[Zeke]

I think in your case I would state exactly what you told us and play it from there. Tell them you have the names of all your former employers, the inside contact and what you did there to make the previous company better. Then ask them if they'd like to see that.

Well, of course you would have that info, but the informal "gee-I-don't-quite-know-how-this-works" approach might be refreshing compared to all the hustlers that probably can't do the job.

The team player thing is good and you're asking them to help you help them find out about you.

I'd be charmed by that approach.