Christian Professional Network
Up and Running
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
There's a new professional networking group in town, led by Claudia Givens . Christian Professional Network's mission is to touch the hearts of business people and community leaders with practical leadership training and to connect those same people for business and professional support, encouragement and mentoring, and education. The organization also plans to be a gathering place for Christians in the marketplace, both in an online format and at regular networking meetings.
Meetings are on the first and third Tuesdays of the month starting on April 3 from noon to 1 p.m. at the upstairs "Somerby Room" at Somerby of West Mobile, 901 Somerby Drive. The cost to attend is $14, which includes lunch. Profits from the meeting, after the room charge and lunch fee are paid, go to the God's Child Project, which helps the poor in Central America, Africa and the United States. It is funded 100 percent by private donations and provides food, clothing, foster homes, legal support, medical care and love to children and abused single women.
Mobile Mayor Sam Jones is the first speaker. Jones will welcome the new organization to the community and give a brief overview on business in Mobile. Jamie Frampton of Mortgage Team 1 will be the speaker for the April 17 meeting.
Written by Greta Sharpe.
Value-based Networking in Mobile
By Glen Gould, Southeast Bureau Chief
Mayor Sam Jones of Mobile, Alabama, was the first featured speaker for the Christian Professional Network on April 3, 2007 at Somerby of West Mobile. An impressive beginning to what promises to be a new kind of networking experience.
Claudia Givens knew there had to be a better way. Desiring something different from a networking group other than the normal "swapping business cards", she set about creating a new kind of networking group. She had four goals in mind for the newly formed group.
First, she wanted to reach the hearts of business people and community leaders with relevant leadership training. Next, she wanted to connect Christian business owners and professionals for leadership support, encouragement, education and mentoring. Additionally, she wanted to promote businesses in the community by giving them an avenue to speak to their business peers about their business as well as other topics of relevant interest, and finally to be a gathering place for Christians in the marketplace both on line and at the networking meetings.
A visit to her robust web page (www.christianpronetwork.org) shows that she is well on her way to accomplishing the goals she set out from the start. On the site and at the meetings members can promote their business both as being a "featured business" for the week and by being a speaker at the meetings. The meetings attract a good crowd of both business and community leaders where speakers have about ten minutes to discuss their business or any topic "that may be a passion or life lesson" they wish to pass on.
When a business is featured on the site, a generous bio is listed as well as a link to the featured business' website. There are several links on the home page providing access to resources that improve one's business and personal life. From networking education to mentoring by millionaires, Claudia has provided an avenue to enrich the members.
The plan is working. Members are enjoying educational programs, community and Christian fellowship, and learning about leadership in the process from the relationships that are being forged.
As a crowning touch, all the proceeds from each meeting are donated to the God's Child Project. The GOD'S CHILD Project helps the poor in Central America, Africa and right here in the United States. Funded 100% by private donations, it is because of the love and support from people that they are able to serve so many boys, girls and abused, single women. A network of clinics, schools and Community Development Centers, The GOD'S CHILD Project provides foster homes, legal support, medical care, food, clothing and above all personal development and love to its children.
The Christian Professional Network is delivering value to its members. If you would like to be a part of the group, either through website membership, attending meetings or both, please contact Claudia Givens at cgivens2006@gmail.com
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Glen can be reached at GlenG@TheNationalNetworker.com
Thank you to Fred Sievers of the Who's Who Magazine for getting our information into the October/November 2007 issue of their online newsletter:
The Christian Professional Network meets monthly on the first & third Friday from 12-1pm at The Mug Coffee & Deli, 5817 Grelot Road (between Hillcrest & University) parking & entrance in the rear. No fee, just order & pay for your lunch when you enter before coming into the meeting room. Each meeting hosts a Featured Speaker and a Featured Business. Come enjoy lunch and bring your business cards to get some great networking done. .
(This is located about halfway down the page!)
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