go around the room
and people intro-
duce themselves
and talk about their
businesses. You just
nosh and network
and talk."
Founded several
Adam Gottlieb
years ago by Alyssa
Cohen and Jason
Brown, the group meets monthly,
with anywhere from one to two dozen
attendees. Gottlieb said that as the
group's name suggests, it's "a bunch
of Jews eating bagels and drinking
coffee" who are trying to network
with businesses. The connections
form easily, Gottlieb said, because
people already share a common bond.
"In the Jewish community, every-
body knows each other:' he explained,
"but not everybody knows everybody
else."
Those who are involved in business
networking groups in the Detroit
Jewish community can attest to their
value. Edward Allon, a partner at B2B
CFO, a company that provides part-
time CFO services, has built much
of his business on networking and
referrals.
"The Jewish community in Detroit
is incredibly interconnected," he said.
"Networking is much more effective
with 'affinity groups, such as the
Jewish community, because you have
a natural bond with those people that
go beyond your business interests.
You share natural connections with
others with whom you have common
bonds, such as Israel or local com-
munal affairs."
Allon has been involved with
several Jewish business network-
ing groups, including the Zebulun
Society and Jewish B2B Networking.
He also establishes connections
through the Michigan Israel Business
Bridge, which promotes economic
and business ties between Israeli
and Michigan businesses, as well as
Lunch and Learns through groups
like Aish HaTorah.
"Networking and building trusted
relationships are the lifeblood of my
business and most others:' he said.
"That is true more now than ever.
Most of my clients have been people I
knew or people that they knew. When
you work as I do helping businesses
grow and thrive, referrals and reputa-
tion are everything. And networking
is an essential part of that process."
The Role of Jewish Values
Common roots certainly help foster
Jewish business networking, but
values play an important role as well.
Shalom Klein, founder/chairman
of the Chicago-based Jewish B2B
Networking and
publisher of Jewish
Business News, also
in Chicago, noted
that helping people
make business con-
nections is based on
Ai*
Jewish teachings.
Shalom Klein
"As a child, I was
taught that the highest form of char-
ity is helping people earn their own
livelihood," he said. "This is a core
value in the Jewish community, and I
saw an opportunity to bring together
people who sit together in synagogue
on the High Holidays and Shabbat,
but didn't yet know what their neigh-
bor does for a living and how they
can work together. This is the void
that we have been working to fill in
the community."
Jewish B2B Networking ran quar-
terly business networking events in
Southfield and West Bloomfield in
2010 and 2011, but is now focusing
on regional programming instead. In
June, for example, the group is plan-
ning "The Business Event:' expected
to draw 5,000 attendees from across
the Midwest. Klein noted that in the
two years since launching the group,
139 people have found employment.
Ike Engelbaum
of West Bloomfield,
who has been
running the
Entrepreneurs'
Network of
Michigan for 25
years, has seen
many success sto-
Ike Engelbaum
ries as well. One
man, he said, joined the group after
going through a terrible divorce,
losing his job and custody of his
children. The man established con-
nections through the group and even-
tually became president of his own
business.
The Entrepreneurs' Network, which
focuses on helping people achieve
their professional and personal goals
through support and education, has
250 members and meets every other
week. Its membership is not limited
to Jews, but Engelbaum, who also
hosts a radio show, acknowledged
that being a Jew helps guide his
vision for the group.
"As a concentration camp survivor,
I can certainly identify with how
important it is to help other people
he said. "America has been very good
to me, and this is my way of giving
back. The Jewish aspect of helping
each other is a big part of my belief
of how to be successful. If you help
others achieve their goals, they will in
turn help you achieve yours." LI
Community
service.
Challenging
coursework.
Lacrosse. Jewish
Student Organization.
Rachel Fine is delving
into her passions at
Kalamazoo College.
"K has done everything I expected
and more. I'm able to balance all
of my interests and get an amazing
education," says the sophomore who
will study in Costa Rica for six months
next year.
Drawn to K for its study abroad
program, small class sizes, and
professors who offer personal attention,
Rachel is thriving.
And the Southfield native likes that
she's a short drive from family and
can join them for High Holidays.
"Coming to Kalamazoo
College made it possible
for me to continue with my
ewish faith, but also gave
me the opportunity to
learn about different
faiths.
"I couldn't have
hoped for a
better college
experience."
Networking Resource List/page 22
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April 26 2012
21