No yachts set sail from the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce’s largest-ever social event held Tuesday night at Christensen Shipyards. But the party’s 1,500 guests enjoyed a short getaway from the workplace, nonetheless.
Guests wearing Hawaiian leis mingled in one of the Vancouver shipmaker’s bays to hear live music, eat, drink and wait in line for a land-locked trip on a $7.5 million, tri-deck Christensen yacht parked inside the bay.
“It was amazing,” said Hilary Barraza, general manager of the Residence Inn south of Jantzen Beach in Portland and a Vancouver resident, shortly after touring the boat. She and her co-workers arrived early and headed straight for the line, she said.
“It’s an escape from everyday life,” said Barraza, “it’s so luxurious.”
Curious guests snaked along the balcony for a tour of the 120-foot yacht, which has served as a “loaner” boat for Christensen clients to use during the 28 months they must wait for a larger, custom-made vessel, said John Lance, marketing and advertising director for Christensen.
“It’s exciting that the community has come out to see what we do here,” Lance said.
The ‘No business, after hours’ event was the third quarterly social hour held since the Vancouver Chamber started the events last year in an effort to encourage closer connections among Southwest Washington’s business community.
“To get people out and interacting will be key to bringing the economy back,” said Kim Capeloto, president and CEO of the Vancouver Chamber. “You’ll be doing business with people you know.”
Admission prices were kept low, $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers, to encourage a large turnout, Capeloto said. And Christensen offered an ideal venue because of its ample space, landmark status and its “exclusive” access, he said.
In a slight twist to traditional networking events, the chamber also encourages attendees to socialize without strictly talking business. But Tuesday night’s event had an undercurrent of seriousness amidst the tide of partygoers rushing to and from the bar and buffet, provided by Beaches restaurant.
Tim Smith, a member of the chamber, said he attends the social events because he knows a lot of people in the community. But Smith, executive director of Daybreak, a Vancouver drug rehabilitation clinic for teenagers, also finds a temporary escape from what’s really on his mind.
Depending on what Washington legislators decide in the ongoing special session, Smith said, Daybreak could lose some of its state contracts, which comprise 75 percent of the center’s business, he said.
“Everybody is keeping their fingers crossed, waiting for the (state) budget to pass,” Smith said.
