b uilding a n etwork

nashville association of s ales professionals (nasp)

Second and fourth Mondays at 11 a.m. at Burger Bar, 1850 Old Fort Pkwy. • Free nashville-nasp.org c onnect Murfreesboro Mondays from 9 to 10 a.m. BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse 2839 Medical Center Pkwy. • Free connectnashvillenetworking.com rutherford Independent networking group (rIng)

Get Out And Make Some Connections

By chelsea locasc I o

networking—an introverted entrepreneur’s worst nightmare. But it doesn’t have to be.

I started my digital branding and marketing business, DigiBridge Media, about the same time I moved to Murfreesboro. It didn’t sound like my idea of a good time to have a bunch of strangers stare at me while I talk about something I’d painstakingly built.

As I approach my one-year networkaversary, however, I have done a complete 180. Dare I say, I enjoy getting out and meeting new people, and getting to know them and their business. The connections and relationships often make those uneasy moments worth it. I have met so many kind and helpful people here in the ’Boro. Here are just some of them with their top tips to set you and your business up for success.

“When you are at a networking event, treat it like an appointment, meaning you are not there to eat and drink if it’s provided. You are there to meet people, make connections and participate.”

“Always be very specific in your ask. [Saying you help] everybody equals [helping] nobody. If you can drill down to a specific name or position at a specific company, that’s the best! It may seem like you get less referrals by doing it that way, but you will get higher quality referrals or leads.”

— Rachel Albertson, owner of Inforule Social Media, organizer of Networking for Awesome People

“Go to events and concentrate on meeting two to three individuals that you would like to get to know more. Schedule a one-to-one with them within the week. Learn about them and how they do business, not necessarily what their business does.”

— Jim Africano, owner of Affi Pest and Wildlife and Prohibition Home Brewing, organizer of C3 Networking

“Don’t try to sell your products and services at a networking event or at a one-to-one. Only announce what you’re looking for and how you can help them.”

“Have business cards there, but don’t always use a business card. Use something that’s a QR code maybe, not on your phone.”

— Ron Young, owner of Eagle Communications, member of the Murfreesboro Technology Council board, which hosts networking and tech-related events

“Do more listening than talking. Approach the situation as a ‘how can I help?’ versus ‘how can they help me?’”

— Leslie McCain, owner of Allegra Printing and Mail, facilitator of the Murfreesboro Networking Today International chapter

“Just handing out business cards is a complete waste of time. You have to actually schedule one-to-ones to get to know people. Pick one or two networking groups that you like and keep going regularly. People want to see you over and over again. Networking isn’t a one-day game . . . I don’t recommend anybody unless I know [them].”

— Sean Moran, owner of Red Barn Financial, organizer of Business And Professional Events for Networking, facilitator of Connect Murfreesboro, advisory board member for Living Sent Ministries

Tuesdays at 8 a.m. at Stones River Church of Christ, 1607 Hamilton Dr. Attend two meetings for free, then $35 application fee; dues $35 per quarter networkingrutherford.com

Business and professional events for networking (Bapen)

Every second and fourth Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Steak ’n Shake, 2091 Old Fort Pkwy. • Free Find “Rutherford BAPEN” on Facebook

Murfreesboro technology c ouncil

Last Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at various locations • Free murfreesborotechnology.com networking for awesome people Wednesdays from 9 to 10 a.m. at Tristar Veteran Resource Center 439 Rice St. • Free • Find “Networking For Awesome People” on Facebook living s ent Ministries

Second Wednesday of the month from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Experience Church 521 Old Salem Rd., Murfreesboro • Free livingsentministries.org g&B’s gathering at the glade

Second Wednesday of the month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. • Free Cedar Glade Brewery 906 Ridgely Rd.

Believers in Business

Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. at Cedar Glade Brewery, 906 Ridgely Rd. Guests may attend two meetings for free with no obligation; annual dues: $400 facebook.com/bibrutherfordco rutherford Business Builders

First and third Thursday of the month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Parthenon Grille 1962 S. Church St.

$100 application fee then $25 per month rutherfordbusinessbuilders.com the c onnection

Third Thursday of the month from 5 to 7 p.m. at Champy’s, 1290 NW Broad St. Free • For more info, follow Murfreesboro Pulse on Facebook

Brew Business Murfreesboro

First Thursday of the month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Mayday Brewery, 521 Old Salem Rd. • Free • Follow “Brew Business Murfreesboro” on Facebook tn c hristian c hamber of c ommerce Fourth Thursday of the month from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Puckett’s, 114 N. Church St. • Free for members, $10 for guests tnchristianchamber.org networking today International

(ntI) Fridays from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Bell & Alexander Title Services 1639 Medical Center Pkwy., Ste. 201 Three free visits, then $25 per month networkingtodayintl.com c3 networking

Fridays from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Prohibition Home Brewing 906 Ridgely Rd. • Free • Follow “Prohibition Home Brewing” on Facebook super friday

On a Friday from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at Embassy Suites, 1200 Conference Center Blvd. • Free • Follow the “Super Friday” page on Facebook rutherford chamber of c ommerce Business after hours

Second Tuesday of the month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at various locations, $15 for members, $25 for future members web.rutherfordchamber.org/events

Murfreesboro young professionals $120 annually • infomurfreesboroyp.org tennessee women c onnect tnwomenconnect.com rutherford c able rutherfordcable.org

Business network International

There are several BNI chapters in Murfreesboro • bni.com local service organizations

Murfreesboro Breakfast and Noon Rotary Clubs, the Smyrna Rotary Club, Kiwanis, Exchange Club and Lions Club also offer quality professional opportunities

wildwood r eserve r aising Funds for aed s Organization launched after teen collapses on baseball diamond

By case terry

w i L dwOO d R ESERv E bAR b ERS h OP opened its doors on Broad Street in Murfreesboro in November 2022, welcoming people from all walks of life to come in, get a haircut, and make a personal connection. Now the barbershop is getting involved in the community in another big way.

Last June, Wildwood Reserve owner and barber Walter Holt was attending his son’s little league baseball game when one of his son’s teammates, 16-year-old Tyler Olsen, collapsed at the plate. The youth’s heart had stopped.

Tyler’s parents, Brian and Jaime Olsen, rushed down to save their son. As Jaime performed CPR, another parent retrieved the park’s automated external defibrillator, also known as an AED. The device revived Tyler and after a trip to the hospital, he made a full recovery.

The Olsens said that in a similar situation, but one without an AED available, a child’s chance of survival would be maybe 10 percent.

When Holt heard that Tyler’s parents were starting a nonprofit to make AEDs more available, he knew he had to get involved. With children of his own and a strong sense of community, Holt wanted to do his part to help Murfreesboro.

A Fighting Chance, the nonprofit organization started by Brian and Jaime Olsen, seeks to get AED units installed at locations all over Murfreesboro: schools, parks, and anywhere else they may be needed.

“Our goal as a shop and community member, is to raise enough money to buy 10 AEDs,” Holt says with a glint of determination in his eye.

A single AED unit can cost $2,000, so to meet the shop’s $20,000 goal, Holt has embraced several different outlets to help raise the money. The Wildwood Reserve has partnered with local car clubs, such as the Sleeper Car Club, in order to raise money at car show events in the barbershop’s parking lot. At The Wildwood Reserve shop, guests can donate by purchasing a ticket for the “pie your favorite barber” contest, where the barber with the most votes will receive a fresh pie to the face. For more information on these events and how to get involved, find The Wildwood Reserve Barbershop on Facebook or stop in the shop at 1330 NW Broad St., Murfreesboro.

For Holt, The Wildwood Reserve is more than a place to get a haircut. It represents a place for family and friends to come and connect with each other and the community. Walter says he has always had a passion for people. Before opening The Wildwood Reserve, he worked in healthcare and was the barber for his family. Holt decided to give barber school a try, and he ended up loving it. The bond between a barber and their clients can be something special.

Holt knew that he would eventually want to open his own shop.

“I had a vision to open a shop that no one had ever seen before,” he says. After searching for the right building, he came across an old car wash that was out of business. Seeing its potential, he bought the location and for six months worked on refurbishing the interior. Through dedication and love, The Wildwood Reserve was finally ready for business, decked out with the unique aesthetic Holt had envisioned.