How Entrepreneurs Can Benefit From Valuable Networking

Transcription:

Mark Collier:
Welcome into The Playbook, Chris.

Chris Maier:
Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Mark Collier:
All right. Phenomenal, man. So for my viewers out there who don’t know as much about you as I do, kind of share with me a little bit of your background, man, and kind of what led you to this wonderful organization that you’ve founded today?

Chris Maier:
Sure. I’d be happy to. So Contractors, Closers, Connections started three years ago. But the story starts a little bit before then, Mark. So it was actually, I had plenty of odd jobs from working in gas stations to working in commercial concrete. So, tying pigtails around the rebar and being in the trenches, understanding what it’s like to be a subcontractor. And also taking down big buildings in the demolition industry.

Chris Maier:
So estimating, project managing and doing business development for the demo company, I got the capacity and the ability here in the Atlanta area to work with a lot of different general contractors and also end users, to include Emory Healthcare. We worked for Hines, and from real estate firms to help clear the sites for the way of the general contractors and then erect a new building. So really just kind of building upon those foundations in my past. After getting out of school, undergraduate, graduate, I worked various jobs that pretty much was a platform to another from the subcontracting, to the general contracting, and now more in the development world. CCC started in 2019 though. So I’m very proud of where we’ve come.

Mark Collier:
All right. So tell me about CCC and kind of, what was your vision for when you kind of created this organization?

Chris Maier:
So I noticed that there were a lot of organizations out there that are complementary, and they all have a place. There’s some that are very great with bringing architects together. There are some that are great in bringing general contractors together. There are some that are just real estate brokers. But I said, there’s not an eclectic association out there that’s doing a wonderful job of bringing all those pieces together, the developers, the brokerages, the investment firms.

Chris Maier:
And my motto nowadays is follow the money. Follow the private equity, venture capitalists and traditional lenders. There’s money being thrown around, and there are guys in the center of deals that are reaching that ultimate consummation of a transaction that we’re all looking for. That was my vision, to bring all these folks together. So as a grassroots movement, always commercial focused, wasn’t residentially transmitted. So that’s where we are today, flash forward, is just, how do we get more of these influential individuals that satisfy the vertical? And then balance wise, are they a managing director? Are they a principal owner, decision maker of the firm? So it’s really the balance and quality today that makes CCC what it is.

Mark Collier:
No, I can vouch for that. I’ve attended one of your events. And I can personally vouch for the quality of the folks that are there, as well as, you guys do everything first class, from the venue, to the food, to the company, man, you do it the right way. You do it the right way.

Chris Maier:
Yes. Thank you.

Mark Collier:
So from your perspective, though, I’ve given you perspective from an end user. But from your perspective, how is CCC different from other networking groups that are out there?

Chris Maier:
Like you said, there’s a certain level of quality that surrounds the individuals. There’s a third aspect that I look for when we’re interviewing and screening and taking that deliberate time to actually hear from, whether it’s an architecture firm, engineering firm, real estate practice. We discuss with them and take thorough notes as to what is their specialty. Is it multifamily? Is it mixed use? Is it industrial? What is their facet of construction? And what makes their firm different in how they interact with this built environment? So there’s a lot of people who just don’t, and a lot of associations who might not take that level of care and understanding how does this person fit in. We don’t just let anyone in. We’re about 60 to 70% in the brokerage development investment world, as we mentioned. And then the rest are peppered in with various program managers, owners, reps, traditional lenders, attorneys, politicians, elected officials. All the people, again, that are reaching that transaction.

Mark Collier:
Okay. I’ll tell you another old adage. I mean, people do business with people who they know, like and trust. Yes. So with you bringing this kind of conglomerate of high level business professionals to your organization just adds to the exclusivity of the event, as well as the dynamic results that the attendees are going to garner from attending.

Chris Maier:
They come for certain experts in their subject matter too. We’ll do presentations that are brief, maybe a 15 minute presentation on the newest and hottest developments here in Atlanta that are changing the landscape that we all can be involved in. And by having, again, those very pertinent individuals to the conversation, we might have an economic development director right here saying we have X amount of industrial square footage and all these parcels that then the broker across the table and these capital investment folks can all lend to. So it’s a very collaborative and reciprocal business environment.

Mark Collier:
Very good. Very good. That’s what it’s all about, man. It is what it’s all about. So you’ve got phenomenal success currently. And I know you’re a forward thinking guy. So what are some of your future plans for CCC in terms of expansion or kind of adding some variety to the events?

Chris Maier:
It’s more of the growth pattern that I’m concerned with, is growing and opening up slowly for now, new chapters. Miami is next on the docket. So we’re really going to help them start up, show them the yellow brick road as to how CCC operates and how to be most successful right out of the gate from your first event, how to create that balance, how to do proper outreach and marketing. And really just keep rails on what the CCC is, and how we differ, and how we balance and keep that quality, the interview process, everything that makes us what we are. And then market it appropriately, keep it promoted on social media, all that sort of stuff so we always get fresh faces. Because that’s the key. I think we do a great job of that now, is all these other associations are, you see the same people again and again and again. And that’s why I think a lot of these local chamber of commerce, people are looking for something different that’s micro-focused into real estate and construction. And we deliver that. We meet that need.

Mark Collier:
I love it. So essentially, for your expansion efforts, you’re going to deliver them a blueprint for success.

Chris Maier:
Yes.

Mark Collier:
More or less.

Chris Maier:
But they get loaded onto the website where we have some new things coming out in 2022, which we’re currently working on to have more of a directory on the back end of the website, much like you’d see in other national organizations. And we’re also going to have a forum that’s exclusive to CCC, which takes the conversation off LinkedIn, off Facebook or social and it equals the playing field. So just in Atlanta, somebody could say, I am looking to do business with a design firm that specializes in hospitality, exclusive to chapter Atlanta, but they’re going to have CCC worldwide, which ties all the chapters in, which would be Richmond, Tampa, Orlando, Miami. You could say, I have an industrial user that is interested in property enrichment. And they can all collaborate openly on this forum on the website.

Mark Collier:
Makes perfect sense. So obviously I consider you’re a subject matter expert in growing and marketing a brand. So for my business viewers out there, what do you believe are some of the keys to success in growing a business from a marketing and branding perspective?

Chris Maier:
Other than letting people know what you’re doing on a daily basis and writing articles, taking pictures of you being in pertinent environments, it’s all about who you surround yourself with. I think you need to form partnerships with other associations, other people beyond shows like this. Just getting the word out and spreading awareness for whatever relevant cause, nonprofit association that you’re part of, which CCC is a big proponent of, for veterans and homeless and all types of different civic engagements, as part of our company philosophy across the country. So just that. You have to partner up with other people who are like-minded, and surround yourself with them.

Mark Collier:
Absolutely. So other than CCC, are there other businesses that you’re involved in?

Chris Maier:
Indeed. Yes. Actually we’re bringing FRP rebar fiber reinforced polymer. So everybody knows the traditional steel rebar. I’ve set some, like I said, many years ago, into the tracks myself. But this is lighter, cheaper, more available than steel. And with the way that our supply chain is right now and the demand and shortages, and just materials overall, it has so many benefits, just a plethora of them. We’re bringing that into the Atlanta market within the next 30 days or so. That’s to be released. Just another value add and a sustainable material that’s going to be integral to the construction development process itself and saving everybody money and a lot of a headache.

Mark Collier:
Okay. Well, fantastic man. If your current record is any indicator of success, this will be a home run for you as well.

Chris Maier:
Thank you. I appreciate that.

Mark Collier:
All right. So I want to rewind for a minute. Construction, real estate business, that’s your Genesis. How did you get into that? Was it directly out of school or what was your path?

Chris Maier:
So I’ve always just done what I love, Mark. And what I loved is being healthy mind and spirit and body. And what I did was, I got into the fitness business. So it was just what I knew is what I enjoyed. I was going to the gym and talked to the manager of the club. And they said, “We’re looking for sales gentlemen who can go and spread the word into the community.” So that’s really where I started business development, in the traditional outside sense of the word, forming partnerships with athletic associations and schools and all types of folks in the community to host essentially a CCC event outside of our club and say, we’re about to have 2,000 new members in Alpharetta, Georgia, where we have a new club opening up. And we would have the retailers, the banks, the car dealerships. It was a beautiful thing. And I saw the power of partnering with others.

Mark Collier:
Absolutely.

Chris Maier:
That’s where I started. And then got into just a more lucrative gig in the general contracting biz, and started down that path.

Mark Collier:
Fantastic. Well, they say work life balance is kind of the key to longevity. So outside of your work, which you do very well at, what do you do for fun and recreation?

Chris Maier:
Ride the motorcycle, keep my head clean, spend time with friends. Lots of time at the gym and clean eating. And I don’t do too much reading as much as I should. I listen to a couple books, and that’s about it.

Mark Collier:
All right. Well, hopefully you’ll add The Playbook shows to your repertoire of things that you like to do.

Chris Maier:
I have a lot of catching up to do there. Yes.

Mark Collier:
All right. Chris Maier, founder of Contractors, Closers and Connections. I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy day to come in and just kind of share your story and why your organization is unlike no other in terms of networking. And I see that this has already been a roaring success. And as you expand to other cities across the country, I’m sure it will become a household name soon.

Chris Maier:
Thank you. Thank you for having me on.

Mark Collier:
All right.