How to Start A Broad Business Network

      “It’s not really that much work once you get into it, because meeting people is a good thing,” says Phil Kuhn (BA Financial Administration ’77), president of Executive Risk Management LLC and Chicago Broad Business Network co-chair.

Broad alumni interested in starting a network in their area first need to find other people interested in joining a Business Alumni Founders’ Council. Broad School Alumni Coordinator Connie Lawson says this is the most critical factor in the successful establishment of a network.

“The best way to find other Broad alumni in your area is to explore the college’s Alumni Connections database available to all Broad alumni on the Web at www.broadalumni.org,” she says.

Once a group of organizers is established and a shared vision is created, a connection should be established with the regional Michigan State University club – also an excellent place to find people to populate the Founders’ Council.

“It definitely helps to have people who have been involved at the club level helping to organize the Broad Network group, but if that’s not possible, I think it’s important to attend local club meetings to get familiar with people first,” says Keith McGorisk (BA Financial Administration ’91), MSU Alumni Club of Chicago president and ExtendMed program manager. “It’s important to understand what the club’s goals are.”

The first network activity should be a launch reception, where the concept of the business network is introduced to the MSU alumni club and the community as a whole. Afterwards, other business-focused activities that could be hosted by the network include a Broad Executive Forum, student treks and student/alumni receptions, “Meet the Dean” receptions and career networking sessions.

When asked if he had any advice for people who want to start a network in their area, Kuhn said, “Target specific people to be on the board with you, and try to find people and topics that are recognizable to people. Your goal should be to try to add value and touch people consistently.”

To find out more about starting a Broad Business Network in your area, contact Connie Lawson at Lawson@bus.msu.edu or at (517) 432-7442.

Charlotte: Making connections with southern charm Dan Roselli (BA Financial Administration ’91), president of RedF, recently started meeting with other members of the Charlotte-Piedmont Michigan State University Alumni Club who are also Broad School graduates to gauge interest in a Broad Business Network. “We’ve found a core group of people to get it going, and we’ve been organizing meetings and talking about what people can get out of it,” Roselli says. “One of the biggest challenges is to host events that appeal to everyone – whether they’re two years out or retired.” Dan Roselli The Charlotte network recently hosted their kick off event, when Roselli presented “The Transition of Corporate America to Entrepreneurship - What they STILL Don’t Teach at Harvard Business School but You Get at the Eli Broad College of Business.” The Eli and Edythe L. Broad Dean Robert Duncan was also on hand to congratulate the Network on its first event. Roselli says the kick off event was well-attended and a good start of things to come. “I definitely see the Network as being the business/networking arm of our regional MSU club,” he says. “I think this will be a really gratifying experience, because we’ll get to shape this into what we think it should be. It’s like using lessons we all learned while at the Broad School about leadership and applying them to a real-life situation.” “One of the biggest challenges is to host events that appeal to everyone – whether they’re two years out or retired.” Dan Roselli

The Charlotte Broad Business Network hosted its second event on February 3, 2007, featuring Sonic Automotive Executive Vice President and CFO David Cosper (BA Financial Administration ’77, MBA Finance ’78). The event was held in conjunction with the MSU Southeast Regional Leadership Conference. David Cosper

www.broadalumni.org: Your on-line connection to classmates If you are a graduate of the Broad School, you now have access to a new Web-based alumni directory — Alumni Connection. With 73,000 records, Alumni Connection is your link to friends and classmates, as well as a portal to world-wide professional networking opportunities with other Broad School grads. By keeping your own records updated on-line, you ensure that the Broad School can keep in touch with you about alumni activities, new services being offered and the latest points of pride about your school. Please be assured that your privacy will be respected. Alumni Connection allows you to determine who will see your contact information and gives you the opportunity to change that access at any time. The first time you log in, you will be asked to verify your identity; you will then be issued a unique password. This password protection, limited ability to download records and other security measures were designed to prevent your records from being used for mass marketing or ‘spamming’ abuses.