Beachcombing -- EALB

For more than a century, the Executives Association movement has quietly demonstrated one of the oldest truths in business: people prefer to do business with people they know and trust. In Long Beach, that philosophy has been put into practice since 1922 through the Executives Association of Long Beach (EALB), making it one of the city’s oldest and most respected business networking organizations.

I joined EALB in 1984 at the suggestion of its executive director, Phil Lockwood. It was one of the smartest business decisions I made for the betterment of Beeler & Associates, which has specialized since 1978 in public relations, advertising and publishing.

Unlike networking groups where dozens of businesses compete for the same opportunities, the Executives Association model is built on exclusivity. Each member represents a single business classification, eliminating internal competition while encouraging members to actively seek opportunities for one another. My EALB classification is advertising.

Instead of simply exchanging business cards, members become an extension of each other’s sales force, sharing qualified leads, introductions and referrals that often result in long-term business relationships.

That approach has allowed the Executives Association of Long Beach to thrive through economic booms, recessions, changing technologies and evolving business climates. Weekly meetings give business owners and executives an opportunity to learn about fellow members’ products and services, discuss industry trends and identify opportunities where another member can solve a client’s problem. The result is a referral system built on familiarity and confidence rather than chance.

There is another important benefit that often goes unnoticed. Members become trusted advisers to one another. Business owners frequently face decisions involving banking, legal matters, insurance, marketing, accounting, construction, technology and countless other specialties. Having immediate access to experienced professionals within the association allows members to obtain knowledgeable advice from people whose reputations have already been established within the group. That level of confidence is difficult to duplicate through internet searches or cold calls.

The Long Beach organization is also part of a much larger story. The Executive Association movement began in San Francisco in 1916, when local business leaders created an organization dedicated to sharing confidential business leads and helping one another succeed. Within only a few years, similar associations had spread to cities throughout the western United States and Canada, including Long Beach.

Today, many local Executive Associations belong to the International Executives Association (IEA), which links chapters throughout North America and several other countries. The IEA traces its modern international organization to 1996, when member associations formalized a structure for expanding referrals and relationships beyond local chapters.

More than 100 Executive Associations now participate in the network, representing thousands of businesses that can exchange referrals, identify trusted service providers and assist companies expanding into new markets.

As digital marketing, artificial intelligence and social media continue to transform commerce, some might assume personal referrals have become less important. Experience suggests just the opposite. Technology may help people find businesses, but trust still closes the deal.

For more than 100 years – and for more than a century in Long Beach – the Executives Association has proven that relationships remain one of the most valuable assets any business can cultivate. In an era when authentic connections are increasingly rare, that lesson is as relevant today as it was in 1922.

If you would like to explore joining EALB, send an email to jay@beeler.co. You can be my guest at one of our upcoming Monday luncheon meetings held at The Grand.

publisher@beachcomber.news