A nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism

Weekly ‘CBC Connects’ meetings help participants develop relationships, share skills and information


By Mark Hansel
NKyTribune managing editor

A group of business leaders from throughout the region are meeting once a week to work on ways to make themselves, and Northern Kentucky, better.

The Covington Business Council’s CBC Connects meetings take place every Wednesday morning at the Gateway Community and Technical College Center for Technology, Innovation and Enterprise (TIE) on Madison Avenue.

Frew

The goal of CBC Connects is to help participants develop relationships with other CBC members and to share a wide range of skills and knowledge through exercises and discussion.

CBC President Pat Frew said the exercises have been a huge benefit for members and have helped expand the reach, and exposure, of the organization.

“Everyone gets a lot out of it and we have added about 50 members since the Spring of 2016,” Frew said.

The meetings begin with the sharing of business cards, followed by a 30-second commercial, during which each participant tells who they are, what they do and what they hope to accomplish during the session.

“We try to get people to work on the 30-second commercial in a friendly environment so they can feel more comfortable, then we try to have an exercise that helps us become better at presenting our business case,” said Phil Wiseman of Analytics that Profit. “Different people will do the exercise together and we try to rotate.”

The 30-second commercial, and the feedback, also helps participants deliver a message that is on-point as they work at their respective professions in the community.

Wiseman, whose company helps businesses make “dollars and sense” from the internet and social media, led the exercise at a recent meeting focused on sending a clear message.

Participants were placed in groups of three and wrote down what they do and what others in the meeting do, based on the thirty-second commercial. That was followed by a candid discussion about how clear or unclear each message was and suggestions about how participants might provide a more accurate description of the business plan or model.

“The group ranges anywhere from 20 to 40 and about 10 of those are consistent, so any time you come to a meeting, it’s likely you are going to see at least 15 news faces,” Wiseman said.

Covington Business Council member Phil Wiseman leads an exercise at a recent CBC Connects meeting (photos by Mark Hansel).

The meetings are designed as a tool for CBC members, but have also become a way for people interested in finding out more about the organization to get a better feel for what it does. Non-members are invited to attend two meetings to gauge their interest in the organization.

“We like to let people come in a few times to see what we are about and see if they would like to become members,” Frew said.

Frew credits Thomas Tilmes, vice-president, senior business banking officer at Republic Bank, for coming up with the CBC Connects idea.

Tilmes worked in Springboro, Ohio for a few years and when he returned to Northern Kentucky became reengaged with the CBC.

“When I came back down, I told Pat that we needed something more than 30 minutes a month at a luncheon to get people to build relationships here in Covington,” Tilmes said. “We picked a nice cast and crew to get started. It’s been less than two years and the results are encouraging.”

More than 170 companies have participated in the CBC Connects meetings. Between 50 and 60 participate on an ongoing basis and others show up periodically as schedules permit.

“This is one of those things, that if you don’t walk out with energy, you’re probably in the wrong meeting,” Tilmes said. “It’s a good cast and crew. We’ve got a lot of regulars that make it good and fun, but at the same time, they are all here to meet people and build those relationships that make the area strong.”

After each meeting, those in attendance receive referral requests from all participants and are encouraged to review them and select a few that they can help achieve their goal.

The primary focus is to improve the business climate in Covington, but CBC Connects, as with the CBC itself, includes participants from throughout the region.

“We’ve got companies that stretch as far as West Chester, (Ohio) to down in Florence, so it actually goes beyond just Covington,” Tilmes said. “This is a value added, but it also helps build a strong Covington Business Council.”

A general outline of the CBC Connects meeting format:

Any and all CBC members are welcome.

Guests will be welcome for 2 meetings to decide if they care to join the CBC.

Come if and when it fits your schedule – attendance is encouraged but not required.

Meeting preparation:  30 second commercial about who you are and what you do; a referral request.

Cost – Included in the CBC membership

Bring business cards.

Be willing to participate in small group discussions.

Be prepared to tell the group how they can help you generate more clients.

For more information, call (859) 431-1500, ext. 1.

CBC Connects meets each Wednesday, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Gateway Community and Technical College TIE Center, located at 516 Madison Ave. in Covington.

The mission of the Covington Business Council is to advocate and cultivate a healthy Covington business environment. The goal is to be a premiere resource for the City of Covington and its partners.

The monthly Covington Business Council luncheons provides opportunities for members to interact with each other as well as the City of Covington elected officials and staff. Luncheons generally include a presentation on a topic of local interest to the community at the Madison Event Center.

For more information about the CBC, or a member directory, click here .

Contact Mark Hansel at mark.hansel@nkytrib.com


Related Posts

Leave a Comment