Networking and Royal Temptations

By Kathy and Louis Emond,
New England Bureau Chiefs

Back in 2004, when we had our first conversation with Oonagh Williams, owner of Royal Temptations Catering, we remember saying to each other, “This lady knows everyone.” She told us where she networked, where we should (or should not) network. Little did we know that she works very hard to know and be known by everyone.

Over the past four years, we have seen her everywhere: at Chamber meetings, at BNI (Business Networking International), at BPW (Business and Professional Women), at the ABWA (the American Business Women’s Association), the Merrimack Valley Venture Forum, and at the New Girls Network. There was even a networking group in Boston that we attended together. That list doesn’t count the other organizations with which she is associated: Southern New Hampshire Women’s Business Network, Merrimack (NH) High School, Culinary Advisory Committee of Milford (NH) High School, and Pinkerton Academy.

Oonagh also appears on “Cook’s Corner” on WMUR, an ABC affiliate TV station. "Cooking with Oonagh" is now in its third season on local cable TV stations. Her goal is to have a nationwide TV show. Want to see her in action? Go to http://www.royaltemptations.com to watch her YouTube videos.

How does she do it all? Well, to begin with, Oonagh signs up for an organization for a year. From the beginning, her goal is to be approachable, becoming an active member of the group. This Kathy can verify because she is an active member of the ABWA and was Vice President of the NH Chapter when Oonagh signed up. She began to bring treats to our meetings (a great way to make friends); she volunteered to be the hospitality committee chair for the following year; and she ran a Team Building exercise “Cooking Challenge.” She also participated in a Member Spotlight. Members share their business stories. Another month, she spoke about her experience of making YouTube videos as well as instructions on how to make and post them.

As you can imagine, every member knew Oonagh after only one or two meetings, everyone knows her business, knows how delicious her food is, AND they pass the word to others. She’s a networking success story!

At the end of each year, she determines the ROI: has she gotten business from each group; has she learned something to help her grow professionally or personally? Her time is as important as money to her, so she takes a careful look at her experiences.

Oonagh’s entire business is built on networking. What other networking does Oonagh do? She teaches cooking classes at local libraries and at her home (Kathy’s going to learn about Greek cuisine on July 11th); Oonagh is generous with recipes on her website and through her TV spot; she also runs the pie baking contest as part of the Merrimack (NH) July 4th celebration. One special thing Oonagh does is to give Lithuanian Cooking Demonstrations at a Nashua library originally devoted to Ethnic Studies.

That is an interesting story. Back in 1998, Oonagh was asked to do a demonstration of Lithuanian cooking. Not knowing much about Lithuanian cooking, she had research to do. That class had seven attendees.

That class was such a success, it led to others. Today, she conducts regular demonstrations, and approximately 43 people attend. Only about 50% are of Lithuanian descent and tell her that the recipes bring back memories of what “grandmother used to cook” but the recipes had not been passed on.

She even made a trip to Lithuania in 2005 to perfect her knowledge, attending Vilnius University to study the language during summer school, research the food in supermarkets and restaurants, cooking a dinner party for the acting German Ambassador(whose wife was a member of Oonagh’s language class), gave a demonstration to teachers, and browsed bookstores for English language cookbooks. She now boasts the largest collection of Lithuanian cookbooks written in English in the United States. She has bought them, she has inherited them.

Oonagh’s advice to new chefs or new networkers:
• Pick organizations that are good for you. Some can be too big for a small company. Don’t just pay your dues…get involved. Your name on their ‘members list’ is an obvious trick most people see through.
• If you’re volunteering, do not rely on the organization to advertise for you. Start your own database, and send out your own notices.
• Libraries have their own network. If you give a class in one, others will become aware of what you do, and ask you to present. Libraries have an aura of credibility that rented hotel rooms do not.
• If you’re a chef, your best advisement is your food. Help them to taste it!
• Long-term relationships lead to clients.
• Once someone has tasted and enjoyed your services, get them to spread the word.
• You MUST get past your comfort level to be a successful networker.

Check out her company website for great recipes, videos, newspaper articles she had written http://www.RoyalTemptations.com.
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Networking and Royal Temptations

Women Inspiring Women

Kathy and Louis Emond, New England Bureau Chiefs

Last month we highlighted the New Girl Network, a networking group that made a conscious decision to be as informal as possible: no applications, no dues, no RSVPS, no agendas, and no suits. Members arrive with their brown bag lunches, and listen to someone talk about a topic that was decided by a consensus of those who attended a previous meeting. IT works, and works well.

This month we are introduce Women Inspiring Women. It is just about 180 degrees from the New Girls.

Leslie Sturgeon was looking for opportunities for networking with women…nothing was available. She KNEW there were many women in the area who worked in the area, many women who already owned their businesses, and many more who were starting their own businesses. She knew they would ALL be interested in networking opportunities...right? She decided the best way for her to get the group she wanted was to start her own group!

So, she began the planning. She visualized what it was she wanted (high caliber events, the group should be viewed as high energy, warm, enthusiastic and an inspiration); incorporated ideas from other groups she was aware of, discarded the ideas she didn’t like, made note of those she did like; called people she knew, and some she didn’t (one woman, who proved to be the most helpful is located in Indianapolis); they connected her with others; altogether, she spoke with hundreds of women until she knew exactly what her ideal networking group would be.

Then she contacted individuals and companies who might sponsor Women Inspiring Women; advertising opportunities are available for companies who want to showcase their products at meetings, or advertise on the website or in the newsletter.

Leslie developed the website herself, using skills she has develop over the years in her own business, Office Options. As a virtual assistant, she has done it all. This time, it was to market and group her networking group. She does have members that volunteer to help out as she needs, and she does have advisors she can call on, but there is no board, no officers.

The first meeting of Women Inspiring Women was last May. With a database of 1200 people in the Lakes Region, Leslie was able to spread the word. 150 said ‘yes.’ They were off to a great start! So far, the monthly meetings attract 50 to 75 women. Not bad for that area of New Hampshire, which could be described as ‘out there in the middle of nowhere.’ The local media have been supportive; the local Chamber has spread the word; and, of course, word of mouth has also been a source of new members.

Women Inspiring Women has now included a weekend at The Balsams Grand Resort in New Hampshire’s Great North Woods. This weekend is planned to carry out the second part of their motto: To stimulate your mind, nurture your soul. Plans include: outdoor activities, games, entertainment, cooking demonstrations, a full-service spa and award winning food are all amenities offered at the resort, but more importantly, this will be a time for personal and professional improvement and self-reflection.

We the lesson here is this: it doesn’t matter if the group is formal or informal, has strict rules or no rules, charges dues or not. The important this is that you find a group that you will attend regularly, participate as much as possible, get to know the other members, and help them grow their businesses. YOU will be the beneficiary of these activities.

Happy Networking!

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Women Inspiring Women

The New Girl Network

Kathy and Louis Emond, New England Bureau Chiefs Bios Email article RSS feed

As you may know, we sponsor a speakers series for growing businesses in New Hampshire. At the beginning of each session, we ask attendees to introduce themselves, share what they do professionally and how they heard about us. One month, 6 or 8 people said, “It was announced at the New Girl Network meeting.” We decided we needed to find out more about this group. So we set up an appointment with the Founding Mothers.

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The New Girl Network

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