Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Coffee, conversation and business sense
Free business networking and conversations weekly at Panera Bread in Clifton attract dozens of people from all over the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.It all started with an informal cup of coffee or tea with Marvin Powell, an independent financial consultant in Centreville.
Powell said he started the “Coffee, Tea, You and Me” two years ago because he wanted to encourage communication between the area's businesses.
“It bloomed from there,” he said.
On average, 25 to 30 business representatives attend the 3 to 5 p.m. sessions on Fridays.
“It's a bit like a networking university,” said Jeryl Skinner, a business development director for River City Marketing Firm in Fairfax.
“Panera is really making out,” said Don Reccos, a financial representative for Asset Management Group who attends the meetings.
“People hear about how much it helps them to grow their businesses and they just tell others,” said Reccos, who first heard about the meetings through Chantilly's Business Networking International.
It started at Jamie's General Bean on Lee Highway and was also held at the International House of Pancakes, and the Border Cafe before ending up at Panera.
Attendees discuss topics like giving speeches and presentations in the workplace, and effective networking.
But one of the most valuable aspects of the gatherings is Powell's willingness to impart business sense “out of the goodness of his heart,” Skinner said.
Reccos began attending two months ago and already hopes to model his business ventures after Powell's, he said.
“He dedicates his time to helping people grow their businesses and is real passionate about that.”
Powell was chosen as the Sully District's Lord Fairfax in 2006 and is known throughout the area as “Centreville's mayor.”
He is an active member of the Northern Virginia Business Alliance and serves as the small business commissioner for the Fairfax County Small Business Commission.
Powell said if “Coffee, Tea, You and Me” continues to grow, he may need to figure out a way to scale the meetings down so they will remain personal.
Their whole purpose is to give “the business community a chance to know their clients face to face,” he said.
“It's starting to lose its personal feel, which I don't like,” Powell said.
“This is something people should take advantage of because in a lot of cases, it could turn their business around,” Skinner said.
You must be logged in to post a comment.