured the company’s control room, led by GrandBridge Energy employees.
About 50 people joined the event, according to Sherri Barna, president of the chamber.
“Tonight we’re doing our After Five event, and GrandBridge Energy is hosting,” said Barna. “They are showing us their control room and telling us about their business. They are growing like crazy in our area.”
Barna mentioned the events gave business owners an easy way to meet people in the community.
“The Chamber After 5 is great because it’s just an easy way for people to have a little snack, have a drink, come out and meet other business people in the community,” said Barna. “Tonight, I have already made a couple of new connections, and that’s the point of business.”
She added that those connections sometimes lead to new sales and clients.
“The more people who know your business exists and what you offer, the more chances that phone will ring and you’ll make sales,” said Barna.
Barna owns Purple Bean Media, a digital marketing agency in Brantford. She has attended chamber and networking events for a decade, and that showing up regularly had built her name in the business community.
“I don’t do a lot of outreach anymore because a lot of people know who I am, but it’s 10 years of showing up to chamber events or networking events,” said Barna.
She also emphasized the mentorship she has received from other business owners who have been in the business for longer.
“I’ve only been in business for ten years,” said Barna. “There are people who’ve been in business for 25 years, I want to learn from them.”
Barna added that she had asked other veteran owners for advice on work-life balance, and encouraged new business owners seeking a community to attend.
“The chamber just always has a bunch of events,” said Barna. “Everyone’s very friendly. It’s a very easygoing group, and we would love to see you.”
