BNI Cherry City Professionals - Salem, OR

Over thirty years ago, Dr. Ivan Misner, the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI®, was a business consultant looking for referrals. He approached a few trusted friends for the favor and suggested that he in turn could help them. The group of professional colleagues began to meet and share business referrals, augmenting each others’ marketing efforts by introducing their clients and friends to other trusted professionals.

The seed for BNI had been sown.

Dr. Misner’s small group picked up steam. Soon, Ivan was being asked if he could help others establish their own groups. Initially, he was wary of straying from his career path as a business consultant. Then, it dawned on him that running referral networks was itself a powerful kind of business consulting.

Upon reflection, Dr. Misner realized he had something of value on his hands — a way of driving sales that wasn’t routinely taught at schools. BNI was officially formed.

With that start thirty years ago, growth has been organic and global.