20A Growing Your Social Capital

1) The first person that I chose to interview on this topic was a man named Pat Dolan, who maintains a golf course up in New Jersey, and has to protect and maintain the course from different insects and animals, environmental dangers, and any potential damage that could be caused from members or outside affects. The second person I chose to interview is a man named Todd Pope who owns a construction company in the Ft. Myers area. The third person I chose to interview was a Mr. Fratesi who provides construction equipment and supplies to construction companies.
2) My domain expert is Mr. Dolan because he routinely takes care of a golf course, which as similar principles as a parkland, and even went about personally hiring and training his own staff to maintain the course by his side, and when he couldn't constantly be around. Mr. Pope would be my expert on the market because he does construction, and even though it isn't the same type of construction that I would be doing, he can provide ins and outs of how to earn contracts and deal with customers, suppliers, employees, and competitors. My supplier would be Mr. Fratesi because he supplies construction equipment relative to the equipment that I will require to use, and he will have information regarding pricing and connections to some of the best suppliers in the business.
3) I found Mr. Dolan because I worked at that same golf course for 5 years while I was in high school and in college. I had his phone number from my time working there. I found Mr. Pope because he is the father of one of my close friends. I simply asked my friend for his phone number. Finally, I played baseball growing up with Mr. Fratesi's son, and my dad was able to supply his phone number.
4) Each of these people were happy to provide information and insight, as well as any possible future help, because they recognize the personal information that I had with each and every one of them. They all respected the type of person that I am and were happy to help, though they did say that if I were looking to make a serious go of this venture, that they would look for potential business opportunities and projects in return for their services and information.
5) Each person will provide insight, information, and even potential supplies, suppliers, and connections in the future. My connection to each one of these people can only help make this service into a legitimate business venture.
Reflect: This assignment was different than every networking situation I have been in in the past because I already had a previous connection with each and every one of these people. It made contacting and interviewing them and explaining my ideas a lot easier than if I were to network with a stranger. That being said, it made me realize that when I network and pitch to people I don't know, that I will have to be a lot more thorough and prepared for that possible future meeting and connection.