WELCOME TO theBLOC

The Voice and Vision of Oakland County Business

A membership based association of business leaders and entrepreneurs committed to improving life in Oakland County by building better businesses and preparing the next generation of business leaders.

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MORE ABOUT US

Changing Lives, Families, and Communities Through Better Business

We are an interconnected community of business leaders and entrepreneurs serving one another, and our communities, through education, peer advisory, mentoring, and philanthropy. Members enjoy daily real-time connection, weekly motivational Zoom huddles, monthly boardroom collaboration sessions, bi-monthly professional education opportunities, quarterly mentoring of emerging young professionals, bi-annual philanthropic events, and annual summits and retreats.

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A Closer Look

Member Benefits and Activities

Real-Time Connection

Sometimes you just need to ping someone you trust to talk through a challenge or an idea, or just to give or receive motivation and encouragement. Our members have on-demand access to a real-time online community. Think of it as our own private social media.

We also utilize group Google Chat with topical channels for instant communication and collaboration.

The Weekly Monday Club

Let's just call it what it is. For many of us, Mondays just suck. Weekend freedom has surrendered to the demands and to-do lists of another long week. Others of us begin Monday excited for the week ahead because we're living our best professional life. The Monday Club brings us together to begin the week well.

We gather in a Zoom room at 8am for an hour with a light agenda including a brief motivational coaching moment, and then open conversation wherever it leads.

The Monthly Boardroom

The Boardroom Huddle is our cornerstone monthly in-person meeting where we gather as a business support system and peer advisory board. We begin with introductions and then transition into sharing struggles or challenges, and receiving feedback and solutions. We wrap with goal setting and accountability.

We rotate our Boardroom Huddles around venues across Oakland County from month to month for ease of attendance across the membership.

The Bi-Monthly BLOC Academy

John F. Kennedy once said, "Leadership and learning are indispensable to one another." Effective leaders are lifelong learners, and the moment you cease learning is the moment you begin fading as a leader. Six times each year we gather in-person with a subject matter expert to help us expand & deepen our knowledge.

We rotate our classroom sessions around venues across Oakland County for ease of attendance across the membership.

Quarterly Emerging Leader Mentoring

One of our core values as an association is to prepare the next generation of professionals and entrepreneurs to lead with excellence and integrity. Four times per year we host an event to teach, train, and mentor emerging leaders through fun and engaging events and activities.

Our Emerging Leader events are open to the public for young men and women from age 16 through 39 and are hosted and led by members.

Bi-Annual Community Service

Another of our core values is improving the quality of life in our communities by giving of our time and resources. Twice a year we partner with a local non-profit organization for a coordinated service or fundraising activity. You may find us rehabbing homes, serving meals, supporting youth enrichment, and more.

All of the non-profit organizations we partner with for our philanthropic events and activities are vetted to confirm alignment with our values of excellence and integrity.

Annual Conference and Retreat

Annual Conference is our "Super Bowl" event of the year. This is a full day event packed with main stage speakers, breakout sessions, exhibition room, speed networking, awards and recognition, entertainment and fun.

Also once a year is our time to escape the daily routine for a few days away at some beautiful destination around the world. It could be a mountain resort, a beach destination, a cruise, or a city adventure. This event is heavy on the fun and fellowship, but will also include growth and learning experiences.

Exclusive Member Discounts

One of the ways we support one another is through offering exclusive member discounts for goods and services. Not only does this create an internal supportive ecosystem for our members, it allows us to experience one another's businesses, possibly for the first time, which will lead to more referrals and reviews.

Though offering an Exclusive Member Discount is not a requirement for membership, we strongly encourage our members to do so. Member discounts are featured in our private online community.

Lead Exchange and Collaboration

Every entrepreneur and business leader knows that leads and connections are the lifeblood of our businesses. We all serve the same region and share the same potential customers. It makes sense for us to collaborate by introducing one another to new clients.

As relationships grow between members, referrals will begin happening naturally, but we've built a platform in our online community to easily facilitate introductions, communication, and collaboration.

Meet The Founder

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Hello! I'm Will Huffhine.

I'm a local business owner in Rochester Hills, Michigan, and the founder and president of the BLOC. I've been thinking about beginning an organization like this since shortly after arriving in Oakland County in 2017. I decided it was time to stop thinking, and begin building.

I spent over 30 years in the corporate world with most of that time in senior leadership positions in the print and digital media industry. After my third position elimination in the struggling industry in 2019 I knew it was time, at the age of 50, to finally begin creating my own legacy as a business owner and leader.

Today I am the founder and president of the award winning Quantum Franchise Group and the founder and CEO of Quantum Local Media.

My vision for the BLOC is to surround myself with amazing local business leaders, and together, improve life in our communities through building better businesses and preparing future generations to lead the way with excellence and integrity.

I would be honored to have you join me as a Founding Member and work together to change lives, families, and communities in Oakland County.

FAQS

Is theBLOC just another networking group?

No. This is not a “business card swap.” TheBLOC is a curated circle of leaders where education, mentorship, lead-sharing, and community impact are core to membership.

Who can join theBLOC?

We welcome anyone aged 18 or above who is either a current or emerging business leader or entrepreneur in Oakland County, Michigan. Whether you are a C-Suite executive, an entry level peer leader with a desire to grow professionally, or anywhere in-between, we welcome you to join us. Because we aspire to be the vision and voice of Oakland County business and influence younger, emerging leaders, we do require our members to agree and adhere to a personal and professional code of ethics.

Why is membership limited?

Exclusivity ensures that every member gets value from the network, maintains high-quality connections, and keeps the focus on genuine collaboration rather than volume.

How do I join?

Membership is by invitation only. The first step is to complete a Membership Request Form. Once received, we will schedule an interview to learn more about you, either by phone, Zoom, or in person. If approved for membership we'll send an invoice for your first year's annual dues and once paid, we'll onboard you onto our platform and welcome you to our events.

Are there opportunities to assist in leading theBLOC?

Absolutely! Our leadership structure includes a Board of Advisors. We also welcome members to assume leadership and coordinator roles for our educational and philanthropic programs and events.

What makes theBLOC different from my local Chamber of Commerce?

Chambers serve the broader business community while theBLOC is intentionally selective, designed for leaders who want deeper connections, advanced growth strategies, and meaningful influence across the broader region.

What is expected of members?

Members commit to showing up—sharing referrals, insights, and support for fellow leaders. TheBLOC thrives when leaders give as much as they receive. Additionally, all members are required to agree and adhere to a Code of Ethics that will be signed upon joining.