Business & Tech
Pleasanton and Tri Valley Businesses Thrive with BNI Reliance Alliance
Weekly networking meetings build camaraderie, drive referrals and boost businesses.
Early every Wednesday morning 25 professionals gather excitedly for 90 minutes at Girasole in Pleasanton to share networking advice, to present 60-second infomercials, to refer business to one another, and even to laugh and have a great time.
The Pleasanton-based Reliance Alliance Chapter of Business Networking International (BNI) invited Pleasanton Patch to attend a recent meeting at which the value of networking became clear, as did the character of this dynamic group.
To the outsider, it may seem amazing that in only 90 minutes per week 25 individuals can grow to know one another so well. In fact, the 25 businesses collectively attributed nearly $300,000 in closed business to referral relationships between group members since the current term began in October, 2011.
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Considering that the vast majority of the group’s members run independently owned-businesses in Pleasanton or the Tri Valley, those earnings translate to money that stays in the area.
It is commonly understood wisdom that patronizing local, independently-owned businesses boosts the economy. Local businesses tend to spend their revenue employing residents, using local printers and service providers, and hiring local accountants and professional services firms.
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Given the business members have generated for one another, BNI's Reliance Alliance operates essentially as a thriving local economy of its own.
Reliance Alliance is one of four Pleasanton-based chapters of BNI, which comprises 140,000 members in 6,000 chapters across more than 50 countries.
As member Courtney Coats described during last week’s meeting, BNI’s slogan “Givers Gain,” means “we are our own best sales people within in our group and within the business community.”
“Go team!” member Randy Watson proclaimed as a thank-you to the group for sending $10,000 in closed business his way.
Perhaps the most interesting component of a BNI meeting is when each member stands for no more than 60 seconds and presents an “infomercial” of his or her business. Because the group meets weekly, members must craft as many as 50 infomercials per year to prevent yawns around the room.
Some members give impromptu speeches during which current chapter timekeeper Doug Mortensen’s hand hovers over the bell to be run at the 60-second mark. Others offer advice, others come with prepared sales pitches, and still others share anecdotes.
Every infomercial ends with the completion of the sentence, “The best referral for me this week…” or “The type of business I’m seeking this week is…”
The pitches seem to work. Members get to know each other’s closing slogans; some of the catchier slogans are recited by the entire group at the end of a member’s infomercial.
While the prospect of fruitful and even fun marketing is enticing, prospective BNI chapter members first agree to a set of member expectations and requirements in order to hold onto their professional classification within the group. Members also pay an initiation fee and annual dues.
Only one member per chapter can represent any professional classification. By example, one Reliance Alliance member represents property-casual insurance and another member fills the group’s life insurance category. While either person may work in additional forms of insurance, their presentations at BNI meetings must adhere to the narrow category under which they joined.
Members are allowed few absences per year, but are allowed to send a reliable substitute when the primary member cannot attend. Two featured speakers each week must bring a door prize for members. Others are encouraged to bring raffle prizes. Other guidelines apply, but members seem to agree that complying by the rules is a small price to pay for maintaining rights to a professional classification.
Besides the referrals, other perks include friendships that have developed between members. The camaraderie is apparent when members welcome unsolicited constructive advice from others and when members know enough about each other to inquire about family members, summer vacations and hobbies such as wine making.
In addition, many members have employed the professional services of other members.
BNI Reliance Alliance meets every Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30 a.m. at Girasole in Pleasanton. To attend a meeting, contact the group or one of its members to learn if your professional classification is represented Current members are:
- Robyn Cazinha, Cazinha Portrait Design
- Courtney Coats, GoSmallBiz
- Craig Copeland, First Priority Financial
- Chris Corrales, MedicinEvolution
- Mike Dennis, Mike Dennis Landscaping
- David Dubonis, Dubonis Family Chiropractic
- Dave Ferguson, Mr. Rooter Plumbing
- Phil Flores, Prism Investigations
- AJ Franco, Insurance Agent
- Walter Johnson, Law Office of Walter Johnson
- Carolyn Katz, Bloomin’ Pots by Cj
- Mike Keane, Premier Electric
- Michelle Lemus, Custom Bookkeeping Services
- Doug McArdle, Doug McArdle Insurance Agency
- Doug Mortensen, Mortensen & Son
- Mike Mrakovcich, Mrakovcich Construction
- Ken Norvell, CMIT Solutions
- Narcisso Rodriguez, Perfect Coating Painting
- Mason Safi, Mase Graphics Design, Printing & Marketing
- Sammy Shrimali, ReMax/Aacer Realty
- Kari Stone, ADP
- Cheryl Thoe, Arbonne International
- Larry Tirnetta, Advantage Automotive
- Randy Watson, Secure Financial
- Kash Yajnik, Yajnik & Mehta Associates