Gender-specific groups offer networking option

Women’s networking groups are burgeoning in Northern Colorado, but are gender-specific groups really needed?

It’s a matter of opinion, experience, need and interest, say women involved with the area’s networking groups.

And some of the groups are perhaps misnamed, having opened their doors to men.

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Maury Willman, owner of Willman Productions and president of the Women’s Development Council, has seen a change and evolution in women’s networking groups.

“Originally, there wasn’t much support, information or education for women business owners,” Willman said.

She said women don’t require specific women’s groups because the comfort level between men and women has increased. The focus now, Willman said, is “for men and women to work together as a team.”

The Women’s Development Council sponsors the annual Working Women’s Conference each November, supports the Larimer County Women Business Owners and spearheads the “Big Connect,” a youth conference. The group also works with the Colorado Women’s Business Office on projects such as the recent Young Women of the West program and leads a quarterly coalition meeting of all women’s networking groups in the region.

“We are strong in the state effort for women business owners to gain government contracts and access to capital,” Willman said. “We believe there is a need to gain access to capital and education — our charge is education.”

Men are as welcome within the group as women.

“Men have felt very comfortable in our setting,” Willman said. “A gender-specific, closed organization and closed attitude doesn’t create an atmosphere for growth.

She added, “We are pleased with the changes at the Women’s Development Council, with the mentoring occurring between business men and women.”

The atmosphere has changed to a positive team effort, Willman observed.

Joyce Benesh-Williams is helping form a new business women’s group within Fort Collins, an American Business Women’s Association chapter called Paramount.

Benesh-Williams sees the chapter “as an organization focused towards achievement and education.” She said the group will help business women aged 30 to 55 actively engage in business, enhance education and skills, develop interpersonal communications skills, interact with the business community and have a place to connect and further develop themselves.

The Paramount chapter will begin at its tri-city invitational on Feb. 8 at the Helmshire Inn at 1204 S. College Ave. in Fort Collins from 10 a.m. to noon. ABWA will offer its members educational benefits and access to interaction with other successful business women in the tri-city area. Paramount is backed by a national organization founded in 1949 and includes more than 90,000 members within its 12 regions.

For Benesh-Williams, Paramount is an opportunity for her to “encourage people to achieve their personal and/or professional goals, and to recognize they have the potential to be whatever they choose.”

She owns T.E.A.M. Motivators, a company focused on the development of individual potential. Her background covers 10 years in public speaking and training, and 25 years as a negotiator in purchasing and materials management in the manufacturing arena.

When it comes to gender-related issues, the bottom line for Benesh-Williams is: “The point is not male or female. The point is knowledge to knowledge.

“When you realize that both males and females have something to give, gender shouldn’t matter any longer,” she added.

Benesh-Williams said that because everyone needs to have an opportunity to make a connection with a group, separate networking groups are necessary.

“A neurosurgeon and a mechanic may be friends, but when they seek professional groups to network with, they have a distinct separate set of needs,” she said.

When it comes to professional groups, “there shouldn’t be a gender split because it keeps people from making connections,” Benesh-Williams said.

However, “When it comes to social gender groups, no side has the right to invade the other.”

Twenty years ago, Nancy Valentine founded the Fort Collins Women’s Network. It was a group of 10 who had lunch once a month and has grown into a luncheon consistently numbering about 100 attendees. The membership is approximately 160.

“The greatest benefits of membership with the Women’s Network are the networking and connections, the monthly educational programs, and the diversity of business women represented for newcomers to meet,” she said.

When it comes to special-interest groups, Valentine said, “Each organization has a special focus to fulfill people’s special interests, and it makes logical sense to keep special interest groups.”

Valentine said that in some situations, gender-specific groups are needed. However, “in our group no one is excluded. If we can offer value or a job opportunity to someone, they are welcome, man or woman.”

Judy Robinson, former president of Soroptimist International of Fort Collins, said, “We need a variety of groups to serve individuals’ needs.”

The Soroptimist Club in Fort Collins is a service organization focusing its efforts through volunteer work to help and serve designated parts of the community. Robinson also sees a need for a variety of volunteer groups.

“We need to meet the needs of people in the group as well as those we are serving,” she said.

Robinson said it may be important to have gender-specific groups.

“Women and men approach things differently,” she said. “For a woman, it’s important to have some kind of contact that is hands-on and in-person. There is nothing wrong with groups for men and women and for all things.”

The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce is opening a chapter in Fort Collins. The focus of the group is networking, as well as education, training and information exchange for business women.

“Networking groups are essential, especially for entrepreneurs.´ said Priscilla Whitehead, president of the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. “Networking is the way business is done, especially with women. Women tend to follow up.”

While gender-specific groups are not necessary, Whitehead said, “they are certainly productive. Women are more comfortable doing things to advance themselves within a women’s group than in a men’s group.”

Whitehead said that even men now feel comfortable in the women’s chamber.

“Any good business man will join a women’s group,” Whitehead said, “because it gives men a better community profile and improves their networking possibilities in the business world.”