Networking in the First Class cabin
March 15, 2007
 At a recent Trustee Council luncheon at the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce, from left, George Feliciano of Bay Plumbing, Julian Campolo of Alhambra Investment Management and John Knowles of Photo Offset |
If you can join the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce for $450, why would you pay five times that much to be a trustee?
In some organizations, there does not seem much difference in being a trustee, except, perhaps, extra recognition. In the Coral Gables Chamber, though, there are special events for trustee members, and it very has the feel of networking in the first-class cabin.
Successful networking is not just about meeting new people. It’s about meeting people in decision-making jobs who can give you business. So if you assume that people who pay $2,490 for membership are more likely than people who pay $450 to be in those kind of jobs, the Trustee Council at the Coral Gables chamber appears to provide a more targeted audience for your networking efforts.
A large percentage of Coral Gables Chamber members believe that — 175 of the 850 member companies have chosen the $2,490 annual trustee dues over the $450 business membership or $950 corporate membership. Since each trustee company can appoint up to five representatives to participate in trustee events, there are 850 trustee members, which actually is more than half of the chamber’s total membership of 1,600.
John Knowles, president of Photo Offset, is presently the chairman of the Council of Trustees and is a great salesman for the program. Knowles upgraded to the trustee level three years ago, and says it has so improved his business that the extra dues he pays are insignificant.
Knowles and his wife, Anne, live in Coral Gables and their commercial printing and graphics company has been in business for 53 years.
“We have been involved in many community and charitable organizations over the years and we know the importance of being engaged in civic and charitable activities,” he said. “We also know the importance to our business of building long-term relationships with business leaders in our community. We chose to get involved in our home town community by joining the Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce.”
Photo Offset originally joined as a corporate member, Knowles says, and “although I was meeting many very nice people, I was not converting these relationships into business.” He said a friend suggested he elevate to the trustee level.
“I made the investment, and the first month I was a trustee I received an $8,000 print order. The list of trustee members is like the Who’s Who of Coral Gables business, and my membership provides me with the opportunity to interrelate with the leaders of these companies on a regular basis.”
Knowles says, “I enjoy reflecting from time to time with friends as to how insignificant that upgrade to trustee was in comparison to the substantial growth in my business directly related to my trustee membership. The doors have been opened to many opportunities that I feel would not have been there without the association with my fellow trustees.”
Investment advisor Julian Campolo of Alhambra Investment Management upgraded to the trustee level a few months ago, but has yet to find a new customer. However, he has great expectations.
Campolo joined the Chamber last October at the business level, and was invited to attend a few trustee events.
“They dangled the carrot,” he said, “and I was completely hooked.” More than anything else, he said, “the intimacy and warmth that radiated from the group sold me, as was their commitment to getting to know new members. Every time I bumped into someone, they asked me who I was, what I did, what kind of clients I was looking for, my personal background, the works.”
While Campolo has not gotten new business from his trustee membership as yet, he says this is expected because “in the investment advisory business, the sales cycle is 12-15 months.” Based on his feeling about the Trustee Council, he thinks the extra expense “will arguably be some of the best marketing dollars I’ve ever spent.”
Knowles says that the Trustee Council has two exclusive events each month, a luncheon with a speaker ($40) and a reception (free) hosted by a trustee member. “The host invites all trustee and board members to visit their place of business. This is a wonderful opportunity for members to show off their facilities and staff while enjoying quality networking in a cocktail party atmosphere.”
Knowles said that trustees also receive special website recognition, “which includes having their picture or logo displayed, a direct link to their website, a direct link to their e-mail, a 75-word company biography, the names and titles of their five representatives, and a direct link to the trustee directory.” Trustees are also offered the use of the Chamber membership mailing list, along with special sponsorship opportunities.
“In addition,” said Knowles, “trustee members have the advantage of an elite group of Trustee Ambassadors, who are volunteers whose goal is to help provide total satisfaction in their trustee memberships.”
Knowles says that he and his wife have found a new social life in their trustee membership, as well: “The most important benefit of trustee membership is our ability to socialize and network with the leaders of our community,” he says. “The Chamber has become a part of our lives and our trustee membership provides us the ideal opportunity to be active in our community and, at the same time, develop strong business and social relationships.”
You can reach Knowles at john@photooffset.com, and Campolo at jcampolo@alhambrapartners.com.
For more information about trustee membership, go to the Chamber website at www.coralgableschamber.org or call the sales director, Georgina Exposito, at 305-446-1657 or email at gexposito@coralgableschamber.org.
