March 10, 2005

ABA celebrates March Madness at Britannia Arms mixer

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Resembling speed dating or sorority rushing, business owners networked and exchanged business cards and information before moving on to other potential partners at the Almaden Business Association’s March Madness mixer held recently at Britannia Arms.

Pictured are Katie Spielberger of the Mercury News, Edie Fehling of Century Oak Financial Group, and Deborah Sherrell of Silicon Valley Workforce Investment Network.

Building on its theme for 2005, “Six Degrees of Connection,” the Almaden Business Association (ABA) is striving to strengthen the connection between its members and the Almaden community.

“This year, we’re looking at developing not only alliances, joint ventures and partnerships with members inside the association, but also with those outside,” says ABA’s founder Doug Keller. “We want to bring new members in and geometrically grow this organization, so instead of ‘Six Degrees of Separation,’ we’ll have ‘Six Degrees of Connection.’”

Keller would like to see the ABA membership increase to 100 members and include 50 active businesses.

He was encouraged by the high turnout at the mixer.

“We had 30-40 people show up for this on a rainy evening,” he noted. “Someone asked me, as one of the founders, if I knew everyone here, and I said, ‘Thankfully, no. I haven’t met everyone.’ I’m seeing a lot of old faces, but new ones, too, and that’s exciting.”

To benefit their association as well as their businesses, ABA members are encouraged to join the membership, business building and social events committees. “It’s a great organization,” says Pete Bucter, ABA treasurer.

“We’re trying to help our members build their businesses, as well as give back to the community. Ideally, if we could get those things together, they’d make a great opportunity for all those involved.”

San Jose Councilmember Nancy Pyle shares a laugh with Doug Keller, ABA founder and RMR, Inc. president, and Jim Kabel, owner of Case Handyman Services.

There may be small business opportunities at City Hall, according to San Jose City Councilmember Nancy Pyle, who attended the mixer, because in order to promote local restaurants, the new $388 million City Hall will not include a cafeteria.

“It’s a great opportunity for businesses in food service,” says Pyle. “They can keep their host sites and use store fronts provided by the redevelopment agency to provide food, or they could deliver special orders, because we’re not going to go to restaurants in the area every day. That’s not a realistic goal. First of all, you’d get pretty fat, and secondly, there’s not that much time in the day to have a leisurely lunch.
Somebody could open a sandwich shop and make deliveries. There are ways to make some money down there, so I see it as an opportunity for small business people.”

Richard Crowley, with Ventura Barnett Properties, was delighted to find in the ABA an organization that combines business emphasis with small business. “I like that unlike some groups, they’ve drawn from a wide cross-section of the businesses that serve Almaden and Blossom Valley,” he says. “Especially small businesses.” Crowley appreciates the opportunity mixers provide to network with others in the group who may want to combine advertising and marketing. He also values the morning meeting presentations that focus on making his business better.

Gabriel Plasentia of Allstate Insurance established a new business relationship at the mixer with Vic Moezidis, who traded his high-tech career to start Ladies in Motion gym. Plasentia promised to advertise the gym with the women in his office. “If you help others, they’ll help you in return,” says Moezidas. “For instance, we give discounts to teachers. I have children at Castillero and Los Alamitos, and I know the teachers work hard.”

New ABA member Richard Flynn of Alain Pinel Realtors joined the organization because he wanted to give back to the community. “Almaden is very important to me because I’ve lived here since 1964, and I want to see it grow and prosper,” says Flynn.

Richard Flynn of Alain Pinel Realtors, his wife Nancy, and prospective ABA member Ron Hori.

Former San Jose City Council candidate Rich De La Rosa believes that the ABA provides a sense of community for small businesses, and that it’s important to have that relationship so the group can stand together on issues.

“As a group, we have the power to make a difference in the community,” says De La Rosa. “The more we interact with each other, the more we grow our businesses. We have a great partnership with the San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, and for a young organization, we’ve made huge strides. I really enjoy it.”

Pyle is excited about working with the ABA and the small business community. “They really haven’t been given the attention they deserve by the small business commission,” she says. “The city is putting a program together to do whatever we can to help small businesses. Our goal is to keep small businesses here and to help them to grow.”

The Almaden Business Association meets the first Thursday of every month, alternating between evening mixers and morning business meetings with guest speakers. The next meeting will be at 8 a.m., on Thursday, April 1. The location has yet to be announced. For more information, contact Almaden Business Association President Cathy Spielberger Cassetta at (408) 979-0231, or online at www.almadenbizassn.org.