A new business-networking group goes beyond the professional into the personal and pushes even further — into religion.
The Northwest Tucson chapter of Christian Business Networking was formed in April this year, said Tom Piazza, the chapter's president.
"This is really awesome. That we can have a networking group to promote our businesses was special. But then to also to pray for one another, to learn about each other's businesses, to promote each other was a huge, huge thing," said Piazza, of Geneva Financial.
He said the friendships formed and the intimacy created are what sets apart this networking group.
In order to join the group, members must sign statements of faith affirming their Christianity, Piazza said.
"As believers there's an integrity and accountability issue, and that's what we want within the physical group itself," said Suzette Howe, member of the group and owner of Praise Promotions.
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Howe has been a member of the group for a couple of months, and said she enjoys the fellowship and relaxed atmosphere of this networking group compared with others she tried in the past.
Troy Jones, also a member of the group and a Farmers Insurance agent, said the intimacy of the Christian networking group helps the businesses grow as the members become closer.
Other networking groups he'd been a part of were more systematic, "but with the Christian business group, you kind of go more out of your way to make sure you're taking care of each other," Jones said.
Although the members are Christians, many don't advertise their businesses as Christian businesses.
"I don't market that I'm a Christian," Jones said. "Hopefully, that'll show through in the way I do business. If it doesn't, I got a problem."
Piazza also doesn't market his Christianity and business together.
"I do that by design, probably not to scare anybody off initially," Piazza said. "But also it's deeper than that. The biggest reason is that, through my actions, that it would almost become like a reinforcement for Christians."
Businesses that place religion at the front of marketing may be cutting themselves off from potential clients, said Kim Nelson, professor of marketing at the University of Arizona's Eller College of Management.
"It's got a plus and a minus, but if there's a large enough group who are Christians or some other religion, then you'll get enough customers and you'll do just fine," Nelson said. "But you may alienate somebody who would not feel part of that group."
Howe said she markets her business, Praise Promotions, as a Christian business, through the Christian Business Directory, to attract a certain clientele.
"I enjoy working with like-minded business owners so that we continue to sow (Christian ideals) into the community that way," she said.
Piazza said he sees a need for more Christian networking in the Tucson community.
"I think from that perspective, of the body of Christ growing through Christian business network, I think there's a tremendous need for more chapters," he said.
There are two chapters in Tucson and interest is growing nationally, said Maia Arneson, founder of Phoenix-based Christian Business Networking.
Arneson said she's had national interest in expanding and is looking to hire people to deal with the expansions.
"We are definitely in an upswing in growth," she said. "Even just membership-wise we've grown by, I'd say, over 20 percent in the past six months."
Arneson, who runs 10 groups in Phoenix and two in Tucson, said she thinks networking groups, in general, are growing in the current economy.
"I think all networking groups are in demand right now. Simply because people don't have as much money to advertise, but they do have more time to market themselves," she said.
For more info
Contact Christian Business Networking through Tom Piazza at 977-4350.