In business, the word investment is often measured in dollars, spreadsheets, and quarterly returns. But for Andrew Johnson, owner of Business Networking Done Right and host of the podcast Connections That Matter, the truest investments are measured in something far less tangible — trust, loyalty, and the quiet power of people standing beside one another when it matters most.
Ten years ago, Andrew stepped into his first networking group simply to help support a business. What he discovered instead was something deeper: a system of human connection that could transform both businesses and communities. “It didn't matter if you were a blue state or red state, rural or urban, when you're helping each other in the community, people come together,” Andrew shares.
Andrew was awarded the NOCO Network In Action Franchise and began launching new groups, an experience that cemented his belief that strong local businesses do not grow in isolation. They grow through alignment — not competition, but collaboration.
Andrew is a Colorado native, focused squarely on Northern Colorado. To him, the people who build businesses in this region are not just clients or colleagues. They are the backbone of the community, which is why he enjoys “helping business owners make business connections that matter.” Through Business Networking Done Right, Andrew builds structured professional communities designed to do one thing exceptionally well: connect the right businesses with the right people.
For many small business owners, “entrepreneurship can be lonely at times,” and the daily grind of building a company can feel like a solitary climb. Networking changes that dynamic. When people gather with intention, doors open — not only for business opportunities, but for people to “open up to have authentic, real conversations.”
Years ago, his wife, Sarah, was involved in a devastating car accident that dramatically altered their daily lives. As she struggled through recovery, the network Andrew had built around himself quietly stepped in. These connections helped with insurance questions, arranged massages, provided rides, and offered support in ways that went far beyond business transactions.
“When I needed my network, it was there for me, and now I can provide that for others.”
Today, Business Networking Done Right is built on the idea that a strong network becomes a support system — not just for business growth, but for life itself. Andrew’s company currently hosts professional networking groups throughout Northern Colorado, including Loveland, Longmont, Windsor, Fort Collins, and Lafayette. In 2025 alone, the organization added more than 130 members and continues to grow rapidly.
Unlike traditional volunteer-based networking groups, Johnson’s model keeps the structure simple and focused. Members show up, represent their companies, and connect with others. That’s it. No committees. No extra obligations. Just professionals committed to building meaningful relationships.
Andrew sees networking as one of the most leveraged uses of marketing dollars available to small businesses. Members invest their time in relationships where referrals are vetted through trust and real business experience, saving the business owners time and improving their close rates.
For Andrew, networking is both tactical and strategic. His groups focus on professional referrals, joint marketing opportunities, and he describes himself as someone “passionate about getting people into clarity.”
Aside from the business structure, Andrew also encourages something deeper: loyalty. “You can be a resource to people, but you can't always be there.” That philosophy drives the culture within his groups. When business owners refer each other, they are not simply passing along a name. They are standing behind someone they trust. They are building alliances.
Andrew’s commitment to service extends well beyond business networking. He is actively involved with the Loveland community and contributes to charitable organizations, including Daddy Dollar Doll Up, which supports ChildSafe initiatives. Each year, his company organizes a major charitable effort while individual networking groups host their own local initiatives.
His podcast, Connections That Matter, highlights stories of successful referral partnerships and the relationships behind them. The goal is simple. Share the stories of connection that often go unseen, but shape local economies in powerful ways. One of the earliest believers in Andrew’s vision was Zach Karre of A Plus Heating & AC. When Andrew was just starting out with only ten members in his group, Karre took a chance and joined.
That investment has paid off.
In the past year alone, Karre saw a significant ROI and was selected as NOCO Style's 30 under 30 — a powerful example of how structured referral communities can directly impact a company’s bottom line.
Andrew’s long-term vision is clear: “to actively build the most dynamic networking group in Colorado.” That momentum has already begun.
In 2024, he finished as Rookie of the Year for Network in Action Franchisees, and finished 2025 as the top Network in Action Franchisee globally. But even with that achievement, Andrew continues to focus on his mission for his company: to be “a champion of the small business community.”
His guiding principle — what he calls his North Star — remains simple, “help my business community win.”
In the end, Andrew believes the strongest investment a business owner can make is not in advertising budgets or marketing trends. It is in people, in community, and in the quiet strength of relationships that stand the test of time.
“When I needed my network, it was there for me, and now I can provide that for others.”