.bodytext {float: left; } .floatimg-left-hort { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right: 10px; width:300px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 10px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Whether it is a need to make a change, find a better fit or seek more resources, Greater Des Moines business people are forming new and fixing up established networking groups to help build local businesses.

Structure and common goals lead local networking groups to growth, member retention and business referrals.

After sitting through his fair share of meetings, Scott Jarvis, vice president of West Bank and founder and president of the Greater Des Moines Integrity Network, wanted something more from a networking group.

“We had a vision of where we wanted to go and how we were going to be different,” Jarvis said.

Around two years ago, Jarvis and some fellow members left a “franchise” networking group that was more interested in “volume” than in relationships, Jarvis said, and created the Greater Des Moines Integrity Network.

“The professionals we have in our group bring a wide range of experience, but we have a common goal to join our businesses,” Jarvis said.

After the initial start-up, the Integrity Network has increased its membership roster (adding six members over the past four months), has drafted a mission statement and is reformulating its objectives.

The Integrity Network’s mission statement says that it is “an exclusive group of vested, experienced business to business executives (and that it) exists to help its members grow their businesses through active generation of sharing of contacts, advice, referrals and business between members.”

Membership requirements, including experience and job position, have been determined to help the members fit the group. But another main criterion for each member is to help the other members.

“If they keep other members in mind, the referrals fall into place,” Jarvis said. “When they keep the group in mind, members and associates, they are comfortable; they rely on each other and help each other.”

Networking with an edge

Networking groups scattered throughout Greater Des Moines meet monthly and biweekly; some meet for breakfast, others for lunch and occasionally dinner.

Though the time and the meeting place differ, their purpose does not. The members of each group and its members meet to gain referrals and expand their businesses, but they achieve these objectives through diverse means.

Some groups require members to pay fees and attend a certain number of meetings. Others are free and flexible, but they all want to build relationships and increase business opportunities.

When Susan Vicks, an account executive for Avtex Inc. and founder of Edge Networking Group, moved to Central Iowa and began working in sales, she wanted to make connections.

“Many groups already have their alliances in place,” Vicks said. “Coming in and breaking in was not what I wanted to do. I was new to Des Moines at the time and had just accepted a position in outside sales, so I was looking for a way to grow my network in Des Moines and meet as many business contacts as possible in a short amount of time.”

After attending the meetings of various groups, Vicks said she did not find one that fit her vision of what she wanted in a group, so she decided to start her own. Vicks then began visiting networking events to find prospective members.

“By first impression and instinct, I invited individuals to become the founding members of the networking group,” Vicks said. “We started with eight original members and over the last year and a half have grown to 33 members.”

Not only has Edge Networking grown in size, but Vicks has increased its effectiveness over the year by reconfiguring the meetings. Having members rotate presentations on their line of business has increased the commitment from members and their knowledge base.

Vicks formed Edge Networking without attendance rules and fees. Cohesiveness between group members, education on other businesses and keeping “what can I do for everyone else here?” in mind has helped increase attendance and bring in referrals, Vicks said.

“Most groups focus 100 percent on finding leads,” Vicks said. “But a lead is not necessarily the best thing out of a networking group. It is the introduction and the relationship that produced long-term benefits.”

If the success and growth of the group continue, Vicks said she will consider opening another chapter.

Networking groups for all

After attending local speed networking events, Erick Cavan, an investment counselor at Principal Financial Group Inc., and Shawn Howell, a provider of computer and network services with Echelon Business Services Inc., decided to start their own networking group, We-4-All.

“The group is designed to promote business networking and to provide a better way to get together with people; to get your point across and spend time socializing and getting to know them,” Howell said. “We found that at different events you don’t always accomplish that.”

We-4-All is a group intended to gain business referrals and trust, without rules and restrictions, by combining “two aspects: social and business,” Cavan said.

The atmosphere is “laid back, trust is built and you help people help one another,” Cavan said.

We-4-All members are able to attend lunches and conventions free of charge and receive information, promote business and connect.

Trust is essential when doing business, Howell said. “Who do you refer to when you don’t know and trust people?” he said. “You do a little business, get good referrals back and forth and build relationships. The environment is conducive to getting to know each other and clients. Someone there is thinking about your business. Business networking helps you get to know people so you can build relationships, so you know they are trustworthy. We make an environment to facilitate that.”

The group has only been up and running for several months, but based on the e-mail directory totaling around 100, the numbers are growing. With continued success, Cavan said, We-4-All will look to expand to other areas, such as Ames.

Despite the differences, obtaining referrals and helping other members succeed are common ground for local networking groups.

“The world we do business in is changing so quickly,” said Adam Steen, a growth capitalist with Transition Capital Management, who is involved with various local networking efforts. “Without strong relationships and contacts, it is extremely hard for businesses, especially small businesses, to compete.”

The means, costs and rules of new and old organizations may differ, but they all help to build local business. Businesses fulfill needs for customers, but businesses need referrals and relationships to promote growth. Groups and their membership are growing, along with increased support from companies.

“People are hungry to meet other people, get their name out there, but more and more they want to create success for other people,” Steen said. “It shows in the mentality of managers, allowing employees to spend more time networking. It allows people to connect and network. But it is more than a handshake. You can sit down and have a coffee, get to know the person and determine who you know that they need to meet.”