Taking Care of Business

Written by Fra Michael Kawochka (Buffalo, '91), Tri-State Area Alumni Club

The Sammy Tri-State monthly business networking dinners have been going strong, despite a temporary pivot to Zoom. We have rotated venues between Manhattan, Westchester, Long Island (and even City Island) to keep it fresh and varied. We have also hosted catered affairs at our member's homes, backyards and upscale restaurants.

As the group enters its fifth year, we find ourselves back in midtown Manhattan on the last Tuesday of the month. While the roster has waxed and waned since inception, the core group remains intact. Members range in age from 20 - 80, with that comes diversity in thought and perspective. Our Business Networking Group is a monthly dinner group for business owners and executives. Mutual moral aid and support is our mantra. It is a safe space to let our guard down and work collectively on our professional and personal challenges. Colleagues, and often competitors can become your best collaborators. Discretion and trust is non-negotiable. Membership is by invitation.

Since inception, the group has made more than 80 introductions, resulting in 40+ deals closed and $10M in business booked. Some introductions are bridges to other referral partners and spheres of influence, others are for speaking engagements to position brothers as thought leaders in their respective fields. Often, introductions are made on behalf of a son or daughter who is looking for an internship or career advice. These are priceless nonetheless.

Fra Fred “Uncle Freddie” Komson (NYU ‘61) offers one such case study: “Sammy Tri-State is an excellent networking forum, with capabilities beyond just business. When my wife needed hip surgery, my inbox overflowed with suggestions and offers of introduction. We interviewed several capable surgeons, chose wisely and had a successful outcome. Benefits beyond a balance sheet are what this alumni club is all about.”

For Fra Matt Morse (SUNY Stony Brook ‘03) business is personal:

“The Sammy Tri-State Business Group has been fantastic for me. It has given me the opportunity to reconnect with brothers I haven't seen in years, meet brothers from other chapters and generations.

In addition to the great friendships, I have also made great business connections. The group has had a positive influence on both my personal and professional life. If you're not involved in Sammy Tri-State now, I highly recommend it!”

DINNER MEETING FORMAT:

An agenda is curated by the steering committee for each dinner meeting: sometimes it is a Brother of the Month Spotlight, or a guest speaker. The Chair is our facilitator and timekeeper. A Recorder takes minutes. A Sergeant at Arms keeps chatter to a minimum. Roles are rotated to keep it fresh.

Usually we break down a current business topic or trend from our respective business vantage points, e.g. What are the tax implications of taking a PPP loan? Someone in the room is an expert on that.

There is time allotted for a mastermind session, where a brother can present a thorny issue with which they would like an outsider’s or specialist’s perspective: getting paid; dealing with a difficult client; hiring for an open position; salary benchmarks; and succession planning are all topics hashed out at the dinner table.

Nothing breaks a logjam like a dozen brains bearing down on something seemingly insurmountable. In mastermind, mountains are parsed into molehills. “I got a guy!” is a common refrain for something needing further escalation.

Brother updates are our speed round. Good and Welfare precedes Fast and Firm. Often, conversations continue at the bar or in carpools on the ride home.

Sometimes, a bolt of lightning will strike organically while conversing extemporaneously – “Wait-a-minute – you write wills too? I thought you were just a litigator. My cousin needs to re-do his will.” Or, “I didn’t realize you grieve taxes. I thought you were just an appraiser.”

In a stand-out success story, a grateful client said, “I wouldn’t be in business if it weren’t for you and Scott Bloom,” after Fra Bloom renegotiated his commercial lease during COVID. Testimonials like this are what we live for and illustrate the value of our group – not only for our members but for those in our sphere of influence.

The client who made that testimonial was not a Sammy, but was the beneficiary of two Sammys getting together and connecting the dots.

Like our Founding Fathers at CCNY, none of our business group members initially knew all the others. But over the years we have become fast friends despite hailing from different decades and chapters. Some of the wives have become friends. Kid parties and shivas are now a mutual penalty of rank. Our Sammy values, grip and crest were the common denominator that jump started friendships and business relationships within our group.

Our business group experimented with different formats (e.g. breakfast, low dues, no dues, pay as you go, etc.) before settling on an annual pre-paid dues-based subscription format with a high end steak house dinner on the last Tuesday of the month.

Members have the option to continue conversations after dinner, as opposed to a hard stop at breakfast or lunch.

We found that the pre-paid dues format forced members to invest “skin in the game” upfront which enhanced regular attendance. This gave us continuity of content and personnel, which allowed us to pick up the conversation seamlessly from the previous month.

Meeting minutes foster accountability. We invite other Sammy alumni clubs to replicate our format if they are looking to form business networking groups of their own. And by all means, please share with us best practices that work for your alumni club.

Occasional business group feature articles live at SamTriState.com. Inquiries can be addressed to SammyTriState@gmail.com