Spring is here and now is the time to start making new business connections. Area business professionals are invited to visit the Westport Business Networking International (BNI) Chapter. This dynamic group of business professionals is seeking new members in specific business categories.
Currently, weekly BNI meetings are held on Zoom but will resume to a hybrid or in-person format sometime this summer or fall. Classifications that are open include: interior designer, home inspector, developer, heating and air conditioning contractor, fitness club or personal trainer, chef, and attorneys that practice estate and elder law.
The group is comprised of 48 members, all experienced professionals at the top of their fields. Not only are they a tremendous resource for each other, but the group represents a top-flight network of business services and solutions in Fairfield County.
The achievements of Westport BNI have been recognized with two of the most prestigious BNI awards in Connecticut: Gold Chapter for over 50 members and Platinum Chapter for over $3 million in closed business. In 2020, the group passed nearly $2 million in closed business and currently has exceeded over $1.4 million in closed business.
BNI is the most successful business referral organization of its type in the world. Membership is structured to allow only one person per profession to join its chapters. “For example; we have one CPA, one architect, and one insurance agent,” said Chapter President Todd Haase of TDH Law, LLC in Westport.
“Being a member of BNI creates a diverse network of contacts and a sales team for the members that might otherwise take many years to develop.” Members actively seek new business contacts that might benefit other members. Meetings are held weekly and referrals are exchanged in a structured manner.
“The membership fees have been paid for many times over by the referrals I’ve received since joining several years ago,” said Vice President Diane Peters of JCHI Cleaning in Norwalk. “I could never have made all these contacts so quickly. Because I meet weekly with these business owners, we learn a lot about each other’s business, and that allows us to refer each other with confidence. We help each other tremendously.”
“Our chapter thrives because we pull together as a team,” added Haase. “The way members help each other, both in and out of the group and in our daily lives, is truly remarkable.”
Other members of the leadership team include: John Clapps, Secretary/Treasurer and Roster Coordinator of Brand24, LLC; Membership Chair Allyson Maida of ACM Resources, Inc. along with membership committee members Christa Magistrale of Hearst Media Services, Burt DeMarche of LaurelRock Company, David Katz of ACSIA Partners and Chris Zinkel of Bugs and Blades; Education Coordinator Maria Garcia-Quintner of MGQ Law, LLC; Mentoring Chair Bill Hall of Advanced Rooter Plumbing and mentoring committee members Matt Shea of Matt of All Media Productions LLC and Sean Doyle of Charter Oak Insurance Agency; Growth Coordinator Chair Dr. Richard Pinsky of Southport Chiropractic, and growth members Robert Walker of Surveys & Forecasts, LLC, Irene Syomichev of Comer Business Brokers and Barbara Reynolds of Brown Harris Stevens Connecticut, LLC; Event Coordinator Susan Moch of Law Office of Susan Moch and Ernie Addario of Salon Paul Michael; Public Relations Chair Cara Mocarski of Welcome Wagon; and Printing Coordinator Brian Lopez of Paramount Reproductions.
For information visit www.WestportBNI.com. All visitors must preregister for Zoom access to BNI.
Contact Visitor Hosts Ernie Addario of Salon Paul Michael at info@salonpaulmichael.com or Curtis Bentley of Health Directions at Curtis@health-directions.com to learn more. The next weekly meeting is scheduled on Thursday, April 15.
Founded in 1985, BNI is a global, proven business networking organization. Members are business professionals who help each other grow their businesses through their commitment to the principal core value, Givers Gain ®. Each week, in thousands of communities across the globe, members meet with other trusted business leaders to build and nurture lasting relationships and pass qualified business referrals. Membership in BNI offers access to business training, peer learning and opportunities to network and do business with hundreds of thousands of BNI members around the world.
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