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New Networking Group Debuts
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42
FRIDAY, MAY 13, 1988
F
or businessman Bob
Ziegelman, The Forum
is a new way to say
hello in a suave, sophisticated
style.
"It's a way of networking
without having to go to a
fund-raiser," says Ziegelman,
an architect from Birm-
ingham. "And it's a creative
way of doing business."
The Forum, designed to en-
courage business networking
through elegant parties that
star celebrity headliners, was
developed by insurance ex-
ecutive Harry Colburn and
Dian Pastor, a former vice
president of a real estate in-
vestment company.
"Since I'm in the insurance
business, I know all about the
need to develop contacts," Col-
burn says. "Too many people
get so bogged down with
business affairs that they
don't get out enough. We are
very candid about what we
are doing. We want people
who attend to know why they
are there. It's a way to say hi
and a way to meet new peo-
ple."
First on the list of affairs is
a black-tie dinner on May 22
at the Westin Hotel with ABC
broadcast journalist Barbara
Walters. For the past few
months, a small staff has
been soliciting businesses for
the group's debut — a $100-a-
person extravaganza.
Next is ABC Nightline host
Ted Koppel, who will speak to
the group in October. A third,
still unnamed celebrity din-
ner, is in the works.
Colburn says The Forum
aims to target both large and
small businesses. Progressive
companies, he says, have
become more aware of the im-
pact business entertaining
can have on business
strategies. Colburn says cold
calling is hard, and that The
Forum is a simpler way to
break the ice.
He is optimistic the first
dinner will prove popular, but
says he cannot make any deci-
sions about the group's future
until he evaluates the success
of the first event. Neither Col-
burn nor Pastor would
disclose business costs. They
would only say that they in-
vested a substantial amount
of money because of its long-
term potential.
An evening with The
Forum includes cocktails, din-
ner buffet and entertainment.
A smaller group will be
Pastor and Colburn: Sophisticated networking chiefs
Barbara Walters
selected to mingle and join
the evening's celebrity for
dessert.
Response has been
phenomenal, Pastor says, ad-
ding that about 650 people
have reserved spots for the
first dinner.
lb attract business, The
Forum sent out 5,000 invita-
tions — each containing two
tickets. Company executives
were asked to buy tickets for
both business acquaintances
and people they wanted to
meet.
The Forum handled the rest
of the planning. Special
couriers delivered invitations
wrapped in elegant gift boxes.
The sender is responsible for
the tab.
"Someone like Barbara
Walters certainly is an attrac-
tion, anyway," says
Ziegelman, who plans to
bring some business
associates to the first dinner.
"But The Forum itself is an
interesting concept. I get a lot
of invitations, but this one
sounded a little unique. I'm
really curious!'
Financial planner Beverly
Tobocman also is curious. She
invited her husband, Alfred,
an architect, and a business
associate with his wife.
"I go to a moderate amount
of fund-raising events and
charitable functions," Toboc-
man says. "This is a way for
me to entertain and reward
people who gave me referrals.
It's an unusual event, much
better than giving someone a
calendar or a pen!'
Colburn and Pastor
developed the concept over a
business lunch last summer.
They were looking for an in-
novative way to meet the
right people.
"People are used to
charities and similar dinner
functions," Colburn says.
"Nobody is doing anything
like this?' ❑