For more than three decades, Curt Gaddis has believed that business success often comes down to one simple thing: relationships.
That belief eventually led to the creation of the Networking Navy, a professional networking organization that uses a nautical theme to help business owners connect, learn, and grow their referral networks.
Gaddis, who grew up in the Springfield area, said his journey into networking began long before the Networking Navy ever existed.
His father once coached basketball in Marshfield during the late 1960s, creating a connection to Webster County that still surfaces today. Every now and then, Gaddis meets someone who played for his father years ago.
"It's kind of neat when that happens," he said.
Professionally, Gaddis joined LegalShield in 1992 and quickly found himself working with law enforcement agencies across the region. That experience taught him lessons he still shares today.
"It wasn't always what you knew," Gaddis said. "A lot of times it was who you knew."
Building trust was critical. Referrals often opened doors, but once inside, knowledge and professionalism had to take over.
"You better know what you're doing when you get there," he said with a laugh.
As he became more involved in business networking groups, Gaddis noticed some things he liked and some things he thought could be improved. He wanted something local, affordable, and focused on helping members succeed rather than simply collecting dues.
Over time, that vision evolved into the Networking Navy.
The organization uses a lighthearted nautical theme, but Gaddis says the mission is serious. The idea came from an old networking saying about navigating the "Sea of Referrals."
According to Gaddis, many people set sail in business without really understanding how referrals work. The Networking Navy aims to teach those skills before business owners find themselves drifting off course.
That's where the nautical language comes in.
Local chapters are called ships. Leaders are captains, first officers, and other ranks. Members work together as a crew.
"It's fun," Gaddis said. "But we still want to accomplish the mission."
The mission, he explained, is helping members build meaningful relationships that lead to business opportunities.
One of the group's key training programs is called Boot Camp. During those sessions, members learn how referrals work, how to recognize opportunities, and how to communicate effectively with potential customers and business partners.
Gaddis said many professionals are experts in their trade but have never been taught how to ask for referrals or identify them when they appear in everyday conversations.
Sometimes a small adjustment can make a big difference.
He compares it to correcting a ship's course early in a voyage rather than waiting until you're miles off track.
The organization also encourages members to think about ways they can help one another. Rather than simply looking for customers, members are taught to listen for what Gaddis calls "radar pings" — clues during conversations that could lead to introductions or referrals for someone else in the group.
That spirit of teamwork remains at the center of the Networking Navy's approach.
While the group's name occasionally raises eyebrows, Gaddis said even representatives from the U.S. Navy have taken notice. At one point, he was contacted by Navy recruiters who wanted to know more about the organization.
"They asked if they could join," he said, laughing.
Today, the Networking Navy continues to serve business owners throughout southwest Missouri and beyond. Gaddis says the goal remains simple: help people enjoy networking while learning practical skills they can use every day.
For those interested in learning more, information is available at thenetworkingnavy.com. Gaddis can also be reached at 417-294-9192 or by email at thenetworkingnavy@gmail.com.
After more than 30 years in networking, Gaddis still believes success starts with people helping people. Everything else, he says, tends to follow.
