Mokena Business Owners Launch Local Networking Chapter

The BNI® Front Row Networking Chapter officially launched on July 9 at Jenny’s Steak House in Mokena with an audience of 54 in attendance.  The Chapter is comprised of 20 business professionals from the Mokena community including Chapter President Jeffery Armor of Keller Williams Realty, Chapter Vice President Michelle DePaolis of First Midwest Bank, and Chapter Secretary/Treasurer Vince Aversano of Martinizing Dry Cleaning.  Members of the BNI Front Row Networking Chapter formed the group with the sole purpose of consistently generating referral-based business for one another, ultimately serving to strengthen the overall local economy for the benefit of the greater community.

Using BNI’s strategic approach to networking and maintaining an emphasis on the development of trusted relationships, this group of upstanding community members embraces BNI’s founding philosophy of Givers Gain®--a concept grounded in altruism, generosity, and goodwill toward others.  Members of the BNI Front Row Networking Chapter each make it their main focus to find ways to help their fellow members grow business; in return, their fellow members go above and beyond to help them grow their own business as well. “Put simply,” says BNI Executive Director Leroy Gaines, “Givers Gain is the idea that the more you give to others, the more others will give to you.”   

With thousands of BNI chapters spanning over 50 countries, a presence in every populated continent in the world, a global membership base which is steadily climbing toward the 200,000 mark, and a solid history of significantly increasing business for small business owners since 1985, it is clear that BNI’s founding philosophy and word-of-mouth marketing framework are universally relevant and effective.  “Each year the organization helps small business owners across the globe to build their business by referral and thrive despite economic fluctuations,” says Gaines.  “Many BNI members have reported an increase in business ranging anywhere from 20%-100% and as many as 50 new clients in their first two years of participation in a BNI chapter.  These are exactly the kind of results we are aiming for with the launch of the BNI Front Row Networking Chapter and we are extremely excited about the positive impact this increase in business is going to have on local commerce.”

The BNI Front Row Networking Chapter welcomes visitors and encourages local professionals within all business industries and trades to visit their weekly networking meeting.  The Chapter meets at 11:30 a.m. every Wednesday at Jenny’s Steak House in Mokena located at 10160 191st Street.  For more information, please call BNI Director Consultant Joe Regan at 815-955-1673.  To find out more about BNI, please visit www.illinoisbni.com.