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St. Louis
RCGA Business Services activities provide many ways for members
to benefit.
For all types and 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 how to run
and grow businesses more successfully.
Networking Opportunities
Great opportunities to make valuable contacts are available through
the RCGA’s monthly Business After Hours networking events. These
informal gatherings held at member companies are a popular way to
meet new people. Promoted by KMOX Radio, The Ascend Group, postnet.com
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
firsthand to other members and guests. Business After Hours events
during 2000 included those hosted by the Family Arena in St. Charles
and K.C. Masterpiece; The Crown Hotel at the Casino Queen and Southwestern
Illinois Tourism and Convention Bureau; KETC/Channel 9; Wehrenberg
Theatres’ Ronnie’s 20 Cine’; UMB Bank; Thunder Aviation, Chesterfield
Valley, Honey Baked Ham and Russo’s; Gateway International Raceway
and CarQuest; Mansions on the Plaza and Park Express; Color Art
Office Interiors; Enterprise Rent-A-Car 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 network 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 (BMI). Programs include the ever-popular Breakfast with
the Gazelles series, and other ongoing workshops to meet the identified
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 are
led by experienced facilitators to ensure cohesiveness and continuity.
The RCGA is a co-sponsor of the third season of the St. Louis Speakers
Series presented by Maryville University, and co-sponsored by KMOX
Radio. The series, which runs September 27, 2000, through April
22, 2001, 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
Mark Shields, Margaret Thatcher, Beverly Sills, Frank McCourt, Mike
Wallace, Mario Cuomo and Dr. Beck Weathers.
The RCGA was pleased to continue its civic sponsorship of the Gateway
Motorsports Club in 2000 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 practice, 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 Motorsports
Club was available May 7 for the Ram Tough 200 races presented by
Pepsi, the July 29 CARQUEST Auto Parts 250, and the September 17
Motorola 300. The St. Louis RCGA plans a similar partnership with
the Raceway in the Year 2001.
RCGA Online
RCGA members can access the RCGA’s Internet site at www.stlrcga.org
to quickly and easily learn about each department at the RCGA.
A useful marketing tool, RCGA members are listed on the RCGA’s Home
Page and are 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 and Technology Gateway
Alliance 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 - Programs are offered throughout the
year for members of 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 Verizon Wireless, Edward
Jones, and the St. Louis Small Business Monthly in 2000, the program
is in its sixth year. Gazelles during 2000 were John Bachmann, Managing
Partner, Edward Jones; Kathleen Fleming, President & CEO, Frontenac
Bank; Randy Schilling, President, Solutech; Bob McCoole, president,
J.S. Alberici Construction; Eric Sigurdson, Principal Partner, Sweet
Traditions L.L.C.; Byron Winton, Managing General Partner, Adagio
Capital Group; Bob Clark, Chairman & CEO, Clayco Construction; and
Maxine Clark, Chief Executive, Build-A-Bear Workshop.
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.
Annual RCGA “Try St. Louis…Buy St. Louis” Golf Tournament
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, Marsh Advantage America, a service of Seabury & Smith, and
Mercy Health Plans in 2000, the Twelfth Annual attracted 300 players.
KMOX NewsTalk/1120 was the tournament’s media sponsor. Players had
the opportunity to play The Missouri Bluffs Golf Club or Whitmoor
Country Club. The Thirteenth Annual Tournament will be held Monday,
June 18, 2001, at Whitmoor and The Bluffs. Hole sponsorships, contests,
competition and attendance prizes, raffle and auction items are
all a part of this successful St. Louis RCGA event.
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 in taking full advantage of networking opportunities at
the events.
Comprised of approximately 50 members, the new RCGA committee works
to create the kinds of events that result in increased exposure
and business for all members.
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