Connect Forward

Connect Forward Driving Growth, Building Networks, & Empowering Change within our Community

11/11/2025

This Thanksgiving, Let’s Give Back Together 🧡

The Connect Forward community is coming together to help five local families enjoy a warm Thanksgiving dinner this year.

If you know a family in need here in the Eugene–Springfield area, we’d love for you to nominate them using the Google Form linked in the comments below.

We’ll just need a few details —
📝 Your contact info
👨‍👩‍👧 Who you’re nominating
💛 Why they could use a little extra help this holiday

Nominations are open until November 17, 2025.

Let’s make this Thanksgiving a little brighter for those who could use it most.
Together, we can make a difference. 🦃💫

11/11/2025

🌱 Helping Kids Grow — From the Inside Out

Because every child deserves the tools to thrive — not just survive — in school and in life.

This week at Connect Forward, we had the pleasure of hearing from Kim Esser with Riverview Center for Growth — a local mental health organization that’s been making a difference in the Eugene–Springfield community for over 70 years.

Kim shared how Riverview provides compassionate, personalized support for kids and families — helping young people learn how to self-regulate, focus, and feel confident both in and out of the classroom.

💚 Here’s what they do best:

Support K–12 students with mental, emotional, and behavioral challenges

Offer in-home and classroom-based therapy designed around each child’s needs

Partner with families, schools, and providers for a full circle of care

Create safe, respectful spaces where growth truly happens

Provide comprehensive services — therapy, medication management, case support, and crisis intervention

Every child they help represents another ripple of hope — creating stronger families and a more resilient community.

A big thank you to Kim Esser for sharing your heart, your time, and your passion with our group. You’re an amazing part of what makes our community thrive. 💫

👉 Learn more: RiverviewGrowth.org
📞 541-726-1465 | 24/7 Crisis Line: 888-989-9990

10/24/2025

💡 40x Wealthier?! Here’s Why Owning a Home Still Reigns Supreme

👉 And why Nancy Meston with Guild Mortgage makes the process feel effortless.

Let’s be real — buying a home can sound stressful.
But when you’ve got someone like Nancy Meston guiding you through it — it’s not.

Here’s why homeownership continues to be one of the most powerful wealth-building moves 👇

📈 Homeowners became 40x wealthier than renters in the past decade.
💰 How that happens:

Payments: Every monthly payment builds your equity, not your landlord’s.

Renovations: Simple improvements boost your property’s value.

Appreciation: Homes in Lane County historically increase 3–4% per year.

🏡 Nancy’s take:

“The best time to buy is when it makes sense for you.”

She knows firsthand how meaningful this journey is — from once having a rough experience with her own lender, to now helping families avoid that stress completely.

🎻 Fun fact: Nancy’s a violinist (University of Oregon scholarship!), youngest of nine siblings, and she’s overcome autoimmune challenges that taught her the power of balance, patience, and self-care.

She doesn’t just crunch numbers — she cares deeply about helping people find their footing in homeownership, at a pace that feels right.

If you’re curious where to start, Nancy can help you plan, not pressure.

Not sure where to start when it comes to SEO? 👇🏽👇🏽
10/18/2025

Not sure where to start when it comes to SEO? 👇🏽👇🏽

10/12/2025

This week at Connect Forward, Mara Gregory, with Keller William Realty, shared an honest, grounded take on today’s local real estate market — one that both buyers and sellers should hear.

Here are a few highlights that stood out:

🏠 There’s more inventory right now, but Lane County is still technically a seller’s market.

🔒 Our area stays more stable because there’s not much infrastructure for new growth.

📊 Compared to last year, pending sales are up 11% — showing real movement.

💬 Mara reminds her clients to stay realistic — focus on “one to three things to fix” and stay adaptable.

❤️ Real estate can be emotional — and that’s why Mara says she’s “part therapist and part marriage counselor.”

Mara is a valuable resource. She’s all about helping people make smart, data-driven decisions that fit their real life, not just the market trends.

🎉 Upcoming Event:

Come meet Mara and the Connect Forward community on Tuesday October 14th, from 4–6 p.m. at Valley Sims in West Eugene!
We’ve rented out the golf simulators, there’ll be food and drinks on us, and it’s a fun, casual way to meet local business owners and good people.

⛳ Come swing by — literally — and see what we’re about!

10/02/2025

🥕 Did you know some kids in our community don’t even know where their next meal is coming from?

That’s why programs like the School Garden Project of Lane County are so powerful.

This nonprofit has been teaching children science, the basics of growing food, and how to be good stewards of the earth for over 23 years. Through 12-month programs at 16 partner schools (and looking to grow more), they use outdoor gardens as living classrooms where kids get their hands dirty, discover how nature works, and learn skills they’ll carry for a lifetime.

It’s not just about gardening. It’s about helping kids see the full circle of growth: from planting seeds, to composting, to tasting the healthy food they nurtured themselves. These lessons change how they view nature, nutrition, and their own potential. 🌎

For the School Garden Project to grow and thrive, funding, volunteers, and spreading the word are essential. They’re not just planting gardens — they’re planting hope and knowledge. 🌱 Huge thank you to Mindy Bell, for sharing the story and mission of this tremendous organization!
And don’t forget*
👉 Join us at Connect Forward’s Membership Drive on Tuesday, October 14th, 4–6 PM at Valley Sims in West Eugene. Come network, have fun, and see how we can grow together.

✨If you’re a small business owner in the Eugene area still waiting on that magical flood of referrals… we should talk✨Co...
09/24/2025

✨If you’re a small business owner in the Eugene area still waiting on that magical flood of referrals… we should talk✨
Connect Forward is a local networking group built on real relationships & right now we’re opening up a few more spots.
We’d especially love to bring in folks in:
🔧 Trades → electricians, plumbers, painters, landscapers, auto shops
🦷 Health & Wellness → chiropractors, dentists, massage therapists, fitness trainers
⚖️ Professional Services → attorneys, accountants, IT, print/marketing, non-profits
✅ It’s affordable (cheaper than BNI), No long-term commitment, and focused on actually helping each other grow through referrals & relationships.
📍 You're Invited! Join our Membership Drive → Monday, Oct 14th, 4–6 PM @ Valley Sims in West Eugene (3666 W 11th Ave Eugene, OR 97402).

08/26/2025

💙 Serving Hope in West Eugene
When community comes together, healing grows.
This August, our Connect Forward Networking Group dedicated our community outreach to ShelterCare, a local nonprofit that’s been serving Eugene for over 20 years. Their Medical Respite program is one of only two nationally certified respites in Oregon, offering compassionate housing and behavioral health services.
Together, we rolled up our sleeves — picking up trash, weeding garden beds, tidying living spaces, and even creating motivational collage cutouts for residents’ social activities.
ShelterCare provides more than shelter: their fully self-contained units include meals tailored to doctor’s orders, indoor plumbing, and essential supplies so wounds can heal and lives can move forward. Even more, their dedicated staff help residents find the next step toward permanent housing.
We’re honored to support this mission of hope, healing, and home. 🏡✨
Learn more: ShelterCare.org

✨ Want to become unforgettable?Connect Forward is excited to share this special event happening tomorrow: Becoming Irrep...
08/20/2025

✨ Want to become unforgettable?
Connect Forward is excited to share this special event happening tomorrow: Becoming Irreplaceable with John Israel (aka Mr. Thank You).
He’ll be teaching how to create unreasonable loyalty with your clients, your team, and even your biggest supporters. This isn’t just another business talk—it’s an inspiring experience designed to help you grow stronger connections both personally and professionally.
We also want to give a special shout-out to Nancy Meston, one of our amazing Connect Forward members and a loan officer with Guild Mortgage Company, for letting us know about this opportunity. Guild Mortgage is hosting the event, and Nancy made sure our community didn’t miss out! 🙌
📅 When: Thursday, August 21 | 11:30am – 2:00pm PDT
📍 Where: Holiday Inn Express Eugene – Springfield, OR
🥗 Lunch is included!
🌟 Don’t miss your chance to connect, grow, and walk away with tools to become truly irreplaceable!

Address

Eugene, OR

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Connect Forward posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Connect Forward:

Shortcuts

Share

Category