New BNI business networking group forming
An effort to connect businesses to customers via a referral network that has been ongoing in the area for over a decade is expanding to afford more businesses the chance to expand their reach.
Business Networking International (BNI) is expanding due to the existing local group having met its capacity in some areas. They allow only one of each type of business into the group to maximize the impact of a member’s referral.
In theory if a plumber who you have worked with for years recommends an HVAC company, that is a suggestion you may take to heart. BNI poses that plumber can also recommend a CPA they trust or a wedding planner because their personal recommendation carries with it some real weight due to the relationship they have with their existing customer.
Donna Kiger is spearheading getting the new group, called Elite Powerhouse, off the ground and explained, “We are starting one because it’s a great group to build your network and your business. I am a Realtor and I wanted to be in the BNI group, but there were no seats – so I am launching a chapter.”
Since the Mount Airy group had a Realtor, she needed to find a new way to join – hence a new chapter was born and with it more opportunities for local businesses to reach new customers and grow.
“Other members are working to find business for you, and you are working to find business for them too,” Kiger said. “BNI works on a concept of Givers Gain, so if I refer business to you, you’ll want to refer business to me.”
“We’re going to be our own standalone chapter and we will be part of the Winston-Salem region,” Kiger said, along with the existing Mount Airy group. The two will work independently of one another in making their referrals but if the Elite Powerhouse group does not have a member that the Mount Airy group does, a cross referral will take place.
Even those members who may not be in the new group can still benefit from a network of members that is growing. Growing businesses across sectors and across the whole region is a recipe for growth that may help the community at large.
“So, if there is a great caterer or painter in Mount Airy and we don’t have one, then of course we would send a referral to that group,” she said.
Meetings will take place in Pilot Mountain, Kiger said a space is still being sought for those meetings to be held, but that does not make it the Pilot Mountain chapter.
Members already are enrolled from Mount Airy, Dobson, King, and other locations to make it a regional association of businesses, “We’re going to be a very powerful chapter. Our intention is to be an elite chapter that other businesses want to join.”
Kiger said that she is looking forward to working with a diverse group of businesses from across different industries who share similar core values and a quality to customer service, “I’m looking forward to working with people I trust to refer my clients and other contact to, other business professionals who will give the same level or service that I give to my clients.”
“We want to help people be able to grow their business and were looking for business partners who value customer service and who want to help each other grow. We’re looking for newer businesses who are just starting to grown and established ones who want to continue to grow.”
“Right now, we are still a forming chapter, and we are two seats away from being launched,” she said. While there are limitations on the number of participants from a field, there is not a set-in stone list of who may join.
She had a mini-wish list of the types of professionals who may be a good fit in such a referral system, most of which are service based related jobs: travel agent, builder, paver, handyman, real estate attorney or an auto mechanic.
“It’s totally based on who wants to be a member and we are very close to being able to launch our chapter,” she said.
“It’s been easier to recruit people to get this close to launching than I anticipated, and we have already started sharing referrals – and we’re just in the forming stages.”
“Even though we are based in Pilot Mountain, we are not limited to Pilot Mountain. I have had some people say their business is in Mount Airy and ask if it’s okay to come, I say absolutely it doesn’t matter where you are.”
“Our chapter is made up of so many natural born leaders and we seem to be a very cohesive group already working together, I’m just excited about it,” Kiger said.
BNI principles say beyond referrals members can give in other ways like mentoring advise to others who need their specific expertise, provide knowledge to local groups, and give to efforts focused on youth and the elderly.
“All of this giving activity is part of an eco-system that will come back and benefit you and those you care about in a positive way,” BNI founder Dr. Ivan Misner wrote.
“Be willing to give first, before you expect to gain. Giving unconditionally creates a better world for everyone and creates important opportunities and lasting relationships.”
With that concept of giving on display some may wonder if there is an underlying faith or political agenda to which Misner made clear his thoughts on a BNI podcast from 2017, “Political and religious issues can be extremely divisive.”
“There are many great venues for expressing political and religious beliefs. BNI is not one of them… It takes our eyes off of what the purpose of the organization is, which is namely referrals based on professional relationships.”
BNI feels that purpose it to help build professional relationships among the group that will translate into a recommendation from one trusted businessperson to their own client, vendor, or family member that carries with it some level of credence.
Kiger hopes that by creating a new BNI chapter that their efforts will help businesses make connections and continue to grow in a tumultuous economic environment.
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