The Human Advantage: Inside the Spring SALT Mixer
It started with a simple idea: real impact begins with real relationships.
On June 3, that idea turned into a room full of business owners, creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders - all gathered at Cider & Cedar for the Spring SALT Mixer, an evening built around meaningful connection and honest conversation.
Co-hosted by Foster’s Creative and the team at Promo Originals, the event wasn’t just a networking mixer. It was a moment. A mix of storytelling, strategy, and vulnerability. Where Tacoma’s creative and entrepreneurial community showed up, shared wisdom, and reminded one another that growth isn’t just about scale. It’s about people.
What Made it Special
The night featured a live panel conversation with Bryson Foster (Foster’s Creative), Tyler & Lauren (Promo Originals), Katie Bray (Financial Vision Bookkeeping), and Molly Alvarado (La Paloma Tacoma). Together, they cracked open what it means to lead with humanity, how trust, clarity, and community can fuel businesses that are not only successful but sustainable.
It wasn’t scripted. It wasn’t shiny. And that’s what made it matter.
From hard truths about burnout and boundaries to the joy of finding aligned collaborators, the panelists didn’t hold back. The Q&A session that followed was just as energizing - raw questions, real answers, and a collective nod that said, “Yeah, we feel that too.”
The Space, The Spirit
Set inside the lush, intimate walls of Cider & Cedar (part plant shop, part bottle shop, all community), every detail was intentional. Local drinks flowed from partners 7 Seas Brewing and Incline Cider, delicious eats sparked conversation, and it was apparent the community was hungry for a space like this. But what really stood out was the tone: grounded, generous, and honest.
It felt like Tacoma.
Why it Matters
SALT isn’t just a conference. It’s a belief. That support is a strategy. That being known is as important as being seen. And that building something real, whether a business, a movement, or a mindset, takes people who are willing to show up, listen, and lead with heart.
This spring’s mixer reminded us just how much power there is in the room when people drop the pitch and bring their whole selves instead.
So to everyone who attended, spoke, listened, and leaned in: thank you. You made the night what it was. And you’re the reason we keep building.
Keep leading, keep listening, and remember: real growth is personal.
SALT is BACK!
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