Midwest Society of Professional Consultants

Wednesday, November 3rd 2004 Program

5:00 P.M. Registration

5:20 P.M. Program

"Develop Your 30 Second Commercial"
by Tom Long - Solid Oak Consulting

For anyone in consulting, networking is a valuable business development technique. With this in mind, the November program will focus on several techniques for one critical element of networking: the 30 second commercial. How often have you met someone at a networking or social event and stumbled over your words when asked, “So, what do you do?” Or your answer is prosaic and not memorable – something like: “I’m in consulting.” In tonight’s pre-dinner session, we will work on techniques to overcome these issues and optionally, practice new approaches to the classic “30 second commercial”.

Tom Long is a successful senior executive with 30 years of experience in starting, managing and turning around business groups both domestically and internationally. Tom has worked as a senior executive and general manager in small, privately held companies, a venture backed startup, several large partnerships and several large corporations. In all cases he has demonstrated leadership skills in both startups and turnarounds. He is an Executive Associate, accredited by the Institute for Independent Business and is a BizMach Affiliate, focused on helping business owners to overcome their many business challenges and find time again for themselves. Tom is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rutgers University and The Stanford University School of Business. Tom also serves as an Adjunct Faculty member at DePaul University, Chicago.

Announcements/Introductions: 6:15 P.M.

Break/Informal Conversations: 6:40 P.M.

Dinner: 7:00 P.M.

After Dinner Program: 8:00 P.M.

"Make Networking Work - Understanding and Developing Your Networking Style"
by Paul Collins Jordan-Webb

These quotes from an article in the Chicago Tribune Business Section of January 20, 2004 ("Many job hunters getting caught in networking traps") are typical of the frustrations that many people have about "networking":

• "People searching for employment are urged by experts to keep making contacts, get their name circulating and meet people, but the process can be grueling for both sides";
• "For many people, skilled and persistent networking has paved the way back to the office. But others, months or years into the job-search grind are wearing out their welcomes."

Does Networking work for you? How can you be more successful at networking events you've attended? Whether you are looking for employment, for leads or for customers, the words that are used to express the frustration and mystification about the networking process are the same. In this session, you'll learn to how to develop and utilize resources that are at your fingertips, and you'll discover a few secrets about networking that are second nature to most good networkers. Objectives of the "Networking with a Purpose" workshop include helping participants:

• recognize and visualize what's in a network
• understand and assess their personal styles
• inventory their personal characteristics and resources
• consider what they want to get out of and contribute to networking
• determine what they can change in order to make networking work

Paul Collins has been an independent consultant since 1981 and since 1989 has focused on facilitating client's collaborative work teams in the meeting room and over the internet. Paul helps clients move many of their critical processes (strategy-planning, problem-solving, brainstorming, etc.) into the 21st century by exploiting the internet and other technologies. Paul's clients have included the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA), GATX Corporation, McDonald's Corporation, Motorola, BP Amoco Corporation, U.S. Cellular Corporation, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Paul is active in a number of professional organizations, including the Midwest Facilitators' Network (co-founder, director, webmaster), the Midwest Society of Professional Consultants (program committee chair), the National Black MBA Association (lifetime member), the International Association of Facilitators and the International Association of Public Practitioners. Paul is a member of the Board of Advisors for Loyola University's Center for Information Management and Technology (CIMT) and has lectured for Graduate Programs at Loyola, the University of Chicago, De Paul University and the University of Wisconsin. Paul also teaches ethnic folk dance, calls traditional American square and contra dance, produces dance/music festivals, designs websites, enjoys hiking, and does public speaking.

Registration fee includes dinner and programs.

Early registration must be made by NOON the Monday before the scheduled meeting:

• Members/Spouse/Guests: $40.00
• Non-members:                  $50.00

Late registration or at the door:

• Member/Spouses/Guests: $45.00
• Non-members:                  $55.00

To make a reservation: 312-201-0596