Susan and I scheduled a meeting at a popular coffee shop in Roswell Georgia. I like to be punctual, so I arrived five minutes early to order a cop of coffee, find a table and prepare for our visit. As I entered the coffee shop, I immediately saw her, sitting at a table, waiting for me. Of course. That is Susan Knox.
Susan Knox of Corporate Connections and I have known each other for at least 15 years, maybe more. She is a tenth generation Georgian, born in Atlanta, with an exceptional reputation and network. Although I have attended a few of her events over the years, we have operated at the periphery of each other’s networks. For the past six months, we have connected much more frequently. We found that our business models were complimentary. After exploring the potential synergy, I became her client, and she became a member of ITB Partners. That’s a topic for another post. I am so pleased to have her on the ITB Partners Team as her business is unique and her personal story is most compelling. In fact, I thought you would find her story so interesting, I convinced her to sit for an interview.
Jim: “Susan, thank you for making time to meet me today. To begin our conversation, could you tell me about Corporate Connections.”
Susan: “I am a Business Accelerator I help generate revenue for companies and executives by providing high-level corporate introductions. I also connect companies with capital. My tag line is, ‘it’s not the people you know, it’s the people who know you.’
” I believe My Mission to connect executives and to help fill companies and individuals’ pipelines with prospects and influencers. And the reason I say prospects and influencers is because there are a lot of people out there that are doing business who need to know people, they can do business with. They also need to know people who are very well connected. I have learned by doing this since 1999, that not only do I need to introduce my clients to people they can actually do business with but to find other Susan Knox who can help fill their Rolladex, growing their relationships exponentially. ”
Jim: ” So you not only help them with their business development, you help them build their overall Networks.”
Susan: “Totally. I have had several conversations recently with people who say; ‘Susan if I had direct access to the people I am trying to sell to, I could win so many more contracts and get so much more business. But I am going up against three or four other companies.’ So, a lot of people say, ‘if I could hire you, you could take me into the company directly at a level I need to be.’ The instances of me closing their business (contracts) are far greater.”
Jim: “You are a 10th Generation Georgian, having lived here your whole life; is this background responsible for the creation of Corporate Connections?”
Susan: “Yes! So, I think since I was little, I was groomed to do this. I grew up in a family with three older brothers, very southern, hosting events, becoming a gracious host. I always loved combining what comes naturally and what I enjoy doing, with something people want. I mean, that is absolutely so true! I think I have been groomed to do what I am doing today pretty much since I was little. Coming from Atlanta and having deep roots here, certainly helped.”
Jim: “Are your services appropriate to people and businesses planning to move to Atlanta?”
Susan: “It’s super valuable, but I haven’t really leveraged that. I could certainly go to companies and say ‘if you are bringing people into Atlanta, I can help them with their transition. I could tell them about private schools, about country clubs, different areas of town, and that kind of thing. But every day when I wake up, I think, ‘I have a network that I must be helping.’ My focus is 100% on connecting them with people they need to know”
Jim: “Corporate Connections is Atlanta-based, but I know you have clients in Dallas, Texas, and Memphis, Tennessee. What other clients do you have outside the State of Georgia?’
Susan: “I have clients in San Antonio, and a client out of New York, a Private Equity firm. But you know, I have relationships all over the country. I’ve met these people over the years, and those connections have connected me to potential clients that are trying to raise capital or that have an office in Atlanta. What has been highly effective is a connection in Houston who has a Healthcare Think Tank. She has sent me six clients in the past few months. It’s amazing the number of Texas Companies that want to do business in Georgia, and Georgia Companies that want to gain work in Texas. So, we have collaborated a whole lot.”
Jim: “Do you have clients in other Georgia Cities?”
Susan: “Well, I have clients in Savannah, Macon, South Georgia, but the preponderance of my clients in Atlanta and the outlying areas.”
TO BE CONTINUED…
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Jim Weber – Managing Partner, ITB Partners