IN THE NEWS |
S.J. Businessmen Pick Up TAB to Give, Receive Advice Sunday, April 24, 2005 Executives at 24 South Jersey companies say they don't need a fancy board of directors to receive real-world advice on business practices. These company leaders meet monthly in small peer groups where they learn from each other's experiences. They are members of The Alternative Board - called TAB for short. As a TAB member, it's possible to be in business for yourself, but not by yourself, says Jay Cipriani, president and founder of Cipriani Builders Inc. As owner of the Woodbury-based home-remodeling company for 26 years, Cipriani has been a TAB member for just three. "I've always said that I need a boss," said Cipriani. As a member of a TAB board, he has several of them. "It's nice to have other business owners to hold you accountable. That's a lot of what TAB does," he said. "So when you set a goal or make a commitment, they are there to say, `Well, did you get it done?' " Cipriani gets a fresh perspective on how to handle a variety of business problems by meeting once a month with his TAB peers. The group - which includes an insurance agent, a plumbing-parts manufacturer, and the owner of an exterminating business - meets in a Woodbury restaurant. Next month, they will discuss company leadership. TAB, an international business advisory system, was founded by Denver businessman Allen Fishman in 1990. Nearly 200 TAB boards conduct monthly board meetings across the United States, Canada and South America. In South Jersey, the TAB franchise is 5 years old and is headed by Stevan Wolf. In addition to his TAB responsibilities, Wolf owns and operates a Westville-based firm offering business services to small companies. Wolf has been trained and certified by TAB to be a facilitator. As such, his job is to moderate meetings and to serve as an executive coach for each member company. "TAB is a way to get some solid advice in a place that's comfortable. You become close to these people, because they are able to share with you in a personal way. The longer a board stays together, the better it gets," said Wolf. In the tri-county area, four TAB groups meet monthly in rotating venues in towns between Mount Laurel and Franklinville. Each TAB group has five to nine members and is moderated by a professional facilitator. TAB members are CEOs, presidents and owners of small to mid-sized privately owned companies. Each member represents a unique industry within a particular TAB group, so business competition among members is not an issue. Honest, open discussion at TAB meetings is encouraged. Topics include marketing, finance, human resources, strategic planning and management skills. Wolf said members are not shy about imparting their business wisdom and have nothing to lose by being frank. "Here, if they don't like something, they will tell you," he said. Wolf said he is impressed with the collective business wisdom represented by each TAB unit. "It's unbelievable who we sit down and share ideas with," he said. "Every walk of life and experience is covered. Somebody has an answer for everything." Mixing leaders of different kinds of companies into one TAB group is effective because 75 percent to 80 percent of all business problems are universal, according to Wolf. New prospects are invited to join based on their experience, their willingness to help others, and their openness to advice and new ideas. Membership is on a month-by-month basis, and fees are charged based on company size and other factors. "We tell prospects that they need to come to three or four meetings to figure out if there is value there for them," said Wolf. In addition to practical advice, members receive private coaching sessions with the facilitator, either monthly or quarterly. Members are given 30-day action plans to improve their companies in specific ways. In addition, TAB members may get answers to business questions by floating them out on the national TAB hotline. "The more TAB groups in South Jersey, the greater the opportunities for the exchange of ideas and the sharing of experiences for the benefit of all," said Wolf. He thinks the region can easily support 100. "When you meet with people, they either understand the concept of TAB or they don't. If they do, they join right away." |
