Business owners tend to share common challenges. A peer advisory group engages business owners with like interest for purposes of learning new approaches and solutions to business problems and challenges. The Edward Lowe Foundation reports that business owners tend to learn more and process faster the information that they exchange with each other. A peer advisory group serves as your informal board of directors who listen, advise, and validate your experiences. Joining a peer advisory group widens your circle of contacts across diverse backgrounds and industries. Teaming alliances may be forged with other members. Peer advisors respect all aspects of each member’s confidential privilege. Members of entrepreneurial peer advisory groups can develop strategic alliances and promote strategies for growing their businesses.
The University of Mary Washington Center for Economic Development began hosting it’s first peer advisory group on July 18th, 2013 with the formation of the the Veteran Owned Small Business Executive Roundtable. It’s formative members include:
- Josh Ellis, President, ATHIO Technologies
- Mike Portland, R&M Technology Solutions
- Dave Rababy, President & CEO, Rababy & Associates
- Ken Stroud, Professional Solutions Delivered, LLC
- Tom Keogh, Corps-Solutions