|
Your Free Resource
Hey Fellow Entrepreneur —
The Hickory Networking Guide is all yours.
This is designed to save you time and give you a real breakdown of every group in and around the Hickory area — so you can decide if they're worth your time before you show up. I'll tackle the types of groups, the groups themselves, and who to contact. Maybe one will make it into your new work algorithm.
Types of Groups
|
Group Type
Formal
| —Structured meeting with a handout |
| —Have a 30-second elevator pitch ready |
| —Plan to be there 1.5+ hours |
| —Presenter every meeting · Referrals documented · Leaderboards |
| —Significant cost · Strict attendance · Seat exclusive |
Seat exclusive means only one person per industry — one roofer, one lender, one plumber. Main seats can sometimes be subdivided into subcategories, but most holders don't permit it.
|
Sneaky Take
If you get there 20 minutes early, you'll get bombarded with greetings and business cards. After the meeting, you'll know exactly who you want to talk to — and you'll have the chance to do it.
|
|
✓ Ideal for
Realtors · Insurance · Trades · Lenders
|
✗ Not ideal for
Start-ups · Marketing · Arts · Creatives
|
|
|
Group Type
Leads
| —30+ minute meeting · In and out |
| —Openings and closings shared · No presenter |
| —Nothing documented · No leaderboard |
| —Cheap or free · Loose attendance · Seat exclusive |
The pros sound great — but the same things that make them pros will make it feel like a con. No real connectivity. If you're looking to make deep connections with other owners, leads groups won't do that.
|
Sneaky Take
A networking version of a high five.
|
|
✓ Ideal for
Established businesses · Event planners · Financial advisors · Lawyers · CPAs
|
✗ Not ideal for
Start-ups · Marketers
|
|
|
Group Type
Networking
| —Come and go as you please · No structure |
| —Large events · Cheap or free · Attendance varies |
| —Nothing documented · Non-seat exclusive — any number of any industry |
Mostly large, planned events you'll find on social media beforehand. More for socializing than business building. Cliques can form — think high school — which can make you never want to return.
|
Sneaky Take
Can be a great place to meet like-minded folks. Think of these as after-hours events — some run during lunch too. No rhyme or reason to attendance, which is either freeing or frustrating depending on what you need.
|
|
✓ Ideal for
Start-ups · Marketers · Creatives · Barbers · Hair stylists
|
✗ Not ideal for
People with low social batteries
|
|
Groups in Our Area
Catawba Valley Chamber of Commerce
|
Leads
|
|
Location
1055 Southgate Corporate Park SW
|
Time / Frequency
Multiple Leads Groups
Tue · Wed · Fri — 8:00am
|
|
Attendance
None required
|
Price
$450+ / year (varying)
|
|
Events
Monthly First Friday Brew networking event · Multiple ribbon cuttings per month · Follow on social for more
|
|
Contact
Lindsay Kiesler, President —
lkeisler@catawbachamber.org
·
catawbachamber.org
|
|
BNI Foothills Referral Group
|
Formal
|
|
Location
403 Conover Station Library SE, Floor 2
|
Time / Frequency
Every Thursday — 8:00am
|
|
Attendance
Mandatory
|
Price
$1,300+ / year + location rent
|
|
Events
After-hours exclusives quarterly — Crawdads games, downtown Hickory/Newton/Conover, local breweries
|
|
Contact
Cameron Pierce, Farm Bureau Insurance —
info@bnisoutheast.com
·
Facebook
|
|
The Caldwell Chamber of Commerce
|
Leads
|
|
Location
1909 Hickory Blvd SE, Lenoir, NC
|
Time / Frequency
Every Thursday — 8:00am
|
|
Attendance
None required
|
Price
$500+ / year (varying)
|
|
Events
One leads meeting per month becomes a learning session — an industry is spotlighted with speakers answering questions
|
|
Contact
Brian Moore, President —
jointoday@thecaldwellchamber.com
·
caldwellchambernc.com
|
|
BNI Catawba Valley Business Builders
|
Formal
|
|
Location
1740 Tate Blvd SE
|
Time / Frequency
Every Wednesday — 8:15am
|
|
Attendance
Mandatory
|
Price
$1,300+ / year + location rent
|
|
Events
After-hours exclusives quarterly around town
|
|
Contact
Daniel Whitner, Edward Jones —
Daniel.whitener@edwardjones.com
·
Facebook
|
|
|
★ Chris's Group
The Hickory Algorithm: Members Only
|
Formal
|
|
Location
Different location every month
|
Time / Frequency
First Tuesday of the month — 9:00am
|
|
Attendance
Mandatory
|
Price
$1,000 / year — payment plans available
|
|
What Makes It Different
Book club · Outdoor team events · Growth-focused meetings with no sales pitches. Individual improvement first, transactional business second.
|
|
Contact
Chris Goldby (me), President —
chris@hickoryalgorithm.com
|
|
BNI NC CLT Morning Pacesetters
|
Formal
Virtual
|
|
Location
Zoom
|
Time / Frequency
Every Wednesday — 7:15am
|
|
Attendance
Mandatory
|
Price
$1,300+ / year
|
|
Contact
Savannah Knick, Guest Coordinator —
sknick@romeoins.com
|
|
If you have questions after reading, or want to talk through which group makes sense for where your business is right now — reply to this email. I read every one.
|
The Hickory Algorithm
