SCHOHARIE — A post popped up online in my feed recently saying researchers found that talking to new people can be transformative, but, too often, we avoid talking to someone we don’t know even when they are sitting next to us—maybe especially because they are sitting next to us. Psychologist, researcher, and author Nicholas Epley says that fears keeping us from reaching out to each other—even friends, family, and acquaintances—can result in missed opportunities to connect that could ultimately result in significant benefits to both parties.  Those chats that you’re avoiding might just be the conversations you need most.

It reminded me of the goals of the Schoharie Chamber of Commerce Business Generators Group, which has been in existence for 18-20 years with the purpose of members sharing leads in order to improve sales and marketing skills, and to support each other’s efforts to generate more business. Right now, there are 10 business owners in the group including bankers, insurance agents, engineers, pest control services, food services, and promotional products companies. Several of those business owners have been active in the Business Generators Group (BGG) for more than a decade. 

The current president of the Chamber, Dwayne Illsley, of Building Environment Service Technicians (BEST), a property demolition and restoration company specializing in mold remediation and radon mitigation services, is the former chair of the Chamber’s BGG.  After just getting started with his company 13 years ago, he was looking for a way to get the business going, get the word out, and make connections. “I joined the Business Generators Group and the Chamber 12 years ago because of the ability to network. It was one of the first things I did,” Illsley said. “It was a great decision; over the years I made a lot of connections that helped get the business going.” 

But Illsley admits that he didn’t know what to expect, and when he met Eric Efthimiou of Farm Family Agency at a meeting, he found a great resource for referrals, and they ended up sharing referrals back and forth. 

“BGG was the perfect way to make contacts,” Illsley noted.

The current Business Generators chair is Milan Jackson, President of Lamont Engineers in Cobleskill, who also joined about 12 years ago. Even though Lamont Engineers has been in business in this area for 46 years, he said many do not know they exist. 

“We wanted to become more active in the Chamber and joined this group (the BGG) to get our name out in the community,” explained Jackson, “It is not a big county, and we are presently the largest engineering company in the county.” 

While Lamont wanted to grow their own business, they also wanted to feel comfortable with other businesses being recommended to them or that they would be recommending.  

“We are here to grow relationships,” said Jackson, who has also been a Rotarian for more than 20 years and has held many club and district positions. “That is the key –to be able to trust the people we recommend.” 

That sentiment was echoed by several people, including Denise Lloyd, a dairy farmer in Middleburgh who also has a financial services practice with NY Life. Having been a member of the BGG for about 15 years, Lloyd was also looking to meet other business owners, even though she grew up in this area.

“It’s all about relationships,” she stressed. “It’s always a fascinating way to learn about other businesses and what they offer. We get to know each other and become comfortable referring people—to be able to know the people I feel comfortable recommending.”

And she says she has seen it work. She also cited Eric Efthimiou, the agent for Family Farm Insurance, as being a trusted contact.  “We went through the flood and he was there for us. Eric is a great friend.”

Paige McCarthy, a multi-media account executive working in ad sales, said she will be attending BGG meetings to build connections because she wants to be part of the community.

But I wondered how the members are encouraged to get to know each other better and to make these connections.

At every meeting, Jackson told me, each person gives a 60-second “commercial” or presentation about the products or services they offer.  “Not everyone knows everything we do in our businesses,” he added. 

They also have speakers at meetings, including members who talk about their areas of expertise from insurance, to mold, to financial planning, and food services. One outside speaker who is the daughter of one of the members—Sue Loden, owner of the Apple Barrel Store & Café—spoke to the group about business practices she instituted in her Minnesota jewelry business that have enabled her to be successful. 

Taking a lead from the ultimate way to meet strangers and build new relationships, the group has also done its own version of speed “dating,” calling it “speed networking.” “People tend to congregate to people they know,” Jackson pointed out, saying that he tries to get new people to meet someone to help them feel included. Besides, speed networking is a fun way to get everyone talking to someone new. 

The BGG used to host happy hours – and still does—though the Chamber, itself, holds mixers once a month for all members and potential new members to meet and mingle. 

“I would like to reinvigorate things with new members,” Jackson commented.  He would like to see new members representing businesses, organizations, and professions that bring new skills to the group, including bookkeepers, contractors, plumbers, hospitals, and those in agricultural fields, such as farmers or farm stand owners. 

While becoming a member of the Business Generators Group is open to Chamber members, Jackson says that the BGG is open to hosting someone as a guest at one or two meetings. The Business Generators Group meets every second Tuesday of each month from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. at the Apple Barrel on Route 30 in Schoharie. If you are interested in joining, please email admin@schohariechamber.com or come to the Chamber mixer to get to know the business people you can build relationships with.

The Chamber mixers are a good place to meet other business and organization representatives and to find out more about the Business Generators Group. The next Chamber mixer will be held at the Cobleskill Golf and Country Club on June 25th.  Register for that at schohariechamber.com.