Business Owners Dialogue
The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce offers free programs that help you grow your business including networking opportunities, referral groups, and peer mentoring.
Business Owners Dialogue (BOD) is your key to informed decisions.
Running any business is a challenge, but when you own a small or medium-sized business, the expertise you need to make key business decisions may not be immediately available. That’s where our Business Owners Dialogue can help.
Business Owners Dialogue is a group of non-competing business owners who meet monthly to support each other as we grow our businesses. A peer-to-peer advisory group, we serve as a board of advisors for each other’s businesses. We strategize together on ways to face the challenges and opportunities that come our way.
As a participant, you will benefit from the experiences of other business owners who bring their diverse perspectives and expertise to the dialogue on topics such as sales and marketing, law, accounting, general management, capital decisions, and many other issues. Business Owners Dialogue provides support to business owners, offers networking opportunities, and provides a forum for an exchange of ideas.
BOD meets for 2-3 hours on the third Thursday of each month at 8:00 am (currently meeting virtually). Our focus is operational, examining approaches to sales and marketing, human resources, financial, and legal decisions. A rotating schedule brings greater scrutiny to one member’s specific business concerns each month for extended discussion and problem-solving. Group members are accountable to one another, with expected follow-up conversations about steps agreed to the previous month.
We bring in expert speakers as the need arises. Visitors are asked to sign a confidentiality agreement as our conversations remain completely confidential. We are not a referral or sales leads group.
The ideal BOD member is a Worcester Chamber member and a company owner who:
- has been in business for at least two years
- has three or more employees
- is dedicated to growth
- is operating with a business plan
- is prepared to make a long-term commitment to the group
Attendance is expected at each meeting, with electronic participation between meetings. Absences may be excused for reasonable business conflicts, but more than two absences over the course of a year jeopardizes BOD membership. We believe an optimal group size is eight people. When our numbers drop below that size, we welcome applications for new members, but we are unapologetically selective. Prospective members are asked to complete an application form regarding their businesses and specific growth plans.
This is a FREE Chamber member benefit.
Not a Chamber member? Join now and take advantage of this valuable group. Contact Kristen Luna at 508.753.2924, ext. 226 or kluna@worcesterchamber.org