My BNI Story

A Big Referral Feels Good to Give

Having been a member of BNI for ten years and as an assistant director in the Manhattan Region, I can say that I had one of the best experiences of my tenure. One of the tools that I promote to new members and to the chapters I visit is the BNI Card Case. I always carry it in my briefcase. It is filled with my fellow members' cards as well as my own.

As a salesperson in the virtual computer IT field, I have a diverse range of clients. About a month ago, the executive director of a small hotel in New York and I were discussing his infrastructure and, during our meeting, he mentioned he might have to stall his decisions as he needed to arrange an abatement for the facility. Jokingly, he pointed to my BNI Card Case and said, "Do you have anyone in your group that does asbestos removal?"

Without hesitating, I opened to Marc Rutstein's card, the principal for Environmental Consulting & Testing, dialed his number, and put the two in touch. Marc called me a couple of days later to inform me that he had just completed his first meeting with the client and walked out of the meeting with a six-figure check in his hand. The total to date is $165,000. Because the client was so thrilled with Marc's services, I was able to complete a $50,000 agreement for my company.

In ten years of professional networking, that was the largest single referral that I was able to give to another member. And let me tell you, it was the best feeling in the world!

Thank you, Dr. Misner, for defining business networking and for changing the way the world does business.

Thomas J. Lacalamita, Assistant Director, BNI Manhattan Region


BNI Offers Win-Win Situations for All

It was only a year ago that the Lessing Chapter in Frankenthal was inaugurated, and I became a member immediately.

Since then, I've witnessed the Lessing Chapter's meetings create business win-win situation for its members as well as establish personal win-win relationships. Personally, I have enjoyed a joyous New Years event, helped a member land a deal months in the making, and aided a member's teenage daughter in finding an adventurous vacation abroad in Alaska.

Thanks to BNI, I am socially engaged by building a seniors' home of 10 flats in my town www.senioren-lodge-dirmstein.de, which authorities regard as a "pilot project." A number of Lessing Chapter members joined in to make it possible.

Miriam Ettisch-Enchelmaier, B.A., MSc. (Computer Science), President, CEO, Ettisch-Enchelmaier GmbH


Networking Leads to The Last Box

I have been a member of BNI for about five years, beginning in New Jersey in the Mercer County region while working for other companies. I found myself gaining credibility over time. Known as the Networking Queen by my friends and colleagues, BNI was a natural fit.

In 2007, I launched Future Endeavors Life and Business Coaching in Bridgeville, Deleware, and quickly took a seat at the Salisbury for Lunch Chapter. There, my first three business clients were signed on, followed by six more to my group life coaching workshops.

Not long afterwards, I wrote my first book, offering a way for women to understand what is happening in their business life and in the corporate world: The Last Box; A Women's Guide to Surviving Corporate America. Since publishing, I have been on local television, and the book is quickly becoming a hit.

The Last Box can be ordered through your local book retailer and is also available through Authorhouse.com, where readers can get a sneak peek at the book.

Susan Rae Baker, President and CEO, Future Endeavors Life and Business Coaching


A Rolls-Royce Because of BNI

Rolls-Royce number NAH21216 has a bit of history: It was owned by the Reverend Henry Lyons of the Southern Baptist Convention. Henry became a bit infamous when $5 million turned up missing from the Baptist Church, and his mistress at the time burned down their $2 million mansion in Tierra Verde, Florida.

While its first owner's story ends in distress, my story has only gotten better. The Rolls-Royce currently rests in the hands of a computer doctor whose path continues to be successful, thanks to the workings of BNI.

It all began not long after I relocated from Sitka, Alaska, to St. Petersburg, Florida. My wife and I bought St. Pete Computers, and being new in town, it was very difficult to get the business going. About a year after we started St. Pete Computers, I was invited to the BNI Grand Slam Chapter. They had an IT opening. I was so impressed with the meeting that I immediately applied and was accepted a week later.

Truth be told, I didn't know anything about networking or referral-based marketing. I was told about the Certified Networker Program. Although it was financially difficult for us at the time, my wife and I went ahead with the course. I learned so much from the Certified Networker Program that our business actually increased over 30 percent that year.

I went on to become president of our chapter in the next year, and our business continued to thrive, growing by another 40 percent the following year. I was also able to grow our chapter to 40 members.

Now, a year later, I have joined the director team in our region. Because our business has done so well, I was able to purchase the 1987 1/2 Rolls-Royce Silver Spur. For that I am truly grateful. I never believed I'd have that opportunity. Right now, using all the tools and techniques I have learned from BNI, three out of four people that walk in my door today at St. Pete Computers are referrals.

Dr. Jeff Parker, St. Pete Computers


You Never Know What Might Happen

A unique visitor attends Visitors Day.

As Executive Director of BNI - Central Ohio, I was invited to speak at the Visitors Day for the Business Links Chapter in Hilliard. As the visitors introduced themselves, Peter Rushton of PT Reptiles stood and held a bull python above his head. He explained to us that in his business he uses marvelous animals, such as this reptile, to teach people about the environment as well as the animals inhabiting it. This was a good lesson in getting everyone's attention in a positive way.

After the meeting, a member was taking photos for their web site and I offered to pose with Peter and the snake. I foolishly thought I'd stand beside them. The next thing I knew, Peter had placed the python around my neck, instructed me to hold out my hand, and he placed the snake's head into it!

It was such a unique experience for me, and, really, I was glad to have the opportunity to get up close and personal with such a unique visitor! As a director, you have to be prepared for anything. You never know what will happen at a Visitors Day!

Natalie Paz-Storey, Executive Director, BNI - Central Ohio


BNI Makes a Father's Dream a Reality

Opening a collision repair facility was a dream I shared with my father for the better part of 15 years. My dad passed away in September 2006, and a year later, to the month, our dream was finally realized. Southside Collision & Custom Works was born.

The formula for success was simple—get at least one major insurer account and get established within the community. With 15 years of experience in management capacity, I was able to come in close contact with the upper management of major insurers in our area. However, I was new to the community and needed to build local relationships—and fast.

After three months of business developing slowly, Billy Porter, from Eastern Exterminating, invited me to BNI Homestead. I sat in on my first meeting and knew that BNI was for me. The members of the group were local and, for the most part, influential as well.

The following month I was inducted. Almost immediately my business grew. At first it was a car here and there, but before I knew it, I was working on almost one BNI car per week.

It has been five months since my induction, and my ninth month in business finds me in the midst of purchasing an adjacent property for the expansion of my facility. Southside Collision & Custom Works has become the premier collision repair facility in its market, and is close to outgrowing its present capacity. This is due in large part to the word-of-mouth advertising, relationships, and referral business generated through BNI.

Today, Southside Collision & Custom Works is on the verge of adding not only a major new car dealer account, but a major rent-a-car fleet account to our three existing major insurer accounts. Both of these new account referrals came directly from fellow BNI members—Ulises Pacheco (Budget Rent-A-Car) and Jon Pineiro (Signarama).

Efrem Rodriguez, Southside Collision & Custom Works, Inc., BNI Homestead Chapter