One thing I like to do to stay current on what others are doing is to read local newspapers and journals. Sometimes when I see a person who impresses me, regardless if I know them or not, I send them a note with a copy of the article and an invitation to connect by phone or in person.
For example, one time I read about a prominent banker in the Roanoke Valley who was planning to move to the New River Valley. As membership chair of my Rotary Club, I thought that he would make a nice addition to our club, so I sent him the note and invited him. He responded and attended one of the meetings. He did not join the club, but I have had a couple of additional conversations with them that has been quite helpful in my own career. I urge you to do the same by reading some of these and any others: Roanoke Times, Blue Ridge Business Journal, Roanoker, Virginia Business, etc.
