A: Opus Connect offers unique networking opportunities for business professionals. First, Opus Connect membership is by invitation-only, restricted to senior executives with extensive experience and contacts in their fields. Opus Connect events feature nationally-renowned speakers and panelists as well as smaller events with exclusive access to luminaries in fields such as finance, law, and real estate. Opus Connect’s co-chair structure offers enhanced opportunities for members to become involved with planning events and grow their personal networks as they reach out to top-tier contacts in their fields.

A: Opus Connect’s founder, Lou Sokolovskiy, is a private equity specialist and professional networking coach with a personal network of over 15,000 professionals. Lou has hosted hundreds of events throughout Southern California and New York City and created Opus Connect to enable senior professionals to grow their networks and increase their expertise through participating in small groups in an intimate setting.

A: To join Opus Connect, you must complete an application, which will be reviewed by the Opus Connect review committee. The committee considers several factors, such as: years of experience/level of expertise in the field, strength of personal network in the area, willingness to contribute to the group and share existing contacts, and referral of existing Opus Connect members.

A: Yes, each Opus Connect member can attend up to two meetings per year in groups outside his/her designated group.

A: Yes, on a case-by-case basis, some individuals may be approved to attend certain Opus Connect events without joining the group for an additional fee.

A: Co-chairs are selected based on their capacity and willingness to create a successful and effective experience for other Opus Connect members by organizing and promoting events, recruiting new members to the group and enhancing the Opus Connect experience overall. For more information on the duties and benefits of being a co-chair, see the Co-Chair FAQs.

There are many benefits to serving as an Opus Connect co-chair. For starters, it is a great way to rapidly meet new people in your area of expertise and your geographic area, both by having a credible reason for making self-introductions as well as the additional cachet of serving as co-chair for your focus area. This includes existing and prospective Opus Connect members as well as panelists, moderators and your fellow co-chairs, many of whom are among the most respected professionals in their fields. Additional benefits, such as co-chair enhanced training and exclusive high-level introductions will be announced soon.

The primary activities of co-chairs are to help organize, promote, and manage events and also to manage recruiting new members to the group. Organizing events includes tasks such as identifying and helping recruit panelists and moderators and coordinating logistics with the event host. Each co-chair shares and rotates responsibilities with fellow leaders with the full support of the Opus Connect main office. The goal is to create a level of activity that is engaging and worthwhile yet still highly manageable in a busy professional career.

The time commitment for being a co-chair can vary, however, in general a co-chair should be able to complete his or her duties in approximately 3-6 hours per month. Because much of this time is spent building personal connections, many co-chairs consider part of their standard business development effort each month.

To serve as co-chair, you must be an active member of Opus Connect in good standing. Also, you must have a solid network established in your field of expertise as well as a willingness to share your network. Even more important, you must be eager to be proactive in building your network and committed to being a leader in your field and geographic area. Prior experience running groups of 50 or more people is strongly preferred but not required.

The number of co-chairs will vary for each group, but generally ranges from 3-5 per group. Every group will have at least one co-chair.

We are always looking to start new Opus Connect groups that can meet the needs of a critical mass of qualified members in a given specialty and/or geographic area. If you are interested to form a new group in your area of which you would serve as co-chair, contact the Opus Connect main office today to discuss it.

By being an Opus Connect, you expand the reach of your organization by promoting your organization in event promotions as well as welcoming 35-50 professionals or more each month onto your premises.

For many reasons, it is preferable to host events on location at your firm. First, this option is usually the most cost-effective for the host. It also increases the familiarity of Opus Connect members and guests with your company and your location. Finally, coordinating logistics including any last minute changes is usually easier when the venue is completely under control.

Beside supplying the venue, the host usually provides light catering and simple administrative tasks such as printing nametags, validating parking for speakers, and other miscellaneous tasks required to make the event a success. Also, hosts are expected to help promote events to their own clients and prospects, which is also a direct benefit to the host themselves.

Typically, we prefer to work with hosts that are interested in sponsoring events for at least six months or longer.

Any company with access to a suitable venue that wants to raise its profile with targeted business professionals in its area is encouraged to apply. Contact the Opus Connect main office today for details.

As a sponsor, your organization will be promoted in all promotional materials for the event, including the event web page and event emails. In addition, the sponsor’s logo will appear on signage at the event and be mentioned in verbal introductions at the event. In some cases, a spokesperson for the sponsor may be invited to given a verbal introduction for the sponsor during the event as well.

A: In addition to providing monetary compensation, each sponsor is expected to promote the event to a significant group of prospective attendees from the sponsor’s own network of current and potential customers and partners.

A: Costs for sponsorship vary depending on the event type and scope, length of commitment, the number of invitees in the sponsor’s promotion list, as well as other factors. For costs of sponsoring an Opus Group in your area, contact the Opus Connect main office today.