Robin Reshard speaks with Escambia County schools Superintendent Malcolm Thomas at a Pensacola Network event in 2014. / Photo by Michael Spooneybarger

The Pensacola Network, a monthly event that connects community members, business leaders and public officials to strengthen relationships, celebrates its third anniversary with a free event on July 22.

The special guest for the event is Quint Studer, founder of the Studer Community Institute, and the event highlights the power of personal, professional and corporate branding. The celebration, which is free and open to the public with registration, is from 5 to 8 p.m., at DeVilliers Square, 321 N. DeVilliers St.

The idea for the network was solidified three years ago when community and business leaders suggested Lloyd Reshard provide an opportunity for connections with the African American community in Pensacola, just as he had for more than 20 years in Fort Walton Beach.

This time he knew that the look and feel had to be different to meet the expectations of a larger audience.

“I wanted to make sure the networking had value,” Reshard said. “This community has amazing assets and resources, and it was important to brand this effort so that there is trust, loyalty, and value for everyone.”

Reshard says that this third year celebration will highlight the accomplishments of the participants, the benefits of the partnerships, and the strength of the sponsorships.

“This is truly a community effort made stronger by the thousands of volunteers, participants, partners, and sponsors who believe that strong and deep connections make strong communities.”

Reshard has seen many participants get employment, business owners get contracts, and nonprofits get volunteers. One participant who made a strong connection is Carla Robnett-Feacher who connected with Quint Studer at the Pensacola Network. That connection turned into her becoming a team member at the Studer Group.

“I found a new passion because of being at Studer Group and that’s a part of my success with the Pensacola Network,” Robnett-Feacher, a partner relations associate at the healthcare consulting company said.

That’s the type of branding and success that Lloyd Reshard values and that makes the Pensacola Network stronger. “When we all prosper, the community prospers,” he said.

The event is free and open to the public with registration at www.PensacolaNetwork.events.