More than food and networking filled One Franklin Square as local business leaders gathered for the FLX Chamber’s final Business After Hours event of the year.
The Finger Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its Holiday Open House Networking Mixer on Dec. 10 at its downtown Geneva offices. The event marked the final Business After Hours of 2025 and wrapped up the Chamber’s Season Pass program.
Guests moved through the Chamber office and neighboring spaces while enjoying food, wine, beer, and live music by Flow State Experience, a band made up of Hobart and William Smith Colleges students.
Celebrating five years of Community Broadband Networks
The night’s main focus centered on Community Broadband Networks’ fifth anniversary in the One Franklin Square building.
Founded in 2018 by Thomas Magg, Community Broadband Networks has grown from a three-person startup into a regional provider with more than 40 employees. The Geneva-based company now uses more than $121 million in federal grant funding to expand hybrid fiber-optic and fixed wireless infrastructure across parts of New York and Massachusetts.
The company focuses on serving rural and urban areas that often lack reliable high-speed internet. It offers personalized customer service and “guaranteed-for-life” pricing as an alternative to major providers.
Magg and company partners met with attendees throughout the evening and offered tours of their renovated and expanded space. Magg also addressed the crowd during the event’s main presentation.
Image: Tom Magg stands with FLX Chamber staff Miranda Odell and Natalie Yonts while addressing guests during the Holiday Open House at One Franklin Square. Photo by Naturally Chic Photography.
Highlighting Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes
The Chamber also spotlighted Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes, another tenant in the building.
Advocacy Coordinator Brittany DeSain welcomed guests into the organization’s Community Closet. The space provides emergency clothing for victims of domestic violence and is designed to feel like a retail store. Donations fully stock the closet, volunteers manage it, and all Safe Harbors clients can use it at no cost.
Food donations support Geneva Center of Concern
Instead of charging an entrance fee, the Chamber asked attendees to bring non-perishable food items.
The Chamber selected the Geneva Center of Concern to receive the donations. The organization has been a Chamber member for more than 20 years. By the end of the night, attendees had donated more than 200 pounds of food to support local food drives.
Local businesses power the event
The Chamber thanked several members for providing food and beverages at discounted rates or through donations.
Those businesses included Cam’s Pizzeria, Cosentino’s Ristorante, Mark’s Pizzeria, Ronnie’s Cedar Inn, Taqueria Los Amigos, Tucci’s Family Diner, and Wegmans. Beverage partners included Airy Acres Vineyards, Big aLICe Brewing, and Ravines Wine Cellars.
The Chamber also recognized photographers Neil Sjoblom of Sjoblom Photography and Justina Holcomb of Naturally Chic Photography for documenting the evening.
Looking ahead to 2026
Chamber President Miranda Odell and staff closed the night by outlining initiatives planned for 2026 and inviting community leaders to speak.
Presenters included Magg, leaders from the Geneva Business Improvement District, and representatives from Safe Harbors of the Finger Lakes. John Marks of Historic Geneva ended the program with a look at the building’s history, including its past as a downtown department store.
The Chamber’s next Business After Hours Mixer is set for Jan. 10 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Servpro Victor/Canandaigua, located at 5322 North Street in Canandaigua. RSVPs are required.
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