In The News

• Social group strengthens local marketing network
• Koffee Talk Partners With Constant Contact
• Koffee Talk Is Not Just A Cool Name – It’s A Trademark!
• Connections Help Kick-start A Career
• Koffee Talk Networking Group Creates A Brew Of Its Own
• A Little Java And A Lot Of Business
• Set Sail, Network, Socialize, Make A Difference

Social group strengthens local marketing network

Something’s brewing in the Baltimore region.

Koffee Talk, a networking group of more than 80 area marketing professionals, had its monthly meeting at Baltimore’s Best Party Entertainers in Towson on Wednesday.

For some, it’s a welcome opportunity to meet with old friends, with members calling it a “community.”

“This is a great bunch of people,” said Loury Davis, the special events coordinator for Saul Ewing and two-year advisory board member of the group. “People continue to come because they develop friendships, and it’s best to do business with friends.”

While many groups focus their events around speakers or presentations, Koffee Talk focuses on having its members speak to each other. Throughout the year, the group holds 11 breakfast meetings and 10 happy hours. Using a unique twist on both, the breakfast meetings have a substantial time allotted for group interaction and feature an informational speaker from the community. Meanwhile at the happy hours, a different local nonprofit is selected each week to display its work and receive donations at the door.

Philanthropy is an important element, and Koffee Talk is known for its Koffee Cup Regatta fundraiser, which last year raised $35,000 for area nonprofit Destination Bright Future.

“Some of the top marketing professionals are involved [with the group],” said Bill Pisano, the director of branch operations for Stephen James Associates, a sponsor of Koffee Talk. “It’s a great way to get in front of a lot of important people.”

Started five years ago as a meeting over coffee at the Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, Koffee Talk has come a long way. Founded in 2002 by Suzanne “Lovey” St. Pellicer of Lightning Golf & Promotions in Owings Mills, the group has even had its name trademarked and a brand of coffee named after it, and it is looking at expanding across the state.

St. Pellicer said she wants people “to come to Koffee Talk and feel like they have met someone new and formed a professional relationship and feel a connection to the community.”

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Koffee Talk Partners With Constant Contact To Provide Clients With Award-winning Email Marketing Tools And Services

Expanded offerings enable marketing and sales resource group to provide clients with effective and affordable tools to help build customer loyalty and grow their business

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – JUNE 12, 2007- Koffee Talk today announced a partnership with Constant Contact®, Inc. (www.constantcontact.com), the leading email marketing service for small businesses, associations, and nonprofits. The partnership will enable Koffee Talk to provide their members in the marketing and sales industries with an easy-to-use email marketing tool for creating and sending professional email newsletters, announcements, promotions, and more.

Koffee Talk provides resources for the sales and marketing industry. Email marketing is an important part of its clients' sales and marketing plans, and by working with Constant Contact, Koffee Talk is able to provide email marketing consulting, strategy, branding, creative design, content development, and results analysis. Maintaining customer contact by telephone or with traditional direct mail is costly and time consuming. In contrast, email marketing is immediate, easy, measurable, and costs fractions of a penny per email.

"Our members and their customers are continually looking for cost-effective ways to market themselves and their businesses, and partnering with Constant Contact helps us deliver that capability as a valuable addition to our core service offerings," said St. Pellicer. "Constant Contact's ease-of-use, affordability, and professional look made it an easy choice for partnership."

"We strive to help small businesses succeed in growing lasting customer relationships," said Les Bruskiewitz, Director, Partner Programs, Constant Contact. "We are pleased to provide Koffee Talk with an award-winning email marketing service that helps them meet the needs of their clients."

Koffee Talk uses Constant Contact as a cost-effective vehicle towards providing a complete email marketing solution customized to meet its clients' specific needs. As a Constant Contact Business Partner, Koffee Talk has been able to expand its business and services and tap into additional sources of revenue by utilizing a vast set of resources, including: A co-branded landing site revenue sharing; online reporting; a free Constant Contact account; and access to a Partner Extranet for marketing and promotional tools, content, and materials to educate its client base on the benefits of email marketing.

About Koffee Talk

• Monthly breakfast meeting, where the agenda includes an informational speaker, member introductions and leads, and time for networking
• "Brew Happy Hour" – a monthly happy hour in which a different non-profit organization is chosen as its benefactor of the event's cover charge and given an opportunity to showcase an educational display to raise awareness of the organization and its cause.
• Additional philanthropy projects, including the biannual "Koffee Kup Regatta" – the 2005 event raised more than $35,000 for Destination Bright Future, an organization that provides Baltimore area disadvantaged and at-risk youth a chance to acquire hands-on work and soft skills needed in the career world, combined with experiences in sailing.

Koffee Talk received approval notice from U. S. Patent and Trademark Office for a registered trademark on May 8, 2007.

About Constant Contact

Please direct all press inquiries to:

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Koffee Talk Is Not Just A Cool Name – It’s A Trademark!

Baltimore – Started as a Baltimore-area networking group in 2002, Koffee Talk has taken a step few other locally-based networking groups have taken: it’s now “Koffee Talk®,” a registered trademark.

Koffee Talk convener Suzanne “Lovey” St. Pellicer said she recommended the step to the group’s advisory board as a way to protect its image and avert imitations. Koffee Talk is a member-based organization for marketing professionals. Members meet monthly for networking, lead generation and professional development.

“What started as three friends getting together for coffee, to share struggles and triumphs, has grown into a pretty significant membership organization,” said St.Pellicer. “The board wanted to make sure we took steps to preserve our integrity.”

With board approval St.Pellicer filed the paperwork in June 2006. Almost one year later, she received approval notice from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on May 8, 2007.

According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a trademark is defined as “a word, phrase, symbol or design, or a combination of words, phrases, symbols or designs, that identifies and distinguishes the source of the goods of one party from those of others.” The Office outlines the following advantages for registering a trademark:

• constructive notice to the public of the registrant's claim of ownership of the mark
• a legal presumption of the registrant's ownership of the mark and the registrant's exclusive right to use the mark nationwide on or in connection with the goods and/or services listed in the registration
• the ability to bring an action concerning the mark in federal court
• the use of the U.S registration as a basis to obtain registration in foreign countries
• and the ability to file the U.S. registration with the U.S. Customs Service to prevent importation of infringing foreign goods.

To file for the designation, St.Pellicer had to provide, a depiction of the mark, mission statement, documentation supporting the mission statement and current use in commerce, to show how Koffee Talk is different from other networking organizations. The trademark is good for 10 years.

Koffee Talk is open to new members. Its next membership meeting is June 6, 2007. Interested marketing professionals can contact St.Pellicer at 443-790-1220 or go online: www.koffeetalk.net.

About Koffee Talk

• monthly breakfast meeting, where the agenda includes an informational speaker, member introductions and leads, and time for networking
• “Brew Happy Hour” – a monthly happy hour in which a different non-profit organization is chosen as its benefactor of the event’s cover charge and given an opportunity to showcase an educational display to raise awareness of the organization and its cause.
• additional philanthropy projects, including the biannual “Koffee Kup Regatta” – the 2005 event raised more than $35,000 for Destination Bright Future, an organization that provides Baltimore area disadvantaged and at-risk youth a chance to acquire hands-on work and soft skills needed in the career world, combined with experiences in sailing.

Koffee Talk also has its own “Konversation Koffee” brand, a partnership with Baltimore’s Bluebird Artisanal Coffee Roasters.

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Connections Help Kick-start A Career

Networking is as important to your career as location is to real estate.

But not everyone knows how to network effectively, especially if you're shy or you're just starting out in a career.

That's where structured networking groups could come in handy with organized meetings and events where you could meet people without feeling out of place.

Take your pick among the numerous professional and business organizations in Baltimore. Some are defined by geography or industry or mission. Many have breakfast get-togethers or brownbag lunches, while others have informal happy-hour events and career management workshops.

I asked two professionals to share their strategies for group networking.

Eric Brotman, a certified financial planner in Timonium, is a longtime member of the Baltimore Junior Association of Commerce. The group has about 100 members who are in the financial services, mortgage and real estate industries.

Limit your membership to one or two organizations. Otherwise, "you're spread too thin," Brotman says.

And set realistic expectations about what you're going to get out of the organization, especially in the beginning.

"You're not going to do business the first time you show up," he says. "It takes a while to build any relationship."

Instead of handing out countless business cards to everyone you shake hands with, Brotman suggests developing a relationship with one person at a time. It's hard enough for you as well as others to keep track of one person, let alone 20.

"None of the 20 people are going to spend enough time with you to remember you," he says.

For newbies, Lovey St. Pellicer-Stofko of Owings Mills advises contacting the membership coordinator of the group and introducing yourself. That way, the coordinator could start introducing you to other members so as to avoid that awkward I-don't-know-anyone-here feeling.

In 2002, St. Pellicer-Stofko started Koffee Talk, a networking and professional organization for sales and marketing professionals around Baltimore. She was switching careers from marketing to corporate sales and wanted to develop a customer base. So, she and two friends met for coffee every week to exchange leads.

Today, the group holds breakfast meetings, business roundtables and happy-hour events. (True to its name, Koffee Talk even has its own coffee blend.)

At organized events, members have a chance to introduce themselves to others with two-minute promos.

Make it short and sweet, and include an interesting fact about yourself.

"So many people come and go, you want to be remembered," St. Pellicer-Stofko says.

If you can't find what you want in a group, start your own like St. Pellicer-Stofko did.

"All you need is a group of people who could bring someone you don't know to the table," Brotman says. "You don't need 1,000 members to make it a worthwhile thing."

Copyright © 2006

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Koffee Talk Networking Group Creates A Brew Of Its Own

Special Coffee Supports Fair Trade Mission

"Konversation Koffee" is a new brew of coffee, which Koffee Talk has created with a long-term partnership with Bluebird Artisanal Coffee Roasters of Baltimore. The coffee was unveiled today and its first public perking took place during the group's October meeting, held at the Inn at Henderson's Wharf in Fells Point.

In keeping with Koffee Talk's benevolent mission, its special blend carries the "Fair Trade Certification." Fair Trade coffee gives farmers a better standard of living. Its producer cooperatives are guaranteed a minimum fair price for their crops. Bluebird's founder Erik Rudolph spoke to this important issue during the meeting.

The coffee will be consumed by the group at its monthly meetings. Packages of the coffee will also be given to speakers and new members, as a way to show appreciation for their time and interest in the organization. St. Pellicer says the group is also developing additional ways to utilize coffee in the future.

The coffee will be available for purchase through Bluebird Coffee and Koffee Talk.

Koffee Talk now counts more than 60 area marketing and sales professionals among its members and is open to new members. Interested marketing professionals can contact St. Pellicer at 443-790-1220 or go online: www.koffeetalk.net.

About Koffee Talk

• a monthly breakfast meeting, where the agenda includes an informational speaker, member introductions and leads, and time for networking
• a "Marketing Round Table" - a monthly educational forum for members' seeking a better understanding of strategic marketing principles
• a "Sales Round Table" - a monthly lead-generating meeting and educational forum for members' looking to educate themselves about better selling practices
• a "Brew Happy Hour" - a monthly happy hour in which a different non-profit organization is chosen as its benefactor of the event's cover charge and given an opportunity to showcase an educational display to raise awareness of the organization and its cause.
• additional philanthropy projects, including the biannual "Koffee Kup Regatta" - the 2005 event raised more than $35,000 for Destination Bright Future, an organization that provides Baltimore area disadvantaged and at-risk youth a chance to acquire hands-on work and soft skills needed in the career world, combined with experiences in sailing.

About Bluebird Artisanal Coffee Roasters

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A Little Java And A Lot Of Business

Leads groups, like Baltimore's Koffee Talk, are forming at a quick pace

Building the network: She started her network as soon as she started selling. It's grown.

When Suzanne St. Pellicer left the hospitality and catering industry for a job in sales, the young Baltimore businesswoman needed one thing quickly: a customer base.

So St. Pellicer, who is in corporate sales for Lightning Golf & Promotions Inc., invited two people to join her the first Wednesday of every month at the Marriott Waterfront to share a cup of coffee and a healthy number of business leads.

The trio passed along tips about growing businesses that could become potential clients, made referrals, opened doors and -- after a short time -- expanded the group.

"We outgrew the lobby of the Marriott," St. Pellicer said. "Really, just by word of mouth, this started to spread."

Three years later, St. Pellicer's leads group has a name, "Koffee Talk," about 75 members, a charity called "Destination Bright Future," aiming to mentor youth through sailing, and educational activities and the occasional social outing.

While not all leads groups are as organized as St. Pellicer's, they are cropping up all over the region as a very successful -- and usually cheap -- path to landing business.

Although some leads groups have been around for decades, many say others hatched shortly after the economic downturn about five years ago -- when both small and large companies slashed expense accounts, leaving many salespeople to fend for themselves.

Terri Harrington, a commercial real estate broker for the Shapiro Co. in Baltimore, said she became active in a leads group about five years ago, one that has proven to be invaluable.

Now, the broker is involved with two leads groups, including one that incorporates six of her competitors. "We share non-proprietary leads," Harrington said. "Now, that's out of the box,'' she said of her atypical group. "At the same time, we all have to play in the same sandbox."

Most leads groups do not allow competitors to join. C. Gordon Hammann Jr., general manager for SF&C Insurance Associates, said his leads group only permits one company "per classification" or industry.

The group of which Hammann is part, Executives Association of Baltimore, has been around since 1939. With 28 company members, the group meets three times per month with a modified schedule in the summer.

Unlike many other organizations, Executives Association of Baltimore charges companies $65 per month for membership, which Hammann explained basically covers the cost of meals for members and the salary for an executive director.

While the emphasis is on leads, people are not forced to bring a list each month. It's about the relationships and referring businesses. And it's about doing business with one another, Hammann said.
"The more relationships you have, the better," he said. "You never know what the opportunity is going to be."

At one point, Hammann said a connection with an Executives Association of Baltimore member landed him $400,000 worth of business. The local chapter of Executives Association is one of 110 throughout the world, according to the networking organization.

While the original one was in Chicago, Hammann said, there are others in Washington, D.C., Miami and San Francisco. All are offshoots of the Rotary concept.

St. Pellicer said she does not have any plans to replicate her "Koffee Talk," concept. "Koffee Talk is a part of my business," she said. "It's not how I pay my bills."

And should the group, which caters to marketing professionals, get any bigger, it may not be as productive for its members.

Karen K. McKay, an assistant account executive for Nevins & Associates, a Hunt Valley marketing, public relations and advertising firm, said Koffee Talk is just the right size.

"I get resources," she said during a recent Koffee Talk breakfast at the Engineers Club. "If I have the opportunity, absolutely, I will try to get new business. It has definitely paid off."

Matt Riggs, marketing director at the Engineers Club in Mt. Vernon, agreed the group -- and its healthy number of participants -- is a great way to lure new business. "In fact, I'm giving a tour in a few minutes," he quipped.

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Set Sail, Network, Socialize, Make A Difference

And Be A Part Of Koffee Kup 2005

Regatta hosted by Koffee Talk to Benefit Destination Bright Future

Baltimore, Md. – Koffee Talk, an organization of local Baltimore marketing professionals, is hosting its first Koffee Kup regatta event on Friday, September 30, 2005. There is no coffee involved, but this event is nothing short of a social sailing extravaganza! Koffee Kup will benefit Destination Bright Future, an organization that provides disadvantaged and at-risk youth in the Baltimore area a chance to grow and learn with combined experiences of sailing and working with teachers. With sailboats, captains and short lessons from Getaway Sailing, Koffee Kup teams will set sail on September 30 at 3:00 p.m. Spectators can watch the regatta from the Bay Café on Canton’s waterfront and can remain there for the post-race party at 4:30 p.m.

This event is especially unique because the participants are sailing, for sailing. While crews will have fun on the water they are creating opportunities for Baltimore’s underprivileged youth to enjoy the same experience of growing and learning through sailing.

Calling all sailors, non-sailors and land lovers too! Anyone can participate - a group of friends, a company or strangers. All you need is a five-person crew to sponsor a boat. Neither a boat nor the ability to sail is required, but if you have either, that sails with us too. Getaway Sailing will provide boats, a captain and a brief lesson prior to the event. You can be a part of Koffee Kup in oceans of ways, sea legs not required. Involvement can range from sponsoring a boat to just being a part of the regatta atmosphere. Monetary donations are welcome and sponsorship packages are available. Also, there are five pre-regatta events held throughout this summer to get your crew ready for the big Koffee Kup.

If you are a land lover, you will not miss out. A silent auction with great travel packages and restaurant certificates will have something for everyone. The celebration also features live music, good company, fun cocktails and the amusement of the race, so spectators are sure to be entertained.

“Koffee Talk is a talented group of individuals and we are excited to put our skills together to give back to the community,” expressed Suzanne St. Pellicer, founder of Koffee Talk. “We hope this first event will help set sail a future of successful philanthropic events from Koffee Talk.”

Funds raised at Koffee Kup will benefit Destination Bright Future. It is a non-profit organization that uniquely assists Baltimore’s youth in accumulating skills to help them obtain a bright and healthy future. The programs are hands on and a fun way to learn with on site lessons of teamwork, self-confidence and subjects from writing to arithmetic.

“Destination Bright Future is excited to have the support of Koffee Talk,” said Rob Bader, Executive Director of Destination Bright Future. “A regatta is a perfect way to fundraise for our organization and we appreciate everyone’s efforts to assist our organization and the youth of Baltimore.” For more questions about Destination Bright Future, please call Executive Director, Rob Bader at 410-342-3110.

“This event is a wonderful opportunity to support Destination Bright Future while enjoying the harbor,” explained Dick Mead, Founder and Owner of Getaway Sailing. “It’s a good excuse to get out and socialize, feel the wind on your face and help youth, all to give back to our community.”

This corporate regatta will be time well spent with friends, colleagues, and new connections. For more information about getting involved in the Koffee Kup regatta please contact Melanie Cross, event coordinator at 410-916-2954 or mcross805@comcast.net.

Koffee Talk

Destination Bright Future

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