Leads Group Connects Professionals

(This article appeared in the 6/9/10 issue of the Nugget Newspaper)

by Bill Mintiens Kathy Kemper is a busy woman. She's a loan officer with the Arbor Mortgage Group, a member of the Network of Entrepreneurial Women, and mother to an active nine-year-old. Bubbling with energy and enthusiasm, Kemper made time a couple of years ago to get a frisbee golf course funded and erected near Sisters High School. Kathy is also passionate about helping the Sisters business community grow and thrive. About three years ago, having attended Business Network International (BNI) groups in Bend, Kemper decided to start a similar networking group in Sisters. "I found the BNI groups to be very rigid and formal. You have to interview to be part of the group, pay dues, and meet weekly. It just didn't fit my lifestyle," said Kemper. So Kemper started the Sisters Leads Group and recruited Ross Kennedy, a new Realtor at the time, to join. Together they began to "spread the word" to Sisters-area businesses about the value of the group. The Leads group began meeting the first Monday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. at Aspen Lakes. "From the beginning our rather informal selection process only had one rule - one member per industry. We have about 40 members now representing an insurance company, a Realtor, a direct card marketer, a graphics company, an event planner, a chiropractor, a life coach, a plumber, a green builder, a handyman and many others," said Kemper. There is no membership fee to join. Each month one member has 15-20 minutes to present their business to the other members. The rest of the meeting is comprised of informal networking and socializing. "We do ask the monthly presenter to purchase the snacks for the group but that's the only cost," added Kemper. Kemper sees measurable value to the businesses joining the group. "I've probably brought in $10-15K in revenue for my business since starting this group. Hands-down, everyone in the group has said that their business has increased as a result of joining," said Kemper. With membership growth, Kemper sees a need in the future for a more refined selection process of new members. The current, informal selection process has had a couple of bumpy spots. "I'm considering a selection process that's a little more formal going forward so that we get really good people. I had to ask a couple of people to leave because they were really pushy with their product within the group. I figured if they were pushy with us, that's probably how they were with their clients," said Kemper. Kemper states, "The goal of the Sisters Leads Group is to help Sisters thrive by helping each other grow our businesses wherever possible, either directly or through referrals." Near-term goals include a new Web page, potentially joining the Sisters Chamber as a non-profit, and having a link on the Chamber's Web site. The group already has a Facebook page. For more information about the Sisters Leads Group call Kathy Kemper directly at 541-749-0610 or e-mail kathy@arbormg.com.