Palm Coast, FL – Business networking groups come and go, often starting as a true networking opportunity, but later devolving into little more than a social club, losing members who can’t afford to carve out valuable time to mix and mingle.
Looking back on the Palm Coast Business & Professional Network, an organization he joined when it was just getting off the ground, Bill McGill, an electrical engineer by trade, says membership in the organization was highly valued, and some leads producers could bring up to a dozen business opportunities to the table each week.
“He brought 10 or 12 every meeting – his name was Nick Beretta,” recalls McGill who left Miami to open A to Z Electric Motor Repair in Palm Coast. “I came here and I had no clients, nothing. He got me two or three jobs a week. He knew everybody.”
Stopping in on Thursday evening as the organization marked 20 years in operation with a celebratory dinner and trivia at Cypress Knoll Golf Club, he was greeted warmly by longtime members like Jack Corbett, twice a past director of the Palm Coast Business & Professional Network.
Joining in 2007, Corbett is a member because it’s not just a social club – it’s a true referral network.
“This is the longest standing networking group, and it’s home grown,” said Corbett. “It’s not sponsored by the chamber, it’s not BNI. We’re a nonprofit, homegrown business group and I think that’s what makes us strong,” he said.
“We track our referrals and that’s the whole purpose of taking the time and a little bit of money, and meeting for one hour a week. Once you deepen the relationships and people trust you, they’re more likely to refer you.”
The relationship building aspect of the organization allows him to assess fellow members, and as a realtor, make recommendations to clients new to the area, when they turn to him for guidance.
“As a realtor, customers ask me for stuff all of the time – ‘where can I get blinds for my house, do you know anybody that can do my taxes, where is a good salon I can go to?’. They’re always looking for things like that and as their trusted realtor, they ask me so I’m able to pump out a lot of referrals to people in the group,” shared Corbett.
Writing his first check to the Palm Coast Business & Professional Network in May 2001, locksmith Daryl Lore, owner of Coastal Lock Service said it’s the only organization he’s a member of, and the connectivity was instrumental when he launched his business 20 years ago.
“In 2001 I’d just retired out of the Navy and started my own business, so I joined it basically for the camaraderie and to meet people,” shared Lore. “It’s just taken off since. Referrals and giving everybody referrals, it’s just been a tremendous thing. I didn’t think I was going to make it the first year and they helped me out a lot.”
Each member’s story resonated with other past and present members, as anecdotes were shared during dinner.
Currently serving as the organization’s director, since joining two years ago, Jay Scherr’s enthusiasm has put him on the fast track with members, and the business coach brings high energy with a laser focus that exemplifies the organization’s professional core values.
“Our core values really are giving and serving, supporting one another,” he said.
“Education is incredibly important to us, as is serving the community, always raising the bar and looking at ways we can share best practices, ways we can help one another grow and ways they can scale their businesses effectively, and just be a referral partner for one another. We are intentional about our vetting process, making sure the very best, top rated companies are coming into this group.”
The Palm Coast Business & Professional Network meets Thursdays from 7:30 am to 9:00 am at Carrabba’s in Palm Coast.
Featured Photo: Current director Jay Scherr is joined by Bill McGill, a member from the organization’s earliest days, and Jack Corbett, a member since 2007, for the 20th anniversary celebration of the Palm Coast Business & Professional Network at Cypress Knoll Golf Club on Thursday evening.
