Biznet keeps local businesses connected

A chiropractor, an insurance agent and a light bulb salesman walk in to a Perkins on Bonita Beach Road every Wednesday morning.

Although it sounds like a joke you might hear at a comedy club, these businessmen and women take their early morning meetings of the Bonita Biznet very seriously.

“We want the businesses that join to show a real commitment and those are the type of professionals we want here,” said Carey Birch, co-founder of the business organization that has been in Bonita for more than a year.

The group is a small cluster of 24 members that represent each industry from computers through accounting.

Meeting every week helps the group stay in touch and get to know one another on a professional and personal level.

“These are really good people so I like referring them to my clients. We are always in contact with each other,” said Andrea Fox of Estero, an accountant for Fox Figures Inc.

The chapter is just one of 17,000 in the world that work under the guidelines and standards set by Business Network International, the group’s governing body.

“We are a very structured chapter and follow the national guidelines,” said chapter president Cynthia Begin of Estero. “When people join we try to meet their professional needs and allow them to be represented.”

Being representatives of their industry is an important part of the group because referrals help everyone fuel their business.

“We have a lot of fun in this chapter and we talk a lot about each other and what we do so we can give out good references,” said Begin, who works in the insurance business.

During the meetings, members are given 60 seconds to explain their jobs and introduce themselves to new members.

“This is a service group for what people do and we try to learn each other’s business so we serve as salesmen ourselves,” said Greg Lipsie, a chiropractor based in Bonita Springs.

Members are also allowed to bring guests or send representatives on their behalf if they miss a meeting. This allows everyone to stay on the same page and connected.

“This has helped my business tremendously,” Fox said. “It’s a great group of people.”