Mercer Island Connect: Network Together After Hours with the Bellevue Chamber
Wednesday, April 1 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM Yuan Ru Art Gallery
12737 NE Bel Red Rd #100, Bellevue, WA 98005
Step into an evening of connection, conversation, and community as Mercer Island Chamber partners with the Bellevue Chamber for our first Network Together After Hours event of 2026.
Mingle among inspiring artwork while enjoying light bites, refreshments, and the opportunity to build new personal and professional relationships. Whether you're looking to expand your network, explore collaboration, or simply enjoy good company, this joint chamber gathering offers a warm and welcoming space to do so.
Registration is required, and space is limited.
This event is a members event, and firstâtime guests are encouraged to attend one networking event to experience the value of chamber involvement.
Join us as we celebrate the grand opening of Jaimie Birtel Photography’s brandânew studio space on Mercer Island!
Stop by on Thursday, April 2nd from 1:00–3:00 PM for a warm welcome, an official ribbonâcutting ceremony, and an open house to explore Jaimie’s beautiful new creative space.
Whether you’re a community member, local business, or photography enthusiast, we invite you to come meet Jaimie, tour the studio, and help us celebrate this exciting milestone.
Location: Jaimie Birtel Photography Studio
Date: Thursday, April 2
Time: 1:00–3:00 PM
The Chamber’s Board of Directors meets monthly to review organizational business, financial reports, and strategic initiatives. These meetings provide an opportunity for the board to discuss ongoing programs, evaluate progress toward goals, and make decisions that guide the Chamber’s operations and community impact.
This is a regularly scheduled governance meeting of the Chamber’s leadership team.
Join us for a fun and eco-friendly event where you can safely dispose of your unwanted paint! Our Free Paint Recycling Collection Event is happening at Mercer Island City Hall - 9611 SE36th Street, Mercer Island, WA. Don't miss this opportunity to declutter your space and contribute to a greener environment.
Register for a drop-off time today!We will accept all types of paint, from latex to oil-based, so bring them all! Our team of experts will be on hand to guide you through the process and ensure everything is properly recycled.
Spread the word and invite your friends and neighbors to join in. Together, let's make a positive impact on our community and the planet. Don't forget to mark your calendars for this exciting event!
Staying in town for Spring Break? Soccer Fun Camp is here to save the day! â½
Spring break with Soccer Fun Camp means time with friends, new skills, and a boatload of fun! Our energetic coaches keep kids active with games, skill-building activities, and plenty of soccer in a positive, encouraging environment.
Join us for a week of outdoor play and soccer excitement on Mercer Island!
Spring Break No-School Camp
ð April 13–17
ð Homestead Field, Mercer Island
ð§ð§ Ages 5–12
Camp Options:
• Half Day (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM): $295
• Full Day (9:00 AM – 3:00 PM): $545
Join us for the Chamber’s First Sustainable Fashion Show—where style meets purpose. Featuring Mercer Island's own thrift store and local consignment boutiques, eco-friendly accessories, and fashion-forward products that support sustainability.
Featuring fashions from:
Mercer Island Thrift Store
Odette & Co.
Reprise
Refugee Artisan Initiative
Celebrate creativity, community, and conscious fashion. Let’s make sustainability chic!
Thursday, April 23rd
11:00am - 1:00pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center more info...
Business Workshop: Where Visuals Meet Voice: Crafting Cohesive Branding That Truly Connects
Wednesday, April 29th
11:30am -1:00pm
The Rock
We are teaming up with chamber member Jaimie Birtel of Jaimie Birtel Photography to bring you the marketing workshop that connects your brand voice with your brand visuals.
How does your business stand out in a crowded, distracting digital world? What if you could tell a dream story that makes your clients pause, feel seen and say, “I need to work with them!”? Imagine having visuals and messaging that spark real conversations and generate more business. Build trust before a single sales call and attract the type of loyal repeat clients who become your biggest advocates.
Drawing from my background in PR and experience as a portrait and branding photographer, you’ll learn how to craft a brand that isn’t a dream but rather a reality. Learn practical tips to help you grow a brand that’s relatable, inviting, and most importantly… you. Bringing together incredible visuals and your voice, your brand doesn’t just become recognizable, it becomes unforgettable.
Jaimié Birtel has over a decade of experience in PR and communications, helping global brands tell their stories and connect genuinely with their audiences. She’s led brand campaigns, media relations, executive coaching, and worked behind the scenes to build strong visibility for global companies. Now, she combines that expertise with her love for portrait and branding photography to help entrepreneurs share authentic, compelling stories through visuals and words. Jaimié knows what makes a message resonate—so your brand feels real, relatable, and unforgettable. She’s all about empowering clients to show up confidently and consistently everywhere they go.
Drinks and snacks provided. You are more than welcome to bring your own lunch to enjoy. To protect the privacy of participants and the integrity of the presentation, audio and video recording of this workshop is not allowed. more info...
Coffee & Conversations
Wednesday, May 6th
11:00am -12:00pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center
The Coffee & Conversations series allows business leaders in the community to engage in an intimate setting with city and regional leaders for discussions that are affecting businesses directly. Such conversations bridge the gap, allowing views, voices, and conversations to take place in the ever-changing economic map of our community. more info...
Drop-In Coaching sessions are held at the Mercer Island Community Center, 8236 SE 24th ST, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
Note: Please limit reservations to one session.
Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact coaching@businessimpactnw.org or call (206) 324-4330
The Chamber’s Board of Directors meets monthly to review organizational business, financial reports, and strategic initiatives. These meetings provide an opportunity for the board to discuss ongoing programs, evaluate progress toward goals, and make decisions that guide the Chamber’s operations and community impact.
This is a regularly scheduled governance meeting of the Chamber’s leadership team.
If you have been enjoying the new Amplify Mercer Island reel series, then you won't want to miss this workshop.
Business Workshop: From Cringe to Confident: Permission to Stop Overthinking and Start Posting with Sheena Kalso of Behind Your Scenes
Thursday, May 21st
11:30am-1:00pm
TBA
If you know you should be showing up on Instagram but keep freezing up, deleting everything, or avoiding video entirely, this month's mini workshop is your reset.
Sheena Kalso, content strategist and founder of Behind Your Scenes, will walk you through:
• Why Instagram feels so hard - How to reframe it as networking, not performing.
• The friction points stopping you from filming - and how to remove them from your actual workspace
• Simple filming techniques - Make any video look more professional (no fancy equipment needed)
• Hands-on practice time so you leave with real clips and newfound confidence
This isn’t theory. You’ll film something during the session, get real-time coaching, and walk out knowing exactly what to do next. Leave feeling confident in your video skills and encouraged that you can Instagram in a way that fits your personality and preferences.
What to bring:
Your phone and a willingness to learn some new skills.