Oro Valley Business Club: Reviving Local Business Networking in 2025
In 2025, Oro Valley is proud to welcome the return of a meaningful tradition: connecting entrepreneurs, independent professionals, and local leaders through a renewed community business network. The revitalized Oro Valley Business Club is not a new concept. It is a reawakening of something that once played a vital role in shaping how small businesses thrived across the region.
Returning to Our Roots: The Original Oro Valley Business Club
Years ago, the original Oro Valley Business Club (OVBC) was more than just a gathering of professionals. It was an organic, grassroots initiative built around collaboration, peer support, and informal networking. There were no expensive membership fees or rigid structures, just an open invitation to connect, learn, and grow with others in the business community.
What made the club work then was its authenticity. Members met over coffee, supported one another’s ventures, and shared lessons that only business owners can truly understand. Now, that foundational spirit is making a return. It comes with stronger infrastructure and greater digital reach.
A New Era in Partnership with Oro Valley Voice
The relaunch of the Oro Valley Business Club is powered by Oro Valley Voice, the community-first publication that has chronicled the town’s growth for over a decade. Founded by Gregory Lopeman, Oro Valley Voice has transitioned from a print-only newspaper into a modern digital platform that champions small business stories, local events, and community achievements.
This partnership ensures the club is not just reappearing. It is expanding. Oro Valley Voice provides the infrastructure, visibility, and media support that small businesses need to gain attention and grow in today’s competitive environment. Entrepreneurs will be featured through in-depth business spotlights, and members can stay engaged with the local business scene through the Oro Valley events calendar and business directory.
What’s Different Today, and Why It Still Works
Although technology has changed how we interact, the core of good business remains relationships. The new Oro Valley Business Club is not about cold pitches or elevator speeches. It is a platform for long-term relationship-building and mutual support, just as it was in its original form.
What is new is the infrastructure that supports those relationships. Through a digital-first strategy powered by Oro Valley Voice, the club now includes:
- Dedicated online profiles for member businesses in the Oro Valley Business Directory
- Real-time updates on local events and networking opportunities
- Monthly features and interviews in the community’s business spotlight section
- Social media exposure through the Voice’s platforms
All of this is designed to elevate the visibility of Oro Valley’s small businesses while fostering the same informal, supportive culture that made the original OVBC so valuable.
Meet the Founders Behind the Revival
Returning to lead the initiative is Gregory Lopeman, the founder of both Oro Valley Voice and the original business club. With deep roots in the community, Gregory brings a clear vision. He wants to build a space where small businesses can thrive through real connections, not red tape.
Joining him is Fareed Al-Shami, an entrepreneur and advisor with a strong track record in building local networks. Fareed brings new energy and a deep understanding of what today’s business owners need. He emphasizes visibility, community, and real value, rather than another networking group with little return.
A Platform for Today’s Business Community
Today’s Oro Valley Business Club exists both in person and online. Business owners can make connections wherever they are. These may include community coffee meetups, directory features, or spotlight articles viewed by thousands of locals. This multi-platform strategy is designed to support businesses of all sizes, from solo freelancers to growing startups.
The club lives inside the Business section of Oro Valley Voice, offering an evolving hub for news, spotlights, and event access. Whether you are launching a new venture or rebranding an existing one, this is where visibility starts. It is also where relationships grow.
Stay Informed and Stay Involved
To stay current on upcoming meetings, featured members, and community updates, follow Oro Valley Voice on Facebook. Updates are posted regularly to ensure members never miss out on events, profiles, or opportunities for exposure.
Want to get more involved? You can start by browsing the local business directory, exploring community events, or reaching out through Oro Valley Voice to be featured in an upcoming spotlight.
Get Involved: Shape the Future of Business in Oro Valley
If you own a small business, lead a community organization, or simply want to support local entrepreneurship, the Oro Valley Business Club welcomes you. There is no application and no gatekeeping. It is built on people helping people. That is what made the original club valuable, and that same spirit will carry it forward.
This is more than networking. It is about creating a local economy where collaboration thrives and everyone contributes to something greater than themselves. Join the conversation, share your story, and help shape the next chapter of Oro Valley’s business success.