Mundelein business helps one-on-one networking

A new Mundelein business is designed to make business networking easier.

When participating in networking events, it's often tough to get up in front of people to talk about yourself or find the people with whom you really want to talk.

A Mundelein family started a Strategic Networking branch in an effort to make it easier to talk with other small business owners. Tony Fiore, his daughter Marisa, son Frank and brother-in-law Mario Feijoo of Round Lake hold innovative networking meetings.

To set the tone, bright colored rubber ducks serve as the centerpieces and greet participants at the sign-up table. "The ducks just help make things light," said Marisa, a lifelong Mundelein resident and Carmel High School graduate.

"We take the work out of network" is the motto for the business, which was founded about three years ago in New Mexico, she said.

A Strategic Networking session was held Tuesday at the bright, second-floor lounge area at Elements Car Wash in Mundelein. About 20 local business owners attended the event with the hopes of gaining business contacts.

The meeting is designed differently than other networking events in that participants sit down one-on-one and talk with each other for about five minutes. The maximum number of participants at a session is 24.

Dennis M. Dean, owner of Dean Financial and Insurance Services, believes networking is important and found the meeting helpful. "You're engaging in conversation," said the Lindenhurst business owner.

"It's a different avenue to spread the word," said Edward Ketchum, financial representative with Northwestern Mutual in Vernon Hills.

Ralph Huszagh, executive vice president at JC Forney Realty in Libertyville, admitted that he doesn't attend many networking events because he feels the people who attend aren't often the decision-makers of the company. "That's who I need to speak with," he added.

Strategic Networking targets business owners or company leaders.

The networking organization has locations in Colorado as well and is expected to soon expand to Minnesota.

Fiore, 51, has owned Accounting Freedom in Mundelein for the past 27 years and understands the importance of networking. He believes Strategic Networking takes the right approach.

The next networking session takes place from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15 at Elements Car Wash, 741 S. Midlothian Road. The cost is $59.

To register, call (847) 975-1037.