Lunch with Leaders

Earlier this year I joined an atypical networking group called Lunch with Leaders. Unlike chambers of commerce or other business associations, Lunch with Leaders offers its participants a chance to meet local business and community leaders and get to know them on a more personal level.

Once a month the same four hosts invite four new guests to lunch. Each participant shares their life story; how they arrived in Southwest Florida, what they do for a living, and nonprofit organizations they support. The format allows the group to learn about each individual’s experience and discover shared passions in comfortable setting.

We do exchange business cards, but there are no sales pitches. The purpose is to connect leaders in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Lakewood Ranch. As such the venue rotates between Mediterraneano, Pier 22, and Polo Grill. We take a photo of the group at the end of each lunch and post it on the Lunch with Leaders website along with bios about the guests.

After twelve months of lunch meetings, all the guests are invited to attend an annual reception to meet everyone else and make more connections. For more information about this unique networking opportunity you can visit the website at www.lunchwithleaders.org.

Until next week,

Matthew Anderson, President
Milestone Marketing Associates, Inc.