Hob Nob event continues to connect businesses in Lakewood Ranch area

Dom DiMaio, the vice president of commercial services at Suncoast Credit Union, is no stranger to the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance's Hob Nob networking event.

For the last 15 years, DiMaio has grown an appreciation for the Western-themed dress and camraderie that the event presents. 

"It's one of the best business events in terms of seeing folks you might not have seen throughout the year," DiMaio said. "The Alliance is all about bringing people together. It's all about relationship-building and making friends." 

DiMaio served as president and CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance for two-and-a-half half years before current CEO and President Brittany Lamont took over.

Lamont noted the Hob Nob was taken over from the Bradenton Economic Development Corporation in 2023. 

She said her favorite part of the event is matching businesses together to build partnerships. The event at the Lakewood Ranch Library was attended by 400 people with 40 featured businesses. 

Ryan McIntyre, a partner at McIntyre Elwell and Strammer General Contractors, has attended the Hob Nob more than a dozen times and said his company has been part of the event for over 20 years. 

He said the event provides a casual atmosphere to talk about both business and personal items. 

"It's a great time of year, and it's always right before the holiday season starts," McIntyre said. "The Business Alliance has done a great job taking the traditions that the EDC had set up and building upon those."