Congratulations, Jewish B2B Networking on one amazing year!

//thejewishbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/247550_179379742115403_118499118203466_390365_7737791_a.jpg” alt=”" width=”180″ height=”120″ />Come meet with business professionals and small business owners for networking.

This was the first post. Shalom Klein expected only 20 people at his initial networking event in June of 2010. Instead, 75 people showed up. From these humble beginnings has grown a vast organization of business professionals and small business owners. As a grass roots organization, Jewish Business to Business Networking, has taken off like wildfire.

“The outcome was great,” Klein said. “People were already doing business with people they met that day.”

As Jewish B2B looks back on the past year, we can do so with great pride. Our growing organization now boasts over 15,000 members in our directory, networking events are held in Chicago, St. Louis and Detroit and web, tele-seminars as well as employment clinics are offered as community outreach. The website, www.JewishB2B.org, allows members to register for events, create a directory profile, search for jobs and post blogs. Jewish Business News, now publishing quarterly, reaches more than 15,000 people each issue. But most important, Jewish B2B has helped over 100 people get jobs!

Shalom Klein believes in making connections

Networking is Shalom’s passion and he has taken it to an art.

“I believe we’ve tapped into the small business community,” Klein said. His events attract a diverse crowd, about 80 percent looking to connect business to business, and about 20 percent looking for jobs.

“The goal is stimulating the Jewish small business community by encouraging people to do business with each other and create new business opportunities,” he said.

Because of Shalom’s involvement on the executive committee of Jewish Vocational Service, Jewish B2B Networking has also been working with JVS and other organizations on joint programming. This effort has resulted in a series of Employment Clinics Seminars for those job hunting.

Yes, Shalom has a day job. He serves as Vice President of MK&A and MKA Receivables, handling small business collections.

Jewish B2B Hosts Monumental Networking Event

To keep the momentum going, Jewish B2B held “The Business Event,” a free business and employment expo last August, which attracted almost 3,000 attendees. Also in attendance were U.S. Congressman Robert Dold, U.S. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky, State Representatives Lou Lang & Daniel Biss and Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen.

Next year’s expo is scheduled for June 14, 2012 at the Lincolnwood Town Center. Check out www.thebusinessevent.com for details and registration information

JB2B Helps Create New Opportunities for Job Seekers

Utilizing speed networking and other networking formats, Jewish B2B events make meaningful connections for those looking for employment.

Deb Weiner had just moved back to Chicago when she heard about JB2’s speed networking event downtown. Looking for a job in the non-profit sector, Deb attended and met Susan Levin-Abir from Keshet, who was impressed with Deb’s enthusiasm and background. Keshet was looking to fill a new position for a marketing and community outreach manager. Deb had several interviews and was subsequently hired. “Because Jewish B2B created these kind of events, I had an opportunity to meet face-to-face with people who were hiring. It was great to network within the Jewish community.”

After more than 20 years in the asset recovery business, Steven Schwartz was looking for new opportunities. He came to several JB2B networking events and met Pete Fenner, AAA Midwest Recruiter, who talked to him about opening an independent AAA office. This appealed to Steve because it would give him an opportunity to offer customers both AAA membership services as well as auto, home and life insurance. Now that his office is opening this month in Skokie, Steve also uses the Job Board on the Jewish B2B website to recruit his own staff.

“I’ve met so many new people through Jewish B2B Networking and reconnected with others, said Steve. “It’s a magnificent organization.”