The Business Development Story That Changed Everything for Linda Klein, Jonathan Reckford, and Henning Streubel

<p>Mo asks Linda Klein: Tell us a business development story that you are particularly proud of.</p> <ul> <li>Many years ago Linda did a favor for an accountant without sending him a bill. Five years later, the accountant called mainly to thank her and ask if she could help a friend of his.</li> <li>The new client was entering a mature market with lots of competition, but after Linda helped him start and grow his business, within nine months his company was the largest client for Linda’s firm.</li> <li>Linda was able to make a difference in two people’s lives. For the client, she helped him start a business that changed him and his family’s lives, and for the accountant, she impacted him deeply enough for it to come back to her five years later.</li> <li>Linda has developed a business development program by volunteering.</li> <li>Linda doesn’t have a lot of free time, but for her, volunteering and being helpful is fun and enjoyable so the business development benefits come naturally.</li> <li>If you’re curious and read the news about your clients, you will find opportunities to reach out and be helpful. Being involved in your community gives you scale in meeting new people.</li> <li>Find what you like and get involved in that community. There are an infinite number of opportunities to get involved and meet like-minded people.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <p>Mo asks Jonathan Reckford: Tell us a development or growth story that you're really particularly proud of.</p> <ul> <li>Jonathan tells the story of a complex corporate partnership between Habitat for Humanity and Hilty, and how they’ve worked together closely after building a relationship over the years.</li> <li>Each year, the two organizations began to work more closely together and started developing new innovative approaches to achieving their mutual goals.</li> <li>There's not only funding, but it's making both parties better. They are achieving their goals as well inside a full strategic partnership which is much more exciting than just a transactional donor rela