Professional Connections | About Us

If you want to build a strong presence for your Arizona business, we can get you there!

Professional Connections prides itself on being well connected in Arizona's diverse group of business leaders -- spanning many industries. We perpetually maintain our professional relationships and are always pro-actively forging new ones.

By leveraging our connections in AZ's top-tier business and social communities, our clients gain inside exposure to the movers and shakers of Arizona business. From networking training & coaching, to business development, warm introductions and finding capital for your venture or event, Professional Connections covers the entire range of networking business services.

Our Leadership Team

Gelie Akhenblit \| Founder & CEO \| connect@gelie.net
Gelie is the Founder of NetworkingPhoenix.com. She is a professional networker, business developer and trainer who helps Arizona business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors find and build lasting relationships with the people they need to know to grow their businesses. Prior to establishing NetworkingPhoenix.com, Gelie spent 8 years building relationships and developing her communication skills in Arizona's academic, small-business, and corporate arenas. As a student, she served as president of ASU's Pi Sigma Epsilon organization – a nationwide professional marketing group. Upon graduating magna cum laude, she spent 2 years as a publicist at a local start-up and later took on developmental responsibilities (now a 25+ employee company). In the most recent past, Gelie spent 2 years improving and streamlining internal communications across continents and multiple lines-of-business in JPMorgan's global IT infrastructure group. Obviously Gelie is no stranger to the art and power of networking, but her passion for the craft runs even deeper than her professional experience might suggest. In the late '80s, 8 year old Gelie (and family) immigrated to Arizona as Soviet refugees fleeing religious persecution. Because of the hardships of poverty, it was necessary for her to take on many adult roles at that young age. She quickly became the family's interface with the outside world – translating at doctor's appointments, dealing with landlords, and even setting up and coordinating her own schooling. Gelie learned how important it was to know the right people and have access to the right resources, and she loved it! Today, because of her all-out addiction to networking, Gelie has quite literally attended hundreds of events and built professional relationships with thousands of people who are now part of her personal network. It's not just her job to get to know you, it's her passion and she's looking forward to it!

Gelie Akhenblit | Founder & CEO | connect@gelie.net

Gelie is the Founder of NetworkingPhoenix.com.

She is a professional networker, business developer and trainer who helps Arizona business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors find and build lasting relationships with the people they need to know to grow their businesses.

Prior to establishing NetworkingPhoenix.com, Gelie spent 8 years building relationships and developing her communication skills in Arizona's academic, small-business, and corporate arenas. As a student, she served as president of ASU's Pi Sigma Epsilon organization – a nationwide professional marketing group. Upon graduating magna cum laude, she spent 2 years as a publicist at a local start-up and later took on developmental responsibilities (now a 25+ employee company). In the most recent past, Gelie spent 2 years improving and streamlining internal communications across continents and multiple lines-of-business in JPMorgan's global IT infrastructure group.

Obviously Gelie is no stranger to the art and power of networking, but her passion for the craft runs even deeper than her professional experience might suggest. In the late '80s, 8 year old Gelie (and family) immigrated to Arizona as Soviet refugees fleeing religious persecution. Because of the hardships of poverty, it was necessary for her to take on many adult roles at that young age. She quickly became the family's interface with the outside world – translating at doctor's appointments, dealing with landlords, and even setting up and coordinating her own schooling. Gelie learned how important it was to know the right people and have access to the right resources, and she loved it!

Today, because of her all-out addiction to networking, Gelie has quite literally attended hundreds of events and built professional relationships with thousands of people who are now part of her personal network. It's not just her job to get to know you, it's her passion and she's looking forward to it!

Erin Coffey \| President (Business Development) \| erin@gelie.net
Erin Coffey was born and raised in the "Valley of the Sun" and is one of the few people who can claim to be a true Arizona native. As the oldest of six children, she has always led by example in striving for success in all of her endeavors. Even at a young age, Erin knew that she was destined to make a mark on this world, and has accordingly lived her life and aligned her actions for success. As an entrepreneur at heart, her goal has been to have her own business - where she can fully apply her talents and grow unimpeded by the boundaries of corporate employment. While putting herself through school and working odd jobs to make ends meet, Erin inconspicuously entered the business development industry by taking a "stable" corporate job with a large local technology company. Though she didn't know it prior to accepting the position, Erin had found her calling with a career in sales and business development. She has since held successful positions with several of the largest copier, telecom and technology firms in Arizona. Her skill set includes a broad and extremely specialized range of expertise in business development, sales and networking. Even with the early success that Erin has had in her career, she never lost sight of her goal to become a business owner and break free from the corporate rat race. Erin's business idea was quite unique and to get the wheels in motion she knew it would require a partnership with a like-minded and equally driven person. As opportunity would have it, one of her friends had referred her to a person "that she just had to meet." Through that memorable meeting, Erin met the business partner she had been seeking - somebody who was currently implementing her exact vision! That person was Gelie, Founder and CEO of Professional Connections LLC. Erin and Gelie immediately knew that they were on the cusp of a powerful and amazing partnership that would bring abundance into both of their lives. Shortly after their first meeting, the two partnered up to jointly run Professional Connections – a company that shares their unique vision!

Erin Coffey | President (Business Development) | erin@gelie.net

Erin Coffey was born and raised in the "Valley of the Sun" and is one of the few people who can claim to be a true Arizona native. As the oldest of six children, she has always led by example in striving for success in all of her endeavors. Even at a young age, Erin knew that she was destined to make a mark on this world, and has accordingly lived her life and aligned her actions for success. As an entrepreneur at heart, her goal has been to have her own business - where she can fully apply her talents and grow unimpeded by the boundaries of corporate employment.

While putting herself through school and working odd jobs to make ends meet, Erin inconspicuously entered the business development industry by taking a "stable" corporate job with a large local technology company. Though she didn't know it prior to accepting the position, Erin had found her calling with a career in sales and business development. She has since held successful positions with several of the largest copier, telecom and technology firms in Arizona. Her skill set includes a broad and extremely specialized range of expertise in business development, sales and networking. Even with the early success that Erin has had in her career, she never lost sight of her goal to become a business owner and break free from the corporate rat race.

Erin's business idea was quite unique and to get the wheels in motion she knew it would require a partnership with a like-minded and equally driven person. As opportunity would have it, one of her friends had referred her to a person "that she just had to meet." Through that memorable meeting, Erin met the business partner she had been seeking - somebody who was currently implementing her exact vision! That person was Gelie, Founder and CEO of Professional Connections LLC.

Erin and Gelie immediately knew that they were on the cusp of a powerful and amazing partnership that would bring abundance into both of their lives. Shortly after their first meeting, the two partnered up to jointly run Professional Connections – a company that shares their unique vision!

Marie Arronte \| Co-President & CFO \| marronte66@hotmail.com
Marie E. Arronte brings to the table several years of networking and event planning ability. In her 20 years of directorial experience in business development and administration, she excels at sales, finance and lending. She is a skilled executive with experience in public relations and public speaking as well as outstanding written and verbal ability to communicate in both English and Spanish. Marie was born in Mexico and grew up in a border city, which gave her the great advantage of a bilingual / bicultural environment. Her father thought it was imperative that she study in both countries to get an essential edge in business. Later on, due to her family’s relationships and travels, Marie was exposed to Middle Eastern countries that continued to shape and nurture her appetite for cultures all over the globe. Marie has been entrepreneurial since the age of 21. After designing her own furniture, she decided to turn that talent into a business and embarked in opening a furniture store. The venture proved to be successful and the store was eventually sold for a profit. It was then that she learned the value of good contacts and “who you know.” Immediately after, Marie became a part owner in a wholesale business where she provided service vehicles purchased through letters of credit in U.S. banks to the City of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. Consequently, she learned the value of credit lending and the financial system in the U.S. while trading and selling across international lines and governments. At the same time that her international business skills were growing, she got married and began a family. In 1997, Marie realized that El Paso, Texas would not give her the opportunities she had envisioned for her new family and as a result moved to Phoenix, AZ. This allowed her to be close to her family and to Mexico, which she loves. In Phoenix, Marie chose to remain in the finance world and began to immerse herself in mortgage lending; a natural choice for her marketing, networking and financial background. She acquired immeasurable knowledge of the Phoenix market and demographics that came in handy when she added real estate investments to her professional portfolio. Marie remained in the same line of work until the fall of the housing market and has since worked in the communications industry making her mark as she makes alliances. Marie has a broad range of skills, which makes her a great resource and addition to any team.

Marie Arronte | Co-President & CFO | marronte66@hotmail.com

Marie E. Arronte brings to the table several years of networking and event planning ability. In her 20 years of directorial experience in business development and administration, she excels at sales, finance and lending. She is a skilled executive with experience in public relations and public speaking as well as outstanding written and verbal ability to communicate in both English and Spanish.

Marie was born in Mexico and grew up in a border city, which gave her the great advantage of a bilingual / bicultural environment. Her father thought it was imperative that she study in both countries to get an essential edge in business. Later on, due to her family’s relationships and travels, Marie was exposed to Middle Eastern countries that continued to shape and nurture her appetite for cultures all over the globe.

Marie has been entrepreneurial since the age of 21. After designing her own furniture, she decided to turn that talent into a business and embarked in opening a furniture store. The venture proved to be successful and the store was eventually sold for a profit. It was then that she learned the value of good contacts and “who you know.”

Immediately after, Marie became a part owner in a wholesale business where she provided service vehicles purchased through letters of credit in U.S. banks to the City of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. Consequently, she learned the value of credit lending and the financial system in the U.S. while trading and selling across international lines and governments. At the same time that her international business skills were growing, she got married and began a family. In 1997, Marie realized that El Paso, Texas would not give her the opportunities she had envisioned for her new family and as a result moved to Phoenix, AZ. This allowed her to be close to her family and to Mexico, which she loves.

In Phoenix, Marie chose to remain in the finance world and began to immerse herself in mortgage lending; a natural choice for her marketing, networking and financial background. She acquired immeasurable knowledge of the Phoenix market and demographics that came in handy when she added real estate investments to her professional portfolio. Marie remained in the same line of work until the fall of the housing market and has since worked in the communications industry making her mark as she makes alliances.

Marie has a broad range of skills, which makes her a great resource and addition to any team.