Tools for Community Building: Effective Strategies for Connecting and Engaging

Person using a laptop, smartphone, and attending a networking event to symbolize tools for building and maintaining community in minimalist vector style using vibrant red, white, and black colors.

Summary Keywords

Community Building, LinkedIn connections, managing contacts, networking tools

Introduction

Tools for community building are essential for creating and maintaining strong connections. This article explores insights shared by Diane Kenyon on the Executive Connect Podcast, focusing on effective strategies and tools for building and maintaining community connections.

Tools for Community Building: Effective Strategies for Connecting and Engaging

Why Community Building Matters

Building a strong community is crucial for personal and professional growth. Diane Kenyon emphasizes the importance of community as a support system that provides opportunities for learning, networking, and mutual support.

Transcript Excerpt: “Community is about both giving and receiving support. It’s about building mutually beneficial relationships that enhance personal and professional growth.”

Leveraging Technology for Community Building

Using LinkedIn for Networking

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for building and maintaining professional connections. Diane advises connecting with people immediately after meeting them to ensure you stay in touch. The platform’s features, such as the QR code for quick connections, make it easy to expand your network efficiently.

Managing Contacts and Interactions

Managing contacts and interactions effectively is crucial for maintaining relationships. Diane suggests using tools like LinkedIn to keep track of your connections and follow up with them regularly. This helps in nurturing relationships and staying engaged with your community.

Transcript Excerpt: “I try to connect with everyone I meet on LinkedIn using the QR code. It’s simple and ensures I stay in touch with my network.”

Strategies for Building Community

Setting Clear Goals

Setting clear goals for community building helps you stay focused and make meaningful contributions. Diane recommends identifying specific objectives, such as learning new skills or expanding professional networks, to guide your community activities.

Being Intentional and Active

Intentionality and active participation are key to successful community building. Diane advises being deliberate about attending events, following up with new connections, and staying engaged with the community to maximize benefits.

Transcript Excerpt: “Be intentional and active. Set goals, build your network, and follow up. Whether it’s professional or personal, find something that interests you and take action.”

Best Practices for Maintaining Community Connections

Regular Follow-Ups

Regular follow-ups are essential for maintaining strong community connections. Diane suggests scheduling regular check-ins with your contacts to stay updated and keep the relationship active. This can be done through emails, phone calls, or social media interactions.

Engaging with Content

Engaging with your community’s content on social media is another way to maintain connections. Diane recommends liking, commenting, and sharing posts from your network to show support and stay engaged.

Transcript Excerpt: “Try to find as many ways as possible to stay connected with your community. Whether it’s through LinkedIn, emails, or social media interactions, regular engagement is key.”

Conclusion

Building and maintaining strong community connections require effective tools and intentional strategies. By leveraging technology, setting clear goals, and staying engaged with your network, individuals can create meaningful and lasting relationships. To learn more about tools for community building, listen to the full podcast episode here.

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Bryan Hancock Headshot — Founder of Integrity Development

Bryan Hancock

Founder of Integrity Development

Integrity Development

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Executive Biography

Bryan Hancock has been managing real estate investments—and overseeing development and construction projects—for nearly two decades. He has deep roots in Austin, Texas, and comprehensive knowledge of the opportunities and challenges in this fast-growing market.

Through his development and syndication companies, which he built from the ground up, Bryan has developed 50+ urban infill projects and managed $25M in real estate sales with approximately 35% return on investment at the project level. He also co-founded two private equity funds.

Bryan brings in-depth industry awareness, sharp business acumen, and extensive in-the-trenches experience to his work as co-founder and principal of Integrity Development. He partners with a team of professionals and industry experts (many have been involved in Austin real estate for 40+ years) to identify value-added and opportunistic investments that protect capital and reduce risk for lenders—while delivering outsized returns for investors.

Earlier, Bryan founded and directed Inner 10 Development, a residential development firm focused on Austin’s top zip codes and surrounding communities, and H2i, LLC, a real estate syndication company. He steered these organizations for 17+ years, overseeing the acquisition, buildout, and sale of single-family and multifamily properties, including a 350-unit urban infill joint-venture project.

Bryan was successful in delivering strong returns while minimizing risk for bankers and investors by taking a targeted, data-driven approach to opportunity analysis, due diligence, and strategic decision-making. He zeroed in on potential risks and developed proactive mitigation strategies to protect and grow investments.

Concurrent with his work at Inner 10 Development and H2i, Bryan established Gentry Lending Group, a private-equity debt fund. He also served on the board of Bullseye Capital Real Property Opportunity Fund. These experiences provided Bryan with a grasp of both investor and banker viewpoints, including an understanding of risk and liability on the lending side. This aspect of his background continues to shape his real estate decisions to this day.

There is another unique aspect to Bryan’s career—a corporate history that differentiates him from other investors and developers in this field. Bryan has built organizations, controlled multimillion-dollar projects, and supported billion-dollar programs for some of the world’s largest companies: Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Dell, CACI, and Charles Schwab. He managed teams and vendors in the US, China, France, and India, and often balanced up to 10 projects at a time. He was trusted with a Top Secret Security Clearance from the United States government.

A business-savvy leader and lifelong learner, Bryan holds an MBA in Finance and Entrepreneurship from Texas Christian University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.

Bryan founded the Wealth Investment Network, co-founded RealStarter (a crowdfunding platform for real estate investors), and was a member of the Urban Land Institute and Central Texas Angel Network. He has been a guest speaker at 20+ national events, including conferences and meetups through the Information Management Network (IMN), SXSW, Rice University, Bay Area Real Estate Summit, Soho Loft Conference, Texas Entrepreneur Network, and many others.

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Melissa Aarskaug Headshot — Founder of Executive Connect

Melissa Aarskaug

Founder of Executive Connect

Senior Executive, Board Member & Advisor

Vice President of Business Development
Bulletproof, a GLI company

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Executive Biography

Melissa Aarskaug is a global executive and business leader at the forefront of the technology/cybersecurity industry. She shapes strategy, leads teams, and partners with Fortune 500 companies and other enterprise clients to protect their organizations from risk and noncompliance—while improving operations and accelerating growth.

For 15+ years, Melissa has taken the reins to propel organizations to the next level of performance. By combining business acumen and revenue optimization with the sharp mind of an engineer, she uncovers and seizes opportunities for profitable growth in the US and around the world.

Melissa has established a distinguished career with Gaming Laboratories International (GLI), where she is a key member of the senior executive team. Throughout her tenure, she has assembled teams, developed new markets, and influenced P&L impact, ultimately positioning GLI as the #1 provider of testing, certification, and cybersecurity services to the global gaming and lottery space.

After achieving this feat—a big win for GLI and game-changer for clients worldwide—Melissa steered both GLI and Bulletproof (acquired by GLI in 2016) into untapped verticals: finance, government, healthcare, higher education, hospitality, and retail. An enthusiastic, knowledgeable growth driver who cultivates partnerships and rallies teams, she led GLI/Bulletproof to dominate these markets as well.

Before joining GLI, Melissa shaped and executed strategy as Vice President of Business Operations for LV Investments, where she built and optimized a portfolio of commercial and industrial properties. Earlier, in a very different role as Project Engineering Manager for Fisher Industries, she directed and mobilized a team of 550 employees and contractors to develop the world’s largest concrete bridge. Previously, she headed a major engineering project for Pacific Mechanical Corporation.

A curious, lifelong learner, Melissa holds dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Civil and Environmental Engineering with minors including Business and Mathematics. She is a Karrass Master Negotiator and C4 Executive Coach who actively pursues ongoing education and inspiration as a member of Chief, Austin Technology Council, Austin Women in Technology, and Toastmasters International. In addition to her own personal and professional development, Melissa is committed to helping other people thrive both inside and outside of the workplace. She actively mentors and empowers team members at GLI/Bulletproof, and is an executive leader and coach for Global Gaming Women. She founded Young Nonprofit Professionals Network (YNPN) Austin and is a current or past board member of many organizations, including Emerging Leaders in Gaming, Ballet Austin, Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired, the Society of Women Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. She has been a Junior League volunteer in Austin, Las Vegas, and Reno for 15+ years.

Throughout her career, Melissa has inspired individuals, teams, and entire organizations to think differently about innovation, cybersecurity, leadership, and business development. She was honored as one of the “Emerging Leaders in Gaming: 40 Under 40” and she continues to share her ideas and expertise through publications, podcasts, webinars, and presentations.

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This is the Executive Connect

A show for the new generation of leaders. Join us as we discover unconventional leadership strategies not traditionally associated with executive roles. Our guests include upper-level C-Suite executives charting new ways to grow their organizations, successful entrepreneurs changing the way the world does business, and experts and thought leaders from fields outside of Corporate America that can bring new insights into leadership, prosperity, and personal growth – all while connecting on a human level. No one has all the answers – but by building a community of open-minded and engaged leaders we hope to give you the tools you need to help you find your own path to success.