This story explains why and how a successful professional peer networking group was formed, why the group has stayed together and what enables it to keep meeting on regular basis. In includes suggestions on how to start your own group.
Today 46 million human beings are enslaved. Learn about
slavery and human trafficking, where and why it occurs,
and how Rotary projects are helping survivors. We’ll also
discuss ways to prevent this crime, and how your club can
take action.
Inviting Visitors and Generating Referrals is core to any BNI Chapter. This presentation explains with the help of a live example how we can leverage LinkedIn for BNI.
Today 46 million human beings are enslaved. Learn about
slavery and human trafficking, where and why it occurs,
and how Rotary projects are helping survivors. We’ll also
discuss ways to prevent this crime, and how your club can
take action.
Inviting Visitors and Generating Referrals is core to any BNI Chapter. This presentation explains with the help of a live example how we can leverage LinkedIn for BNI.
Anwendungsbericht der Methoden WissensDrehScheibe, Themenhitliste und Aktionslandkarte in einer Wissenskonrerenz.
Case Study of the methods Knowledge TurnTable, Subject Hitlist and Action Map in a Knowledge Conference
What Do I Know About My Customers - Human InferenceDataValueTalk
Who is my customer, how does he behave? Where is he? Is my customer really who he says he is? Correct customer knowledge and up-to-date data that are of good quality is essential to companies. Especially when the economic outlook is not very positive.
What to Test?! The Conversion Game ShowBrian Massey
If you know anything about your customers, you can profile them and make better decisions about what to test on your Web site to increase conversions to leads and sales. This "game show" showed that audience members could make good decisions even if they weren't Conversion Scientists. Presented at Pub Con South 2009 for the Conversion Testing And Optimization Panel with Bill Leake and Taylor Pratt.
Anwendungsbericht der Methoden WissensDrehScheibe, Themenhitliste und Aktionslandkarte in einer Wissenskonrerenz.
Case Study of the methods Knowledge TurnTable, Subject Hitlist and Action Map in a Knowledge Conference
What Do I Know About My Customers - Human InferenceDataValueTalk
Who is my customer, how does he behave? Where is he? Is my customer really who he says he is? Correct customer knowledge and up-to-date data that are of good quality is essential to companies. Especially when the economic outlook is not very positive.
What to Test?! The Conversion Game ShowBrian Massey
If you know anything about your customers, you can profile them and make better decisions about what to test on your Web site to increase conversions to leads and sales. This "game show" showed that audience members could make good decisions even if they weren't Conversion Scientists. Presented at Pub Con South 2009 for the Conversion Testing And Optimization Panel with Bill Leake and Taylor Pratt.
Drawing on from learnings and experiences of the BritCham Marketing & Communications Committee members, we have put together this short guide to help businesses foster social connectedness amongst their employees and customers, while keeping them engaged, inspired and connected.
As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
Developed and implemented by association membership marketing professionals, here are more than seven ideas on how to help grow your association even in a recession. For more information, call Erik Schonher, VP, MGI, at 703.706.0358
I’m in Stockholm, attending the Annual Global Meeting of IIC Partners. It’s always an interesting gathering of people; members of the board of IIC Partners, the CEOs, founders, and leaders of the individual search firms that are the members of IIC, and an inspiring array of speakers.
One of my goals of being here is to meet up with Paul Dinte, Founder and CEO of Dinte Executive Search. A firm that has been around over 25 years, operating from the Washington DC area but actually, covering the world.
I want to understand from Paul how he started and what he learns from working on a global level.
As the school year comes to a close, we’ve reflected a lot on what we’ve achieved as a club. The 2020-21 Exec is proud to show you what we’ve done as a club in ICC’s first-ever Annual Report.
This presentation was given at the WEDU Be More Workshop to inspire non-profit organizations to harness the power of social media to build relationships, develop community advocates and drive revenues.
I presented this on Sept 17, 2008 at WEDU's Be More Effective Workshop to over 200 non-profit leaders in Tampa Bay.
PEOPLE. PLACES. PURPOSE.
Common words with uncommon meaning but with everyday impact on the TAG Alliances. Each describes and defines what we and our members are about, whom we serve and how businesses around the world benefit.
In the pages that follow we will, in our words and in the words of our members, give some substance to this theme, supported by some examples of these words as they have been applied in practice. We think that People, Places, and Purpose, in words and deed, shine a light on our activity during 2013. We also hope that this Annual Review will not only show us where we were in 2013 but will also provide an indication of what we can all look forward to in 2014 and beyond.
Our Annual Review, to state it in words most common to our TIAG® members, is both a balance sheet that shows where we were at year-end and a statement that recounts activities such as conferences, meetings and new member endeavors. At the end of the year, it is your achievements that to us yield our bottom line.
We hope that your 2013 has been a good one for you as well, measured by the People you have met, or have hired, or have gained as clients; marked by the Places you have been, through business, pleasure, or our favorite, a combination of both at a TAG conference; or even judged by your satisfaction in achieving a Purpose of importance.
As we look forward to 2014, we are excited by the opportunity to do even better. There are places in the world into which we can expand. There are members that we would like to see more often at conferences and TAG Academy courses. And there is a Foundation to sustain for the benefit of those in need. We welcome those challenges and we are supported by a strong staff and by the strength of the membership.
Our story of 2013 is not just for you, however. We encourage you to circulate and distribute this Annual Review throughout your firm. We also encourage you to show or send it to clients and prospective clients; to incorporate it effectively into your own marketing initiatives; and to think of the ways you can take full advantage of all that we offer.
Thank you for your membership, for your Foundation support, for your conference and program attendance and for the quality of your work and your relationships. We wish you a successful year in 2014.
TAG Alliances 2013 Annual Review - People. Places. Purpose.TIAG_Alliance
PEOPLE. PLACES. PURPOSE.
Common words with uncommon meaning but with everyday impact on the TAG Alliances. Each describes and defines what we and our members are about, whom we serve and how businesses around the world benefit.
In the pages that follow we will, in our words and in the words of our members, give some substance to this theme, supported by some examples of these words as they have been applied in practice. We think that People, Places, and Purpose, in words and deed, shine a light on our activity during 2013. We also hope that this Annual Review will not only show us where we were in 2013 but will also provide an indication of what we can all look forward to in 2014 and beyond.
Our Annual Review, to state it in words most common to our TIAG® members, is both a balance sheet that shows where we were at year-end and a statement that recounts activities such as conferences, meetings and new member endeavors. At the end of the year, it is your achievements that to us yield our bottom line.
We hope that your 2013 has been a good one for you as well, measured by the People you have met, or have hired, or have gained as clients; marked by the Places you have been, through business, pleasure, or our favorite, a combination of both at a TAG conference; or even judged by your satisfaction in achieving a Purpose of importance.
As we look forward to 2014, we are excited by the opportunity to do even better. There are places in the world into which we can expand. There are members that we would like to see more often at conferences and TAG Academy courses. And there is a Foundation to sustain for the benefit of those in need. We welcome those challenges and we are supported by a strong staff and by the strength of the membership.
Our story of 2013 is not just for you, however. We encourage you to circulate and distribute this Annual Review throughout your firm. We also encourage you to show or send it to clients and prospective clients; to incorporate it effectively into your own marketing initiatives; and to think of the ways you can take full advantage of all that we offer.
Thank you for your membership, for your Foundation support, for your conference and program attendance and for the quality of your work and your relationships. We wish you a successful year in 2014.
2. Well, it’s not quite exactly like that…no imbibing on gin and tonics in the
It's nine o'clock on a Saturday
early morning, but our professional peer group, The Concord Vine, does
The regular crowd shuffles in
meet on a regular basis. Every second Friday of every month at 7AM, 15‐
There's an old man sitting next to me
20 of our members (‘the regular crowd’) shuffle into a small, separate
Makin' love to his tonic and gin dining room at La Provence in Concord, Massachusetts for our monthly
Billy Joel, lyrics from “Piano Man” meeting. Robert Didier, the proprietor, and his able staff serve a buffet
style breakfast of quiche, fruit, pastries, and coffee while the networking
and information sharing begins.
What is a Peer Group? What is our Peer Group Charter?
Peer Groups like The Concord Vine can operate as a networking group where members learn of trends and
developments across a spectrum of issues. Our theme pertains to middle‐market mergers and
acquisitions (M&A), corporate development and business management. We help other members with
areas of concern, and as appropriate, become a professional resource for a specific need.
History – Startup to Stability
June 2009 will be the sixth anniversary of The Concord Vine’s startup. In June 2003, I attended the annual
ACG Boston Growth Conference. While on a break from the formal sessions, I started chatting with a few
friends who live in my town. Soon the impromptu group in the hallway grew to six people from Concord,
2
The Regular Crowd Shuffles In
3. Massachusetts. While the Boston ACG has been a great source of networking and content for all of us, the
Chapter’s membership has become almost too large over the years. The growth is a double‐edged sword;
it has enabled an expansion in programs, but the meetings have become less intimate, and it is more
difficult to “work the crowd”.
After that meeting, I wondered what it would be like to try to create a more local, casual, fun group of
professionals with similar interests. The next morning I sent out an email to all six local people to test out
the monthly breakfast concept – everyone quickly responded with a similar message. “Sounds great, let’s
try it!” Later, we all dug through our town Rolodexes to find other able and willing bodies. We kicked off
Year One of our new experiment in September 2003.
Like all startups, the first year (September ’03 – June ’04) was a little unstructured; as a consequence,
attendance was spotty. We were experimenting with the meeting format and content, and we were trying
to establish an approach that would have staying power. We all knew there was something positive to be
gained from meeting consistently. Year Two was somewhat similar, but we added more people and more
depth to the content of the sessions. We were building critical mass. I knew it would be important to let
the members take ownership of how the group was run. So, between Year Two and Year Three we held a
planning session to sort out our charter, membership, attendance, and topics to present at each meeting.
This planning session was great, and it enabled us to fine tune the overall meeting structure. We now
average about 15‐17 people per meeting on a regular basis.
3
The Regular Crowd Shuffles In
4. Rules and Charter
Tank tops and flip flops if u got them
No shoes, no shirt, no problems The laissez‐faire approach may work for Kenny Chesney on a Caribbean
Kenny Chesney, lyrics from “No Shoes, beach, but it’s not in vogue with a group of people who want to stay
No Shirt, No Problems” focused on content and need to get ‘out and about’ to their day jobs
after our meeting.
These are some of the group’s guidelines:
• Each of our members has a professional connection to some facet of M&A or Corporate Development.
Our varied mix includes investment bankers, commercial bankers and other acquisition finance lenders,
private equity investors, executives of operating companies oriented to growth through acquisition, and
attorneys, accountants, consultants, outside directors, and other professional advisors (some people
wear multiple hats!).
• We’re local residents of Concord and surrounding towns.
• Attendance and participation at meetings is a critical element to the success of the group. Attendance
at most of the meetings is an expectation for all members. However, that thing called work does get in
the way of attendance at times! Participation at meetings includes periodically preparing and
presenting a topic of general interest to the group and leading the discussion.
4
The Regular Crowd Shuffles In
5. • Size: There are currently 22 people in the group. Our target range is 20‐25. We want to remain at a
size level where monthly group meetings encourage active dialogue and discussion among the
members. This criteria means that the group must be sufficiently large and diverse enough to include a
variety of viewpoints but small enough to permit all members to participate in discussions.
• The meeting format is: general networking (7:00‐7:15); presentation of the topic and discussion (7:15‐
8:00); more expanded discussion on the topic of the day, “roundtable” sharing of news and requests
for help and more socializing for those who wish to stay (adjournment around 9AM).
What are the benefits from a Peer Group like ours? There are three key benefits: Networking, Advice and
Friendship. Let’s look at each one…
Networking
Mmm gonna try with a little help from my friends
It took a while, but the exchange of leads and projects and deals
Oh I get high with a little help from my friends
happens on a regular basis. For example, one of my past
Yes I get by with a little help from my friends
consulting engagements was leading a strategic planning process
The Beatles, lyrics from “With A Little Help
at a New England middle market manufacturer – the referral to
From My Friends”
the family owners came from another Vine member. Members
have benefitted from many referrals that led to new business and working relationships. The leads (and
resulting revenue) are based upon a greater understanding the depth of experience and capabilities of our
5
The Regular Crowd Shuffles In
6. peers. One of our members said, “The networking is subtle; help is provided in a private way.” The
referrals are made with confidence.
Advice and Education – What
He said, quot;Son, I've made a life out of readin' people's faces,
Do We Talk About at the
And knowin' what their cards were by the way they held their eyes.
Meetings?
And if you don't mind my sayin', I can see you're out of aces.
For a taste of your whiskey I'll give you some advice.quot; There are 22 people in our group with at least an
Kenny Rogers, lyrics from “The Gambler” average of 25 years of business/corporate
development/legal/M&A/private equity experience
per person. That’s over 500 combined years of know‐how. We all can regale each other with stories of the
good, the bad and the ugly. That depth is worth a lot when you need some “advice and consent”. What
do we talk about at the meetings? Here are some of the topics covered in recent meetings:
• The Deal from Hell
• The CEO – How to set expectations and performance measurements
• Changing Face of Lending
• Recaps and Washouts/Management Carveouts
• The story of ABC Inc. – from workout to new equity to sale to a strategic buyer
6
The Regular Crowd Shuffles In
7. • Sale and Leaseback Financing
• Board of Directors – form, function, composition, etc.
• Everything you want to know about Earnouts
• The XYZ Inc. Transition Story – the original founders sale to private equity, then the sale to a foreign
corporate strategic with a carve‐out to another private equity group
• Doing Business and Deals in China ‐ The Web of Relationships
• Building Value – what are the intangibles that increase shareholder value
And many more…
Friendships
Old friends, old friends,
Since we are all local, generally there are connections that extend
Sat on their park bench like bookends
beyond our professional lives. We see each other because of our
A newspaper blown through the grass
kids, personal interests, or social affiliations. Playing fields,
Falls on the round toes
musicals, scouts, the post office, the dry cleaner, car pools, town
of the high shoes of the old friends
meetings, choral groups– there are many non‐professional
Simon & Garfunkel, lyrics from “Old Friends”
connections that contribute to the day‐to‐day fabric of our lives
and help build friendships.
7
The Regular Crowd Shuffles In
8. Starting Your Own Group
You got to know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em,
Use these guidelines for success:
Know when to walk away and know when to run.
You never count your money when you're sittin' at the table. 1. be focused on a theme, profession or some reason to
meet other than just social;
There'll be time enough for countin' when the dealin's done.
2. the group should be small (under 25 in which 15‐18 or
Kenny Rogers, lyrics from “The Gambler”
so show up for meetings);
3. trust and confidentiality are paramount;
4. maintain a consistent frequency of meetings for momentum and continuity;
5. someone must lead the show, otherwise it is just an amorphous organization;
6. the topics should be relevant to the group's focus and there must be INTERACTION by all;
7. tie the group together by e‐mail and a directory/bios of members (particularly useful when new
members join);
8. have some fun and games, i.e., maybe one outing per year;
9. strive to improve every year so members don't lose interest, e.g. discuss what topics were boring;
10. get down to business at the meetings ‐ people are busy.
8
The Regular Crowd Shuffles In