By Mireille Patoine
The Suburban, December 6, 2006
If the prospect of spending lonely evenings makes the coming holiday season seem more miserable than merry, why not try an alternative to dating services and the Internet? Positive Connections is a modern-day match-making service geared toward serious-minded single executives and professionals looking for a long-term, committed relationship.
For many professionals, everything in life seems to be in order — a successful career, financial security, and a social network in which to thrive. But what about love? Time constraints can make the search for potential, quality partners an arduous one.
“What are the chances that your best friend knows someone that is perfect for you?” asks Milène McKenny, owner and founder of Positive Connections, author of the upcoming book “What About Love?”
“By becoming a member of Positive Connections, every person you meet could potentially be The One.”
That’s because Positive Connections performs intensive background research on each and every member so that matches are based on compatible personalities, and not just demographics, religion and age.
“People these days outsource many different services,” says McKenny. “Why not let us help you invest in your future relationship?”
Screenings are first conducted over the phone, where only serious and well-intentioned participants make it through to the next stage — a one-on-one commitment-free interview and information session with an experienced executive.
Once they join, each Positive Connections member completes a computerized personality assessment questionnaire, which is then reviewed by a psychologist. Next, during a one-hour individual session with the psychologist, members gain insight on their personality type, their strengths and weaknesses as well as which personality type they would best be suited.
“We’re different from other services because we involve both psychologists as well as image consultants,” says McKenny. “Whether you are 40 or 70 [years of age], experienced or not, everyone always has something to learn.”
Professional image and style consultants meet with each Positive Connections member for a personalized and interactive consultation on etiquette, style, social behaviour, and expectations and then are guided through the often nerve-wracking experience of preparing for a new relationship.
Once a personal profile is completed, the executives at Positive Connections sift through their database of potential partners for a compatible match. When a well-suited person is found, members are informed, and if both parties are interested, they can contact each other and arrange to meet. After each rendezvous, clients fill out a feedback form to assess their experience and their potential partner.
“We keep in touch with our clients on a regular basis,” says McKenny. “If everything went well but there was no strong connection between the two people, then we schedule the next introduction. Thirty percent of our introductions end up in connections.”
Depending the type of membership option, clients have the opportunity to meet 10 or more possible partners in a year. “We are not a dating service,” says McKenny. “We offer more than that because all of our members share a common desire for a long-term, committed relationship.”
“We all need someone in our life,” she says. “Spending an evening cooking a meal, dancing, or relaxing with someone you care for are little things that become romantic and fill a part of your life that might be missing.”
Consultations with Positive Connections executives are by appointment only, but McKenny and her team have flexible hours, including evenings and weekends and work around their clients’ schedules.
For more information about Positive Connections, please visit their website at www.posiconnections.com. You can also call (514) 697-5010 or toll free: 1-877-969-5010. The office is located 1000 St. John’s Blvd., Suite #406 in Pointe Claire.
