Business Networking Events Aren't One Night Stands

I was reminded late in the year that while many people who can and do benefit from building their business by adding business networking events to their relationship marketing mix, there are many who just don't get it. They just show up, see some people they know, say "Hi", maybe have some appetizers and a beer or glass of wine and then leave. Later, they say, "Nah, business networking events don't work."

Sorry, but you've got the wrong idea.



If you'd like information on how to really make the most of business networking events, well, I do have a book about it, 31 Days to Networking Events Mastery.

It's available on Amazon.com in both print and Kindle versions and, if you live in southeastern North Carolina, Clif Bridgers also carries it at RBR Books in Leland, NC.

Strictly Business at The Harp

The huge crowd that turned out at the weekly Strictly Business networking event at The Harp restaurant in Wilmington, NC yesterday underscored the strength of contact networking in southeastern North Carolina. This was the first time Strictly Business had met at The Harp, which is located on S. 3rd Street near Greenfield Park. The Harp is easy to find, there's plenty of parking, and the atmosphere was top flight.

Sponsored each week by Sea-Comm Media's Big Talker radio, the Strictly Business networking events are held in a different establishment each week. Appetizers are provided free and sometimes the location hosts are especially generous, as was the case last night, when the full buffet, in two separate stations, was ample, varied, appealing, and delicious! So thanks to owners Margaret Jennings and Val Cleary for the great space and wonderful food.

Lest you think Strictly Business is the same group of folks wandering from bar to bar each week, a good example in the photo below is Brian Keller, who very recently moved to Oak Island with his business-to-business promotion products company, ATL (www.adsthatlast.com). Brian, in the middle, and his wife Tracy (on the right) moved from Gastonia and this was their first time at Strictly Business. (As you can see from the plate in my hand, I wasn't shy about helping myself to the food, while Brian was more restrained.)

Brother and sister Robert and Paige Freeman. Both are photographers and Paige is also a Producer with Sea-Comm Media.


Annie Anthony of the Cape Fear Volunteer Center.


Rory Platow of the Big Buddy Program, this week's nonprofit beneficiary of the raffle ticket sale for prizes given by Strictly Business attendees.

Pre-Paid Legal's Elaine Huston and mortgage consultant Mark Whitmarsch.

Sea-Comm Media salesman Russ "Call me Doug" Hauptmann - who was actually setting me up for a joke when I took this photo.


Buffmaster's CarWash Mark Johnson with ActionCoach Reggie Shropshire - Reggie was and always will be a member of the United States Marine Corps and lately has been wearing these camies as a signature outfit - here he was trying to looking stern.


It didn't last longer than 2 seconds, however, and Reggie quickly flipped back to his usual, glowing smile.

Sea-Comm Media Producer Aimee Robbins with Sales Account Manager Amy Besterfeldt (aka "Jackie Jordan" - which is what I mistakenly named her in a few previous posts and never heard was in error - till last night when "Doug" Hauptmann told me that "Jackie Jordan" wanted to talk with me.


We were entertained by piano player Rebecca Hall.

Marge grabbed my camera and took this shot of me with Cristen Roggemann of the Big Buddy Program.


Here's Cristen Roggemann by herself.



Out on the front patio Harp co-owner Margaret Jennings (center) sat with John and Patricia Pietropaolo. John's with a New Hanover methadon maintenance center and Patricia has a permanent makeup company.

Another shot of the patio in front of the restaurant.



Sea-Comm Media news guy Joe Catenacci was the announcer - at first, as you can see, few looked up.


And then when he started announcing prizes people started really paying attention.


A nice piece of glass work in the restaurant.

The working area of the bar.

Brian Fenderbosch with Morvil Advertising + Design Group, Ranald Totten of WhatsOnWilmington.com, and architect Gordon Hall.


As we were leaving we said hello to N2 Publishing's Steve West.

Marge and I were at Strictly Business for about an hour and saw a lot of folks we already knew and also each met two or three new people with whom we'll follow up. That's the way networking is supposed to work and the way it always seems to work at Strictly Business, which is held from 5-7 (or later) each Wednesday. You can check the schedule each week at This Link.

Strictly Business at Buffalo Wild Wings May 12, 2010

This week's Big Talker FM Strictly Business networking event was held at the Wilmington, NC, Buffalo Wild Wings on Van Campen Boulevard.


ARC's Brian Moeller and Frank Nichols of Wilmington Transmissions.


Steve Haughey of Worldwide Express and Lopermedia's Paul Whitehouse.


Host Joe Catenacci and sales guy Derek Sellers, both from Sea-Comm Media.


Beach-loving couple John and Patricia Pietropaolo.


Ross Simeon of Northwestern Mutual and David Merrill from Hertz Local in the back with Laura Moffitt and Nationwide's Erin Alderman in front. (Nice move, guys)


James Arnold of South-Eastern Commercial Servies and Anna Schraff of Boys & Girls Homes of NC.


Mike Czyll, owner of Old Chicago Pizza, relaxed for a bit at another restaurant.


Town Planner's Mary Bennies with Sea-Comm Media's Paige Freeman.


Artist Angela Johnson with N2 Publishing's Steve West.


Sea-Comm Media's Jackie Jordan holding court at a table of friends, clients, and colleagues.

This was the first Strictly Business held at the central Wilmington BWW and it was a well-attended success.

Wilmington Bloggers Ride Again to the Beam Room

Wilmington Bloggers, an informal wide open learning and sharing group focused on personal and business blogging, has started up again thanks to Shannan Bowen of Star News Media. The first incarnation of this group fired up in the Fall of 2008 and met one Saturday morning each month at the former Connections Cafe on Racine. When Connections closed, so did we.

Now, thanks to Shannan and other enthusiasts from Star News Media, Wilmington Bloggers is back in town, meeting the second Tuesday of each month in the Beam Room at Front Street Brewery in downtown Wilmington, NC at 9 North Front Street.

There's no fixed agenda to the meetings other than checking out each others' blogs on the Beam Room's huge screen and sharing tips, techniques and cool stories. Expertise level ranges from some to none to a whole lot (so if you're thinking about blogging and have questions or already rock your blog and want to show it off - this is the place!).

In the photo below Si Cantwell, Star News columnist (and occasional rocker with his band "They're Only Mostly Dead"), Shannan Bowen, Star News reporter Shannan Bowen, and in the background Front Street Manager Charles Scott hook up a laptop to the big screen in preparation for the meeting.


Star News Intern and disability blogger David Morrison and reporter Shelby Sebens were also early arrivals.


Part of the group: Shannan, Si, Maria Cantwell ("They're Mostly Only Dead" videographer) and David.


Shelby, Amy McEachern Hodges (the TShirt and Jeans Mom) and Star News reporter Ana Riberio.


The next meeting of Wilmington Bloggers is April 13th from 5-7PM. See you there.

Strictly Business at Old Chicago

It was Strictly Business at Old Chicago Pizza Wednesday. The weekly business networking event is held at varying locations in the greater Wilmington area each Wednesday starting at 5PM. Strictly Business is organized and sponsored by Sea-Comm Media's Big Talker FM. Other sponsors include Coastal Document Systems and eTelecom.

Below are Cynthia Hunt from Mary Kay, Patricia Pietropaolo of Permanent Makeup, and John Pietropaolo New Hanover Metro Treatment Center.


Ezell and Ann Willard of All Kinds of Stuff.


Cheryl McKee of CH2MHill.


U.S. Cellular's Jonathan Ennis.


Cape Fear River Watch was this week's nonprofit on display. It's pretty cool because the nonprofit at the event gets the proceeds from the drawing tickets. And the drawings are impressive!


Paul Whitehouse of Lopemedia and Stephanie Williams of Edward Jones.


Capt. Joseph Abbate of Cape Fear River Watch with Paige Freeman of Sea-Comm Media.


Ken Schiess of HDVest and Kimberly Brumsey of KB Aesthetics.


Our host and announcer for the event was Joe Catenacci from The Big Talker-FM.


Town Planner Calendar's Mary Bennies with Justin Vida of Fitness Together.


Jonathan Ennis, ActionCoach Reggie Shropshire and Candi Alexander of Lumina Hall.


Coastal Document System's Scott Ball with Paul Whitehouse.


The crew from ARC NC: Alexis Hinds, Brian Moeller and Joanne Cain.


Elaine Huston of Pre-Paid Legal and Sheetz! and Rick Huston of U First Financial.


Sea-Comm Media sales guy Derek Sellers.


Buff Master's Mark Johnson, Strickland Window Coverings Fred Kumpel and WWAY TV3's Vince Prisco.


Author Tim Dillinger.


Primary Mortgage's Mark Whitmarsh and Cheryl McKee.

Another great turnout. A big thank you to owners Mike and Julie Czyl. For each week's location check the event schedule on The Big Talker-FM website.