Berks County Networking Association

The Berks County Networking Association (BCNA) is a membership organization based in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, made up of business professionals who meet regularly to exchange referrals, share business contacts, and support one another's professional development. The group operates on a straightforward premise: a business owner who builds genuine working relationships with non-competing professionals in the same market gains access to a steady stream of qualified leads that would otherwise be difficult to reach.

Rather than functioning as a chamber of commerce or a trade association tied to a single industry, BCNA draws its membership from across the local economy. Contractors, financial professionals, healthcare practitioners, tradespeople, retailers, and service providers all hold seats in the group, and the diversity is intentional. A roofer, a mortgage banker, a home inspector, and a real estate agent each encounter customers who need the others' services, and the association is structured to make those handoffs routine.

How the Association Works

BCNA is governed by a set of By-laws that establish the terms of membership. The most significant of these is the exclusivity rule: each occupational category is represented by a single member, and conflicts of interest are not permitted. Once a category is filled, it remains closed until that seat opens again. This structure means members are not competing with one another for the same referrals, which is central to how the group generates leads.

The association maintains a public business category list covering roughly 150 trades and professions, marking which seats are occupied and which remain open to new applicants. The range of categories reflects the breadth of the Berks County business community and includes:

• Accounting, financial planning, insurance, and mortgage banking
• General contracting, custom building, electrical contracting, HVAC, roofing and siding, flooring, and granite
• Auto repair, auto detailing, and transportation
• Chiropractic care, massage therapy, skin care, and fitness
• Cleaning services, pest control, landscaping, and fire protection
• Real estate, property management, and home inspection
• Digital design and marketing, printing, billboard advertising, custom apparel, and videography
• Law, home care, catering, office copiers, travel, and more

The list extends from acupuncturists and bakeries to welding shops and wedding planners, giving prospective applicants a clear picture of where an opening exists before they apply.

Membership Requirements and Expectations

Membership in BCNA carries specific obligations that distinguish it from more casual networking arrangements. Attendance is required, and membership may be terminated for lack of participation. Members are also expected to invite guests to association meetings and encourage those guests to join, which keeps new professionals and new business categories flowing into the group. The membership fee is non-refundable.

These conditions serve a practical purpose. A referral network functions only when its members are present, engaged, and actively bringing new contacts into the room. By formalizing attendance and guest invitations in the By-laws, BCNA maintains the consistency that makes word-of-mouth referrals reliable rather than occasional.

The Three Core Benefits

The association organizes its value proposition around three areas. The first is lead development. Members function as an extended word-of-mouth advertising network, and a participating business can see dozens of new leads directed its way by networking partners who understand what that business does and who its ideal customer is.

The second is access to healthy professional relationships. Because members operate businesses in the same geographic market and face comparable challenges, from hiring and cash flow to marketing and customer retention, the group functions as an informal advisory circle. The vetting process and the non-competing structure mean members can discuss operational problems candidly without concern about sharing information with a direct rival.

The third is alliance building. BCNA identifies the maintenance of mutually beneficial relationships as its primary priority, and over time these relationships often develop into strategic alliances and joint ventures. A landscaper and a custom builder, or a digital marketing firm and a printer, may find their services naturally complement each other in ways that lead to shared projects and joint client work.

Member Directory and Service Area

BCNA publishes a public Meet Our Members directory that lists each member business with a headshot, street address, phone number, and social media links. The directory functions both as a resource for members seeking referral partners and as a tool for residents and businesses looking for a vetted local provider in a particular field.

Current membership is concentrated in Berks County and the surrounding region. Member businesses are based in Reading, Wyomissing, West Lawn, West Reading, Fleetwood, Bernville, and Wernersville, with additional members in Schuylkill Haven and Lancaster. This geographic footprint covers the county seat, the western suburbs along the Route 422 corridor, and communities to the north and east, giving the group meaningful coverage across the greater Reading market.

Dave Mattes Business Spotlight

Beyond its meetings and directory, the association produces the Dave Mattes Business Spotlight, a video feature series highlighting local businesses. The series is hosted by Berks County realtor Dave Mattes of the Dave Mattes Team at RE/MAX of Reading. Each installment profiles a local operation, giving viewers a look at the people behind the business and the work they do. The series extends the association's reach beyond its membership meetings and provides participating businesses with video content they can share through their own channels.

Applying for Membership

Prospective members apply through the association. After a form is submitted, a BCNA representative follows up with the applicant to discuss the group, confirm category availability, and walk through the requirements set out in the By-laws. Because the exclusivity rule limits each occupation to one member, interested professionals are generally advised to check the published category list early to see whether their field is currently open.

Practical Information

• Location: Wyomissing, Pennsylvania
• Organization type: business networking and referral association
• Membership structure: application-based, one member per occupational category
• Categories tracked: approximately 150 trades and professions
• Primary service area: Berks County, including Reading, Wyomissing, West Lawn, West Reading, Fleetwood, Bernville, and Wernersville, with members also in Schuylkill Haven and Lancaster
• Requirements: regular meeting attendance, guest invitations, adherence to BCNA By-laws
• Fees: membership fee is non-refundable

For business owners and professionals working in and around Reading who want a structured referral network rather than an open networking mixer, BCNA offers a defined framework: exclusive category representation, consistent attendance, and a membership drawn from across the local business community.