BNI - Business By The Bay

01/22/2025

We kicked off our morning with a bit of a chill, but fortunately, we were in the cozy upstairs room, keeping warm. Our Vice President opened the meeting with some well-deserved recognition for our standout members this week, each receiving a $5 Starbucks gift card for the most 1 to 1s:

- Rachel Toomin (24)
- Christina Florand (23)
- Jacob Hart (18)

Next up was our education coordinator, Ron, who shared insights on how we can boost our numbers. With a solid chapter and a driven group, we should always aim for the top. Currently, we're sitting in the top five of our area, but let’s set our sights on number one. He also reminded us to check out podcasts 541, 486, and 522 for more tips.

This week’s featured presenters were Tyler Thirion from Northwestern Mutual and Bill Rothbauer from Game Day Men's Health.

Tyler, being one of the older members, shared his journey as a traveling fisherman and his six years in the life insurance sector, focusing on term and whole life policies, as well as disability and long-term care insurance.

Following him, Bill discussed his IT background and his desire to address the health crisis in the U.S., emphasizing that dieting/exercise alone often falls short. He highlighted the importance of hormone balance and the potential benefits of hormone replacement therapy.

Both presentations were excellent, and I encourage everyone to schedule one-on-ones to learn more about their expertise and businesses.

The top five open positions in our chapter are: general contractor, carpet cleaner, lawn maintenance, pool maintenance, and a mold remediation company.

A few quick reminders:

- Please log in to BNI+ and update your photo and profile information.
- Each member should aim to complete at least one CEU weekly. Listen to a podcast during your commute or while cooking—find what fits your routine!
- Let's all aim to bring in at least one visitor each month. If you need tips on who to invite, reach out to Rayne, Jake, or Dr. Juan—they’re here to assist!
- Remember to log your results! Set a reminder on your phone or calendar to record your weekly totals; life gets busy, and it’s easy to forget.
- Don’t forget to schedule those one-on-ones! Browse the chapter roster to connect with members whose work you’d like to learn more about. We can only refer each other effectively once we understand each other's expertise.

Wishing everyone a fantastic week ahead—stay warm!

01/13/2025

Wednesday's gathering was fantastic! It was wonderful to reconnect at Van Wezel and engage with our network once again. We kicked things off in the morning by discussing the "Power of One" and celebrating our members who are currently excelling and in the green. If you're having trouble generating ideas or boosting your numbers, don't hesitate to reach out to those members who are thriving and learn from their strategies.

Our education coordinator, Ron Freedman, dove into an informative session on identifying potential visitors within your existing network. He emphasized that when seeking new business opportunities, it’s important to highlight the value you can bring and how you can assist them in growing their own ventures. He also shared a helpful tip: if you encounter objections and a prospect seems uninterested, ask them, “What if I could connect you with 40 like-minded individuals who can help market your business? Would that pique your interest?”

This week’s featured speakers were Christina Florand from Florand Mediation and Scott van der Kooy from Dick, Johnson, Jefferson Insurance.
Christina started off by sharing her background, mentioning her roots in Ocala, Florida, and her upbringing in Orlando, along with her love for traveling with her son. She explained that mediation involves bringing together interested parties to reach a mutually beneficial resolution. Christina specializes in homeowner disputes, HOA issues, landlord conflicts, business disagreements, and divorce matters. An important point she made was that mediation does not have to be court-ordered, and she offers free 30-minute consultations to determine if mediation is a good fit.

Scott followed with insights about his family life, sharing about his two children who have chosen diverse paths in life. Hailing from Bradenton and a USF finance graduate, Scott specializes in homeowner and auto insurance, with a growing focus on flood insurance due to increased demand. He noted that the biggest discounts are often available for newer constructions and homes with updated roofs. Scott fielded several questions from the audience, and both presentations were well-received. Everyone is encouraged to schedule a one-on-one with them to explore their businesses further and discuss referral opportunities.

Don’t forget to update your BNI Connect profile! It only takes about five minutes to ensure your information and contact details are current. We're also looking to increase our presence on Facebook, so if you have any materials you’d like to share for our weekly posts, please let us know.

Lastly, remember that next week’s meeting will be a mega event at Van Wezel, welcoming over 200 members from other chapters. Since we’re hosting, it would be great if you could arrive early to help greet our guests. Registration is required, so reach out if you need the link.

01/08/2025

Just a reminder, Business by the bay, we are back at Van Wezel. 

12/20/2024

Instead of chasing customers, focus on crafting solutions that speak to their needs. It’s about creating products that fit their lives.
At Noble Webworks, we specialize in understanding your audience to help you build a website that attracts, engages, and converts.
Ready to make a meaningful connection with your customers?

Visit our website noblewebworks.com

12/07/2024

Gameday Grand Opening Invitation

Hello Business By the Bay,

JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE GRAND
OPENING OF A REVOLUTIONARY
APPROACH TO MEN’S HEALTH!

gameday_sm.png

DECEMBER 13th, 2024 | 4:00PM-7:00PM
2401 UNIVERSITY PARKWAY, SUITE 203
SARASOTA, FL 34243
941-233-8119

COMPLIMENTARY FOOD & BEVERAGES
WILL BE SERVED

RAFFLES & GIVEAWAYS

ENTER TO WIN A $100 POP STROKE GIFT CARD OR
FREE MONTH OF SERVICE ($200 VALUE)

PLEASE RSVP at

cid:f_m4d7wayq3

https://tinyurl.com/5a7zn5yz
by December 10th, 2024


Bill Rothbauer
Franchise Administrator - Sarasota
GameDay Men's Health
GameDayMensHealth.com
[email protected]

This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which they are addressed. This communication may contain material protected by HIPAA legislation (45 CFR, Parts 160 & 164). If you are not the intended recipient or the person responsible for delivering this email to the intended recipient, be advised that you have received this email in error and that any use, dissemination, forwarding, printing or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error, please notify the sender by replying to this email and then delete the email from your computer.

12/04/2024

This morning's meeting was both lively and festive as we returned from our Thanksgiving break. It was wonderful to see familiar faces as well as some new substitutes and guests from other chapters. We commenced the meeting with insights from Ron Freedman, our education coordinator, who emphasized the significance of the "power of one" numbers and shared strategies to swiftly improve those numbers. He suggested inviting guests and listening to podcasts while driving, recommending episodes 541, 566, and 702 for a total of 1 CEU this week.

Recognition was given to Dr. Juan, Joe Muscatell, and Chris Tennant for being the top three members in our chapter regarding the power of one. We also celebrated the renewal of members Jake Friedman and Lindsey Frost. Please connect with them to learn about their best practices for maintaining consistent engagement and success within our BNI family.

Our featured presenters were David Drab from Pelican Roofing and Julian McClain from Direct Remodels.

David was up first, discussing various financing options, including unsecured lines of credit and secured lines leveraging equity. He wrapped up his presentation by answering questions from the audience.

Julian followed with his presentation, reflecting on his two-year journey with Direct Remodels, where he specializes in windows and doors. He highlighted how new installations can lead to savings on energy and insurance costs. He also engaged with the group by answering their questions throughout his talk.

Mark your calendars for Friday, January 10th, as we are organizing our Holiday Party for that date. More details on time and location will be shared via email once finalized.
You are updated with data through October 2023.

11/13/2024

This morning's meeting buzzed with vibrant energy, and we welcomed a few visitors. We started by acknowledging our standout networkers, Lindsey Frost and Rachel Toomim.

Our featured speakers today included Valerie Hall from Lang Hall Law and David Manning from Spirit Movers.

Valerie emphasized the significance of having all your estate documents properly arranged to prevent potential family disputes. She reminded us that while death may end our role as a parent, it doesn’t erase our responsibilities.

David shared that they would find out tomorrow whether they won the Small Business of the Year award. He highlighted the advantages of choosing their services for long-distance moves: 1. Unlike U-Haul, which won’t tow your broken-down truck but instead provides you with a new one, we ensure you have professional help and insurance coverage. 2. We offer dedicated professionals who understand the process. 3. If you require storage during your move, we can accommodate that. He also cautioned against scammers who provide quotes without evaluating your home.

As we look ahead to a new year, please continue to seek out visitors to fill our open seats. Additionally, ensure that your profiles are current with your experience and contact details. Remember, your BNI Connect profile is not only visible to our group members but can also be shared with chapters across the country. Let’s make an effort to add testimonials to the profiles of members whose services you’ve personally used or referred.

10/30/2024

During our second meeting at our temporary venue, we were pleased to see a strong turnout today, despite many seats being unfilled from the service and trades sectors, as they continue to assist our community in its recovery efforts. The room was bustling with energy. We began by acknowledging the outstanding contributions of last year’s leaders—kudos to everyone involved! Ron Freedman, our education coordinator, shared valuable insights on fostering deeper personal connections within our group, emphasizing the importance of checking in on our members during these challenging times.

This week, we had the privilege of hearing from two featured presenters: Ron McKeever from Meadowbrook Insurance and Rachel Toomin from Advanced Acupuncture. Ron kicked off the presentations by sharing his 13 years of experience in healthcare insurance, including his previous role as HR manager at Manatee Hospital. He outlined various insurance options, including dental care, and expressed his willingness to meet with anyone to discuss their healthcare needs.

Following Ron, Rachel took the floor. With 35 years in acupuncture and over 41 years in healthcare, she highlighted her work as the drug court project director and her expertise in addiction and drug court counseling. Rachel provides treatment for men, women, and children dealing with a broad spectrum of disorders. Both presentations were exceptional, and I encourage everyone to arrange one-on-one meetings to learn more about their businesses and how we can provide qualified referrals.

As I browsed through BNI Connect, I noticed several profiles that need updating. Please dedicate five minutes to refresh your experience, contact details, company information, and other relevant data to ensure accuracy. Additionally, feel free to leave testimonials for fellow members. BNI Connect serves as a fantastic resource for members across the country to find and refer business to you.

Today's quote was, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” And a quick reminder: please refrain from adjusting the air conditioning. If you feel chilly, consider wearing a jacket!

10/02/2024

Today marked an exciting first gathering with our newly established leadership team, and I must say, it went exceptionally well. We kicked off the meeting with insights from our new education coordinator, Ron Freedman, who introduced our very own chapter AI. This AI is well-acquainted with all of us and is particularly focused on Damon, our IT consultant.

Dr. Juan took a moment to acknowledge our outstanding 2024 Leaders: Damon Childs for most CEUs, Rachel Toomin for one-on-ones, David Drab for referrals, and Christina Florand for TYFCB. A huge round of applause to everyone in the chapter! Not only did we achieve our new member goals, but we also surpassed all other marks set for this year. While it may be challenging to top these impressive numbers, we are confident that as we continue to expand, business opportunities will follow.

We also had the pleasure of hearing from our featured presenters today: Craig Clark from Best of the Best Inspections and Joe Muscatell from Time Saver Fitness. Craig shared his inspiring journey from New Hampshire, detailing his transition from corporate training and retail banking, where he gained insights into homebuying, to his time with a local builder. During his spare time, he pursued his home inspector license, culminating in the launch of Best of the Best Inspections on July 1, 2022, at the young age of 59.

Joe Muscatel excitedly announced that October 15 will mark the 10th anniversary of Time Saver Fitness. He emphasized their core philosophy of super slow, high-intensity strength training, aimed at guiding clients toward healthier living solutions beyond medication. Joe mentioned that excellent referrals for him include local chiropractors and individuals dealing with osteopenia or osteoporosis. He also encouraged everyone to schedule a one-on-one session to experience firsthand the workout process he offers.

Both Craig and Joe delivered fantastic presentations today. Let’s make an effort to set up one-on-one meetings to learn more about their businesses and explore how we can provide them with qualified referrals.

Dr. Juan from Vitality Chiropractic informed us that on November 5, they will be hosting a Patient Appreciation Day. Additionally, on November 8, they will have a New Client Day, offering complimentary adjustments and assessments for newcomers. Don't forget about Friday Fest happening this Friday at 5 PM! If you'd like to lend a hand and contribute some promotional items, please contact our new president, Jake Friedman.

09/25/2024

What a fantastic way to wrap up our current leadership's term! Despite a storm threatening the area, we had a packed room for our meeting. We kicked things off by having both current and incoming membership introduce themselves along with their roles. We celebrated the members who achieved over 90% attendance—quite a few, I must say! A huge congratulations to us for reaching our goal of 40 members; we’re actually at 41 now! Furthermore, we've nearly accomplished all our other objectives, with referrals being the last one on the list. I’m confident we’ll tackle that after today’s meeting. Kudos to our leadership for setting achievable goals and to everyone in the group for their hard work this past month.

Today’s presentations featured Anthony Martin from 11 X The Cleaning Services and Penny Davies from Succentrix Business Advisors. Anthony took the stage first, sharing insights about how his business launched in 2021 and its focus on the Sarasota-Bradenton area. As a third-generation Floridian, he explained the distinctions between pressure washing and soft washing. If you’re interested in learning more about Anthony and his services, I encourage you to schedule a one-on-one with him.

Penny then took the floor, humorously warning everyone that she might challenge them to a round of golf—looks like Chris Tennant has some competition! She elaborated on her CPA firm, highlighting their various service packages that include not just accounting, but also bookkeeping, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding their clients’ investments. Penny operates under a specific code of conduct, which ensures she remains very involved with her clients. For those wanting to find out more about her and her firm, I recommend setting up a one-on-one as well.

Once again, a big shoutout to our outgoing leadership for their outstanding work. They’ve set a high bar for the incoming team. Let’s wrap up this week strong and kick off October with impressive numbers. Please stay safe, and let's hope the storm stays to the west. If anyone encounters difficulties during the storm, don’t hesitate to share here so we can lend a hand if needed.

09/23/2024

At last week's meeting, Dr. Juan kicked things off by discussing the importance of individual contributions and acknowledged 10 members who are currently excelling. Kudos to everyone for your hard work! We’re gearing up for a strong finish this month to meet our CEU targets. Remember to check in on Facebook when you arrive at our Wednesday meeting. This week's podcasts will help keep us on track toward our goal listen to 721, 633, 505, 244, 689, and 659. I'm thrilled to share that not only did we achieve our target of 40 members last week, but we also welcomed an additional member, bringing our total to 41. With one application pending, we're aiming now for 43 by month's end. Invite, invite, invite!!!

Our featured speakers were Spencer Brannon from Michael Saunders & Company, our commercial real estate expert, and Taylor Deans from Mountain Air SRQ, our HVAC specialist.
Spencer shared insights into his family's legacy in commercial real estate and emphasized his commitment to ongoing education while benefiting from the guidance of experienced mentors. He expressed a desire to engage in more one-on-one discussions, so let’s take advantage of that.

Taylor, celebrating nearly a year with BNI, announced that he has reached a level of growth that allows him to hire his first employee. He proudly noted that one-third of his business stems from BNI and emphasized his dedication to serving his clients well. He also mentioned upcoming changes in the air conditioning sector, inviting anyone interested to schedule a one-on-one to hear how he maximizes his BNI membership.

This Wednesday marks our final meeting of the calendar year before we transition to new leadership. Let’s make a concerted effort to meet all our goals. Be sure to follow up on all referrals, and put in any thank you for closed deals, and if you have any outstanding referrals to submit, now is the time! Additionally, please take a moment to log into your BNI Connect profile to ensure that your contact information is current and that you have an updated photo. After all, some of us aren't quite as young as we once were!

09/17/2024

At the recent meeting, we kicked things off by recognizing our top networkers for the month of August. Our education coordinator then shared some valuable insights on social media through a couple of recommended podcasts, aiming to help everyone enhance their businesses. Don't forget to listen to podcast episodes 721 and 555 to earn your CEUs for the week.

We also discussed the importance of Google reviews for our group. Take a moment to leave a five-star review for any services provided by our members or received by your clients. It only takes a few minutes, but make sure you have a Gmail account to do so.

Our featured presenters were Damon Childs from Terminus Services and Dr. Juan Caceres from Vitality Chiropractic Family Practice. Damon demonstrated the benefits of remote access protection in safeguarding and optimizing business networks. Dr. Juan emphasized his practice's commitment to education and addressing the root causes of clients' pain. He debunked the top five misconceptions about chiropractic care.
1)Chiropractors are not real doctors 2)Chiropractic care is expensive
3) Chiropractic adjustments are dangerous
4) I can adjust my own back 😂
5) Adjustments hurt.

As we approach the end of the calendar year, take the time to review the referrals you've received and ensure you've followed up on all current referrals. Aim to close any pending business and add the thank you for closed business to those who have supported you. We reached 2 million this week, with the goal target of 2.25 million in sight. Additionally, we are on track to meet our goal of 40 members with our pending application. Let's work together to achieve all our objectives for this year.

09/11/2024

Apologies for the delayed update. We had a productive meeting on 9/4 with several significant anniversaries within the group. Congratulations to Ron Freedman for 10 years, Christina Florand for 4 years, James Calvert for 10 years, John Svanda for 6 years, and Ron McKeever for 13 years with BNI. Clearly, BNI is proving to be beneficial for these members. Consider scheduling a one-on-one with them to learn about their strategies for staying engaged over the years.

Our chapter is aiming to reach $2.25 million in closed business by the end of September and also attain 40 members. It seems we are on track to hit the 40-member mark. Let's make an effort to increase our CEU numbers and perhaps organize a group happy hour to facilitate more one-on-one meetings before the month ends.

During our meeting, we heard from Terri West of Westcoast Business Solutions and Robert Richardson of Wholesale Payments. Terri explained how her organization can assist businesses of any size and in any industry to grow. Robert, with a decade of experience in payment processing, shared insights on industry changes and his success in securing business approvals.

It's essential to diligently follow up on past referrals and check in on any business generated from Facebook referrals. Additionally, Friday fest is approaching, and be on the lookout for upcoming leadership training sessions for new leaders in our group.

09/11/2024

09/06/2024

Let’s try something new. For the rest of September whenever you have a one to one take a selfie of you and who you are meeting with and post it on our page. Let’s see if we can flood our feed with pictures and hit our one-to-one goal before the end of our year.


08/31/2024

This week's meeting commenced with Dr. Juan introducing our upcoming leadership team and welcoming our newest member, Valerie Hall from Lang Hall Law, who has taken on the role of estate planning law within our group. We encourage everyone to connect with Valerie for a one-on-one meeting to learn more about her and her practice. The meeting also touched upon the significance of Google reviews and BNI testimonials. It would be greatly appreciated if all members could spare some time before the end of September to leave a review or testimonial for fellow chapter members. Let's stay focused on our one-on-one meetings, continuing education units, and referrals to increase our closed business and reach our goal of 2.25 million.

Our featured presenters this week were Daryl Schmucker from Noble Web Works and John Svanda from Suncoast Ducts. John began by demonstrating the importance of proper duct cleaning to maintain air quality and efficiency in air conditioning systems. He offers a touchless cleaning service that not only leaves your home smelling fresh but also significantly improves air quality. Daryl delved into the world of SEO, highlighting the ongoing process of updating websites to enhance their effectiveness. Both presenters delivered insightful presentations. Reach out to them to schedule one-on-one meetings and explore potential referral opportunities stemming from their presentations.