life
ENCOUNTERS
Making Connections
ACA BUSINESS CLUB PROVIDES SPACE, NETWORKING WITHOUT PRESSURE. BY MADELEINE LEROUX · PHOTOS BY L.G. PATTERSON
A
new option for networking
she immediately knew she wanted to
opening internationally as well. After
has been growing in the
do something with it. But at that point,
further conversations between Hess,
Columbia area.
all Shrum and she really had was a wish
Vianello and Shrum, it was clear that
list of what they wanted it to include:
this club encompassed much of what
204 Peach Way suite A, has been quietly
gallery space, as she’s always supported
Vianello and Shrum had been hoping to
expanding its membership throughout
local artists; a board room; training
bring to the open space on Peach Way.
the past two years, thanks to the efforts
room; and some office space.
The ACA Business Club,
of Lili Vianello and her husband John Shrum, who manage the club.
By August 2019, Vianello and Shrum
Then came Martin Hess.
had purchased the suite and began to
Hess, president of the American Club
launch the local ACA Business Club.
Vianello’s business, Visionworks
Association (ACA), approached Vianello
Even though the space was a mess — “It
Marketing Group, has had offices in
about bringing the ACA Business Club
literally had holes in the wall,” Vianello
the building since 1999. When a long
to Columbia. The original club is out
says — more than 60 people showed
standing business in a space on the
of Overland Park, Kansas, and there are
up to the first event, and five of them
floor below closed in 2019, Vianello says
clubs all over the country, with a few
signed up for the club.
34 INSIDE COLUMBIA MARCH/april
2022
