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Talent Pool in Warkworth, New Zealand
The quality of professionals in the Warkworth, NZ BNI chapter has been recognized with five members winning awards acknowledging their skills.
• Steve Brackenridge of Brackenridge Builders won the Auckland region and the National award for their Orewa house. His company also won the national Gib Living Solutions Award. Steve says, “This has firmly established our company’s position in the market place, with attention to detail at the foremost.”
• John Peterson of Matakana Plants was acknowledged by the Rodney District Council for his contribution to making the Auckland region a great place to live.
• Bridgitte Stubbs of Mortgages by Design was Runner-up—Regional Mortgage Broker of the Year 2003 (Northland/North Harbour). Bridgitte’s goal this year is to win the region.
• Harvey Real Estate’s salesperson Anne Dickson achieved her goal of entry into the ‘Million Dollar Club’ with Harvey’s national franchise group.
• Ian Anderson of Legal Graffitti Design/Hotshots Creative photography won another silver at the Kodak Gold Awards for his wedding portrait photography, adding to a growing list of annual awards he has won with his creative touch. Ian’s goal is to enter the wedding photographer of the year in 2004.
Submitted by Graham Southwell
50 Is a Beautiful Thing
The Referral Connection Chapter of Tampa, Florida just turned 50! 50 members, that is!
In order to celebrate we ran the "Hat Day” meeting stimulant, had bouquets of balloons everywhere with "Happy 50th" written on them and took a couple of pictures of chapter members.
Submitted by Tom Fleming, Executive Director, BNI, Tampa.
Gold Club Members
The following members have achieved Gold Club Status:
- Linda Naiman, COMM Chapter, MA
- Steve Leonardo, Hilltoppers Chapter, MA
- Brian Phillips, Hilltoppers Chapter, MA
- Michael Delk, South Coast Chapter, MA
- Eric Dieckmann, Southern Maine Profit Partners Chapter, ME
- Lisa Choquette, River City Chapter, ME
- Joe Reed, Circle of Success Chapter, ME
Submitted by Linda Macedonio, BNI Executive Director, Rhode Island, SE Massachusetts and Maine
- Martin Wathen of Wathen Accounting — New Tampa Chapter
- Jay Dusek of Nationwide Floor and Window Coverings — Referral Connection Chapter
- Brett Landrey of Homestead Lending Corp — Referral Connection Chapter
- Wendy Steinbacher of ERA Dennis Realty — Referral Connection Chapter
Submitted by Tom Fleming, BNI Executive Director, Tampa, Florida
Stories of BNI Success
"BNI has made an incredible difference in my business. As a four-plus-year member, I have seen BNI transform my business as a computer consultant from one to two hours a week to three to five hours a day, everyday! Without BNI’s help I wouldn’t have the business I have today. Through my BNI contacts I have purchased a house, managed a mortgage, experienced health treatments such as chiropractic care and acupuncture, Feng Shui and so many other unique services. BNI can transform anyone if they devote themselves to the BNI system and philosophy."
Russell Jackman
Calmputer Consulting Services
All Stars Chapter, North Marin, California
"Besides contributing to my business, BNI has been another source of success for me in my personal life. I had just started out in BNI and went to the MSD. There was a member there from another chapter who is an adoption facilitator. I got her card and six months later gave her a call. I eventually adopted my daughter Isabella who is now almost one year old. If it wasn’t for BNI I would never have the greatest joy in my life! I would definitely advise anyone to join!"
Melissa Koch
Gateway Professional Insurance Services
Inspiring New Business Chapter, Vacaville, CA
"Thanks to BNI my business has been catapulted to successful heights! I am two weeks shy of being a member for one year and already BNI is responsible for 50 percent of my referrals! IT WORKS!"
Melissa Haendler
Earth Designs Landscape Architects
Thursday Morning Breakfast Chapter, Rockville, Maryland
"I hate to cold call. Since joining BNI four years ago I haven’t had to—that’s rare in the insurance business!"
Elaine Saunders-Boothman
RBC Insurance
Burlington, Ontario
"I love BNI! I’ve been a member since I started my business almost five years ago and over 80 percent of my business is from BNI referrals."
Kim Lysik Di Santi
Total Strategy, Coaching & Behavioral Assessments
Sterling Silver Chapter, Sterling, Virginia
“The first project I closed as a referral in BNI was equal in dollar value to the previous year’s gross receipts.”
Chris Lawrence
Lawrence Precision Builders Incorporated
BNIT, Santa Rosa, California
"BNI Really works. I did 30K worth of business this last year."
John Rohosky, AIA, Architect
Financial District Chapter, San Francisco, California
"I began in insurance a few months before I helped found the San Jose Premier Chapter and I am the current Vice President. Approximately two-thirds of my written/approved contracts are from BNI referrals!"
Jackson Dorr
Benefit Resource Group & Insurance Services
Premier Chapter, San Jose, California
Thanks to Dr. Misner
The following are a sample of the letters received following Dr. Ivan Misner's visit to BNI-NOVA (northern Virginia) during his Masters of Success book tour:
Dr. Ivan Misner's visit to Northern Virginia had a huge impact on the region. First, I'm grateful that he agreed to take an extra day from his busy schedule, which took him away from his family, to visit my region. As a fairly new Director I am proud and excited that we had over 260 attendees and 185 book sales.
Dr Misner's energy and enthusiasm is contagious. Every time I come from a BNI conference, I share stories about him and the BNI organization. I am glad that my members had an opportunity to experience it first hand. Now they will understand and relate to my excitement whenever I come back from a conference.
The amount of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm that I gain when I spend time with Dr. Misner is invaluable. He was so generous with me and my members. He took time to meet with members and my executive team and I know that my region will be better because of it.
I know that members that did not make it are sorry to have missed the opportunity. Those who attended the event cannot stop talking about it and I already have numerous requests to bring him back from those who could not attend.
Sam Schwartz, Director
BNI NOVA (Northern Virginia)
I enjoyed meeting Ivan Misner. What I appreciated most were his kind ways of addressing attendance issues. Immediately after the leadership breakfast, I emailed my chapter's new vice president and indicated my desire to share this information with her. When we next spoke in person, I related Dr. Misner's story about the chapter president who had members call a person who was absent to communicate how much they missed him at the meeting. I asked the vice president if, in her capacity as overseer of the membership committee, she would be willing to try this approach before sending harsh warnings or opening seats.
I also appreciated the discussion with Dr. Misner about making BNI's web site accessible to members with disabilities and eagerly look forward to working closely with him on this project. Because I am a writer with a strong public speaking background, meeting such an excellent writer and public speaker was especially meaningful.
Hollis Frisch
Dr. Misner's visit to Northern Virginia was outstanding. The opportunity to hear the founder of BNI share his knowledge and experience on how to supercharge our networking efforts and our chapters was one that should not be passed up on if you have the chance.
One comment that I heard from a number of members was that Dr. Misner communicated an enthusiasm and attitude of caring for the success of BNI members.
Most of the members of my chapter were able to attend. One impact is that a number of members who have been taking the time in the infomercials and 10-minute presentations to educate prospective clients realized that the right answer is to take that time to educate their sales team. Thanks, again.
Collin Chapman
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