Make Your Networking Less of a “Gamble” and more of a “Sure Thing”!

• Do you struggle with networking?
• Do you wonder how you can connect quickly with others?
• Do you leave events wondering if it was worth your time?

Rhonda Lorenz-Pignato will discuss key “Do’s” and “Don’t’s” in networking. We all want to get the most out of networking events, Rhonda will share tips on effective and ineffective habits, including:

• Setting Goals for networking that are effective and rewarding.
• Behaviors, Attitudes and Verbiage to avoid while networking.
• Discussion topics that make networking fun and easy.
• “Casino Characters”…What are they? How do you avoid them? How to avoid BEING them at networking events.
• The importance of Follow-Up.

About Rhonda Lorenz-Pignato:

Rhonda Lorenz-Pignato is a recovering litigation attorney. After developing a successful career as a lawyer for over 20 years, Rhonda realized she was not living her life’s passions and changed the trajectory of her career. She began utilizing her time and talents in ways that inspired change in others – physically, emotionally & spiritually.

Join us on Thursday, February 6th for the opportunity to network with other business leaders in and around the Naperville area. We look forward to you joining us for breakfast, group meeting, networking, and an opportunity to grow your business with our guest speaker, Rhonda Lorenz-Pignato.

Date And Time

Thursday, February 6, 2020
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM CST

Location

Naperville City Hall (new location)
Meeting Room B
400 S. Eagle St.
Naperville, IL 60540 (View Map)

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

*No refunds on monthly meetings or transfers to other events.*

The post Networking Breakfast Meeting Feb. 6: Guest Speaker Rhonda Lorenz-Pignato appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

What Top Sales Achievers Consistently Do More Effectively Than Their Peers

• The three things top sales achievers do better than their peers
• Having a focus on growing the sale funnel
• Systematically converting leads into highly qualified prospects
• Understanding the Pyramid of Sales Success
• Implementing a quarterly sales plan that actually gets results
• Utilizing specific time management skills for effective sales results

Join us for a very powerful discussion of learning how top sales performers are able to consistently achieve higher levels of sales results, systematically develop a greater degree of qualified prospects, plan effectively and execute plans efficiently.

About Kevin Piket:

Kevin Piket has over 25 years of experience in sales, sales management and entrepreneurship primarily at emerging-growth IT service and professional service firms ranging from start-ups to already established companies. Kevin’s primary background is in business development, client expansion, sales leadership and sales enablement. Kevin is currently the Manager, Sales Enablement with Access One Inc. He is also an Adjunct Professor teaching sales, marketing and leadership courses to both undergraduate and graduate students at Aurora University. Kevin Co-Founded and Chaired the Chicago IT Roundtable from 2008-2014 and was the President of the Naperville Jaycees from 2012-2013. Kevin also has an MBA in Leadership from Aurora University.

Join us on Thursday, January 9th for the opportunity to network with other business leaders in the Naperville area. We look forward to you joining us for coffee and donuts, networking, and an opportunity to grow your business with our guest speaker, Kevin Piket.

Date And Time

Thursday, January 9, 2019
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM CST

Location

Naperville City Hall (new location)
Meeting Room B
400 S. Eagle St.
Naperville, IL 60540 (View Map)

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

*No refunds on monthly meetings or transfers to other events.*

The post Networking Event Jan. 9: Guest Speaker Kevin Piket appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

The Road To Organizational Excellence: Avoid the 13 Blind Spots that Hold Growth Hostage

• A way to determine the hidden obstacles that may be hindering business growth
• A way to test the impact of the 13 Blind Spots on your business
• A success profile for an “excellent” business and a strategy to move from “better than most” to Excellent
• The differences that separate well-managed from average and at-risk businesses
• The 6 P’s of an Excellent business: Planning, Positions, People, Processes, Performetrics and Passion

Blind Spots can adversely affect you or any leader within your organization, regardless of industry or size of your company. They’re easy to miss – and they’re capable of causing immense damage to your success without ever being noticed.

Most leaders are passionate about their business, and if they had better ideas for how to grow their company, they would use them. They really do want to move their company into the top rank … but they have learned first-hand that just wanting that is not enough. They work very, very hard … but after a while, they realize that, no matter how hard they work, something important seems to be missing, and they’re not quite sure what that something is. They’ve fallen prey to the “Blind Spots Syndrome” – they don’t know what they don’t know about the obstacles they face.

Drivers are trained to keep their eyes on the road ahead as well as check what’s happening around them. Leaders must do the same. Like drivers, they must be aware of the blind spots that prevent them from seeing what’s alongside as well as what might be on the road ahead. In this workshop, Bill Bartlett identifies the most common blind spots and strategies so leaders and entrepreneurs who are always striving for excellence can be even more successful.

About Bill Bartlett:

Bill Bartlett is the founder and president of Corporate Strategies & Solutions Inc., a Sandler Training Center. He is a critically-acclaimed coach and facilitator who excels at identifying core challenges and implementing growth strategies that are transformative in their depth.

Join us on Thursday, December 5th for the opportunity to network with other business leaders in the Naperville area. We look forward to you joining us for coffee and donuts, networking, and an opportunity to grow your business with our guest speaker, Bill Bartlett.

Date And Time

Thursday, December 5, 2019
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM CST

Location

Naperville City Hall (new location)
Meeting Room B
400 S. Eagle St.
Naperville, IL 60540 (View Map)

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

*No refunds on monthly meetings or transfers to other events.*

The post Networking Event Dec. 5: Guest Speaker Bill Bartlett appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

Talk: Leading You and Your Business to Peak Performance

• The Essence of Leadership
• Formula for Success
• Importance of Attitude
• Turning Solutions into Actions

If you’re a business owner looking to enhance your business with great leadership strategies, you won’t want to miss this event. Rick will discuss ideas that can improve your leadership style to benefit the entire organization.

About Rick Lochner:

Rick Lochner started RPC Leadership Associates, Inc. after nearly 30 years of Management and Executive Leadership experience in a variety of service industries. As a graduate of West Point, Rick immediately saw first hand results of effective leadership leading soldiers in environments as extreme as the interior of Alaska to the front-lines of Germany. Following, he has effectively led organizations through organizational change in a wide variety of industries. Rick holds an MS and MBA, and serves as a Senior Adjunct Faulty member at Keller Graduate School of Management where he teaches Leadership, Organizational Behavior and Managing Organizational Change.

Join us on Thursday, August 1st for the opportunity to network with other business leaders in and around the Naperville area. We look forward to you joining us for breakfast, networking, and an opportunity to grow your business with our guest speaker, Rick Lochner.

Date And Time

Thursday, August 1, 2019
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM CDT

Location

Naperville Public Library 95th Street Library
3015 Cedar Glade Road, Room A
Naperville, IL 60564 (View Map)

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

*No refunds on monthly meetings or transfers to other events.*

The post Networking Breakfast Aug. 1: Guest Speaker Rick Lochner appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

OutThink – OutMarket – OutSell Your Competition
(6) Strategies to Double Revenues

During Scott’s presentation, you will walk away with new strategies that will help any business owner with getting new clients, closing more business, being more productive; while ultimately separating themselves from their competition. If you’re a business owner looking to grow your business, this is a can’t miss event! Scott will also be giving away some gifts to select attendees.

About Scott Hansen:

As a business strategist, Scott Hansen helps business owners increase sales, get booked solid with clients, double their revenues, break through barriers, and become high performers.

His work has been seen in Entrepreneur magazine, NBC, FOX, CBS, Forbes, Inc, and Business Innovators. He is also a nationally recognized speaker, best-selling author, and the host of one of the top business/Entrepreneurial podcasts on iTunes listened to in multiple countries. In addition, Six Figure Coach Magazine has labeled Scott as one of the top business coaches in the country to follow.

Join us on Thursday, July 11th for the opportunity to network with other business leaders in and around the Naperville area. We look forward to you joining us for breakfast, networking, and an opportunity to grow your business with our guest speaker, Scott Hansen.

Date And Time

Thursday, June 11, 2019
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM CST

Location

Naperville Public Library 95th Street Library
3015 Cedar Glade Road
Room A
Naperville, IL 60564
View Map

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

*No refunds on monthly meetings or transfers to other events.*

The post Networking Breakfast July 11: Guest Speaker Scott Hansen appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

As business owners, we all carry a lot of stress and it overflows into our health and personal lives. Audrey will talk to us about different techniques and exercises to reduce this stress and ultimately save our lives.

Stress: How You Can Effectively Decrease the Effects of Stress in Your Life

When you understand what causes stress in your life you can start to use different techniques that will in time minimize it all together. Leaving you with a healthier more productive life.

Key Takeaways:

• What is your stress level and triggers
• Breathing techniques
• Techniques for managing stress
• Brain training exercises to minimize the stress in your life

About Audrey Weidman:

https://www.audreyweidman.com/

We hope that you can join us and other leaders in our area on June 6th. Join us for our monthly event, networking, and of course our guest speaker Audrey Weidman. Learn some tips to grow your business and make connections with other business leaders. We look forward to meeting you.

Date And Time

Thursday, June 6, 2019
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM CST

Location

Naperville Public Library 95th Street Library
3015 Cedar Glade Road
Room A
Naperville, IL 60564
View Map

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

*No refunds on monthly meetings or transfers to other events.*

The post Networking Breakfast June 6: Guest Speaker Audrey Weidman appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

How Well Do You Know Your Customers?

Your customers drive everything about your business – but what do you really know about them?

Beth will show you how to understand what makes a good customer a great customer, so you can attract more great customers to your business and delight them with exactly what they want. By better understanding the mindset of these customers, you’ll be able to make more strategic decisions that pull your company ahead of the competition.

About Beth Carter:

Beth Carter, founder of Clariant Creative, helps clients figure out what their marketing should say. She specializes in creating marketing communications – including website content, blog posts, case studies, white papers and more – that are focused, polished and effective. Her clients include Fortune 500 companies, small mom & pop shops and everything in between. An award-winning writer, she loves to share her passion with the local business community by delivering hands-on seminars, conferences, and workshops.

We look forward to you joining us for breakfast, group meeting, networking, and an opportunity to grow your business.

Date And Time

Thursday, March 7, 2019
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM CST

Location

Naperville Public Library 95th Street Library
3015 Cedar Glade Road
Room A
Naperville, IL 60564
View Map

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

*No refunds on monthly meetings or transfers to other events.*

The post Networking Breakfast March 7: Guest Speaker Beth Carter appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

Coaching For The Win!

This workshop covers the basics of a Coaching Approach to Leadership. A coaching approach is marked by the ability to help others arrive at the best solution. In today ’s fast-paced and complex world, being the smartest person in the room is far less valuable than being the best coach. Leaders who coach are able to manage companies with greater levels of creativity and create captivating cultures.

Takeaways Include:

• We don’t see the world as it is, we see what we notice. Be a first-class noticer!
• How to create a coaching habit
• Small changes can lead to big results
• How to ask Coaching Questions

Date And Time

Thu, February 7, 2019
9:30 AM – 11:00 AM CST

Location

We look forward to you joining us for breakfast, group meeting, networking, and an opportunity to grow your business.

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

*No refunds on monthly meetings or transfers to other events.

The post Feb. 7 Networking Breakfast: Speaker Ethan Martin on Coaching For The Win appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

Social Media Marketing: Using Analytics to Boost ROI

For many business owners, the thought of investing large amounts of money into marketing is a risky proposition: feeling as if one is throwing money into a black hole and hoping that something good comes out of it. Rather than hoping or praying, doing some solid market research can help design marketing solutions that are guaranteed to work, with a positive ROI.

How can social media help? It can serve as a means of interacting with your customers to gather feedback and offer things of interest. Social media provides a unique way to start conversations with customers and promote your business.

Topics:

• Asking / observing WHY people use your product or service
  • Learn about perceived strengths and weaknesses (SWOT analysis) in comparison to direct competitors
• Creating goals for marketing campaigns
  • Setting realistic targets to hit within a time frame, which can be quantified
• Crafting marketing that addresses the specific needs of your customers
  • Using customer feedback to craft custom ads that match their interests
  • Marketing can target business strengths/opportunities, or negate weaknesses/threats
  • Creating A/B marketing strategies to achieve the best results in future campaigns
  • Using social media platforms of highest relevance to your business and marketing objectives
• Measuring success and ROI
  • Determine whether the marketing campaign had a significant impact on the business
  • Compare A/B tests, inform the design of future marketing efforts
  • Calculate the return on marketing efforts/dollars spent (ROI)

Rather than discussing current trends, this talk focuses on the growing your business through the creation of targeted marketing that is based on data, from the customers themselves. In addition, quantifying the ROI of marketing efforts can inform the design of future marketing campaigns. Join us at this interactive talk to learn how to make the most of your marketing efforts and bring your business new customers.

This month we have our very own Michel Ann Sharritt as our guest speaker. Michel is the owner and Vice President of CueCamp and Situated Research, which are both located in Naperville. Michel has the creative ability to market businesses with new media, done successfully at both CueCamp and Situated Research, using a combination of web design, interactive marketing, and social media. Michel has been working with clients on their marketing strategies for over 20 years now and speaks frequently on this topic.

We look forward to you joining us for breakfast, networking, and an opportunity to grow your business.

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite:

* Tickets at door are $35. Tickets are non-transferable & non-refundable.
* Bring plenty of business cards!

The post Nov. 1 Networking Breakfast: Using Social Media Marketing Analytics to Boost ROI appeared first on Naperville Business Network.

Whatever your current role – the employer or employed – this discussion will provide keys you can utilize to avoid the courtroom and help your business and career thrive.

Topics will include:

• What am I signing? Must-have contract terms and policies to protect your valuable business interests.
• Tough Talk: Conducting difficult conversations with your employee or employer, from hiring to firing, and everything in between.
• Avoiding discrimination, harassment and retaliation in a post- #Metoo environment.
• Train, train, train! Why management training is vital to litigation avoidance.

Drawing on more than a decade of experience litigating, negotiating, drafting, and advising employers and employees regarding virtually all aspects of employment law, Christina Hynes Mesco will provide valuable insights you need to avoid costly mistakes and succeed at work.

You can visit Christina’s website and learn more about her at: https://www.prinz-lawfirm.com

We hope that you will join us for a light breakfast, networking, and of course our guest speaker, Christina Hynes Mesco.

To attend, buy a ticket at Eventbrite: 

Tickets at door are $35. Tickets are non-transferable & non-refundable.

The post October 4 Meeting: Christina Hynes Mesco on Avoiding Legal Landmines appeared first on Naperville Business Network.