Power Network Sparks a Surge in Business

It was a typical scenario at The Power Network's Thursday morning networking meetings.

Harriette Treviño talked about Bull's Head Printers, a business she co-owns in Monroe, when a bell went off in Wendy Grasso's head.

"We serve nonprofit agencies, offering them attractive printing costs to stretch their budgets," Treviño said. "I mentioned it in the group and Wendy stood up and said, 'Nonprofits? My husband Mark was promoted vice president of The Thomas Merton Center.'"

Within a month, Bull's Head was handling all of The Merton Center's printing needs.

"It worked out beautifully," Treviño said with a smile, adding the charity is a significant account.

Grasso and Treviño are co-chairmen of The Power Network, a networking and leads group exclusive to members of the Monroe and Newtown chambers of commerce.

"We have seen this success in the group," said Grasso, who also does community relations for Spadaccino and Leo Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home, 315 Monroe Turnpike. "It's exciting to see that."

On Tuesday, June 29, the group will host Speed Networking at Masonicare of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Road, Sandy Hook.

The evening will begin with hors d'oeuvres at 5:30, before a round of rapid fire networking from 6 to 9 p.m.

Participants will meet each other face-to-face, briefly share details of their service and identify prospects for further follow up, before exchanging business cards and switching partners.

"It's like speed dating," Grasso explained.

The event costs $15 for Monroe and Newtown chamber members and $20 for non-members. Those wishing to RSVP must do so by June 22, calling Maureen Birden at (203) 364-2915 or e-mailing her at mbirden@nsbonline.com.

For its regular meetings, the group meets at the funeral home on the first Thursday of every month and My Place Restaurant, 8 Queen St., Newtown, on the third Thursday.

Meetings begin at 8 a.m. and typically end at 9:15.

"I like the fact that we meet in the funeral home," Grasso said, while seated beside Treviño on a couch in its lobby Wednesday morning. "Folks were hesitant at first. It's a nice place to meet and it has really helped us to be better known in the community."

The Power Network has been up and running for a year-and-a-half and has 15 members so far, according to Treviño.

Among the membership is a lawyer, banker, chiropractor, carpenter and Realtor to name a few. As a rule, Grasso said only one representative of each business is allowed in the group. Some of the openings include information technology, assisted living care and a CPA.

The Power Network may cap its membership at 30, Treviño said.

'Our elevator pitch'

The first 15 minutes of The Power Network's  morning meetings are informal, giving members a chance to network among themselves before getting started at their first order of the meeting.

"We do a round of introductions and talk about the leads we're looking for. I guess you could call it our elevator pitch," Treviño said.

At each meeting, Grasso said there is one business spotlight, where a member has about 15 minutes to talk about his or her business.

"There's a small educational segment to help people improve their networking skills," Treviño said.

Aside from events like Speed Networking, The Power Network members often meet one-on-one outside their meetings.

"We have coffee chats, get-togethers to learn about each others businesses," Treviño said.

'A vibrant group'

Grasso and Treviño said The Power Network members act as an informal advisory board for each other, adding they also have fun.

"It's a way to get to know each other in-depth," Treviño said. "This is a vibrant group of business associates. If all you do is attend a chamber function every quarter, you really don't get to know each other."

"It puts us in a position to make a real quality referral," she added.

Both women said The Power Network has helped them get the word out about their business to the community at large.

"We've only been here for 10 years," Grasso said. "It's a real New England thing to be connected to someone who has been in your town for a while. We really want to build these relationships before someone has a time of need."

"We moved from Stamford to Monroe three years ago," Treviño said of Bull's Head Printers. "Networking is the number one way to grow your business and broaden your base. We have several new accounts in our top 20 that are a direct result of networking."

Membership costs $50 a year. For an application form, call Maureen Birden of Newtown Savings Bank at (203) 364-2915 or e-mail her at mbirden@nsbonline.com. Birden is The Power Network's membership chairman.

Editor's note: Like what you read? Bill Bittar is Patch's Monroe editor. Catch up with what is going in Monroe by checking out this website in a week or so when it makes its debut.