Our story began in March of 2008. H7 began as Tri-State Business Network (TBN). Larry Shideler and I were sitting in Kona Bistro (in Oakley) at a networking meeting and I told him I wanted to start a networking group. I asked him if he thought it was a good idea. He said it was.
We had been networking together for over a year at this point so we were close. We had also been in the same group that dismantled after the leadership had decided they weren’t making enough money from it. I had tried to network in other places but as an introvert, I struggled. I struggled with cliques, “good-ol-boy” clubs, and the lack of opportunity to meet and talk with people without so much anxiety. I also had been to another group that exists that had so many rules that I felt like I was at a job! No thank you. Entrepreneurs need flexibility and the ability to work with others so we don’t have to go it alone.
I founded Tri-State Business Network (TBN), now called H7 Network (we changed the name in Jan 2016 as part of the national expansion plan). For about 5 years, we were slowly growing in the region and had little impact on the members. Sure, we had good networking meetings where people could connect but it needed to be better. Something had to change…it was me. I had to change, I had to grow, and I needed help. I prayed for wisdom for months until the answer came…TEAMS! A new journey now began.
In Jan 2013, we had 12 meetings and almost 20 volunteers leading meetings. At the beginning of Feb 2013, I asked for 8 volunteers to help me with my first Alpha Team at Springboro. 8 stayed afterwards to talk this over with me. They offered to be my prototype team which meant they would help me make it the best it could be. Within 90 days, we had gone from 20 leaders to 60 leaders and meetings popping up in new places. We now have over 150 volunteer leaders running meetings in almost 50 local communities.
I am still changing today. Learning from my mistakes, listening for wisdom, and continuing to move forward. Since the Alpha Team impact began we have now added new programs that work for different entrepreneurial-minded people. 98% of our members own their own business so they need as much support as possible. My wife Angel created and owns Evolve which is entrepreneurial-development for women. Without her help we wouldn’t be where we are today. We also have Root which is entrepreneurial development for Christians. It’s a newer program that is led by Ashley Dare in West Chester and Chris McClure in Beavercreek. We expect big things from them and we also expect to help infuse more of God into business. We also now have H7X which is growing at a rate of speed we’ve never seen before. We expect to double the size of our teams within the next 6 – 8 months.
The story is not complete and it takes a teamwork to make this dream work. We couldn’t do it without our Leadership. H7 Network will be celebrating its 10th anniversary very soon which means we beat out 98% of the businesses that started at the same time. This is my passion and my life’s work. I look forward to connecting with you!
~ Clayton Hicks clayton@h7network.com or 937-671-6238 (call or email me anytime)
We had been networking together for over a year at this point so we were close. We had also been in the same group that dismantled after the leadership had decided they weren’t making enough money from it. I had tried to network in other places but as an introvert, I struggled. I struggled with cliques, “good-ol-boy” clubs, and the lack of opportunity to meet and talk with people without so much anxiety. I also had been to another group that exists that had so many rules that I felt like I was at a job! No thank you. Entrepreneurs need flexibility and the ability to work with others so we don’t have to go it alone.
I founded Tri-State Business Network (TBN), now called H7 Network (we changed the name in Jan 2016 as part of the national expansion plan). For about 5 years, we were slowly growing in the region and had little impact on the members. Sure, we had good networking meetings where people could connect but it needed to be better. Something had to change…it was me. I had to change, I had to grow, and I needed help. I prayed for wisdom for months until the answer came…TEAMS! A new journey now began.
In Jan 2013, we had 12 meetings and almost 20 volunteers leading meetings. At the beginning of Feb 2013, I asked for 8 volunteers to help me with my first Alpha Team at Springboro. 8 stayed afterwards to talk this over with me. They offered to be my prototype team which meant they would help me make it the best it could be. Within 90 days, we had gone from 20 leaders to 60 leaders and meetings popping up in new places. We now have over 150 volunteer leaders running meetings in almost 50 local communities.
I am still changing today. Learning from my mistakes, listening for wisdom, and continuing to move forward. Since the Alpha Team impact began we have now added new programs that work for different entrepreneurial-minded people. 98% of our members own their own business so they need as much support as possible. My wife Angel created and owns Evolve which is entrepreneurial-development for women. Without her help we wouldn’t be where we are today. We also have Root which is entrepreneurial development for Christians. It’s a newer program that is led by Ashley Dare in West Chester and Chris McClure in Beavercreek. We expect big things from them and we also expect to help infuse more of God into business. We also now have H7X which is growing at a rate of speed we’ve never seen before. We expect to double the size of our teams within the next 6 – 8 months.
The story is not complete and it takes a teamwork to make this dream work. We couldn’t do it without our Leadership. H7 Network will be celebrating its 10th anniversary very soon which means we beat out 98% of the businesses that started at the same time. This is my passion and my life’s work. I look forward to connecting with you!
~ Clayton Hicks clayton@h7network.com or 937-671-6238 (call or email me anytime)
