St. Louis RCGA Business Services activities provide many ways for members to be active.
By Ruth McGowan
For all sizes of businesses, invaluable networking, educational and marketing opportunities are available to RCGA members. For companies that are just starting, and others that are branching out, RCGA Business Services helps members increase their profitability, provides business contacts and exposure, and offers resources on running and growing businesses more successfully.
Connection Opportunities
RCGA members looking to network and increase their business contacts take advantage of the RCGA Leads Connection program. Leads Connection groups made up of RCGA members from a variety of non-competing businesses meet bi-weekly to exchange business tips, leads, ideas and information.
Another networking opportunity is available through the RCGA’s Business After Hours events. These informal gatherings held at member companies are a popular way to meet new people. Promoted by KMOX Radio and St. Louis Commerce Magazine, RCGA Business After Hours blends fun and business. RCGA members also have the opportunity to purchase exhibit tables for a nominal fee to present their products and services first-hand to other members and guests. Business After Hours events during 1999 included those hosted by The Radisson, Downtown; Harrah’s St. Louis–Riverport Casino; Webster University, Gateway International Raceway; Mercantile Bank in St. Charles; The Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park; A. G. Edwards & Sons; and The Renaissance St. Louis–Airport. Another was hosted with the Creve Coeur/Olivette Chamber of Commerce at the Creve Coeur Country Club. These events are often held in cooperation with local chambers of commerce and other St. Louis area organizations, which means RCGA members have an opportunity to expand their circle of business contacts.
RCGA members can also count on Business After Hours to help promote their companies. Member companies may request to host an event at their locations. By being a host, RCGA-member firms can make valuable contacts and generate new business as a result of the event.
Business Resources
Several members find help through the RCGA’s Business Management Institute sponsored in partnership with the St. Louis Business Journal and the Station Casino St. Charles. Programs include the ever-popular Breakfast with the Gazelles series, and other ongoing workshops to meet the needs of members such as the St. Louis Opportunities Fair sponsored with the Small and Disadvantaged Opportunity Committee of the Federal Executive Board, the U.S. Small Business Administration and several local businesses.
In addition to formal educational activities, the RCGA organizes ways for members to learn from other members. The CEO Roundtable brings together CEOs from non-competing firms to create an advisory “board of directors.” The board shares experiences, challenges and opportunities with CEOs of similarly-sized organizations in a totally confidential environment. The eight- to 12-member roundtables, sponsored by Mercantile Bank, are led by experienced facilitators to ensure cohesiveness and continuity.
The RCGA is a co-sponsor of the second season of the St. Louis Speaker Series along with Maryville University, KMOX Radio and Illinova. The series, which runs October 7, 1999, through April 27, 2000, features seven of the world’s best known personalities and offers insight into issues and current events. The programs are held at Powell Symphony Hall. The new season’s speakers are George F. Will, Maya Angelou, Colin Powell, Cokie Roberts, F.W. deKlerk, David McCullough, and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
The RCGA was pleased to kick off its civic sponsorship of the new Gateway Club in 1999 at Gateway International Raceway in Madison, Ill. The Gateway Club is the perfect turnkey hospitality setting for hosting individual, small and corporate groups. The Club offers several amenities such as tickets to practices, qualifying and race day events; hosted refreshments and catering; admittance to the Paddock area; special visit in the Gateway tent by CART and NASCAR drivers; and several additional benefits. The Gateway Club was available for the Motorola 300; the CARQUEST 250; and the Ram Tough 200 races. The RCGA plans a similar partnership with the Raceway in 2000.
Representation
For companies to prosper, there must be a favorable business climate. The Business Services Small Business Public Affairs Committee takes issues, which affect smaller firms, to the RCGA’s Public Policy Council. With the approval of the Board of Directors, the RCGA actively promotes a strong legislative program to create a strong economic climate.
RCGA Online
RCGA members can access the RCGA’s Internet site at http://www.stlrcga.org to quickly and easily learn about each department at the RCGA.
A useful marketing tool, RCGA members will soon be listed on the RCGA’s Home Page and be able to link their sites to the RCGA site to receive maximum exposure for their businesses.
RCGA members and prospective members are not the only people who will find the Internet site useful. The “About St. Louis” section supplies net surfers from around the world with information about doing business and living in the St. Louis area.
The RCGA’s Economic Development division, Technology Gateway Alliance and St. Louis Commerce Magazine have Internet sites linked to the main RCGA site, that provides businesses relocating or expanding in the St. Louis area with information including demographics, cost of living financial assistance and the Greater St. Louis Economic Development Network.
Breakfast with the Gazelles-chaired by David Avakian, president, The Varsity Group
Breakfast with the Gazelles—Eleven Programs are offered throughout the year for members which are younger, start-up, and growth-oriented companies. Outstanding St. Louis-area entrepreneurs, “The Gazelles,” share the secrets of how they successfully turned their ideas and hard work into growth and profits. Sponsored by Ameritech and in cooperation with the St. Louis Small Business Monthly in 1999, the program is in its fifth year. Gazelles during 1999 were Andy Taylor, president & CEO, Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Catherine Dunkin, principal, The Standing Partnership; Robyn Feigenbaum, president, Oakwood Systems Group; Peggy Mitchusson, CEO/founder, The Face & The Body Day Spas; Bob McCoole, president, J.S. Alberici Construction; Matt Matthews, president & CEO, Crown Optical; Jim Koman, president, Koman Properties; Leroy Wright, chairman & CEO, TLC Next Generation; Greg Sullivan, president, G.A. Sullivan; Ray Harmon, chairman, HASCO International; and Ken Kousky, president, WAVE Technologies.
New RCGA Business After Hours Committee-chaired by Steve Pearl, president, The Pearl Organization
This new Business Services volunteer committee helps the RCGA to identify Business After Hours venues and themes that will continue to create outstanding attendance and excitement, works with staff to solicit great attendance prizes, and volunteers as hosts to assist members take full advantage of networking opportunities at the events.
Comprised of approximately 75 members, the new RCGA committee is working to create the kinds of events that will result in increased exposure and business for all members.
Annual RCGA “Try St. Louis…Buy St. Louis’ Golf Tournament-chaired by John M. Rocco, general manager, AT&T Solutions
One of the region’s largest and most successful events-and always a sell out, the Annual RCGA “Try St. Louis…Buy St. Louis” Golf Tournament is a great day of golf, prizes, networking and fun. Sponsored by AT&T, Mercy Health Plans, and Seabury & Smith in 1999, the Eleventh Annual attracted a record 320 players. A new 1999 feature was the opportunity to play The Missouri Bluffs Golf Club or Whitmoor Country Club. The Twelfth Annual Tournament will be held Monday, June 19, 2000, at Whitmoor and The Bluffs. Hole sponsorships, contests, competition and attendance prizes, raffle and auction items are all a part of this successful annual St. Louis RCGA event.
CEO Roundtable Program
Since its establishment in 1993, the RCGA’s CEO Roundtable program has provided CEOs with the opportunity to improve their companies by creating a surrogate board of directors. CEOs share experiences, challenges and opportunities with and get advice and support from CEOs of similarly-sized companies. The RCGA provides a professional facilitator to support each of seven current CEO Roundtable groups, which typically consist of eight to 12 members.
During 1999, approximately 100 CEOs participated, with their companies ranging in size from one employee and with $100,000 to $250,000 in annual sales, to firms with more than 400 employees and greater than $50 million in annual sales. Mercantile Bank, now Firstar Corporation, has been the RCGA’s cosponsor since the program’s inception.
