At this point, if you’ve read part 1 and part 2 of our series, you know how Commerce Connections started and its purpose. Founder Daniel Rothrock, Director of Property Management at Eaton Realty in Fishhawk, Florida, created a networking group that helps local businesses grow and thrive.
Let’s finish our story with the technology used to make Commerce Connections a unique networking group that encourages education, leadership, peer-to-peer support, and community involvement.
Adding Technology to the Networking Experience
If you thought you’ve learned all there is to know about Commerce Connections at this point, you better grab a fresh cup of coffee and settle back in. Because…there’s more!
Daniel Rothrock, founder of the Fishhawk networking group, Commerce Connections, was not content to rest on the accomplishments with the group he started. He put his creative hat on and combined it with his technology skills to create an automated, responsive system called VENATOR (read more about VENATOR here)
VENATOR – which is Latin for “hunter” – allows members to track their networking metrics online quickly and easily.
VENATOR:
Visitors
Education
New Members
Attendance
Thank Yous
One to Ones
Referrals
The system is designed to allow members to instantly send a referral to someone in the group instead of waiting to see them at the next meeting or contacting them via phone or email.
Commerce Connections uses this VENATOR system, created by Daniel, to provide immediate feedback to members as well. For example, if you just had a one-to-one meeting with a member, they’ll get a notification of how you thought the meeting went. Did they find value in your conversation, or did you talk too much about your own business without asking about theirs? That’s valuable for growth and improvement.
Regular Training, Education, and More
Quarterly training, whether from internal or external sources, is another great benefit of creating a unique experience for Commerce Connections members. He didn’t want the group to become a “pitch group”, he wants there to be true business growth for every member.
As people and businesses came out of the Covid shutdowns, the opportunity to learn from one another was at the forefront of sharing and education. What did businesses do new or different, are they keeping those changes, and how can they be prepared for something similar in the future – all timely and valid information to share.
Excuse Me, Is This Seat Taken?
Daniel believes networking groups with open seating can create conflict. What happens when there are three realtors or three insurance agents in the room - how do other members decide which one to use? Or if one has a more outgoing personality than another, does that quieter member get left out?
When he structured Commerce Connections, Daniel created the one-seat-per-industry model so each business owner is in their own spotlight. That lack of potential conflict has resulted in positive feedback from members. It also allows members to see the personal side of people instead of focusing on their industry types.
Visit Us and See if We Are the Right Networking Group For You
Whether you are a new business or a more established one, if you want to grow in the southeastern Hillsborough County area, you’re invited to visit Commerce Connections. It’s a place where genuinely friendly and welcoming people gather to support each other and give back to our local communities. We’d also love the opportunity to learn from you.
Schedule a visit or join us on Wednesdays at The Scrambled Egg in Fishhawk. We can’t wait to meet you!