Paulding Connect logo Paulding Connect

Free business networking in Paulding County, Georgia

Connect. Learn. Grow. Impact.

Paulding Connect isn't a typical networking event. We're a family of business owners, friends, and neighbors from Hiram, Dallas, and across Paulding County who meet every week to learn, collaborate, and grow together in business and in life.

Come to a Meeting
WED
Every Wednesday at Big Doug's Place in Hiram The meeting runs 8:30 to 9:30 AM, with open networking from 8:00 and again until 10:00. It's free, and you don't need an invitation.

Paulding Connect at a glance: a free, weekly business networking group that has met for nearly 20 years, for business owners, professionals, and anyone in or around business in Paulding County, including Hiram and Dallas, and the rest of west metro Atlanta. We meet every Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Big Doug's Place, 3807 Atlanta Hwy, Hiram, GA 30141, with open networking from 8:00 to 8:30 and from 9:30 to 10:00. There are no membership dues, every industry is welcome, and you don't need an invitation.

Why We Exist

Networking without the competition.

We've been meeting for nearly 20 years. The group started as North Paulding Networking with five or six people, and some of those founding members still come today. About two years ago we became Paulding Connect and updated our look, but the idea hasn't changed: business owners grow faster when they help each other instead of guarding their turf.

This isn't a standard networking event. We're a family of business owners, friends, and people who want to grow in their skills, their business, their income, and their community. New business is a big part of why people come, but the heart of the group is relationships, and we spend real time teaching each other how to build them.

We believe in collaboration over competition, so everyone is invited, even people in the same industry. The more people we talk to, the more we all learn and the stronger our community gets. Attendance has gone up and down over the years, from a handful of people to 20 and more. Today we average more than 45 people each week at Big Doug's Place in Hiram, and we often have more than 50 in the room.

We're intentional about caring for each other. If you miss a Wednesday, someone will check on you. We hope it's because business is booming, but if it isn't, we'll come alongside you in business and in life, through the good seasons and the hard ones. We do life and business together, and we grow as a community, not just a room full of business owners.

Paulding Connect has been an independent, community-run group since it started nearly 20 years ago. In 2025 we tried a short trial affiliation with the Paulding County Chamber of Commerce, and after a few months it wasn't the right fit. We're still the same independent family we've always been.

Anyone in or around business is welcome, any week: owners, salespeople, employees, operations directors, nonprofit leaders, pastors, teachers, and people looking for their next job. They come from Hiram, Dallas, and across Paulding County, and from nearby towns like Douglasville, Powder Springs, Austell, Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, Villa Rica, Rockmart, and Cartersville.

Everyone is welcome

Owners, salespeople, employees, nonprofits, and job seekers all have a seat here. Your competitor is welcome too, because there's no limit on how many people from one industry can come.

Led by business owners

Our leaders are local business owners who volunteer their time to run the group.

Free to attend

There are no membership dues and no contracts. Come to a meeting, say hello, and see if it's a good fit.

What To Expect

Here's how our meetings work.

Every meeting follows the same order, so first-time visitors know what to expect and regulars can get right to business.

1

Sign In

Grab a coffee and check in on our site. It remembers you after your first visit.

2

Ice Breaker

A quick game or question gets everyone talking.

3

Rules of the Roost

A quick reminder of how our meetings work.

4

Introductions

Every business gets a moment to introduce itself.

5

Featured Speaker

One member gets extra time to talk about their business.

6

Operations or Case Study

A short talk about the group or a real business story.

7

Shout-Outs

We celebrate wins and say thank you.

8

Upcoming Events

We share what's coming up in the group and around the county.

9

Close

We wrap up and head back to work.

⏱

Running a little late? If you arrive after 8:40 AM, we may not have time for your full introduction, but you're still welcome. Give your name, business, and job title, then meet everyone during open networking after the meeting.

Front of Big Doug's Place on Atlanta Highway in Hiram, where Paulding Connect meets The dining room inside Big Doug's Place, set up for a Wednesday meeting

Big Doug's Place

Every Wednesday, 8:30 to 9:30 AM

3807 Atlanta Hwy, Hiram, GA 30141. Open networking runs from 8:00 to 8:30 and from 9:30 to 10:00. You don't need an invitation.

Get Directions Come to a Meeting

Full location details →

Who Runs The Room

The Connect Crew

These volunteers run Paulding Connect each week.

Group Leaders
DT

Daniel Tillberry

Founder and Lead Organizer

NC

Nick Caradonna

Speaker Coordinator

SH

Staci Hamilton

Social and Events Planner

Leadership Team
TA

Troi Allen-Lowery

Operations Oracle

AG

Andres Guerra

Buzz Builder

BA

Beth Ali

Gatekeeper

DH

Dorothy Horton

Navigator of New Faces

LO

Laurie Olson

Cheers Champion

DO

Daniel O'Neal

Director of Good Times

A full room of Paulding Connect members at a Wednesday morning meeting in Hiram
A full room at Big Doug's Place on a typical Wednesday morning.
Our People

Faces from our Wednesday mornings

Some of the business owners you'll meet at Paulding Connect.

Two members smiling together at a Wednesday meeting at Big Doug's Place Two members posing in front of framed photos at Big Doug's Place Three members smiling together at a Paulding Connect meeting Four members in a group selfie at Big Doug's Place Two members standing together inside Big Doug's Place A full room of members waving under the Paulding Connect logo Members taking a group selfie during open networking Five members in a close group selfie at a Wednesday meeting Two members in pink and lavender posing together Members talking during open networking, one in a Fudge Guy t-shirt Two members smiling together at Big Doug's Place Three members in a selfie under the flag display at Big Doug's Place Three members smiling together at a Wednesday meeting Two members posing together, one in a CWHIRAM shirt A group selfie of members at a Paulding Connect meeting Two members smiling in the meeting room at Big Doug's Place

See more on our Facebook group →

The Spotlight

Featured speakers and what's next

Every week, one member gets extra time to talk about their business. They share what they do, who they help, and how we can send them business. It's the best way to get known beyond your 30-second introduction.

To be a featured speaker, pick an open week or message us in our Facebook group.

See who's speaking each Wednesday and which weeks are still open. Tap an open week to claim it.

45+
People each week, on average
Free
No membership dues

Speakers by week

Wednesdays, 8:30 AM
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Stay In The Loop

What's coming up

Meetings and events from the Paulding Connect calendar.

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Questions

Frequently asked questions

Answers for business owners in Hiram, Dallas, and the rest of Paulding County who are deciding where to network.

Is Paulding Connect free?

Yes. Paulding Connect is free to attend, and there are no membership dues.

When and where does Paulding Connect meet?

Every Wednesday from 8:30 to 9:30 AM at Big Doug's Place, 3807 Atlanta Hwy, Hiram, GA 30141. Open networking runs from 8:00 to 8:30 and from 9:30 to 10:00. We meet every Wednesday except major holidays.

Do you ever skip a week?

Only for major holidays. We meet every Wednesday except Christmas, New Year's, Thanksgiving week, and any other major holiday that falls on a Wednesday, unless we announce otherwise.

Do I need an invitation or to sign up before I come?

No. Come to any Wednesday meeting. If it's your first visit, someone from our team will help you get set up. If you've been before, you can sign in online when you arrive.

Can more than one business from the same industry attend?

Yes. This is truly open networking with no one-per-industry rule. We believe in collaboration over competition: everyone is invited, even people in the same industry, because the more people we talk to, the more we learn, grow, and build a better community together.

Who can come to Paulding Connect?

Anyone in or around business, any week. Business owners, salespeople, employees, operations directors, nonprofit leaders, pastors, teachers, and people looking for a job all come. You don't need to be a member, and you don't need an invitation.

How is Paulding Connect different from BNI or Power Core?

Groups like BNI and Power Core are built around members exchanging referrals, and they charge membership dues. Paulding Connect works differently: there are no dues, no referral quotas, and no limit on how many people from one industry can come. Referrals do happen, but the focus is on building real relationships and helping each other grow in business and in life.

Is Paulding Connect just a networking event?

No. It's more like a family of business owners and friends who care about each other. If you miss a week, someone will check on you, and when business is hard, people come alongside you. New business is a big part of why people come, but the core of the group is relationships and learning how to build them.

How long has Paulding Connect been meeting?

For nearly 20 years. The group started as North Paulding Networking with five or six people and became Paulding Connect about two years ago. Some of the founding members are still active today, and we now average more than 45 people each week.

Where do people come from?

Most people come from Hiram, Dallas, and the rest of Paulding County. Others drive in from Douglasville, Powder Springs, Austell, Marietta, Kennesaw, Acworth, Villa Rica, Rockmart, and Cartersville, and from Douglas, Cobb, Bartow, Polk, Carroll, Haralson, and west Fulton counties.

What happens at a meeting?

Each meeting follows the same order: sign-in, an ice breaker, a quick reminder of how the meeting works, introductions from every business, a featured speaker, a short operations update or case study, shout-outs, and upcoming events.

How do I contact Paulding Connect?

Come say hello at a Wednesday meeting, or email us at info@pauldingconnect.com. Paulding Connect doesn't have a phone number.

How can I be a featured speaker?

Pick an open Wednesday on our speaker sign-up page. Speakers need to have attended a Paulding Connect meeting in person at least once in the last three months.

Related: Where we meet · How a meeting works · Speak at a meeting · Upcoming events

Get Involved

Come see the room for yourself.

You don't need to sign up. Come on Wednesday morning to Big Doug's Place at 3807 Atlanta Hwy in Hiram, and someone from our team will help you find a seat. It's free.

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