Over 8,000 connections and counting

Since 2019, the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce's award-winning FiftyTwoCoffees program has connected hundreds of people for thousands of meetings.

About

It's a league for networking

When Megan Gebhart graduated college in 2011, she knew she couldn't resign herself to life at an aimless 9-to-5 job climbing the corporate ladder. So instead, she challenged herself to have a single cup of coffee with a different person every week for a year to see what lessons she could learn about life and careers. The experiment turned into a global exploration filled with serendipity and stories that Gebhart published as a book titled 52 Cups of Coffee in 2014. The chronicles feature conversations with the Co-Founder of Apple Computer Steve Wozniak and thought leader Seth Godin to name a few.It was Gebhart’s journey that inspired this initiative among community members in the City of North Bay — but with a twist.

This league for networking takes registrations and, in the first year of the program, organized eighty-four participants to meet each other in round robin fashion, one week at a time, for fifty-two weeks. Over two thousand meetings were assigned with the goal of providing participants the opportunity to generate new customers, ideas, partnerships, and perspectives on life.Nowadays, over one hundred participants register annually for either twenty-six or thirteen meeting assignments per year.Since 2019, FiftyTwoCoffees has directly benefitted over 300 individuals and created over 8,000 connections. The continued success of this initiative is thanks to the dedication of its participants.

FiftyTwoCoffees participants must be members in good standing of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce.

The program schedule for the year 2026 is currently set. New registrations will be added to a waitlist to replace members as they occasionally withdraw. Registration for the year 2027 will open to all in the Fall of 2026.

Contact

Grow your community

Have questions about the program? Please write us at [email protected] or complete the form below and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Ice Breakers

Be the conversation people remember

Use the ice breaker questions below to build or maintain momentum and engagement. There's no need to disguise them either — the person you are meeting with will appreciate the effort, as opposed to allowing the conversation to fall short of valuable.

Get to Know

  • Tell me about the career path that led you to your job.

  • Tell me about your job. What are the core components?

  • What did you do yesterday?

  • What is your favorite food, music, movie, etc.?

  • If you could give $1 million to a charity – which one would you pick?

Business Related

  • Do you currently have a network of entrepreneurs and/or business professionals that are willing to assist you and your business when needed?

  • What inspired you to become an entrepreneur and/or business professional?

  • What is your “why” – why did you decide on this business?

  • What are your top three business goals?

  • How can I help you?

  • What is your biggest accomplishment in business?

  • What is your greatest strength?

  • What is your greatest weakness?

  • What skills do you feel you need to improve the most?

  • What do you wish you knew at my stage?

  • Where do you see your business or organization in 5 years?

  • Could you tell me a bit more of your day-to-day responsibilities at your company?

  • How should I be sending my time? What meetups/networking events do you find valuable?

  • How have you managed to have such success with networking? Is there anything in particular you do to build connections?

  • What’s next for you in your career?

  • Do you know any organizations or businesses that are hiring?

  • What are some projects that your team wishes they could get to but can’t find time?

  • What do you feel helped you most in your preparation for interviews? What made you the best candidate for the positions you strived for?

  • What experiences best prepared you for your job?

  • Does your organization or company hire interns?

  • What skill set is your business looking for?

  • What kind of clients do you work with?

  • What area of marketing do you specialize in?

  • Do you have any suggestions about how to get this kind of experience?

  • What advice would you have liked to have heard when you were starting out?

  • What makes your organization stand out amongst the competition?

  • What are the biggest challenges facing your organization?

Education & Background

  • What kind of education/experience do you need to get into this field?

  • What do you think the most important skills are for the success in this field?

  • What changes have you seen in your field in the past few years?

  • Where do you see this field in the future?

Logistical

  • If a specific question comes up, can I follow up with you?

  • You have been so helpful, is there anyone else you think I should chat with? If yes, then ask: when I call them, may I mention that you referred me?

Advice

Remember to follow up after evey meeting.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Is there a monetary cost to participate in FiftyTwoCoffees?

Participants must be members in good standing of the North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce. Aside from membership and incidental meeting expenses (e.g., transportation, food, beverage) there is no program fee to participate in FiftyTwoCoffees.

How many meetings do members participate in?

The FiftyTwoCoffees schedule is set for a full calendar year (January 1 - December 31). Participants have the option to register for 13 meetings (once every four weeks) or 26 meetings (once every two weeks).

How does the program administrator know when meetings have been completed as assigned?

Participants are required to register their meetings, by the due date provided, using an electronic calendar of their choice (e.g., Apple Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Google Calendar), and inviting the individual they've been assigned to meet as well as [email protected].Meeting invitations received in this way by the program administrator are marked as complete in the program package.

What is a due date?

There are two different types of dates assigned to participants. One is a date range (seven days) inside of which the meeting is assigned to take place. Another is a due date, a date by which the meeting must be scheduled in advance. The due date is a little more than two weeks ahead of the range when the meeting will actually happen.The due date was added to the program in recognition that participants are busy, and waiting until the week of a meeting to attempt to schedule a meeting was resulting in too many scheduling conflicts and failed meetings.The due date is the final date by which a meeting must be scheduled. Participants may schedule their meetings even further in advance given that they have access to all their assignments for the year.

What is a strike and why did I receive one?

Participation in the program is governed by a three strikes policy. Participants are charged with a strike when they (1) fail to schedule a meeting by its assigned due date, or (2) fail to show up to a meeting. A third strike prompts an intervention by the program administrator and is likely to lead to suspension from the program.Participants will know if they received a strike as they will receive an email indicating that they have 24 hours to remedy the situation or the strike will remain permanently.We take our promise to connect the community seriously and expect our participants to do the same. In the past, we have tried operating the program without accountability measure in place and it failed. These meetings are not optional — if the commitment is too great, we ask that participants withdraw themselves until such time they can manage the program expectations fully.

Where do meetings take place?

Your FiftyTwoCoffees meeting may take place wherever is mutually agreeable by both parties in any given assignment.We recommend meeting in a public space and to support a North Bay and District Chamber of Commerce member whenever possible.While the name of the program suggests sharing a conversation over coffee specifically, this is not required. Participants have been known to share a meal, a walk, or to tour a local place of business.

Can meetings take place virtually?

Yes, but it's not our preference or recommendation. There is significant value to conducting these meetings in the flesh. Some of our goals include giving participants a break from the virtual world, promoting in-person networking, and investing in real life interpersonal skills that give our participants an advantage in the workforce.

When and for how much time do meetings take place?

The program schedule prescribes the people you will meet and the 7-day window inside of which you are expected to have your meeting. As with the meeting location, the specific day of the week, the time, and the duration of the meeting is subject to the preferences and availability of the two parties assigned to meet.It is most common for participants to meet during the week, during work hours, and for approximately one hour.

What happens if I am away (or otherwise preoccupied) during the week of one of my assignments?

As long as a meeting is scheduled with the program administrator by its due date, a meeting may take place outside of its prescribed window.It is easier and more predictable for everyone involved to follow the schedule as closely as possible, but we understand that occasionally a specific week does not work for several good reasons.Another option is to advise the program administrator of your absence so that they can replace you with a member of the substitution list — or you arrange for a colleague (that is also a Chamber member) to assume responsibility for a particular meeting that conflicts with your availability.

Didn't answer your question?

Testimonials

Our members love FiftyTwoCoffees

For many, networking can feel like a chore, but #FiftyTwoCoffees makes it an adventure. I’ve met so many incredible people in North Bay that I likely never would have crossed paths with otherwise. Whether we meet for coffee at Twiggs or a bite at another locally owned shop, the program has helped me build genuine relationships that go far beyond a simple business card exchange. If you want to feel truly connected to this city, this is the program to join. It’s low-pressure, high-impact, and a fantastic way to grow both personally and professionally. I’ve met all kinds of people from small business owners and young professionals to community builders and more. Highly recommended!

Stephen Sampson
Commercial Insurance Specialist
Co-operators

FiftyTwoCoffees has given me the opportunity to talk about the North Bay Food Bank to a new audience. Being able to host meetings at our Food Bank gives a behind the scenes look at who and how we support and why community support is so important.

Debbie Marson
Executive Director
North Bay Food Bank

I took part in FiftyTwoCoffees as a sub in around May of 2025, from my first coffee meeting I was hooked. I met some great people and have had some amazing conversations, expanded my network, and because I've met some great members of the Chamber, going to after hours events is way more enjoyable as I know more people and it's like catching up. Thank You for offering this wonderful program.

Kari Cusack
Training Service Rep
Workers Health & Safety Centre