Streator Leads, a Streator Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry-sponsored business networking group that kicked off in April, has already found some significant success in its mission.

The group of business representatives meets twice a month to focus on specific members and to refer other members' services to people with whom they come in contact. The group is not to be confused with the Chamber's ambassador program.

According to Jack Dzuris, the Chamber's executive director, the group's mission is to share information to someone who can fulfill it.

"This is a noncompete group," according to Dianna Schuler of BEST, a member of the group. "One business from any category of businesses is represented. It is designed for people who interact with the public and customers. Sales and public relations people are involved. We share referrals for the purpose of generating additional business."

"In the normal course of business, if I run across someone who needs something I could refer them to another member," said Paula Upchurch of Streator Community Credit Union.

In seven meetings, there have been 33 referrals shared and 11 transactions made where someone has benefitted from the referral.

There are eight members in the group, representing different professions. Streator Leads allows one representative from each profession in its group. Ideally, a Leads group should have between eight and 12 members.

One goal is to spread the group out, where it could eventually end up with multiple Leads groups. Additional representatives from a profession may apply for a possible second Streator Leads group. Applicants must be Chamber members.

Members currently in the group include Quik-Kill Pest Control, Designs & Signs, BEST (workforce development), Reserves Network (staffing), Streator Unlimited, Streator Community Credit Union, Edward Jones and Payne, Groskreutz, Schmidt, Abraham & Eshleman, a Streator accounting firm.

Another function of the group is to familiarize businesses with the services others provide. It educates members what businesses do and don't provide.

According to Schuler and Upchurch, the group is very informal. For more information ,visit www.streatorleadsgroup.webs.com. The group meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month at 8 a.m. Meetings typically are at Streator Community Credit Union; however, the next meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 27, at Chipper's. Anyone interested in attending a meeting should contact Dianna Schuler at 815-433-4550 and leave a message specifically stating they are interested in attending Streator Leads. They could also contact Sue Yanek at the Chamber and she would connect them with the appropriate person.

"I think we're off to a great start and we can grow from here," concluded Dzuris.