Stephen Makis, property and casualty insurance agent for Placer/Cal-Pro Insurance in Roseville, will address the Rocklin Area Chamber’s Good Morning Rocklin breakfast meeting on Thursday, Dec. 10 at Whitney Oaks Golf Club. Makis will lead attendees in lively networking exercises that help improve and master any networking conversation.

“The first 30-60 seconds of a networking conversation are the most important,” said Makis. “You need to be ready. What you say in such a short amount of time must have the biggest impact.”

At the breakfast meeting Makis will demonstrate just how essential these encounters are, and how to make the most of them.

Makis has lived in South Placer County for most of his life, and has grown his business primarily by referral networking. As a personal lines agent with Placer/Cal-Pro Insurance, Makis helps individuals, families, and businesses save money and protect their net worth and investments. Makis is the past Vice President of BNI Rocklin Founders. BNI is the world’s largest referral organization with chapters around the world. From Oct. 2008 to Oct. 2009 the BNI Rocklin Founders passed over 900 referrals within their group and reported closed business of over $350,000.

“Networking is such an important business tool,” said Makis. “It is vitally important to not just talk to others, but to make them listen. I’m looking forward to helping everyone at the Chamber breakfast master the first minute of any networking conversation.”

The December Chamber breakfast is sponsored by Rocklin Academy, a public, tuition-free charter school developed by parents and teachers in the Rocklin area. The Rocklin Academy is a Core Knowledge school that is committed to providing the Rocklin community with an educational choice that embodies high standards and the ongoing use of data to evaluate program and instructional effectiveness, resulting in high quality teaching and learning in a nurturing environment. Working in partnership, teachers and parents inspire each child to reach his/her full potential. Rocklin Academy is sponsored by the Rocklin Unified School District. For more information, call Rocklin Academy at 632-6580 or visit their Web site at www.RocklinAcademy.org.

Chamber breakfasts begin at 7:30 a.m. at Whitney Oaks Golf Club, 2305 Clubhouse Drive in Rocklin. The cost for members is $20 per person with a reservation and $25 per person at the door. For non-members, the breakfast is $25 per person with a reservation and $30 at the door. Reservations are strongly recommended and can be made online at www.RocklinChamber.com