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In this fun and insightful episode of HR Salon, host Andrew Biernat sits down with longtime HR leader and founder of Whine and Dine Networking, Keith Bogen, to talk about why real human connection still matters—and why Rochester is the next city to get its own Whine and Dine chapter.

With 23 years of building connections across 19 cities, Keith has turned “networking” into something far more meaningful: making friends, sharing stories, and building community that lasts. Together, Andrew and Keith explore the lost art of conversation in an age when networking too often feels forced or self‑serving—and how to bring warmth, humor, and genuine generosity back to it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why Whine and Dine Networking is all about community, not contacts
• How fewer rules and more laughter create authentic connection
• The secret to making people remember you long after the event
• Why Keith says “the value of knowing me is knowing who I know”
• How servant leadership strengthens relationships inside and outside of work
• What genuine generosity can do for your career and well‑being
• How to build your personal brand without a 30‑second elevator pitch
• Why in‑person connection still beats any digital alternative
• How storytelling and humility attract better opportunities
• The one daily question that keeps Keith focused on helping others

As Whine and Dine Rochester launches, this episode is both an invitation and a reminder: real success starts with a smile, a story, and a shared glass of something good.

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