Stick Together

Family therapist and counselor Robyn Spirtas didn't set out to start a networking group.

But in 2009, with the economy tanking, she got together to talk business with a few friends. They had such a great time at lunch they decided to meet again the next month. This time they brought a few more friends, and soon the group was too big to keep gathering at Spirtas's office.

So they moved to Theresa's Restaurant in Bradenton. And the group kept growing, eventually becoming S.W.A.T. Networking, which stands for Successful Women Aligning Together. As membership continued to increase, it had to make another move, this time to Renaissance on 9th in Bradenton, where it still meets monthly.