Networking groups increase business for area professionals

In business, there's no substitute for face-to-face networking.

Several professional networking groups have formed with that in mind. The invitation-only meetings offer opportunities to share ideas, resources and referrals.

Rhonda Butcher of Village Bank has been attending The Coffee Connection since its beginning in March.

"It's strictly networking," Butcher said. "It's strictly visiting with each other and getting to know each other."

Butcher said her own business has benefited "tremendously. I have brought in a lot of business through relationships I've built in networking."

The Coffee Connection

The Coffee Connection is a new group founded by Garrick and April Arnold, owners of Wildflower Design and Graphics. The Arnolds wanted a casual, inclusive network.

Attendance is by invitation, but getting on the list is easy, according to Garrick Arnold. "Just call and ask, it's no problem. We're definitely open to new members."

Members can bring guests, who then are added to the list. Arnold said that helps keep the variety growing. He said The Coffee Connection has a great mix of small and large businesses.

The Coffee Connection meets twice a month, usually from 8:30-10 a.m. on Tuesdays. at the Library Center. The fee is $2, enough to cover coffee and doughnuts.

For each meeting, 30 invitations are drawn from a pool of about 60 businesses so professionals can interact with a changing group of contacts rather than the same circle.

The Coffee Connection's meetings are loosely structured. Arnold said, "We really just felt that people who are passionate about what they do shouldn't really have any problem walking across the room to a stranger and saying, Hey, this is what I do, what do you do?'"

"So far," Arnold reported, "we've had nothing but great responses."

Executive Breakfast Club

The Springfield Executive Breakfast Club started in 1992 and currently has 80 members, all business owners or upper-level management. But only one professional from a business category (one accountant, one architect, etc.) can belong at a time.

Lou Belobraydic, club president and owner of two Mail Boxes Etc., said this allows members to talk openly and share ideas and strategies without the presence of competitors.

Potential members must be invited to apply for membership. The application must be approved by the board and go through a public reading at the meetings for final approval.

Membership fees amount to roughly $600 per year, covering dues and meals.

The group meets at 6:45 a.m. every Tuesday at Highland Springs.

"Everybody gets up and introduces themselves and publicly thanks those who have done business with them in the last week," Belobraydic said. "Then one person has the program. Someone from within the group has about 15 to 20 minutes in which they actually talk about their business."

Belobraydic believes personal networking is vital. "You can push buttons all day long, but until you press flesh, you're not going to get much done."

Business Connection

The Springfield Business Connection, founded in 2001 by Stephanie Orman, marketing director for Associated Video Producers, is less formal but still has a nine-member executive board and is category-exclusive.

The group started in a nonrestrictive format, but Orman said members found that it didn't promote the best idea sharing.

"You can't feel comfortable sharing business leads and things if you've got a direct competitor in the group," Orman said.

Springfield Business Connection doesn't charge a membership fee, but members pay a lunch fee of $7 per meal. The group meets at noon Mondays at the Knights of Columbus.

Between 40 and 55 members attend regularly, and Orman said the membership consists of various professionals, from attorneys to Web site experts to carpet cleaners.

Orman has used networking to increase her business and the business of fellow members.

"I get clients that will, because they know I'm heavily involved in that, call me on a variety of thingsfrom someone to fix their air conditioning to someone to fix their car," Orman said. "It's a good way for me to build client relationships, and I'm comfortable referring those people within the group because I know them and I trust that they're going to do a good job."