The Washtenaw Referral Network is a business and professional networking organization that allows only one person per professional classification or specialty to join.

Our History

Originally formed in November of 2001, the 3 founders of the Washtenaw Referral Network had their first meetings at Sweetwater's café in downtown Ann Arbor. Initially, their goal was to find a few business referral partners - people who would treat their referred clients with the highest level of professionalism and integrity.

As the group grew (from 3 to more than 30 business owners in under a year), we created membership rules and ethics policies to monitor and maintain the level of professionalism expected of group members. Our members are screened based on their qualifications, experience, and their ability to contribute to our organization. They are committed both to excellent service, and to sustaining the integrity of the Washtenaw Referral Network.

Our Vision

We've determined that our optimal number of members for our group is 45 - when we reach this number, we will have a solid core of the area's top service providers. This means that we will continue recruiting new members until we reach the magical number 45, at which time, we will bring in new members only when old members leave the group.

For our members, we will continue to provide an environment where members can make valuable business contacts, learn more about improving their business skills, and ultimately grow their businesses. We will continue to feature weekly speakers on important business topics. And we will promote an atmosphere that fosters strong business relationships

For the customers served by Washtenaw Referral Network members, we will continue to provide a resource for the area's premier service providers. To accomplish this, we will continue to limit our membership to people with strong ethics and a commitment to the highest level of professionalism.