At The University of Virginia’s College at Wise, Michael Amory was part of a student entrepreneurial group that met regularly to network.

“We did such great things in terms of seeing things come together,” Amory said.

He also came across Napoleon Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich,” which sets out the benefits of forming a “mastermind alliance.”

Members of these alliances get together and plan how to be successful, supporting each other as the journey unfolds.

“When I got out of college I moved back here and thought I wanted to formulate a small group” along those lines, the 26-year-old North Suffolk-based real estate agent and Portsmouth native said.

“The vision in my head was to change the community for the better.”

About six months after it was formed, Coastal Virginia Business Network has nine members, according to Amory.

They have two goals, he said: serving the community and promoting one another in business.

Members have volunteered with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Virginia, he said, leading games for the children. They’ve also volunteered as ushers at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament.

Members of the group are mostly professionals under 40, Amory said. Keeping it as a group for younger people helps them build relationships between one another, he said.

Amory said the plan is to limit membership to one person from each profession, to maximize the business opportunities for members.

“We want to continue to diversify and increase our members,” he said. “However we really want quality over quantity, so we are not in any rush.”

The group meets the first and third Wednesday every month, currently at Amory’s workplace — Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Towne Realty, inside 5806 Harbour View Blvd.

“We don’t have a set location — the majority of the time it’s this building,” he said.

Meetings start at 8 a.m. and last about an hour. Amory said business cards are exchanged and updates on the past two weeks given.

Rotating around members, one person gives a presentation, he said. “One day, I did a seminar on networking. Someone else — at tax time — did how to prepare your taxes,” he added.

“It’s motivational, it’s inspiring,” Amory said. “It kind of gives you good vibes for the rest of the week. It’s definitely educational.”

Amory said he’d like to eventually see different chapters up and down the East Coast.

“We could use a hair stylist; we could also use lawn care,” he said when asked what kind of professionals the group seeks.

Amory invited anyone interested to contact him at Michael.Amory@bhhstowne.com or 488-4600.