“Fifty percent of my local business comes from ConnectW. I can’t imagine a better investment in terms of time and money,” said a member of the Bend-based networking group that — for four decades — has blended “the worlds of fun, networking, and marketing” to help ensure that “its members thrive in both their professional endeavors and personal journeys.”
Encompassing a wide range of industries in its membership roster — including retail sales, health care, banking and finance, computing, marketing, printing, real estate, law, insurance, personnel and business services — ConnectW, in the words of its current president, Bobbie Bashian, is “a collaborative group where no woman stands alone, fostering teamwork and mutual support.”
The focus of the nonprofit since its founding, networking is a critical component in attaining business success, as authorities like Success magazine attest.
Networking’s key benefits include:
- Identifying new sales opportunities and potential clients;
- Building partnerships;
- Staying updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies;
- Providing access to valuable resources including mentorship and advice;
- Increasing visibility; and
- Fostering personal development through exposure to new perspectives and ideas.
Interestingly, however, the two sexes view networking differently. Men often take a transactional approach to networking, focusing on exchanging resources, leads, and business opportunities in a direct manner, Forbes magazine asserts. Their conversations tend to be goal-oriented, emphasizing mutual benefits and professional achievements.
In contrast, women are more likely to network with the goal of mutual support and empathy, rather than immediate professional gain, according to a study by the Harvard Business Review. This empathetic approach fosters deeper, more meaningful connections, as long-time ConnectW member Patricia Nelson can attest. As attorney and owner of Two Spruce Law, “I have enjoyed meeting other businesswomen and making life-long friendships. The programs are engaging and the networking is the best value for me,” she has commented.
In serving its membership of “hard-working, inspiring, entrepreneurs,” as ConnectW’s website praises, the organization prides itself on providing — in addition to networking events — “business marketing opportunities, mentorship programs, educational workshops, friendship and fun.”
Mixing “business with pleasure,” ConnectW holds three events a month: the Monthly Meeting that serves as the group’s primary business gathering and includes a speaker addressing topics such as improving productivity or enhancing communication interpersonal skills; a Munch and Mingle lunch in Bend or Redmond; and Cocktail Connection (held in a member’s store front, office, home or restaurant). As one member commented: “Our business group and social network can’t be beat.”
Other local business networking opportunities are offered through groups such as Bend Business Networking, Bend Business Group, Deschutes Business Networkers, Deschutes Women in Business, and Bend Social Co., which provides a weekly events calendar that helps individuals navigate the local networking milieu.
And moving from the local to the state picture, Oregon’s networking scene is growing, fueled by a surge in new businesses and supported by established groups like the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network (OEN), and regional organizations such as EDCO in Central Oregon that connect founders to mentors, investors, and resources, with events ranging from large conferences to focused industry meetups, reflecting a statewide focus on innovation and collaboration.
As Forbes magazine sums up, “In today’s hyper-connected world, success is rarely a solo endeavor. While hard work and expertise are fundamental, they’re often not enough to reach the highest levels of achievement. Relationships — who you know and who knows you — are often the real catalysts for career and business growth.”
ConnectW has tapped into this truth since 1986. As its website affirms, “Through our shared journey, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of collaboration,” making the organization — according to board member Ginger Weeden — “a driving force for professional business women and women entrepreneurs in Central Oregon.”
