SCOTTSDALE

The Air Park Resources Organization LLC, started two years ago to bring Scottsdale Airpark businesses together is changing its name - and spreading out.

The new name, effective this month, will be Associated Professionals Resources Organization LLC. advertisement

"A lot of people were thinking that to join you had to have a business in the Airpark," co-founder Mark Lynch said. "This (new name) is more consistent with what we provide members and who we are."

APRO members are a mix of one-person businesses, franchisees and small-business owners and employees of banks and other big businesses that want to market their goods and services to the small firms.

The organization has 850 to 875 members, representing 200 to 220 companies, and has an e-mail list of 4,000 names.

About half its programs are dedicated to networking. Informational speakers and training also have done well, Lynch said, and members can take advantage of co-op direct mail programs.

Geographically, APRO is expanding to include Desert Ridge, Scottsdale Waterfront and Scottsdale 101.

Its office and most of its programs will still be based in the Airpark, which as it has grown now is generally bordered by 64th and 94th streets, Loop 101 and Thunderbird Road.

Now, it will draw membership from throughout the Northeast Valley, Lynch said.

Valley-wide interest
The group was getting inquiries from business owners outside the Airpark, and events were drawing businesspeople from as far away as Goodyear and Queen Creek, Lynch said. The expansion will allow APRO to take advantage of the nearby hot spots, with Valley-wide programs possible down the road.

Nearly 120 people attended last week's first APRO mixer outside the Airpark, at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant at Shea and Tatum boulevards.

One thing that Lynch believes sets APRO apart is free attendance for members at events. A year's membership costs $295 for up to seven individuals in a firm.

Win a Mexican cruise
New this year will be a program that rewards members for attending events. Members will get bar-coded cards that will be scanned at each event, and at the end of the year the member with the most points will win a Mexican Riviera cruise, Lynch said.

The organization also will bring back a member discount program and launch an e-dining list featuring reviews and discounts for member restaurants. It will continue its Open House program, holding events at new retail locations.

The organization's APRO acronym and its logo, featuring a plane swishing through the name, will remain the same, Lynch said.

Started two years ago
APRO started two years agothis month. Lynch, publisher of Cactus Coffee Talk newsletter, and Karl Knelson, owner of Web development company Site Mechanix LLC, had each put on his own popular mixer and thought there was room for an Airpark networking group.

Their first joint mixer packed 120 people into Jilly's American Grill.

"I think we knew that night we had something," Lynch said.

The group will celebrate its second anniversary Feb. 28 with a mixer from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Salty Señorita North, 14950 N. Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale. Information and registration: www.aproscotts dale.com.

Chamber steps up
Have you noticed it's hard to find a complete directory of businesses in the Scottsdale Airpark? Do you want to do something about it?

The Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce's Airpark committee is recruiting volunteers to round up existing lists and come up with an informative tool that could be used for business development.

Bill Aust, managing director of the Biltmore Bank of Arizona, is assembling the group. Its first meeting would be in March, and Aust wants to present a directory in October.

To join the group, contact Aust at baust@biltmorebank az.com.

Send news about small businesses and Scottsdale Airpark businesses to
jane.larson@arizonarepublic.com or call (602) 444-6868.