The Power of Small

At first, it didn't make sense to Jennifer Carvalho. 

Her best friend invited her to attend a small networking group organized by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. Carvalho, who works for T&M Portable Restrooms, wasn't sure how she could generate new business by spending time with professionals in retail, law and other industries unrelated to hers.

Until she met a marketer for Robb & Stucky, which furnishes models for builders. She connected Carvalho with builders in need of portable restrooms, which T&M rents out and services in Southwest Florida.

"Who would think that a marketing person for a furniture store could benefit a porta-potty company?" Carvalho says.

As she got to know other group members, Carvalho further experienced the give-and-take fostered by such networking groups. A representative of Sonitrol Security Systems passed her name along to a construction company needing portable restrooms on job sites. And Carvalho got to know an attorney, whom her company hired to pursue deadbeat builders with outstanding bills.

That's all happened in less than a year since joining one of the Chamber's two Professional Networking Groups (PNGs). Each has about 15 to 25 members, who each pay $120 a year.

The catch: Only one person per industry is admitted, and newcomers must get 99 percent of the group's approval in a silent vote. The groups meet twice a month, for either breakfast or lunch, to exchange referrals and market information.

It's not the only option the chamber offers for networking. About a year and a half ago, the Chamber created Women in Business, a group with 80 to 120 professionals who typically attend functions the first Wednesday of every month. It also holds Business After Five events each month.