We hope this question-and-answer session with Kevin Martin, director of Growing Modes, will help you decide whether this Yellow-Tie Referral Network is a fit for you.

If you want to visit a future Growing Modes meeting to determine whether the group fits you and you fit the group, contact Kevin, using any of the means specified below, and ask to be invited. Please provide your name and contact information including company name, as well as your primary services.

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Q: With what chapter of Yellow-Tie is your Referral Network affiliated?

A: We're part of the St. Louis chapter.

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Q: We would like to hear your story -- why did you start this Referral Network?

A: Let's start with "Why Yellow-Tie?": because it is formal enough to give me the support I need, large enough to attract a great selection of members and meeting attendees, loose enough to let me do things on my terms and meet my needs and the needs of my network members, and small enough that I always have direct access to the people with whom I want to work regardless of their network membership choice.

I started the group because I love to work with people who facilitate growth. So my group is composed of professionals who help company owners whose goal is to grow their businesses.

My goal is that we will share not only leads (which can be direct referrals or just meaningful information) but ideas and feedback that will help each of us grow our own businesses as well as help our clients grow theirs.

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Q: Within the choices of business to business (B2B), business to consumer (B2C) or both, how would you best classify the prospects to whom your Referral Network members sell?

A: We sell business to business.

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Q: How else would you describe the prospects to whom your members sell, and/or the people you want in your group?

A: My members work with clients of all sizes, but most of our targets are medium-sized. We are not limited to geographic regions except a few whose businesses are only in St. Louis. Our best prospects either are already growing and need services to facilitate that growth or are stagnant and need services that will catapult them into growth mode.

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Q: When, where and how often does your Referral Network meet?

A: Our meetings are late afternoon so that we can finish with client meetings before getting together. We hold an organized discussion from 3:30PM to 5:00PM, then move to a "happy hour" setting -- those who need to can go home, and the rest can hang out and chat with the members who have the most to offer at that particular time. There are no costs except what you choose to purchase.

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Q: Who are your current members?

A: At this time, our Referral Network includes these people:

• Dixie Gillaspie, Pure Synchrony
• Dan Klein, Avalanche
• Wendy Gauntt, CIO Services
• Kevin M. Martin,  LOP Consulting
• Dianna Bridgins, Kudospire
• David Meyer,  Admeyer Marketing
• Ruth Binger, Danna McKitrick, P.C.
• Joel Gebauer, Voice Pro
• Jeremy Nulik, Small Business Monthly
• Adam Kreitman, Words that Click
• Chad Estes, ETM Consulting
• Jacque James, National City Bank
• Ethan Mead, Kinetoscope Pictures
  

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Q: What else do you want to tell people about your Referral Network?

A: Since most of us are in a consulting or advisory capacity, we keep our prime times (early and lunch) open for client work and meetings. We do not require attendance, and members can share leads and information without joining the meetings. But members who are not active in attending meetings OR sharing information will not be of mutual benefit and will eventually be "uninvited," so that we can have plenty of "givers" and "getters" in the group.

Because we want to be able to refer each other without reservations I give all members "veto rights" on guests and new members. If any member in our network feels that someone would not be a good fit we won't invite them to join, but we will work to help them find a group fit within Yellow-Tie.

I also envision creating a "brain pool" with the members of this group, so that we can all benefit from the experience represented by great consulting minds. To get the greatest benefit, members should be willing to keep an open mind to suggestions and to coaching and being coached.

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Q: How do you want people interested in your network to contact you?

A: They can reach me via e-mail using this form:

Name:
E-mail:
Phone:
Message:

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