Business to business: Networking opportunities always expanding in Southeast Missouri

Small-business owners searching to connect their business personally and professionally with the community need look no further than the plentiful networking opportunities in Southeast Missouri.

Local business networking events have grown in number in recent years as area chambers of commerce look for creative ways to keep members socializing and learning, and businesses look for chances to keep customer lists expanding.

Amanda Winschel, director of the Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce, says the business community in her area has upped attendance at networking events during the past year. The chamber, like others in the area, tries to offer something for everyone, she says, including a monthly women's group lunch meeting, meetings for young professionals and a Business After Hours event.

The meetings often include tours of area businesses or other programs.

Winschel says the importance of networking for the Perryville area is about learning what people in the community can do for one another's business interests.

"For us, I feel like, being a small, close-knit community, we know each other personally, but we don't always know what we can do for each other professionally," she says.

Tim Arbeiter, vice president for community development at the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce, says he thinks there is a two-fold reason for people to network: advertising and learning.

"With any type of business, there is always opportunity for building a client base or customer base," he says. "Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising out there."

If a business owner chooses to participate in a training that includes networking opportunities, he or she will also become aware they aren't dealing with challenges alone, Arbeiter says.

"More than likely, there will be someone with the same problem, say, who needs to learn more about managing expenses, for example," Arbeiter says. "You're going to find help, or a solution, together, and at the same time you are creating a network. You may out of that end up with an account you wouldn't have had, too."

Arbeiter says for that reason the chamber always folds in networking opportunities -- even if it's just 15 minutes spent socializing -- to training events.

Representatives of growing companies, such Purchase Clinic, say they need networking opportunities for bringing in new accounts and sales, but also for finding resources to contribute to the operation of the business itself.

Brandi Meyr, a client manager at Purchase Clinic, which offers discounted medical supplies, equipment and other services for health-care facilities such as doctor's offices, clinics and home-care providers, attended a May networking and customer appreciation event hosted by The Bank of Missouri, Meet on Middle Street.

"Networking helped us get the office we are in now," Meyr says. "We are also a company that is growing quickly, and we are looking for strong employees."

The company hired 12 people when it opened an office earlier this year in the former federal building in downtown Cape Girardeau, and plans to hire 12 more within the next year, representatives say. To find what it is looking for, in terms of accounts and employees, the company has to get its name out, Meyr says, and attending networking events is one of the best ways to do it.

Businesses such as The Bank of Missouri, a Small Business Administration loan preferred lender, are also taking advantage of the popularity of social events. The bank's Meet on Middle Street event last month outside its downtown Cape Girardeau location drew a crowd by offering the service of a coffee truck and the promise of opportunities to meet with business owners, entrepreneurs and business experts. The event was held to celebrate National Small Business Month.

Networking now in Southeast Missouri: A sampling of upcoming networking events, meetings, trainings and seminars

Call chambers of commerce for more information. Some charge a fee for participation or require chamber membership.

__Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce__

* Monthly events; check times and locations at capechamber.com

First Friday Coffee, Business After Hours, First Friday Chamber Young Professionals Happy Hour

* Upcoming training opportunities:

Doing Business with MoDOT, starts June 22

Work Well wellness program, starts June 25

Social Media Seminar, starts June 30

__Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce__

* Monthly events; check times and locations at jacksonmochamber.org

Business Breakfast, Business After Hours

__Sikeston Area Chamber of Commerce__

* Monthly events; check times and locations at sikeston.net

Final Friday Coffee Mixers, Business After Hours

* Bi-monthly event

Chamber Member Luncheons

* Upcoming educational opportunity

Lunch & Learn, June 18

__Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce__

* Monthly events; check times and locations at perryvillemo.com

Women's Network, Business After Hours, Young Professional Ambassadors Happy Hour

* Upcoming educational opportunity

Lunch 'N' Learn, How to Network, June 25