Monday Matters: Six Degrees of the Mon Valley

Have you ever played the game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon? It’s a simple but fascinating concept: you try to connect any actor to Kevin Bacon through a chain of shared movie roles. Actor A worked with Actor B, who worked with Actor C, and so on—until you reach Kevin Bacon. The surprising part is that you can usually make that connection in six steps or fewer.

In other words, the game reminds us that people are far more connected than we might initially think—even when those connections aren’t immediately obvious.

The nonprofit and business world often works the same way.

Last week, I attended the launch open house for the Mon Valley Business Alliance, and I'm happy to share that the Strategic Workforce & Arts Network (SWAN) is now an official member. It was a wonderful evening filled with conversations among business owners, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, municipal officials, and community partners who all share a common goal: building a stronger Mon Valley.

As I headed home, I found myself reflecting on just how interconnected our region truly is—and how many of those connections trace back to just a few shared experiences.

The Mon Valley Business Alliance (MVBA), housed within the Mon Valley Alliance, exists to bring together businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, educators, and industry leaders so they can build relationships, share resources, and strengthen the region collectively.

The Mon Valley Alliance itself plays a vital role as one of our region’s leading economic and community development organizations, supporting business growth, workforce development, community revitalization, and regional collaboration throughout the Mid Mon Valley.

I’ve become a frequent visitor to the Mon Valley Alliance offices because they also host the Mon Valley Leadership Circle, a monthly gathering of nonprofit, business, and community leaders that creates space for meaningful dialogue, shared learning, and authentic collaboration. It has quickly become one of my favorite opportunities to connect with others who are passionate about our community.

That circle is facilitated by Nonprofit Sidekick, a consulting firm dedicated to helping nonprofits strengthen fundraising, governance, strategic planning, and overall organizational effectiveness. I first met Stephanie Masters and Wendy Burtner of Nonprofit Sidekick about a year and a half ago when Mon Valley Academy for the Arts was invited to participate in the Washington County Community Foundation Volunteer CEO Bootcamp, and I attended as their representative.

That experience led to another opportunity when I was invited to participate in PILLARS, a leadership development program offered through the Washington County Community Foundation that brings together emerging and established leaders from across the region. The program focuses on strengthening leadership skills, deepening understanding of community issues, and building lasting connections. I was honored to be part of the PILLARS Class of 2025.

Through PILLARS, I met Abby Stark of the Mon Valley Alliance. Abby works alongside Madison Codeluppi, who some MVAA supporters may remember as a talented young performer with Mon Valley Academy for the Arts. Abby and I quickly became friends, and before long our paths crossed again through the Mon Valley Leadership Circle—another example of how these connections continue to build on one another.

That’s also where I met Tanya Chaney, Director of Business and Community Engagement for the Mon Valley Alliance. Tanya leads the Mon Valley Business Alliance, overseeing member engagement, business relationships, networking opportunities, and community partnerships across the region. She was one of the speakers at the open house celebrating the launch of the Mon Valley Business Alliance, and her remarks reinforced just how important connection and collaboration are to the future of our region.

At Leadership Circle, I also met Jennifer Codeluppi of Studio 47 Portraits, another Washington & Jefferson College Ignite graduate. I am also a graduate of Ignite, having participated in the Mon Valley cohort, while Jennifer completed the program in an earlier cohort. That shared experience immediately created a connection and reminded me how powerful programs like Ignite can be in building lasting relationships.

That connection brought me back to my own experience participating in Ignite, which took place at the Mon Valley Alliance’s cfs Bank Business Resource Center. Ignite focuses on helping students and young professionals build leadership skills, grow their confidence, and develop meaningful professional connections—and it’s clear those connections don’t end when the program does.

In fact, one of the friendships I built through Ignite is the same friend I’ll be attending the Tickets for Kids Dream Big Happy Hour with later this week. What started as a shared experience in that cohort has grown into an ongoing professional and personal connection—another link in this ever-expanding network.

That event itself is another example of how these connections continue to intersect. I was invited by Tickets for Kids Regional Relationship Manager Robbie Zaremberg, whom I met earlier this year at the EQT Foundation Capacity Building Boot Camp. The Dream Big Happy Hour is a fundraiser that supports Tickets for Kids, an organization that provides access to cultural, educational, and recreational experiences for children and families who might not otherwise have the opportunity.

And that’s when it really clicked.

Networking isn’t about collecting business cards.

It’s about building relationships.

One introduction leads to another. One conversation becomes a partnership. One shared experience opens the door to the next opportunity. Before long, what once felt like a large and unfamiliar community becomes a network of trusted connections working toward shared goals.

That’s exactly why SWAN joined the Mon Valley Business Alliance.

If you represent a nonprofit, own a small business, work for a municipality, lead a community organization, or simply care about the future of your community, I encourage you to explore opportunities like the Mon Valley Business Alliance. And if you don’t live in the Mon Valley, chances are there is something similar where you are. With a little research—and often just by asking around—you can uncover outstanding networking groups, leadership programs, and collaborative spaces that bring people together in meaningful ways.

So this week’s Monday Matters challenge is simple:

Reach out to someone new.

Attend a networking event.

Reconnect with an old colleague.

Because whether you’re in the Mon Valley or somewhere else entirely, the power of connection is universal.

We may not all have six degrees of Kevin Bacon, but we are all more connected than we realize.

Learn More

If you'd like to learn more about the organizations, programs, and initiatives mentioned in this week's Monday Matters, here are a few great places to start:

Mon Valley Business Alliance

The Mon Valley Business Alliance (MVBA) brings together businesses, nonprofits, municipalities, educators, and community leaders to build relationships, encourage collaboration, and strengthen the regional economy through networking, professional development, and shared initiatives. 

Mon Valley Alliance

The Mon Valley Alliance is a regional economic and community development organization dedicated to supporting business growth, workforce development, industrial development, and community revitalization throughout the Mid Mon Valley. 

Mon Valley Leadership Circle

Hosted at the Mon Valley Alliance's Business Resource Center, the Mon Valley Leadership Circle brings together nonprofit, business, education, and civic leaders for monthly conversations focused on collaboration, leadership, and strengthening the region through meaningful relationships. Information about upcoming Leadership Circle events can be found through the Mon Valley Business Alliance's events calendar. Mon Valley Business Alliance Events

Nonprofit Sidekick

Nonprofit Sidekick provides consulting, coaching, and training to help nonprofit organizations strengthen fundraising, governance, strategic planning, board development, and long-term organizational sustainability. 

Washington County Community Foundation

The Washington County Community Foundation connects donors with charitable causes while investing in local nonprofits through grantmaking, scholarships, leadership development, and community initiatives that improve quality of life throughout Washington County. 

PILLARS Leadership Program

PILLARS Leadership Program is a leadership development initiative of the Washington County Community Foundation that brings together emerging and established leaders to strengthen leadership skills, deepen community engagement, and build lasting professional relationships. 

Washington & Jefferson College Ignite

Ignite is an entrepreneurship and leadership program that helps participants develop innovative ideas, expand their professional networks, and build the leadership skills needed to make a lasting impact in their communities and careers. 

Studio 47 Portraits

Studio 47 Portraits is a professional photography studio specializing in family, senior, business branding, and professional portrait photography that helps individuals and organizations tell their stories through compelling imagery. 

Tickets for Kids Foundation

Tickets for Kids Foundation provides children and families facing financial barriers with free access to arts, cultural, educational, and recreational experiences, ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn, explore, and create lifelong memories.