I was totally excited about the presentation from TribLocal at the Brown Bag lunch. I decided to try my hand at using the listing process the very next day. I set up my profile, with my photo, and then announced a benefit for my best friend who is fighting a battle with brain cancer. The site was very intuitive and easy to use. While most sites will limit the size of pictures, I was told it would be better to use a higher resolution picture in case the article made the printed paper. I wrote the article on Wednesday and on Thursday morning I received an email to tell me my article had been promoted to the area's main feature page. The following week on Tuesday I received a call from the community sponsor letting me know my article would be in the Thursday print version of the Tribune. It was exciting to me to have my article printed on the first attempt, but also it meant a great deal to me to have another source for announcing this very important benefit. Thank you, GOA for opening doors that I never knew existed!
Christina Lawrence
@home Healthcare
Testimonials
Here are just a few of the many compliments we are proud to have received:
I've heard about the Wine & Beer Tasting event for years, and this year I finally attended and really enjoyed myself. This event offers a relaxed atmosphere to meet and greet other members. I spent time with a potential client and recently signed them up as a customer. People do business with people they meet and eventually trust and this was a way for that to happen.
Dale Hentrich
Farmers Insurance Group
Some might say that is the case but it far from the truth especially these days. Corey Heidkamp (Junk Remedy) and Wayne Alpert (FireClean) met 2 years ago at a GOA Regional Business Association networking function. Since that time a friendship has developed and a relationship to refer each other's services in-sued. If you remember last July how much water we had it was imperative that you had a Restoration Company and a Junk Removal Company in your referral list. FireClean/Junk Remedy worked on 37 properties together to restore these homes for the families. We just wanted to let you know that Networking does work and that if you have an opportunity to meet with some one you should. Don't shy away from it. You never know who somebody knows. The more educated you become on someone else's business the easier it is to refer them. Take the extra effort to get to know your contacts. Invest yourself in their company and the referrals will be a mile long. Developing a long term relationship with people is where it is at. Everybody has the seen the "Fly by Night" types that show up and leave to never see them again. Separate yourself from the rest and I guarantee you that you will create more business for yourself by helping others.
Corey Heidkamp & Wayne Alpert
Junk Remedy & FireClean
"Thank you to the GOA Staff for reminding me to register and letting me know of the change of venue for this month’s GOA Progressive Luncheon. It was a successful luncheon for me. I connected with a potential new client (already have an appointment) and reconnected with another prospect with whom I had lost touch (again we already have an appointment). I don’t look for instant gratification, but it’s sure nice when it happens. Thanks for chasing me to attend; I know you do it for everyone, but, it makes me feel special."
John Curry
Kappel Insurance
"The recent sever Chicago weather created a lot of concern and worry for me and many others. I am so pleased that two GOA members, Wayne Alpert atFIRECLEAN and Corey Heidkamp at JUNK REMEDY were there to help me and my family quickly clean up the mess Mother Nature left behind."
Ted Breden
Keller Williams Success Realty
"I belong to four other Chambers of Commerce/Associations and G.O.A. is only organization that hand delivered my new membership packet and had a representative from the association personally call me to insure that I was attended events. Complements to G.O.A. for showing me the value my membership means to the association."
Denise Haggerty
Direct Energy Business
I recently attended Chamber Net at Kenneth Young Center. I view this event as "six degrees of separation". Each member's business is connected in some way to every other members business. I was introduced to Sal Manso of Reebie Allied Moving and Storage; he invited me to GONE IV which turned out to be a great fit so I joined. Junk Remedy then became a preferred vendor of Reebie. We gladly accepted and have already received business from this new partnership. The more I learn about other business in GOA it has a domino effect of sharing of ideas on how we can all better utilize our partners. Eric Huron of Huron Paper Stock is a prime example. We utilize him to make sure our paper is recycled properly and as an added bonus they actually pay for the paper. These are just a few of the many connections Junk Remedy has been able to make solely because of the GOA. If you work it, it works!!
Corey Heidkamp
Junk Remedy
My company REEBIE storage and moving has been a member of GOA and GONE IV for some 9 years. The only regret I have is I wish I was a member for 20 years and that is because so much business has come our way because of GOA.For years most of our marketing spend was in print predominately Yellow pages but today it only accounts for 15 % of our lead source. The rest of our leads come from the internet about 40% and repeat business about 25 % and networking which accounts for 20 % .So when you see where your leads are coming from and you realize how important networking is the GOA is a tremendous value for the money spent. And not only that but the people involved in GOA are all top shelf including the staff that runs it. I encourage any business to get involved with the GOA and I promise you will not regret it.
Sal Manso
Reebie Storage & Moving Co. Inc.
I was totally excited about the presentation from TribLocal at the Brown Bag lunch. I decided to try my hand at using the listing process the very next day. I set up my profile, with my photo, and then announced a benefit for my best friend who is fighting a battle with brain cancer. The site was very intuitive and easy to use. While most sites will limit the size of pictures, I was told it would be better to use a higher resolution picture in case the article made the printed paper. I wrote the article on Wednesday and on Thursday morning I received an email to tell me my article had been promoted to the area's main feature page. The following week on Tuesday I received a call from the community sponsor letting me know my article would be in the Thursday print version of the Tribune. It was exciting to me to have my article printed on the first attempt, but also it meant a great deal to me to have another source for announcing this very important benefit. Thank you, GOA for opening doors that I never knew existed!
Christina Lawrence
@home Healthcare
"The GOA has provided many business AND personal relationships that will carry over for many years. I truly feel lucky to be part of an organization that does so much to assist in the success of its members. I have been involved in a few chambers throughout my career and this by far is the best!"
Larry Minutillo
BMO Harris Bank, N.A.
"Throughout my time in GOA, a large percentage of my new and recurring business has come through my participation in the organization. And participation not only means attending events such as the luncheons and business after hours; it also means giving back to the GOA in terms of working on committees and events. This is where members really get to know about you and your character. It seems the more I give to the GOA, the more I get in return."
Peter Czuchra
Cyber Com, Inc
"I have been a member of the Greater O'Hare Association since 1987. I have also been a member of GONE I since about the same time. The relationships I have made through GOA, both business and personal have provided opportunities for me that I would not have had without it. It is by far the best networking organization I have been associated with. I am honored to be a member of the GOA board of directors and hope to contribute my experience and insight to the organization for as long as possible."
Jeff Lewis
The Webs We Weave
"The GOA is a valuable partner in the growth of my business. Its contributions include new business, referrals and personal growth in the form of sharpening my speaking and networking skills. By participating in events I have been able to build familiarity and trust that has resulted in business. The combination of participation in one of the networking groups along with the GOA as a whole is particularly valuable. The investment I have made in membership has more than paid for itself."
Roger Smith
Edward Jones Investments
"Scott Lift Truck has been a member of the Greater Association for over 15 years and was a founding member of the Elk Grove Chamber of Commerce. If I could assist any new member that is considering joining our great business groups, I advise them to not just to join but get involved. After becoming an integral part of the Elk Grove Chamber, I found that the benefits of membership are directly proportional to involvement."
"But along with the business growth are the personal relationships and friendships that have been made and kept through my involvement. There are members that I now vacation with and many that my wife and I spend time with socially."
