Creative Connect

🔗 Reminder: Creative Connect is this Thursday!

This month’s topic:
🎯 Merch with a Mission

Join Sydney Collins and Michael Freeland as they explore how intentional merchandise and creative strategy can help organizations build stronger brands and more meaningful audience connection.

📅 Thursday, May 28
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Chamber Annex

Come connect with local creatives, marketers, nonprofits, and business leaders.

⏰ Creative Connect is happening THIS WEEK!

Join us Wednesday for:
🎯 Merch with a Mission

We’ll be talking about how businesses and nonprofits can use intentional merchandise, giveaways, and branded items to better tell their story and connect with audiences.

Whether you’re a business leader, marketer, nonprofit, designer, or creative—this conversation is for you.

📅 May 28
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Chamber Annex

We’d love to see you there.

🎨 Why Should Creatives Attend Creative Connect?

This month’s topic, 🎯 Merch with a Mission, dives into how creativity and storytelling shape the merchandise, giveaways, and experiences businesses use every day.

We’ll discuss:
✔️ Connect with local businesses & organizations
✔️ Ideas on what to create for merch
✔️ Trade show and event creativity
✔️ How storytelling impacts promotional design

Whether you’re a designer, marketer, photographer, maker, or creative thinker, this is a chance to connect with local organizations and explore how creative strategy influences branding and audience engagement.

📅 May 28
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Chamber Annex

💼 Why Should My Business Attend Creative Connect?

This month’s topic, 🎯 Merch with a Mission, is all about helping businesses and nonprofits think differently about branded merchandise, giveaways, and trade show materials.

We’ll explore:
✔️ How to make your merch more memorable
✔️ Why storytelling matters in promotional products
✔️ Trade show tips that actually create engagement
✔️ How intentional design can strengthen your brand

If your organization uses promotional items, attends events, sponsors community activities, or wants to create stronger audience connection—this conversation is for you.

📅 May 28
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Chamber Annex

🎤 This month’s Creative Connect will also feature Michael Freeland of Mr. Freeland Design.

Michael’s design background gives him a unique perspective on how businesses should approach merchandise, branding, and promotional materials. Through years of developing brands, graphics, and visual identities, he’s seen firsthand how intentional design can turn everyday swag into something memorable and meaningful.

His creative insight helps organizations think differently about how merch looks, feels, functions, and ultimately represents their story.

Join us May 28 for:
🎯 Merch with a Mission

📅 May 28
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Chamber Annex

🎤 One of this month’s Creative Connect presenters is Sydney Collins with Fili Creative.

Sydney has been around the trade show and marketing world since she was a kid—working booths and watching firsthand how businesses connect with potential clients through experiences, conversation, and intentional branding.

Her background spans small businesses, city municipalities, and larger corporate environments, giving her a broad perspective on how merchandise and giveaways are used across industries. At Fili Creative, Sydney oversees branded giveaways and promotional items, helping organizations think beyond “just putting a logo on something” and instead create merch that supports storytelling and connection.

Join us May 28 for:
🎯 Merch with a Mission

📅 May 28
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Chamber Annex

🎤 Meet May’s Creative Connect presenters!

This month, Sydney Collins and Michael Freeland will lead:

🎯 Merch with a Mission

Together, they’ll explore how intentional merchandise can help businesses and nonprofits tell stories, create memorable experiences, and connect with audiences in meaningful ways.

Expect practical ideas, real-world examples, and interactive conversation around branded merch, trade shows, nonprofit giveaways, and more.

📅 May 28
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Chamber Annex

🍴 We’re looking for a Lunch Sponsor for May’s Creative Connect!

Lunch sponsors receive:
✔️ A speaking opportunity at the beginning of the meeting
✔️ Event signage recognition
✔️ The option to include a business giveaway
✔️ Social media recognition

Creative Connect brings together creatives, marketers, nonprofits, and business leaders from across the Salina area—and sponsorship helps make these gatherings possible.

Interested in sponsoring May’s event? Send us a message!

📅 SAVE THE DATE 📅

Creative Connect returns on May 28 with:

🎯 Merch with a Mission

Join us as we explore how businesses and nonprofits can use merchandise to tell stories, create connection, and leave a lasting impression.

From trade show strategy to intentional giveaways, this month’s conversation is packed with practical ideas you can actually use.

🗓 May 28
⏰ 12:00–1:00 PM
📍 Chamber Annex

What happens when everything is on the line?

At April’s Creative Connect, Matt Heintz will share insights from real-world crisis communications—where clarity, timing, and leadership matter most.

You’ll walk away with practical ways to:
• Think clearly under pressure
• Communicate with confidence
• Lead through uncertainty

📅 April 23 | 12–1 PM
📍 Chamber Annex
🍽 Lunch sponsored by Old Chicago