For those looking for a new way to network and more people to network with to keep their business or career afloat, Business 400 will be starting monthly meetings in April.
The organization is for anyone from Buckhead to Dahlonega who wants to network and have fun at the same time. Alpharetta residents Ron and Marie Dinsmore founded the organizations based on the principle that normal networking events are not very conducive to networking at all.
“Normally, people stand around in their little cliques and never get to know anyone or anything about anyone else’s business,” said Ms. Dinsmore.
At an October event last year, put on by the Dinsmore’s Cumming networking group, Network for Success, they tried out their own version of networking to get everyone actively involved. Attendees went around to 44 business’ tables, collecting stamps on a card from each business, and then turned them in for cash grand prizes. By the end of the night, Ms. Dinsmore said people were calling their friends to come to the event, and the final tally was 438 people.
“We used vertical banners so everyone could actually see all of the businesses. Then with the stamps and door prizes, people were motivated to visit the tables. And I’ve never seen such a crowd at the end of the night, with everyone crowded around, because cash draws everybody in.”
The organization has partnered with The Metropolitan Club in Alpharetta, and will hold the networking meetings from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. each Tuesday with door prizes, open bar, and 35 to 40 business tables at each event. Membership costs $250 and is open to anyone, said Ms. Dinsmore. The goal is to get 4,000 members.
Although north Fulton already has chambers of commerce-which host networking events of their own- Ms. Dinsmore said the organization is not meant to compete with the chambers and may offer chamber members networking opportunities with different people than they normally see at chamber events.
“Our philosophy is to promote the chambers — we give free membership to chamber staff, and chambers can have a table at our events. It’s a win-win for everybody,” she said.
Information: visit www.business400.com.
Labels: 400, Alpharetta, business400.com, network for success, networking organization, the metropolitan club
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 4:23 PM
North Fulton residents did their part to help create a Blueprint North Fulton during an interactive public meeting Wednesday night.
The North Fulton Community Improvement District (CID) decided it needed a master plan to set priorities after contributing $2 million to the completion of Westside Parkway south from Sanctuary Parkway to Mansell Road. That's a good return on their investment, according to Ann Hanlon, executive director of the North Fulton CID.
Spending money wisely is a hallmark of the group, which is a self-taxing authority. Properties owners in the commercial corridor along Ga. 400 from Mansell Road north to McGinnis Ferry Road agree to pay more taxes to raise funds for transportation infrastructure projects that will help their businesses. The corridor includes land in Roswell, Alpharetta and Milton.
The stakeholders at Wednesday's meeting included local homeowners, city officials, council members, commercial property owners and developers. They were tasked with identifying what they like about the three nodes in the CID area, which were designated as:
• North Point, from Mansell Road north to Kimball Bridge Road.
• Old Milton, north from Kimball Bridge past Old Milton Parkway to Webb Bridge Road.
• Windward, north of Webb Bridge to McGinnis Ferry Road.
The participants also labeled what changes they wanted to see in land use and designated new roadways and trails.
The CID's consultants, with Urban Collage in the lead, will take the information gleaned from these meetings, and come up with priorities for the self-taxing authority to spend the approximately $2.4 million it raises each year.
Labels: 400, Alpharetta, Ga 400, milton, North Fulton
# posted by
Brian Vanderhoff @ 9:18 AM
