Women's business networking group takes root on Marco

Marco businesswoman Darcie Guerin was impressed.
She was at her third meeting of Lee Collier Business Women on May 24, and said she’d made some networking inroads even before breakfast was served at Chefs’ Express in Olde Marco.

“There are zillions of women’s organizations, but not one that is purely business focused,” said Guerin, a financial advisor with Raymond James. “This one fills a void.

“With casual chatting this morning, I have already tapped into some information.”

That fits the motto of Lee Collier Business Women founder Robin Schwartz, who launched the organization about four years ago.

It is, Schwartz said, “a professional organization of business women seeking to grow their business through qualified referrals and networking.”

Also impressed was interior designer Bobbie Lansdown, a first-timer who said she’d be joining the organization the same day.

Lansdown told the group that the lagging economy had affected her primary business, so she’d branched out to include home “organizing” in her portfolio.

Faith Mattei introduced herself to the group of about 15 women, and touted the advantages of creativememories.com — a site that helps people organize their multitudes of digital photos into categories or directly into albums.

After accessing the website, people looking for her professional advice need simply click her name on the “consultant” tab, and take it from there.

Other professional women at the Marco breakfast meeting included two Realtors, a hospice representative, a cosmetics representative, a clothing store manager, a sales and customer service trainer, an affordable housing advocate, a fitness center owner, an author and a sales representative.

Schwartz said the organization is growing steadily, and now caters for groups in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Estero, North and South Fort Myers, Naples and Marco Island.

In her sights, she added, are Port Charlotte and Miami as well.

Members pay $195 to join the organization, and have various perks — including networking luncheons or breakfasts, an annual business expo, product/service exposure online and also the broadcasting of links.
Women interested in joining the organization should call 985-0400.