Small Business, Big Ideas

Like most small business owners, Alex Kowalski and Jim Dobinski know the value of networking. Both became involved in the New North Small Business and Entrepreneurial Committee in 2006 in an effort to build new business relationships and learn from other entrepreneurs. Now Kowalski chairs the committee, Dobinski chairs its communications subcommittee and the two are encouraging other small business owners to join their ranks.

“Hands down, this is one of the best investments of time and energy I’ve made,” says Kowalski, owner of Alta Exchange Group. “Not only has my work on the committee improved my skills, it’s allowed me to contribute to the New North economic development effort, and that is hugely rewarding.”

The committee’s mission is to foster an environment that’s conducive to small business and entrepreneurs throughout the 18-county New North region. Committee activities are focused in three areas: communications, leveraging small business-related data and networking.

Dobinski, owner of Stellar Blue Web Design, says the communications subcommittee is the driving force behind two key features on the New North website: the events calendar and the business blog.

“In our early discussions, committee members agreed there was value in a business blog tailored to issues in our region, and issues of interest to small business owners or entrepreneurs. Our challenge was to find a way to execute that concept,” he says.

Committee member John Ingrisano, a professional writer and local small business owner, was a natural fit to nurture the group’s blog, he adds. Anyone is welcome to contribute.

The events calendar (at www.thenewnorth.com) is becoming the go-to resource for information on meetings, seminars and other opportunities for small business growth and learning in the New North region.

“The calendar continues to build momentum,” says Dobinski. “It’s another place where anyone can post information about upcoming activities, all in the spirit of business collaboration.”

Dobinski says his work on the committee is a great way to make connections with potential new customers and to learn the ropes of small business management from the other members.

“My partners and I started Stellar Blue with plenty of web programming and design experience – the technical expertise – but not a lot of business management background,” he says. “Through the relationships I’ve built working with this committee, I’ve got a broader network I can tap for questions and assistance when issues come up. And it’s been a nice way to demonstrate some of our technical competence to prospective clients.”

An Entrepreneurial Index to measure the small business climate in the region will be launched soon, says Kowalski.

“Our leveraging data subcommittee has developed this tool to reflect new business startup information, and related data. It will be sort-able on a county-by-county basis, to assist owners and others in understanding trends and patterns,” says Kowalski.

The committee’s networking focus has resulted in a series of four annual networking events dubbed NEW End (Northeast Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Networking Day). In 2008, NEW End’s Date to Collaborate was held in conjunction with the New North Annual Summit.

“What’s impressed me about each of these initiatives is the full commitment of the committee and subcommittee members to make them – and the New North region – successful,” says Dobinski. “People are just so willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work. I can’t think of a more energizing environment.”

Small business owners interested in learning more about the Small Business and Entrepreneurial Committee can contact Alex Kowalski at (920) 540-1072.