Guarantee Yourself A Seat At The Table And Enjoy A Unique Fellowship Of Executives And Entrepreneurs 

My original intent was to forge an offline expression of the Linked In concept as most of the "networking" groups I have seen that are mostly a waste of time. I wanted to form an organization for those other ambitious professionals like me who do wish to be more proactive in building their business and personal connections, instead of occasionally participating in an online discussion or attending some lame cocktail hour with strangers. The target audience with my original Delray Executive Society was local to Delray business owners, entrepreneurs, movers and shakers of our area that all live, work and look to expand their professional and personal success.

Since I started our Society back in December of 2009, I have received overwhelming response from companies or business people in Broward, North Palm Beach and even as far as Miami who say they would like to attend certain events but expressed that it is too far to drive to Delray right after work to attend- therefore Delray was too confining.

The Executive Society of the Palm Beaches(The ESPB) as I announced on the front page. It is a way for  us to build our own web of connections or gain leads, depending on what type of company you own or work for. But also for us to come to know our fellow members and what they do so if someone we know needs whatever a fellow member of the ESPB does, we have that most golden of business opportunities handed to us. The personal referral. This not only allows us access directly to decision makers, but allows us not to go through the tedious hassle of taking bids for a given project, or waste weeks getting the cheapest quote for something, or clamoring for sales leads that  go nowhere.

The ESPB has evolved into an alternative to or an added benefit in addition to membership into local or county Chambers of Commerce, or other "must join" industry associations. True these traditional organizations do have some benefit to their members, but most business owners I have met say they have never received one dollar from being a part of one and they joined it just because "its just what you do." I asked them and myself, why is that? Is it some outdated sense of credibility that joining a Chamber of Commerce demonstrates by having their sticker on your storefront or a little plaque on the desk? Is it still relevant in today's business world and economic climate? The ESPB answered that question by going in the opposite direction to much positive acclaim for our members. Instead of just hosting an event where people could come if they wanted to, we host events around our members to give them maximum exposure, promotion and ROI on their membership fee. I wanted to show concrete results from a business fraternity, professional/social club concept to the Society that we have proven. That is why every event we host is invited guests only that have something that will benefit all the other guests, and members alike, but also see real results from the connections made at an ESPB event. Just as we selectively invite our corporate level members, we keep well in mind how they will benefit and benefit the Society by being a part of it.

My vision to redefine “networking” by going back to the way our fathers did business before we were all so tied to our computers and blackberries has made me come to the realization that a lot of people agree with me. As I type this, I would much prefer to explain what we have and will be accomplishing over lunch with you. That exemplifies the need for so many business people that are only as good as their last project, bid on a job or paycheck to aggressively meet that one person that might be the key to further or exponentially increased success, that otherwise they never would have met if not for a social atmosphere constructed to foster that initial conversation about business. We  needed to expand our organization and did so starting with the name.

Granted most “networking” events are less than organized, they happen sporadically, the person hosting really only cares if they pass out their own business card to get more leads for themselves. It has seemed to me and many I have spoken to that those putting these little meet and greets together mostly consist of meeting in a bar, exchanging business cards that end up in a pile in your desk drawer that you only dig out if you ever need something while hoping someone you hand yours out too calls you if they ever also nee dwhat you do. This is why at these meetups,  or networking gorups seem to simply never work. You never really get to know someone for more than the 15 minuetes you may spend talking because you want to try to meet everyone and get every business card. More importantly you never really come to like and trust them to recommend them to a connection of yours, which in turn could become a connection of theirs and vice versa that otherwise couldn’t have existed if it were not for the common thread of both being members of the ESPB. I am finding a lot of interest in those people willing and needing to go that extra mile outside of their office to get that one lead, that one connection that will lead to more business for themselves but only want to spend the effot if they are of a certian caliber of business owner or company executive that is in a position to be a real benefit to your business and you to theirs. Our as peoppaim is also to benefit  our members,the community, but at the same time have fun while doing so.

So what I essentially did was create a social environment where the common denominator is that fact we are there to learn about each other’s business, gain wisdom from our fellow member's perspective and experience so that we can apply that valuable knowledge to our own success. However, I mainly felt that the fraternal sense of brotherhood and mutual desire to see our members prosper like I had in my college fraternity could and should be incorporated into the business world. An aspect of doing business where you really come to know the members as people, their stories, their ambitions and therefore want to see them succeed as well as they want to see you succeed. So we help one another and our respective businesses acheive our respective goals by sharing this one.

Check our calendar of events often as I change things when I am inspired or a member's company wants to sponsor a certain event -something we think will be fun and beneficial. We will host several very unique events each month that will appeal to everyone, not just a happy hour in a bar to stop in, have a drink and ask “So what do you do?” . How effective is that, even if you remember half of the people’s names you met? For example, my Chairman’s Dinner will always have an interesting business speaker that discusses a given topic that is relevant to all of our endeavors to make more money in our area over a thick Prime Rib and a good Scotch-or a salad and white wine if you prefer!

We will be hosting charity golf tournaments, Our annual Blue Anchor British Classic Car Show we will be sponsoring and other events that will benefit different local charites that are dear to the hearts of our members. If you feel you would  make a great member, I would be honored if you applied. We look forward to you joining us and letting The ESPB  benefit you  and your business just as much as we will benefit from knowing you.

Regards,

Hunter- Chairman