It is so refreshing to speak with someone whose authentic presence and good-natured energy come through the phone the minute they start talking. So, when first speaking with Tracey Lombardi, I was a bit in awe at how this busy mother of three and philanthropic business entrepreneur on the rise could exude such charisma for a person she had never met before. And it was indeed a breath of fresh air.
She has become known as “Master Connector” among her colleagues, and has helped forge relationships for not only budding businesses, but for philanthropic, non-profit causes she can’t resist in helping move to the next level of success. This New York suburban mother, who decided being a soccer mom and a 9-5 Executive Administrator wasn’t all she was meant to be in this lifetime, chose to take her destiny into her own hands. At 43, Tracey Lombardi added to her already assiduous daily routine the art of business networking, and created her own online business networking company, Cocktail Connections. She also became apart of other greater New York companies, such as, Philanthropic Events and New York’s Newsbutterfly TV. Lombardi admits she never imagined in her wildest dreams all the things that have come into fruition, with TV anchoring, speaking engagements, radio interviews and so many other opportunities to connect further. Originally a schoolteacher, Tracey found herself at a crossroads early on in her twenties. As was common for women at the time, to either become a teacher or a nurse, Tracey did what was urged and became a teacher for several years until she realized it didn’t quite fit who she was on a greater level.
Although she was unsure of what her true calling was, in 1992 Tracey took on the job of Executive Administrator for a newly graduated optometrist. She used “old school marketing,” as she calls it, and went door to door to bring in business for the new doctor on the block. And with her own business savvy and gift for cultivating relationships, she helped build what is now a multi-million dollar practice and is still happily with the company 18 years later.
While building a million-dollar doctor's office, Tracey was also raising her 3 children. A consummate hands-on mom in more ways than one, she has led religion classes, coached the track team, and was, of course, the classic soccer mom taxi, making sure each child got where they needed to be. But Tracey found herself at another crossroads amongst the success she had in her career and personal life. She got bored. She wanted deeper connections beyond gossiping with other soccer moms. She wanted to surround herself with interesting people and make a difference in society. And soon after this realization, Tracey found herself given that opportunity, by happenstance, when she was invited to a business networking event, hosted by another parent. Lombardi shined as the social butterfly networker she is; a role that always came naturally to her and suited her well. And those butterfly skills prompted an invitation for Tracey to have a helping hand in growing her friend’s company, Social Venture Group (SVG). Again, using those “old school” skills that worked so well for her in the past, combined with her Belle-of-the-ball networking capabilities, Lombardi finally felt like she had found her true calling, and the missing element to what she thought was a fulfilled life.
A few years later, Tracey parted ways with SVG to create her own company, Cocktail Connections, an online and special event social networking community for businesses in the greater New York and New Jersey areas for entrepreneurs to connect and join forces to help each other to success. Cocktail Connections enabled Tracey to follow her true passion, which is giving a voice to non-profit groups and grass root causes, helping them find the financial support needed to further their plights.
Tracey's unmistakable charm, sincerity and knack for “matchmaking” ability in the business community scored quite a bit of notoriety for her. Notoriety that led Lombardi to team up with other groups, such as Philanthropic Events, which allowed her to focus even more on meaningful causes in the non-profit arena. It also led her to anchoring Newsbutterfly TV, a New York-based TV show that assists in creating job opportunities for women in the surrounding area.
Lombardi, now 45, is literally doing it all and is truly beside herself at the opportunities the past two years have brought her on a day-to-day basis; can't say enough how much she “really loves the diversity of her life right now.” From the 9-5 job she still enjoys, to picking up the kids, to laundry, to the red carpet event she will attend by 8. Open to anything else that comes her way; unapologetically admitting, “I feel it and just go and do.”
If you ask her what her motto is, she'll say she doesn’t really have one, other than to know that there is a positive to any negative and trying event. She's a believer in the Laws of Attraction and The Secret, and stands behind the idea that if you have a positive personality people are going to be attracted to that. She hopes women realize there are many opportunities to do it all and go beyond being a trapped housewife, selling Avon. Networking and just getting out there are key to opening the doors to finding that fulfilling life.
But what endeared me to Tracey the most, was hearing what inspires her and her being unwavering in saying, "My children, people with a passion for what they believe in, and [knowing that] every day I am going to meet another person that I may be able to change their lives and vice versa.”
Tracey Lombardi approaches her life much like the beloved adage, “it takes a village.” Something our society has forgotten. She genuinely gives (and gives, and gives) not for financial gain, because there actually is none at this point; but gives because she knows good intention will come back to her in a greater form. She is a “Master Connector” just for showing us the way back to the village. Originally published in DStripped Magazine.
