Business Network Group Pays Off for Bloomingdale Veterinarian

Award-winning veterinarian Dr. Richard Kane already had a successful business at 511 E. Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon, when he was approached to join a business networking group called BNI of West Central Florida.

A veterinarian and national TV personality (“Swamp Brothers”), Kane said he was intrigued with the organization's philosophy - “Givers Gain."

So he signed up and now he says it's paying off. When he passes business referrals to his members, he in return gets referrals that equate to business and more clients.

Kane founded his full-service veterinary facility in 1987. The Care Animal Hospital and the Surgi-Care complex has a staff of 10 veterinarians (including board-certified surgeons and interns), 25 animal technicians as well as numerous receptionists, office managers and customer service coordinators.

He has been featured on NBC, Fox and ABC television as well as the Discovery Channel show, "The Swamp Brothers," for his many accomplishments in veterinary medicine.

And now Kane can boast a new accomplishment. He was recently named the No. 1 member for passing referrals that resulted in the most amount of money for his fellow BNI members.

Each BNI chapter has members comprised of different professionals, allowing members to provide education and knowledge about their own field of expertise and skill sets, and share their personal resources. This information is openly shared, and members are encouraged to help each other.

“There are a lot of professional organizations where the goal is to promote yourself, your business, your referral aspects, your knowledge. But in BNI the goal is to promote the chapter members you know, like and trust,” commented Kane. “This is helping each other to do well. It is a community that you cannot find anywhere else.”

In the past year, BNI of West Central Florida helped members pass $75 million in business to one another, which averages $40,000 in incremental business for each member.

With more than 145,000 members worldwide, BNI is the largest business networking and referral marketing organization in the world. Last year alone, BNI generated $6.9 million in referrals resulting in $3.1 billion dollars' worth of business for its members.

The Money Source chapter of BNI meets at River Hills Country Club, 3943 New River Hills Parkway, Valrico, Thursdays at 7:15 a.m.

For more information, visit the chapter's Facebook page.

The Capital Group Chapter of BNI meets Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. at the Buckhorn Country Club, 2721 S. Miller Rd., Valrico.

Visit the group's website for more information.

The Record Busters Chapter of BNI meets Thursdays at 7:30 a.m. at One Thing in La Viva Plaza, 732 W. Lumsden Rd., Brandon.

Visit the group's website for more information.