Jewish Business Network:

Local Business Owners and Chabad Team Up To Stimulate the Economy.


By Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky

An exciting new initiative has been launched to help stimulate the economy on the First Coast. As the national unemployment rate looms at 9.8% and that of the Jacksonville metro area at 10.9%, a group of professionals and entrepreneurs have turned the recession into an opportunity for networking and community building.

Despite being a new program, the Jewish Business Network or JBN as it is often referred to has already gained much popularity. Professionals from a broad spectrum of industries have taken to the JBN and organizers are, at times, struggling to keep up with the e-mails and phone calls coming in.

The Jewish Business Network is a place where Jewish business people network and socialize and benefit from access to local and national business leaders to help grow and expand business. The JBN also provides opportunities for professionals and business leaders to develop critical business skills and to find solutions for market challenges.

Meeting monthly at the University of Phoenix Northeast Florida Campus, the Jewish Business Network is the result of a partnership between the local Chabad branches and local business leaders. Dr. Mendel Galer is the Director of the Northeast Florida campus, and he and the University have been very gracious in providing use of their facility.

Rabbi Nochum Kurinsky says that since arriving the Jacksonville Beaches area, he and the other Rabbis toyed with the idea of bringing professionals from across the community together. When local business people approached him with a similar idea just over a year ago, the project became a reality. Kurinsky saw the affect of the recession on the community. Tapping into the broad knowledge-base synagogue attendees represented, it seemed only logical that Chabad would serve as the ideal base for the business community to come together.

The problem? Many of the small business owners and entrepreneurs only attended synagogue services on Shabbat and Holidays, not an appropriate time for discussing business matters.

“So many people only come for rites of passage, such as Bar Mitzvahs or the holidays,” Mr. Steve Hunt of Jaxx Signs, a regular attendee, explains. “And they never get a chance to share their knowledge with others, or network.”

By creating an environment conducive to networking, Chabad on the First Coast and local businesspeople have succeeded in bringing people from across the community together. Though local demographics didn’t seem to support an event geared towards entrepreneurs and small business-owners, the monthly meet-ups attract upwards of 45 people.

Each month attendees are treated to a guest lecturer on topics ranging from social media to brand building, followed by a deeper insight into the nature of business and life from one of the Rabbis. Participants also enjoy the opportunity to network and schmooze.

Rabbi Shmuel Novack of Chabad Southside is delighted by the response. “People who were previously uncomfortable about attending Jewish events have come to participate,” he says. “Everyone sees the potential in sharing their common experience and learning something new.”
(For more information and to register please visit us at Jnetworking.net.