Make your Net, Work.
Our History goes back to 2004 when Paul Croft and a business associate started a company called B & C Marketing. The company did well; however the firm Paul Croft was with at the time did not allow him to develop the idea and the company to the full potential that was envisioned. Paul was frustrated as he heard others discuss other networking groups, and new his idea of not continuously referring business and only doing one-on-ones, but CONNECTING others was far superior.
Isn’t life about creating opportunities and putting yourself in a win-win position? After Paul left his former firm and started Croft Enterprises LLC in December of 2008, he was compelled to reinvent B & C Marketing. Unfortunately, little time was left to fully immerse himself after Croft Enterprises LLC took hold. After meeting another founding Member, Megan Beaver, it made sense to rebrand, retool, and revamp this idea to generate new business while learning from others, and fostering current relationships!
Business Networking Connection is a FORUM to educate others about the value your service or product can bring to them, and also a culture created for a burning desire to learn more about other businesses and unique tools that are out in the business world.
Our belief is that it will be the small business owners, along with the innovators, who will create new jobs and ideas to bring America back to its glory days! Erin Ropes, with her creative intellect and ideas, along with Megan Beaver’s natural ability to network and meet extraordinary people left Paul thinking the time is now! Built on the model to move forward and not look back, we as a team would like to introduce for the first time, Business Networking Connection (BNC)!
Our Mission & Vision
Have you ever wondered how you can increase your contacts, or how about your annual sales? What if I increased my professional contacts, would things sort of fall into place? Have you ever laid awake at night wondering, "I have a tremendous service and talent, but the hardest part is finding a client or customer… how can I fix that? Where is my next client going to come from?" There has to be an easier way…
I have good news for you, there IS an easier way!
One of the ways to remove a stagnant growth situation is to be introduced properly to your potential client, prospect, or center of influence. An invisible barrier often times exists between the two parties, but when introduced properly through a network like BNC, this wall disappears. Getting to know your connections on a personal level first is like getting to know your future clients before you have even met them. This is when business becomes fun, and others start introducing you.
Let’s REMOVE the word refer and CONNECT you in a favorable manner.
Interested in learning more?
"Referrals will come to the entrepreneur who sees the potential of referrals."
Michael E. Cafferky
Our History
Our Bios
Megan Beaver
Along with her role as Business Network Connections’ COO, Megan Beaver is the Owner and the Director of Business Development for Building Systems Solutions, Inc. She has also recently embarked in the formation of her own marketing & production company, Brighton Marketing in September of 2011.
Megan’s professional background includes work in Television Production, Photography, Marketing & PR as well as Sales & Business Development.
Megan became connected to Croft Enterprises through a mutual networking connection, Dr. Josh Stevens. After being introduced to Paul and hiring him as a financial consultant for her business, Building Systems Solutions, Inc. they began talking about their vision for a networking group that would help them to grow their personal connections with other like-minded individuals who were also entrepreneurs or decision makers in their companies.
Megan teamed up with Paul Croft and Erin Ropes to establish the Business Network Connections in August of 2011. The idea of BNC evolved from an original networking group that Paul Croft had started previously with another contact of his. BNC was created as a way to help the members of this group establish new networking connections, establish connections with other business leaders, and ultimately provide opportunities for members to grow their business.
Erin C. Ropes
Erin C. Ropes is the Vice President and General Manager of Business Networking Connection (BNC). Her interest in pairing with Paul T. Croft and Megan Beaver to develop BNC stemmed from her drive to create a group where both social and business interests can co-mingle in a uniquely flexible environment.
After graduation from Gustavus Adolphus College in 2004, Erin moved to Boston, MA where she was a Professional Photographer for 6 years; 4 of those years were spent as the Senior Photographer for Shoebuy.com. Although she loved the East Coast, in 2010 it was time to move back to her Midwestern roots and settle in the Twin Cities where she put her creative energies to work as the Director of Marketing for Croft Enterprises LLC.
International travel and cultural studies, art, and exploring wines are just a few of Erin’s personal passions in life. She has been to over a dozen countries, had an individual photography gallery exhibition, and loves to attend wine tastings…Erin is hoping to fuse her personal ambitions with those of BNC to bring culture and commerce together!
Erin is excited about BNC’s vision and invites you to find out why Business Networking Connection is different from anything else out there!
Paul T. Croft
Paul Thomas Croft is the President & CEO of Business Networking Connection (BNC). Paul has always been an entrepreneur. After finishing his coursework at the University of North Dakota (UND) with an emphasis in Accounting, he realized a couple things. The first thing, “The way of the world is through meeting people and it’s about who you know and how can they help you and who you know and how you can help them. When you help others achieve more, you achieve more.” The second thing, “Think Big and Work Hard go hand in hand.” If you have one and not the other, you will not achieve ultimate success.
Paul currently owns and operates a successful Integrated Financial Consulting Firm, known as Croft Enterprises LLC, which is located in the Fifth Street Towers in Minneapolis, MN with plans to expand to Arizona market, in the next 30 months. He works with about 90-110 clients and consults them in the areas of Financial Consulting, Life Insurance, Business Life Insurance, Disability Income Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance, along with Budget preparation and Balance Sheet preparation. Croft Enterprises is proud of their approach to business and the value they bring to each client. Paul has identified processes that become disingenuous, and has become very passionate about staying clear of this approach. “The client buys you, not the company. If the client bought the company, there would be no competition, right?” Paul also works very hard on developing the company’s Financial Consultant’s and bringing out their skills and talents, as well!
Paul is the middle child and is currently engaged to Laura. Laura is an identical twin, which keeps Paul on his toes. Paul is very close to his Family. His roots are from Two Harbors, MN. Paul is a third generation on one side of his family in this Country and the other side can be traced back to the 1600’s, coming into America, through New York.
Paul has a passion for personal & professional development. He loves meeting new people, spending time with his family & friends, learning from others, and general business!
