Join us for SWFL's Best Networking Opportunities without the Membership Fees!
The Bridge Networking Group is committed to helping people get to where they want to be in business and life.
The Bridge Networking Group was founded by Cathy Daniels and Michele Andre October 17, 2007. It is a business promoting organization helping people get to where they want to be in business and life.
The Bridge held its first lunch meeting at Perkins in Lehigh. The goal was to get Lehigh and Ft. Myers businesses to connect. Our lunches were a two hour event every other Wednesday.
Cathy and Michele had been networking for two years in both Lehigh and Ft. Myers. They belonged to many groups. They took the best of what we had seen at other meetings and added our own touch to make the Bridge meetings enjoyable and beneficial to the business community. We also wanted to use The Bridge to help local charities that are not federally funded.
By December The Bridge had out grown Perkins and lunch meetings were moved to Colonial Country Club on Colonial Blvd. Cathy moved back to Ohio, leaving Michele with the sole responsible of The Bridge. In June 2008, The Bridge Networking Group was incorporated.
Since The Bridge didn't have any membership or dues, the meetings grew to over 80 people. Other groups and companies felt The Bridge was a threat and tried to shut it down. This promted Michele, the President, to grow The Bridge Networking Group.
Since The Bridge meetings were attracting many businesses, Michele decided to branch The Bridge out to N. Ft. Myers. The Bridge took over the Lunch Bunch started by Margaret Wolter and Jane Stevens. Around the same time, The Bridge opened A Night in the Cape that was hosted by Marci Gower. It continued to grow to Punta Gorda and Lehigh Acres markets. Then a Ft. Myers evening event was created and then Bridge to a Brighter Future was started. The growth increased quickly to the point of having 8 to 10 meetings each month. Soon The Bridge overwhelmed Michele and she took the meetings to 3 a month. It was hard for her to find time for a vacation with so many meetings going on each month.
During the growth period, The Bridge Networking website was created for the businesses to have more exposure to the public. Currently we have over 90 business listings and list all the events. Recently we started the Local Specials page so businesses can post their current specials.
January 2009 The Bridge Business View on line publication was created. It reaches 4,000 SWFL readers monthly. Businesses are invited to write educational articles for more exposure. It also offer advertising and list special events by other groups.
Today The Bridge Networking Group, Inc. meets monthly Ft. Myers, Central Ft. Myers and Cape Coral. It has over 150 people attend the events. Sponsorships are available and display tables for businesses to show off their product or promote their services. Each year we hold a Trade Show or Expo and we have a lot of charity auctions through out the year for local charities.
The Bridge Networking Group continues to financially support non-profits in the area and started the Gifts for Hope Program to give local children Christmas gifts. The Bridge teams up with Woman's Life Chapter 701 each year to hold a Christmas and Easter party for local children. The Bridge Networking Group is proud to be giving back to the community each year. This was one of the reasons Cathy and Michele started it three years ago.
We bring together professionals and business owners from SW Florida to network at several locations. Click here to view our Calendar of Events.
The Bridge Networking does not have a membership fee or dues to pay.
We just ask that you pay for the event you attend.
Join us for a fun way to network!
Contact Michele Andre at (239) 225-5019 or email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
