U.S. SOUTHERN PLAINS: Houston’s One Stop Networking Source – Part II

By Peter Biadasz

Southern Plains Bureau Chief

(Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico)

In January of 2007 I introduced you to Houston Networking News, or HNN, which has as its slogan – “Your Source for Business Networking”. HNN supports the networking activities of more than 350 organizations while their networking calendar contains more than 600 networking activities each month in the Houston, Texas metropolitan area. The HNN calendar also contains the unique HNN events that are being held each month. No matter where you find yourself in virtually any part of Houston on any week day, there is probably a business networking event that you can attend. As an “information central” source it is a timesaver in researching the best place to be to grow our business and expand our network most efficiently.

In addition, HNN sponsors a yearly expo that involves a hundred exhibitors and a thousand attendees. Not only is the expo a great place to showcase products and services but an excellent place to network. The event includes seminar speakers such as Dr. Ivan Misner, founder and chairman of Business Networking International (BNI), but also has a business luncheon and designated networking areas. The event is planned with the success of every participant in mind.

HNN was founded in 2003 to provide business professionals a collective source for all business networking activities in the Greater Houston area. Because of the initial positive response to HNN and the expressed desire for HNN members to network with each other, HNN developed and conducts a series of their own business networking functions, in addition to supporting those of other organizations. They have become a unique organization that appeals to the business and social needs of ANY business professional interested in networking in Houston.

According to R.D. Yoder, President of HNN, his organization is “driven to help others with regards to business to business networking.” Mr. Yoder also hosts “Business Networking and Houston”, a radio show focused on Networking in Houston. The show airs on AM-650, CNN Radio, Wednesday and Thursday at noon, CST. Tune in for great information and a variety of business related topics. You can also listen to the show live at CNN650.com

HNN has many ways to assist in the growth of companies as well as offer vehicles for personal growth. While being not only committed to their members, but also to the overall Houston business community, HNN can show you how business networking will help in achieving goals, build ones bottom line and develop lasting business and personal relationships. You can also follow HNN on LinkedIn, Facebook andTwitter
HNN currently has over 5,000 member contacts with their website www.HoustonNetworkingNews.com getting approximately 250,000 hits per month from interested Houston business professionals. The HNN website offers tremendous flexibility to members. The site home page and HNN calendar is updated regularly to reflect the upcoming events and to describe the happenings from past events. The networking calendar lists networking events in Houston each month as well as online registration for these events. For those who wish to communicate directly with other HNN members, the website offers private messaging capability. Finally, it offers members the capability to communicate with other members on specific topics of interest through user forums. Sponsors can also advertise on the website through click-through logo placement.

As a complement to the web site and networking events, HNN also publishes a weekly e-newsletter to Houston business professionals. This newsletter provides information on key events as well as networking hints and other pertinent information. While the HNN website and events are the key ingredients that allow the HNN members to communicate with each other, the newsletter is the glue that binds the organization together. It keeps everyone knowledgeable of the upcoming events of interest. Each newsletter contains information on upcoming HNN events, a networking tip of the week , a quote of the week, job opportunities for interested readers, featured event of the week (from the business development organizations supported by HNN) , as well as focused audience for advertisers.

HNN has many different events each month to appeal to a wide and diverse audience. Gatherings are held in the evening, noon and breakfast. They are held at different venues each month and are open to members and non-members of HNN. Each meeting will have on average 60 to 100 people in attendance. Events include a monthly general event (After Hours), a monthly WIN (Women In Networking) Event (After Hours), periodic regional networking event (After Hours), periodic member showcase (After Hours), monthly networking luncheon, monthly networking breakfast, an annual business expo, an annual business conference, periodic mini trade shows s well as seminars and special events at sponsor’s locations.

HNN offers many great advertising and sponsorship opportunities for its members. Members may advertise through the newsletter, website or specific campaigns. Sponsors and supporters can each get their own webpage on the HNN website. Members may also sponsor specific events or package an arrangement that suits their unique needs.

HNN also has a unique program that allows participating companies to offer their products and services to HNN members. Members enjoy discounted rates and other special opportunities available because of their HNN membership. HNN works with these companies to help them grow their company while providing special opportunities for HNN members.

In addition, HNN has at its disposal many excellent business coaches, trainers and mentors who are able to assist members in business and professional growth. The services available include every aspect of business, including how to network most successfully. HNN’s goal is to assist members by offering specific resources to guide you to achieve greater success.

HNN is truly Houston’s one stop networking source. For additional information on HNN feel free to visit http://www.houstonnetworkingnews.com/

Peter Biadasz, author of such book as More Leads as well as Increase Your Sales And Lower Your Golf Score, is President of Total Publishing And Media. To contact Peter about getting your book published feel free to contact him at Peter@TotalPublishingAndMedia.com

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Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER (TNNW). All rights reserved.

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U.S. SOUTHERN PLAINS: Houston’s One Stop Networking Source – Part II

Year Round Networking at Tulsa Metro Chamber

By Peter Biadasz, Southern Plains Bureau Chief
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There exists a community in the Midwest which provides quality networking events for the first 11 months of every year. While you may be on your own for December, the month of countless holiday gatherings (I mean “networking opportunities”), from January through November you get to work the Networking Circuit provided by The Tulsa Metro Chamber. The Networking Circuit provided by the chamber includes:

(4) - Regular Breakfast Network meetings,
(1) - Power Networking Breakfast event,
(3) - Business After Hours events,
(1) - Restaurant After Hours event,
(12) - Business Owner’s Forums, and access to a host of open and closed networking groups.

The breakfast events and the after hours events are in alternating months. Therefore, if your schedule is better suited for only morning or only evening meetings, you have the opportunity to attend the most convenient event based on your schedule.

Per Elaine Walsh, Manager, Member Events, “the success of the events is not only in the quality of each event, but in effectively marketing each opportunity so that the membership can utilize the event to have maximum effect for the attendees as well as positive effect on the community”. Elaine mentioned that each event is marketed via several media including mailings, e-mails, tickets, post cards, the weekly Monday Morning Memo online newsletter and The Chamber Report magazine. An annual pass is available for purchase allowing access to all Breakfast and After Hours Events at a discount.

Here are the fun and important details:

(4) Regular Breakfast Network meetings – These meetings average about 200 people in attendance and features a program of organized networking (each participant meets at least 18 people) and a very interesting speaker. This meeting is always finished by 9AM so you can schedule a 9:30 am sales appointment.

(1) Power Networking Breakfast event – This event always has over 200 people. Each person networks at 5 tables of 10 people, 15 minutes at each table. At all breakfast network events a 90 second introduction is utilized and a computer program ensures smooth transitions from table to table.

(3) Business After Hours events – Averaging 500 – 600 people per event, Business After Hours features networking and lots of great food in a high quality trade show atmosphere. Chamber members can purchase booth space to showcase their products and services for several hours. The event concludes with a balloon drop in which you will find cash in select balloons. Networking, food and they pay you if you find the right balloons. A don’t miss event!

(1) Restaurant After Hours event – With well over 600 in attendance yearly, this event features local restaurants in a showcase type setting. All attendees go from booth to booth sampling the wide variety of foods that the restaurants want to show off. This is an all you can eat for one price event so come hungry. No one leaves with an empty stomach. This event has been held in the local aquarium for several years allowing the attendees to visit the exhibits and walk through the shark tank in an attempt to burn off those newly consumed calories.

(12) Business Owners’ Forums - Every month business owners gather in a formal setting to discus topics that are of interest to business owners. A formal part of the meeting agenda is 30 minutes of networking, owner to owner.

Access to a host of open and closed networking groups – Within the metro area are at least 40 open and closed networking groups that meet weekly, bi-weekly, and/or monthly. You will find a networking opportunity of some sort on every day that ends in “y”.

As you can guess, ensuring that each event runs smooth involves quite a lot of manpower. Besides an incredible chamber staff, Karen Humphrey, Member Services and Resource Campaign Manager, has an army of volunteers called The Hospitality Club. These 50 individuals are involved in the many tasks required to have consistently successful events. Karen stated that she “feels blessed to have such a dedicated group of professionals who generously volunteer their time and energy.” These volunteers are many times involved in set-up and break down of tables and chairs, professionally facilitate the table commercials at the networking events, greet people at the door, ensure that vendors have what they need at trade show style events, and do whatever else needs to be done to ensure the success of the event.

By participating in the networking circuit you are not only full prepared to make the most of December’s Holiday Networking Season, but also prospecting to your fullest potential, ensuring a great year of satisfying business. If you would like more information about networking as sponsored by The Tulsa Metro Chamber feel free to go to www.tulsachamber.com and contact Warren Unsicker, Small Business Program Manager; Dennis Currington, Director, Small & Minority Business Development; Karen Humphrey, Member Services and Resource Campaign Manager; or Elaine Walsh, Manager, Member Events, at The Tulsa Metro Chamber.

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Year Round Networking at Tulsa Metro Chamber

A Gold Star for Networking

By Peter Biadasz, Southern Plains Bureau Chief Peter's Bio Email article RSS feed

It is so much fun meeting networkers who want to take their networking lives to the next level. Beth Davis, founder of Gold Star Referral Clubs, is taking herself and anyone who will follow to higher levels in the business networking arena. She and her husband, Todd, assistant area directors and seasoned networkers who had been area directors for an international business networking organization. They were recognized for inviting the most visitors for their organizations as well as for speaking talent and were instructors for networking success programs. Wanting to take their networking lives to the next level they found themselves one day networking with Rob Bandy, CEO of SearchtheNation.com. Rob asked Beth, “Why don’t you start a networking group yourself? We can list them on Search the Nation… I can put a little gold star by the names of all the members.” That was the moment that Gold Star Referral Clubs went from thought to concept. A few months later, it became a reality.

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A Gold Star for Networking