{"id":33298,"date":"2020-06-19T09:20:31","date_gmt":"2020-06-19T13:20:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/?p=33298"},"modified":"2020-06-19T14:13:40","modified_gmt":"2020-06-19T18:13:40","slug":"bni-networking-group-replaces-face-to-face-meetings-with-weekly-online-sessions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/06\/bni-networking-group-replaces-face-to-face-meetings-with-weekly-online-sessions\/","title":{"rendered":"BNI Networking Group Replaces Face-To-Face Meetings With Weekly Online Sessions"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Andrea Harwood Palmer<\/p>\n

\"\"
BNI, an international organization has more than 9,500 chapters worldwide. Eleven are in the Albany and surrounding region, including Glens Falls.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Business Network International, known as BNI, has revamped its networking approach in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The group, which has chapters in Saratoga and Warren counties, refers to the transition as a \u201cbrand refresh.\u201d
\nThe international organization has more than 9,500 chapters worldwide. Eleven of these are in the Albany and surrounding region.
\nMichael Cruz, chapter director consultant for the Greater Glens Falls BNI chapter, said \u201cthere was a project already underway within BNI. We were figuring out how to turn live, face-to-face training, into online training. BNI had purchased 10 seats of Zoom to begin this training. Ironically, at the time, they thought they overbought. Then the shutdown happened, and BNI decided to re-purpose the training platforms into meeting platforms. By the third week of March, we\u2019d launched BNI Online,\u201d said Cruz.
\n\u201cAlmost immediately, we were able to do meetings online,\u201d he said. \u201cWe produced a slide deck that mimicked the in-person meeting presentation as close as we could. For the most part, we kept the tenor of the meetings the same. Passing referrals, the one to ones that members do with each to build trust\u2014all of this went to the Zoom platform. We tried to do everything we could to keep it flowing. And we were able to do it for all of our chapters.\u201d
\nAttorney Kim Salerno, of Salerno Law, is the president of the Saratoga Winners Circle chapter in Saratoga Springs. It continues to meet weekly online via Zoom, to network and pass introductions and referrals to members. She has been part of the group for nine years.
\n\u201cI was impressed with how quickly BNI put together an entire Zoom platform. They also put together a Power Point for our group to use. I\u2019m not that tech savvy, so I was nervous at first because I was the one who would have to run the Zoom meeting for 34 people. But it\u2019s been working out very well,\u201d said Salerno.
\n\u201cBusiness is still being passed. Especially in the beginning, it was really good for all us to be able to see each other. It\u2019s a source of comfort to see everyone, and hear how their businesses are doing, and how each of us can help one another if we\u2019re able to,\u201d she said.
\n\u201cThe fresh new look will help give rise to more referrals by attracting people who are unfamiliar with BNI and all it has to offer,\u201d said a news release from BNI founder Ivan Misner. \u201cMore members mean more referrals. It provides members with sustainable business growth and an optimistic future. The refreshed BNI brand will leverage\u00a0all the features and benefits that BNI has to offer.\u201d
\nSaid Cruz, \u201cIn April and May, our first two months of virtual BNI meetings, our members have passed over $1 billion worldwide.\u201d
\nHe said he would like the organization to go back to face-to-face meetings, but not anytime soon. Virtual meetings could continue for two or three months.
\n\u201cWe\u2019re open. We\u2019re doing business. Our members are continuing to build personal trust and personal brands,\u201d said Cruz.
\n\u201cWhen you own your own business, you have a different approach to networking. You\u2019re more invested. And when you\u2019re going through the ups and downs of your own business, you tend to be more compassionate towards other business owners. You want to help them,\u201d said Salerno.
\n\u201cWe have a very dynamic group,\u201d she said. \u201cWe pass a lot of business, over a million dollars. A lot of the networking goes on before and after the actual meeting. Nothing will be able to replace our in-person meetings. But Zoom is a good solution for the interim.
\n\u201cEven though we\u2019re meeting virtually, we\u2019re still having visitors. If you\u2019re home, it might be nice to see that there are still businesses out there, and that we\u2019re here to support you.\u201d
\nBrian Rollo, president of the Adirondack BNI Chapter in Glens Falls, said since going virtual, leadership has implemented weekly regional meetings. This gives members access to meetings with other members and businesses owners throughout the region, not just their own chapter.
\nRollo is the founder of Brian Rollo Consulting Group, providing leadership development, executive coaching and career development coaching. He said for businesses like his that are not location-dependent, this has been a valuable resource.
\nThe international networking group represents over 270,000 businesses worldwide. Amidst transitioning to COVID-19 virtual meetings, the organization has also redesigned their logo, website and social media. Branding materials have been updated as well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Andrea Harwood Palmer Business Network International, known as BNI, has revamped its networking approach in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The group, which has chapters in Saratoga and Warren counties, refers to the transition as a \u201cbrand refresh.\u201d The international organization has more than 9,500 chapters worldwide. Eleven of these are in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":196,"featured_media":33382,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\r\nBNI Networking Group Replaces Face-To-Face Meetings With Weekly Online Sessions - Glens Falls Business Journal<\/title>\r\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\r\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.glensfalls.com\/glensfallsbusinessjournal\/2020\/06\/bni-networking-group-replaces-face-to-face-meetings-with-weekly-online-sessions\/\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BNI Networking Group Replaces Face-To-Face Meetings With Weekly Online Sessions - Glens Falls Business Journal\" \/>\r\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By Andrea Harwood Palmer Business Network International, known as BNI, has revamped its networking approach in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 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