How do Spiders connect? Step 1: They show up.

How does a casual chat spark a new business connection? For Gwynne McCue, ’97, it all happened at a regional alumni event — a gathering that brought Spiders together and reminded everyone that their shared Richmond experience remains one of the strongest connections around.

At a typical meet-up hosted by UR’s alumni engagement office, six to eight alumni get together at a restaurant, bar, or some other social space. For McCue, a Manhattan-based interior designer, that meant meeting Drew Poffel, ’99, at an event at The Ribbon in New York City in the fall 0f 2024. They parted as newfound acquaintances, and a few months later Poffel hired McCue to refresh his apartment. The alumni connections extended further when McCue created his bed runner using fabric from the textile company headed by Samantha Poffel Buhl, ’96, Drew’s sister.

“[Drew and I] became friends and realized we definitely would have been friends in college had we met,” McCue said. “Maybe we would have met in finance class at Richmond and stayed friends, but instead we had a chance to meet years later.”

For Poffel, their rapport and McCue’s business acumen built the foundation for a successful project. Looking back, they say their recently formed friendship was inevitable. Poffel is a regional volunteer for New York City, serving as a point of contact with alumni engagement and a friendly face at events. McCue is a frequent attendee, eager to build her network. It just took a little while for their paths to intersect.

Alumni engagement hopes to create such outcomes whenever it creates programs, said Maggie Johnson, ’18, associate director for regional and young graduate engagement. Using the Richmond experience as a starting point, regional events bring alumni together for mixers, volunteering, watch parties, performances, and more. The key is to create an occasion — the connections will flow, she said.

“How can we create space and structure, when appropriate, to help guide people in those connections?” Johnson said. “We [recognized] during the pandemic that we were doing exclusively happy hours. The mentality we took from that is we need to offer programming that appeals to everyone.”

One structure is career interests. Eric Hunter, senior associate director of alumni networks at UR, organizes in-person and virtual alumni panels on specific topics, such as AI and innovation. Grounded by this professional setting, these panels provide alumni opportunities to glean insightful content and make valuable connections.  

“Trust is slingshot forward when you go to the same school, but then when you go to the same school and you have a similar career background or interest, an additional layer of trust is put on that,” he said.

That alumni connection fuels Poffel’s desire to be a resource for young graduates moving to the city. “When I get emails or LinkedIn requests from alumni, I’m definitely more likely to take a moment to [respond], and I think we all need to be encouraged to foster that stuff because everybody needs help,” he said.

In addition to second-chance friendships, McCue believes regional events also nurture cross-generational encounters. She’s had conversations at alumni events with current students, recent graduates, and graduates from the ’80s. It strengthens her web, whether someone is looking for an interior designer, career advice, or a new friend. McCue’s advice across the board? Show up.

“Your Richmond experience is not over when you graduate,” McCue said. “No matter where you move in the world, there are Spiders. There’s so many ways that, as adults out in the world, we can help each other.”