Privacy Policy

Effective Date: January 24, 2026

This Privacy Policy describes how Connections in Action LLC ("Connections in Action," "CIA," "Company," "we," "us," or "our"), located at 16220 N Scottsdale Road, Suite 300, Scottsdale, Arizona 85254, collects, uses, stores, protects, and discloses personal information in connection with our business intelligence network, membership services, events, and digital platform (The Mainframe). We are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your data in a transparent manner.

Our Role in Data Processing

Understanding our role is crucial to understanding how your data is handled. As a Data Controller, we collect personal information directly from you when you visit our website (www.connectionsinaction.com), contact us, attend our events as a Recruit (visitor), or become a member (Active Agent, Station Chief, or Agency Director). In these instances, we determine the purposes and means of processing your personal information.

If you are an attendee or member of a CIA Station, the local Station may also collect information about you in the course of organizing and hosting Monthly Briefings and related events. In such cases, both Connections in Action and the Station leadership may act as data controllers for different aspects of your information.

Information We Collect

When we act as a data controller, we collect various types of personal information from and about users of our services, website, and events. While not all types of data are collected from every individual, we may collect the following categories:

Identifiers such as name, email address, phone number, mailing address, company name, unique personal identifiers, online identifiers, IP address, device IDs, and account credentials for The Mainframe.

Professional/Employment Information including company name, job title, industry, business description, and professional background.

Financial Information includes payment card details (processed securely by third-party payment processors; we do not directly store raw payment card numbers), billing address, membership payment history, and transaction records related to membership fees, event registration, and sponsorship payments.

Commercial Information covers records of membership type (Active Agent, Recruit, Station Chief, Agency Director), events attended, sponsorship relationships, and services obtained from us.

Internet or Other Electronic Network Activity Information such as browsing history on our website, search history, information regarding your interaction with our websites, digital platforms (The Mainframe), or communications, including data on pages visited, time spent on pages, referral sources, clicks, and engagement with our digital resources and member directory.

Geolocation Data includes the city and state you reside in or operate your business from, and general location inferred from your IP address.

Audio, Electronic, Visual Information may be collected through photographs and videos taken at Monthly Briefings and CIA events (for promotional and community purposes), recordings of speaker sessions uploaded to The Mainframe, and communications via phone, video call, or support interactions.

Professional Network Information such as your business relationships, referral patterns, attendance at CIA events, interactions with other members, and participation in After-Hours Tactical sessions.

We may also derive Inferences from the above information to create a profile reflecting your business interests, networking preferences, industry focus, and engagement patterns within the CIA network.

Finally, we collect Other Information You Choose to Provide, which is any other information you voluntarily give us through membership applications, event registration forms, The Mainframe profile, surveys, feedback forms, or direct communications.

How We Collect Information

We collect information directly from you when you:

• Register for membership (Active Agent, Station Chief, Agency Director)
• Apply to visit a Monthly Briefing as a Recruit
• Create or update your profile on The Mainframe
• Register for or attend CIA events
• Apply for Mission of the Month participation
• Apply for Station sponsorship
• Fill out forms on our website
• Contact our support team
• Participate in surveys or provide feedback
• Communicate with us directly
• Share your digital business card

We also collect information automatically through our website and The Mainframe platform. As you navigate and interact with our digital properties, we use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to collect usage data, device information, and browsing patterns. This helps us analyze trends, administer the site, track users' movements, and gather demographic information.

Additionally, we may receive information from third parties including:

• Payment processors that assist with billing
• Event management platforms
• Email communication services
• Other CIA members who share information about you (such as referrals or business recommendations)
• Station Chiefs and Agency Directors who provide member engagement data
• Sponsors and partners who interact with our network

We may also collect information about you from publicly available sources such as your business website, LinkedIn profile, or other professional directories to verify your business information or understand your professional background.

How We Use Your Information

We use the personal information we collect (as a controller) for various business and operational purposes:

Providing and Maintaining Our Services:

• Creating, managing, and maintaining your CIA membership account
• Providing access to Monthly Briefings and After-Hours Tactical sessions
• Managing The Mainframe digital platform and member directory
• Processing membership payments and event registrations
• Coordinating Station visits through your CIA Passport
• Delivering support and assistance
• Managing our contractual obligations with members, sponsors, and Station leadership
• Facilitating introductions and connections between members

Communications and Community Building:

• Sending membership-related notices, event reminders, and updates
• Distributing Station newsletters and national communications
• Sharing speaker session recordings and business resources
• Promoting networking opportunities and upcoming events
• Facilitating member-to-member connections
• Recognizing sponsors and community partners
• Promoting Mission of the Month organizations

Improving and Developing Our Network:

• Monitoring and analyzing attendance, engagement, and networking patterns
• Enhancing the experience at Monthly Briefings
• Troubleshooting technical issues with The Mainframe
• Developing new features, events, and membership benefits
• Understanding which resources and speakers members value most
• Improving Station operations and event quality

Marketing and Growth:

• Promoting CIA and our membership benefits
• Sharing success stories and testimonials (with permission)
• Creating promotional materials featuring event photos and videos
• Recruiting new members and expanding to new territories
• Identifying potential Station Chiefs and Agency Directors
• Supporting sponsor visibility and recognition

Security and Integrity:

• Detecting and preventing fraudulent membership applications
• Protecting the quality and integrity of our network
• Ensuring community standards are maintained
• Protecting our rights, property, and the safety of our members

Legal Compliance:

• Meeting legal and regulatory obligations
• Responding to lawful requests from authorities
• Maintaining records as required by law

Aggregated and Anonymized Data:

• Creating statistics and insights about network growth
• Analyzing industry representation and geographic distribution
• Conducting research to improve business networking practices
• This data cannot reasonably identify you personally

How We Share Your Information

We may share the personal information we collect in several circumstances:

Within the CIA Network:

• Your name, company, and contact information may be shared in The Mainframe member directory (accessible to Active Agents)
• Your digital business card may be viewed by other members you choose to share it with
• Event attendance information may be shared with Station Chiefs and Agency Directors
• Your business information may be featured in introductions at Monthly Briefings
• Photos and videos from events may be shared with attendees and used in promotional materials

Third-Party Service Providers (Sub-processors):

• Cloud hosting and technology platforms (including services provided through EARPware and its infrastructure partners)
• Payment processors for membership fees and event registrations
• Email communication and marketing platforms
• Event management and registration systems
• Website analytics providers
• Customer relationship management (CRM) systems
• These providers are contractually obligated to protect your personal information and use it only for the purposes we specify

Sponsors and Partners:

• Your basic attendance information may be shared with Monthly Briefing sponsors
• Sponsor recognition includes visibility to attendees at events
• Mission of the Month organizations may receive attendee counts and general engagement data

Station Leadership:

• Station Chiefs have access to their Station's member roster and attendance records
• Agency Directors have access to member information within their territories
• Both roles require this information to effectively manage and grow their Stations

Legal Requirements:

• We may disclose your information if required by law or in good faith belief that such action is necessary to comply with legal obligations, protect our rights, prevent wrongdoing, or protect public safety

Business Transfers:

• In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, or sale of assets, personal information may be disclosed or transferred as part of the transaction

With Your Consent:

• We may share your information with your explicit permission for specific purposes

Connections in Action LLC does not sell personal information in exchange for monetary compensation. While some data sharing for community networking, events, or promotional purposes may occur as described above, we do not engage in activities typically understood as "selling" personal information.

Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, use, alteration, and disclosure. These measures include:

• Encryption of sensitive data
• Secure access controls and authentication
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Employee and leadership training on data protection
• Secure payment processing through PCI-compliant providers
• Protected access to The Mainframe platform

We utilize technology infrastructure provided through EARPware LLC, which employs industry-standard security measures. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including:

• For the duration of your active membership
• To comply with legal obligations
• To resolve disputes
• To enforce our agreements and membership terms
• To maintain historical records of the CIA network

When you cancel your membership, we may retain certain information for legitimate business purposes, such as:

• Financial records for accounting and tax purposes
• Historical attendance records for network continuity
• Aggregated and anonymized data for network analysis

If you wish to request deletion of your personal information after membership ends, please contact us using the information provided below.

Your Privacy Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction and applicable data protection laws, you may have various rights regarding your personal information:

Right to Access: Request a copy of your personal information we hold

Right to Rectification/Correction: Update or correct inaccurate data in your profile or membership records

Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal exceptions and legitimate business needs

Right to Restriction of Processing: Limit how we use your information in certain circumstances

Right to Data Portability: Receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used format

Right to Object: Object to processing where we rely on legitimate interests

Opt-Out of Marketing Communications: Unsubscribe from promotional emails while continuing to receive essential membership communications

Arizona Residents

As an Arizona-based company, we comply with applicable Arizona data protection requirements.

California Residents

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), California residents have specific rights:

Right to Know: What personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell/share

Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information (with exceptions)

Right to Opt-Out of Sale or Sharing: We do not sell personal information for monetary compensation. If this changes, you will have the right to opt out.

Right to Correct: Request correction of inaccurate personal information

Right to Limit Use of Sensitive Personal Information: If applicable

Right to Non-Discrimination: You will not be discriminated against for exercising these rights

Exercising Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (800) 385-1755
• Mail: 16220 N Scottsdale Road, Suite 300, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

We will respond to your request within the timeframes required by applicable law (typically 45 days) and may need to verify your identity before processing your request. For certain requests, we may ask you to confirm your membership information or provide identification to prevent unauthorized access to your personal information.

International Data Transfers

Connections in Action LLC is based in the United States. Your personal information may be transferred to, stored in, and processed in the United States where our service providers operate. These locations may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country or state.

For transfers of personal information from the European Economic Area (EEA), the UK, or other jurisdictions with comprehensive data protection laws, we rely on legally approved mechanisms to ensure an adequate level of data protection.

Children's Privacy

Our services are designed for business professionals and are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors without appropriate parental or guardian consent.

If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected], and we will take steps to delete such information from our systems.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies on our website and The Mainframe platform to:

• Remember your login information and preferences
• Analyze website traffic and user behavior
• Improve site functionality and user experience
• Deliver relevant content and recommendations

You can control cookies through your browser settings, but disabling cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of our website and The Mainframe.

Third-Party Links

Our website and communications may contain links to third-party websites, including member businesses, sponsor websites, and partner organizations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the new Privacy Policy on our website
• Updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this document
• Sending an email notification to Active Agents
• Announcing changes at Monthly Briefings when appropriate

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any updates. Your continued use of our services and participation in CIA events after the effective date of the revised Privacy Policy constitutes your acceptance of the terms.

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, our privacy practices, or if you wish to exercise your rights, please contact us at:

Connections in Action LLC
16220 N Scottsdale Road, Suite 300
Scottsdale, Arizona 85254
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (800) 385-1755

For privacy-specific inquiries, you may also email: [email protected]

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About Connections in Action

Connections in Action is a business intelligence network built for business owners, leaders, and professionals who are actively building companies, leading teams, and investing in meaningful relationships. Through our network of local Stations, Monthly Briefings, and The Mainframe digital platform, we facilitate authentic connections that drive business growth and community impact.

For more information about our membership options, visit www.connectionsinaction.com or contact us using the information above.