Brockville Business Network (BBN)
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Building Your Business One Referral At A Time
Networking With A Difference, Since 1999
The Brockville Business Network is a group of local business owners who meet every Thursday morning to trade referrals, share expertise, and grow each other's businesses. Only one business per category is ever admitted, so every member gets an exclusive seat at the table. We have been doing this in one form or another for over 25 years.
1999
The year our founding members first met for breakfast
50+
Referrals passed among members in the last fiscal year
$800k
Estimated value of business generated from those referrals
How BBN Works
A simple structure that has kept the group valuable to members for over two decades.
Visit Before You Join
Curious businesses can attend two meetings as a guest, free of charge, before deciding whether BBN is the right fit for them.
"Honesty, integrity, and fairness, not only in the operation of our businesses, but in our relationships with each member."
Our History
BBN has changed names and locations over the years, but the core idea, business owners helping business owners, has stayed the same.
Founded as a Business Network International (BNI) Chapter
The group started as a BNI franchise chapter owned by a franchise holder from Ottawa. About eight founding members met for breakfast on Tuesday mornings at the King Street Cafe, including Jan Risberg, Laura Good, Susan Ashley, Bill Dawson, Dave Fox, Carmen Gottfried, Sue Steele, and Michael Bird.
Rapid Growth to About 20 Members
The chapter grew quickly from its original eight members to roughly twenty. Long standing members such as Gord Cushing and Rob Tavares joined the group around this time.
Went Independent as Universal Network Investments (UNI)
The group left the Ottawa based BNI franchise and formed its own Brockville based organization, Universal Network Investments. Members briefly explored pooling resources to purchase rental properties, an idea ahead of its time, before running into cross border ownership roadblocks. The group refocused on what was working, the local networking breakfasts.
Rebranded to the Brockville Business Network (BBN)
Universal Network Investments became the Brockville Business Network. The group's founding principles carried forward, though meetings became somewhat less formal than in the early BNI days.
Adapted, Then Came Back Together
During COVID, the group tried meeting virtually over Teams. It did not replace the in person experience, so members paused and picked things back up in person once it was possible again.
Meeting Every Thursday at the Homestead Deli and Bakery
BBN continues its weekly Thursday breakfast tradition, now hosted at the Homestead Deli and Bakery in Brockville, carrying forward more than 25 years of local business networking.
Venues Through the Years
Over the decades, meetings have been hosted at the King Street Cafe, Keystorm Pub, the Super 8 Motel, Blue Hen Restaurant, the Brockville Convention Centre, Brockville Country Club, CJ's Restaurant and Catering and now ....
The Homestead Deli & Bakery
Join Us for Breakfast
Referral Impact
Our fiscal year runs July through June. Here is what BBN members did for each other's businesses last year.
50+
Referrals passed between members
$800k
Estimated value of business generated
* Figures reflect referrals tracked and reported by members during the most recent BBN fiscal year (July to June).
Giving Back to Our Community
BBN's mission extends beyond our members' own businesses.
BBN members believe a strong local business community means supporting the causes that make Brockville a good place to live and work, not just growing our own bottom lines. As a group, BBN has made direct donations to local organizations doing meaningful work in our community.
These contributions are funded and voted on by the membership as part of our ongoing commitment to the Brockville area, separate from the referrals members pass to one another every week.
Leeds and Grenville Interval House
Brockville Operatic Society
1000 Islands Steel Band
Brockville & Area Food Bank
Ready to See What BBN Can Do for You?
Your First Two Breakfasts Are On Us. Come Meet the Room.
Every Thursday morning, business owners across Brockville sit down together to trade referrals, solve problems, and support each other's growth. Only one business is admitted per category, so if your category is open, this could be your seat at the table.
Free · No obligation · Every Thursday at 7:05 AM
A close-knit community of Brockville and Leeds Grenville business owners meeting every Thursday morning to grow through referrals, relationships, and real support.