Breakfast clubs focus on business contacts

by Melissa Wilson

SBJ Staff

Seven a.m. during the workweek is a time when many professionals are in the process of shaving, blow-drying hair, pulling on pantyhose or tying ties and gulping down a cup of coffee sometimes simultaneously. The thought of taking time out from this frenzied morning ritual for a proper breakfast conjures up hazy memories from college, when arriving at a 10 a.m. class on time meant waking up early.

However, a growing number of Springfield professionals are making a point of eating breakfast with each other at least once a week when they attend meetings of the Business Builders Breakfast Club, Thursday mornings at Gallery Bistro, 221 E. Walnut, and the Springfield Executive Breakfast Club, Tuesday mornings at Highland Springs Country Club.

"The whole idea behind the Springfield Executive Breakfast Club is referral of business," attorney John Housley said. "This is a way for people to learn about each other's businesses in a noncompetitive way."

Becoming a member of the Springfield Executive Breakfast Club involves being sponsored by a current member, and since the club is noncompetitive, there may not always be an open slot.

"We have one attorney, one dentist, one chiropractor ... you get the idea," Housley said. Once a month, members of the Executive Breakfast Club make presentations on their businesses, which Housley said has definitely proven helpful to him.

"Two years ago, the owner of Micro Innovations presented one morning, which I thought was an interesting business, but one that I didn't think I would ever use. I ended up calling him months later because I needed a five-box file transcribed onto CD-ROM for trial," Housley said.

The Springfield Executive Breakfast Club was created by a few Rotary Club members who wanted an organization with business referral as its main focus. The club has been in existence for almost a decade and has grown from 15 members filling three tables at Clary's, 3014-A E. Sunshine, to more than 80 members filling a banquet room at Highland Springs.

Members pay dues of $200 per year and are responsible for the cost of their breakfasts. Architect and former club President Mike Pentecost said eating breakfast together isn't the only activity members participate in.

"We have one to two after-hours open houses a month, which are more informal than our breakfast meetings: educational seminars, golf outings, a spring get-together at Table Rock Lake and a Valentine's Day event," Pentecost said.

The Executive Breakfast Club elects a president-elect, vice president, treasurer and secretary, as well as a 12-member board of directors each year.

Pentecost said the business referral rate in the club is significant.

"The first year I was in the club, which was about eight years ago, 17 percent of all member business was generated from within the club," Pentecost said. "I don't know what (the percentage) is now, but I know that I've got clients in the club who have given me the opportunity to work on projects I never thought I'd be involved in."

The Business Builders Breakfast Club was established in March 1997 by Bud Page, of Financial Solutions, and Bill West, of SalesTek, to create a forum for businesspeople to meet and assist one another in the development of additional quality business.

Membership is by invitation only, and members must be business owners or first-line managers. As with the Springfield Executive Breakfast Club, the Business Builders allows only one member per industry category and only one member per company to prevent competition among members.

Members also must meet with two other members once a month to become more familiar with each other's businesses.

"In order to refer business, you have to get to know people personally and get to know their business," said Wood Brite owner Stan Krempges. The Business Builders Breakfast Club elects a 10-member board of directors as well as a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretary yearly. Membership is at 38 and will top out when it reaches 50.

"At 50, we'll stop, and the thinking there is, if you get too many members, you don't know each other well enough to refer business," Krempges said.

Members of the Business Builders Breakfast Club pay $180 every six months, which includes the cost of breakfast. Besides breakfast, the Business Builders also meet a few times a year for social get-togethers with spouses.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Members of the Executive Breakfast Club meet Tuesday mornings at Highland Springs Country Club.

PHOTO CAPTION:

Rick McGee of Assist to Sell, Ken Teague of Farmers Insurance and Stan Krempges of Wood Brite get down to business over breakfast at Gallery Bistro, 221 E. Walnut.[[In-content Ad]]