Connecting People And Growing Companies

In a few weeks, we'll host the 2012 HobNob & CEO Silent Auction at the Larkin Center of Commerce.

The HobNob is our area's most impressive networking event of the year, and the CEO Silent Auction offers the opportunity to connect with 14 of the most impressive business leaders on our region.  As a part of the event, you can place nominal bids on the opportunity to get business ideas or career advice from the folks who run Alliance Advisory Group, Visit Buffalo Niagara, The John R. Oishei Foundation, Rich Products, Sonwil Distribution, Catholic Health, Erie Community College, Performance Management Partners, First Niagara, Roswell Park,  Kaleida Health,Try-It Distributing, Univera Healthcare, and Merchants Insurance Group. 

I recently had the opportunity to spend some time on the phone with Kamdon Flaherty, an entrepreneur who started Carrier Dynamics in 2009 to help mid size companies save money on their telecom needs.  He “won” Tim Tevins, President & CEO of Columbus McKinnon last year.

"I had reservations on bidding on something like that, and had to fight it out with another guy," Kamdon told me.  "(Tim) was good enough to take both of us!"

 They met at Columbus McKinnon's corporate offices, where Tevins turned his phone off, closed the door, and asked Kamdon how he could be of help. 

"My company was only two years old," Kamdon said, "and I wanted to understand Columbus McKinnon’s buying processes.  He gave me feedback on my mission statement and elevator speech.  I redesigned my website 30 days later with his input.  He gave me a keen insight into the C-suite and helped me understand how I should structure my business."

Kamdon thought he would gage the meeting’s success on whether or not Tevins took another meeting.  He has, and he continues to be a huge help. 

People like to say that Buffalo Niagara is a place where who you know matters in a big way.  Kamdon took his young company's fate into his own hands, and he's all the better for it.

2012 HobNob & CEO Silent Auction - register online

Tuesday, February 28th, 2012
5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Larkin Center of Commerce
701 Seneca St., 8th Fl.
Buffalo, NY 14210