Executive Suite: David Gussin

David Gussin, co-founder of 516ads.com and 631ads.com, is kind of a one-man band when it comes to marketing his advertising, networking and Web design company.

Yet, because free networking socials are part of what his business does, thousands of Long Islanders attend his parties.

With Web savvy, Gussin, 47, is managing to build his company, party by party, person by person. His money is made when businesses sponsor his events, hire his Web designers and pay to post on his websites.

The son of a dry cleaner, Gussin says he once tripled business from $3,000 to $9,000 a week by changing the shop's signage to feature cheap prices with a happy face.

He says he also popularized "the everything bagel" on Long Island while working at a bagel shop.

Now Gussin's goal is to help businesses "get their names out there," while publicizing information about the Long Island community and its charities.

Real business is getting out there and building relationships. And everyone who's involved better have a quality product to back it up. Networking is different for every company, but to paraphrase Dale Carnegie, "You can make more friends in two weeks by showing interest in others than you can in three years by trying to get others interested in you."

Selfish motives stick out like a sore thumb. And I encourage people to create your own networking party . . . then do me a favor and invite me.