PHOTOS: Part of the Lakewood Urban Enterprise Zone’s (UEZ) Business Link Initiative is a mission to help businesses overcome the challenges and frustrations of operating a business especially in today’s highly- competitive environment; providing not just good customer service but exceptional customer service, being one of those challenges.
The Business Link hosted its latest networking event on Wednesday, February 4 in the Reception Gallery at the Strand in downtown Lakewood. “Exceptional Customer Service” was the focal point of the evening with guest speaker Joel Klein of Immediate Marketing and Business Consulting. Mr. Klein has already successfully consulted and coached over 1000 business owners and entrepreneurs, has thousands of readers and followers and has inspired business, marketing and success movements in various communities.
Mr. Klein impressed upon, the over forty participants, the necessity of understanding exceptional customer service as it provides the edge on your competitors, the insight to win new clients, and the practical know-how to keep them coming back indefinitely. No matter what our business is, “We’re all in the people business” Mr. Klein pointed out as part of his interactive presentation.
Business Link is supported through a partnership with the Lakewood Development Corporation’s Urban Enterprise Zone program and the Lakewood Community Service Corporation (LCSC). Mr. Alex Lowinger of the LCSC’s Business Services Department works in conjunction with the UEZ to bring the events to fruition and also served as the evening’s moderator. Rabbi Moshe Weisberg, President of the LCSC remarked about how programs such as this one provides an opportunity. “It allows us to share our experiences and make connections in a way that we can help each other.”
The purpose of the networking events are to provide local entrepreneurs and business owners, sales people, professionals, bankers and job seekers with an opportunity to network with each other in an informal setting. It also provides a forum to learn about relevant business topics, share problems and solutions, brainstorm for ideas, make new leads and build alliances. Patricia Komsa, executive director of the LDC and UEZ Coordinator stated, “We are very pleased with the feedback we have received from our businesses about the high caliber speakers and quality networking opportunity we provide.” This is a free program funded by the UEZ.