Darien Business Network International Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary

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September marks a 10-year anniversary celebration for Business Network International’s (BNI) Edge Chapter, one of Fairfield County’s most lucrative BNI Chapters. With 41 members, including 3 charter members, this hugely successful business networking referral group is proud of both their staying power and endurance.

“We are thriving as a group, with over 40 members, long-term relationships/partnerships, and a ton of new business created for our members,” says Lisa Corrado, current chapter president and owner at The Felix Culpa Project www.thefelixculpaproject.com.

BNI is the world’s largest business networking and professional referral organization, providing 155,000+ members in 48 countries the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and, most importantly, business referrals. BNI Edge is one of Fairfield County’s most lucrative chapters, having generated almost $2 million in closed business in the past 12 months.

Corrado notes: “What’s great about this revenue is it’s not just one or two big-ticket referrals. We have a steady stream of closed business that benefits lots of members.” Long time BNI Edge members like Jan McNerney and Steve Seifert have seen their own businesses grow exponentially thanks to their membership at The Edge. “BNI Edge makes marketing our business easy because the other group members are an amazing sales team,” says Jan McNerney, co-owner of the Packaging Store and a charter member since 2004. “The referrals and sales we receive take membership to the next level.”

Steve Seifert, owner of SP&G printing firm agrees saying: “It’s great having a sales team to work with each Thursday morning. I like being able to sit down with one of the BNI members and discuss a project I might have going and get their input.”

BNI Chapters around the U.S. and worldwide provide entrepreneurs, business owners and employees, a proven way to build their businesses and increase revenue. In slow economic times, when revenue is low and a small business owner is trying to do everything herself rather than reaching out to other professionals, a BNI Chapter can offer a reliable forum for meeting new people and local companies businesses that are effective resources.

“As a chapter, we have a lot of fun with each other and have created many long-term relationships,“ says Corrado. “I think the key to our success, though, is that we run our group as if it were a business, not simply a social event. Our main goal is to help each other build our businesses; having a good time is a wonderful benefit. I believe that’s why we’re so good at providing members with referrals that turn into revenue. There are lots of different types of networking groups in the area and I think this is something that makes us stand out.” Currently BNI Edge is seeking new members from among the following professionals: Trust & Estate Attorneys, Personal Trainers, Massage Therapist, Hair Salons, Property Managers, Landscapers, Event Planners. A full open category list can be seen at http://bniedgect.com