NETWORKING
Valued clients , if you have considered joining a trade organization in the past , we encourage you to take this opportunity to get involved . By joining trade organizations that are relevant to your industry , you create opportunities for your business that you may not have known existed . I want to tell you a little bit about the benefits you can expect from partnering with a trade group as well as the benefits that we have seen in our own firm here at JGS .
Prior to working with JGS , trade involvement helped me develop a market-specific approach for the organization I was working with at the time . My experience with JGS has been very similar . Having worked in two different companies in the same market , I can see the value these partnerships provide at both ends of the industry .
Being an active member really gives you an “ in ” into your industry . You ’ ll find that in addition to increasing your visibility , your company will have more credibility and greater access to your markets . Building relationships with other service providers has real value for your business .
The process of joining a trade organization typically comes with a price tag of about $ 500 to $ 800 per year , but this shouldn ’ t be the only budget line item when you make the decision to garner support for this partnership . Being involved with a trade organization runs so much deeper than that . Your business development strategy should also include a budget for attending education sessions , networking events , exhibiting at an expo , and volunteering .
Look at your involvement as an investment because it is an investment of your time as well as your financial resources . We can tell you from firsthand experience that the returns you will experience with the right combination of trade involvement are enormous .
At JGS , we are heavily involved with and committed to the success of the Community Association Institute ( CAI ) in New Jersey and Pennsylvania .
OUR INVOLVEMENT WITH THIS NICHE ORGANIZATION HAS HELPED US DEVELOP OUR FIRM AND ALLOWED US TO SPECIALIZE IN CONDOS AND HOMEOWNERS ’ ASSOCIATIONS TO A GREATER EXTENT .
Our comanaging partner Vincent Hager sits on the Legislative Action Committee ( LAC ) for CAI New Jersey . Ryan Fleming Director of the Habitational Department sits on on the Board of Directors of CAI New Jersey . JGS Advisor Steve Roderick sits on the Membership Committee for the New Jersey chapter . Steve is also the Vice Chair of the NJ Regional Counsel for the CAI Keystone Chapter . I am the Chair for both CAI New Jersey ’ s and CAI Keystone ’ s Business Partner Committees , which focus on bringing value to the service provider members of the organization .
You need to be visible in your trade organizations to get the most out of them . This means being present and showing up for your partners when they need you . Even events you think are not relevant to you may be relevant to your industry and provide opportunities for
BY : DAVID VELASCO , EBP , ADVISOR , JGS INSURANCE , A BALDWIN RISK PARTNER
development that you haven ’ t yet explored . For example , if you are in construction , there might be a seminar on plumbing that you think isn ’ t relevant to you . However , the people in attendance may be your target audience , and their concerns should be yours as well . The more you can present your business development team , the more visible you will become .
Remember that trade involvement is a long-term strategy . It may take a couple of years to see those high returns on investment , but if you put in the resources , you will get back what you put in and so much more .
I hope this article has inspired you to tap into your network of trade organizations and find channels to expand your existing partnerships . If you have questions about JGS ’ s trade involvement or would like some advice on how your organization can get involved in a partnership , I invite you to reach out to me directly at dvelasco @ jgsinsurance . com . I look forward to hearing from you ! +
David Velasco has worked in the habitational industry for close to a decade and thrives on connecting people . Solving problems for clients and connections is his daily motivation . Joining the JGS team is a natural progression of his path forward . Serving on the committees of several organizations , he is a recognized industry professional , providing education through his webinar series , public speaking engagements , and social media presence .
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