THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9601310126
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JENNIFER C. O'DONNELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Since July of last year thanks to Craig Bertenshaw - Chesapeake business owners and professionals have had another forum in which to network and talk shop.
Bertenshaw, a fleet manager and account director at Cavalier Ford is also the organizer behind Network Chesapeake, a program designed to help local business people meet one another and promote themselves and their company's services.
Bertenshaw has been active in the Chesapeake business community since he and his wife, Nina, moved to the area four years ago. But despite the many activities offered to local business professionals to get to know one another, Bertenshaw saw a need for more.
``I felt there was a niche,'' he said. ``I've done a lot of work with the Chamber of Commerce over the years and realized that a smaller group of business professionals with a common interest, would work very well for networking.''
The common interest, as Bertenshaw saw it, was Chesapeake.
So seven months ago, Bertenshaw organized the first monthly meeting of Network Chesapeake.
``I approached the owner of Cavalier Ford and asked for permission to use the showroom as a meeting place. Cavalier has been very supportive.''
Every month, Bertenshaw mails about 1,000 letters to area businesses to remind them of the meetings. Cavalier Ford donates between $200 and $300 a month for rental tables, chairs and snack food.
Bertenshaw believes his efforts are paying off and that Network Chesapeake is becoming a base in the business community.
``Our first meeting attracted about 125 guests, and now we have about 60 to 70 regulars,'' he said.
The group consists of a mix of professionals from nearly every branch of business from industry to retail to publishing.
According to Bertenshaw, the organization has already proved profitable for the participants.
``One of our regulars owns a carpet business, and I know he's received three or four referrals from other networkers,'' he said.
Bertenshaw believes the key to networking is persistence.
``If you find a group you like, stick with it. You build a mutual trust with the other members and, many times, a friendship. If you jump from one group to another, you won't get as far,'' he said.
Bertenshaw believes Network Chesapeake and other groups that help promote local businesses are not only beneficial to the members, but to the community at large.
``We're either going to sink together or swim together,'' said Bertenshaw, who added that the business environment is undergoing a fundamental change.
``Relationships are the key. I don't think you can just be profit-orientated anymore and be successful. It always comes down to people and the relationships you have with them.''
Bertenshaw and his family moved to Chesapeake four years ago. At the time, he was a partner with Integrity Publishing, a company that produces magazines and publications for several chambers of commerce and visitor bureaus.
After years of traveling for the company, Bertenshaw thought it was time to settle down.
``I've been in just about every city in the country,'' he said. ``But I wanted more time with my family.''
That's when Bertenshaw and his family moved to Chesapeake.
``I grew up in the Southwest. I was a desert rat,'' he said. ``We visited Virginia Beach on our vacation several years back, and I just fell in love with the water,'' he said.
Although Bertenshaw is pleased with the response he's received with Network Chesapeake, he hopes to attract new members this year.
``Ideally, I'd like to have around 125 regulars,'' he said. MEMO: Network Chesapeake meets at Cavalier Ford on Military Highway the second
Tuesday of every month. More information if available by calling Craig
Bertenshaw at 424-1111.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Craig Bertenshaw, a fleet manager and account director at Cavalier
Ford, organized Network Chesapeake.
by CNB