The acronym "POD" stands for Professionals Opening Doors. PODS were developed as a way to help ACG OC members better leverage their membership. A POD is a smaller networking group created with the sole purpose of helping members develop relationships and refer business. Note: In order to participate in an ACG Orange County POD, you must be a current member.
How PODs work is simple: One or two members sponsor the POD, 8 to 10 other members join, and these members meet on a regular basis to build relationships, trade industry intelligence, and share new business leads. As participants find value and build relationships, they split off into their own PODS to continue the flow of business and leverage an ever increasing number of potential referral partners. Most PODS stay intact for several years in order to build greater depth & breadth with each member.
The most successful PODS meet frequently and regularly with the specific intent and purpose of transacting business, sharing leads and leveraging each other’s contacts and business expertise.
The role of ACG OC is to provide the introductions, structure and tools for members that wish to create or join a POD.
For more information about PODS, please contact:
Jeff Minter
Hardesty LLC
T: (949)407-6625
E: jminter@hardestyllc.com
As you review the list of existing PODS below, note that we are currently looking for Chairs to lead new groups, including:
- SaaS
- Women’s POD II
- Inland Empire POD
- Golf POD
POD Groups
Aerospace & Defense POD: Larry Schultz larry.schultz@mossadams.com
Andrea’s POD: Andrea Casaw andreacasaw@gmail.com
Business Development POD: Joseph Hirsch josephhenryhirsch@gmail.com
David Krajanowski’s POD: dkrajanowski@singerlewak.com
Hardesty POD : Karl Hardesty kah@hardeistyllc.com
HealthCare POD : Tim De Cou tdecou@hardestyllc.com
Healthcare POD: Karl Hardesty kah@hardestyllc.com
Manufacturing & Distribution (focus on Food & Beverage): Thomas Spinogatti tspinogatti@comerica.com
Mountain Biking POD : Zach Martin, Pacific Mercantile Bank, Zach.Martin@pmbank.com
Real Estate POD: Mike Issa/Maxwell Anderson missa@glassratner.com
Restaurant/Hospitality POD : Tom Spry tom@tomspry.com
South Orange County POD: Jeff Husserl jlh@centrumassociates.com
West County (Seal Beach/Los Alamitos) POD: Michael Cole michael.cole@hcvt.com, and Jeff Minter jminter@hardestyllc.com
Wine Interest POD : Mike Issa missa@glassratner.com
Women’s POD: Laurel Mann Laurel.Mann@AdvicePeriod.com
Young Professionals of Orange County POD: Dan Stevens Dan.Stevens@burnhamgibson.com