Testimonials
Ed King
Ed King Pop Art
I create beautiful, vibrant neo-pop artwork which people purchase from all over the world. It sounds simple, but it's not...most of my time is spent in meetings, none more important than my weekly BNI meeting.
South Beach BNI has been critical in the success of my business. It's as simple as the American Express marketing campaign: membership has it's privileges.
In 2006, I was working at a day job as a graphic designer. I worked a regular 9 to 5 job with a cranky boss and a lack luster pay check. I was lucky to have a great friend and supporter of my business, Dena Willman, working with me in the same department. She had recently joined South Beach BNI and invited me to come as her guest.
Within 9 months of joining BNI, I was making the equivalent of my salary and was afforded the opportunity quit my job. Really, I quit their job - The day I resigned was when I really started working at MY job.
What Dena did was remarkable. Instead of focusing on the general categories for BNI like real estate, accounting, insurance, or others, she took a chance on inviting an outgoing person with an uncommon category - Artist. This category is so uncommon that I am the only artist that I know of in all of BNI Miami-Dade.
Thanks to the quality of my chapter, I have never seen a dip in revenue over those three years. The members of my BNI group give me great referrals and often purchase my artwork -- it all adds up.
So, what was my biggest referral? I was given the opportunity to forge a relationship with Miami Children's Hospital to be the artist for their "Piggy Bank" fundraising campaign.
Not only were they my biggest client financially, but my artwork was used for their direct mail, email, internet campaigns along with a billboard that was up this past summer -- all of this thanks to a dedicated BNI member who had the vision to forecast success from this unique category.
I'd like to leave you with a challenge. Take a fresh look at your contacts, your associates, friends, and family. Find the uncommon category and invite them as a guest.
The strength of BNI is in the diversity of our membership from chapter to chapter. The "x-factor" of BNI are the friendships that are formed.
The support of BNI members has been amazing! When you think of uncommon categories, think of me, Ed King Pop Art and the amazing opportunities I've experienced! You really can make a big difference for someone's business.
Ed King
Ed King Pop Art
BNI South Beach
www.EdKingPopArt.com
info@EdKingPopArt.com
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Elba M. Hernandez
First Service Realty-GMAC Real Estate, Inc.
At the beginning I didn't think that the BNI system was for me, I was giving a lot of referrals but I wasn't getting qualified ones. My renewal was coming up and I didn't want to leave, but I was not sure if I wanted to make a commitment for another year.
Well I decided to go for help and I met with our Executive Director, Managing Director, and Assistant Director, our membership committee and other successful members outside my chapter. They helped and guided me on how to be successful in BNI.
Well, I started to do effective Dance cards concentrating on my sphere. A wek after i met with the real estate attorney in our chapter, Alex Sirulnik, I received a referral from him - a referral client who purchased 4 condos and now I have the exclusive right to rent them.
So with only one client I have made over $ 30,000.
The best way to succeed in this economy is through BNI- the best networking organization and Thanks to the Directors, membership committee, and other successful members I am here today because they showed me that they care, and they kindly took their time to meet with me.
Thank you BNI!!!
Elba M. Hernandez
Realtor Associate
First Service Realty-GMAC Real Estate, Inc.
www.ElbaHernandez.com
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Lissa Nirenberg
Miami Oriental Medicine, LLC
Co-opetition is when you look at others in your profession as people good to network and share business with and not like competition.
My friend Jane Kaufman and I graduated acupuncture school, and she told me she had joined a chapter of an organization that would help us market our new practices and told me I should join a chapter near my office. Co-opetition started to enter my mind and later became a part of my life.
A couple of years ago, my chapter (south Miami BNI) had a litigation atty. put in an application. As a long time member, someone asked if I minded that his wife was also an acupuncture physician. I said he is a lawyer and will give referrals to others in the chapter and benefit his sphere and beyond, and who knows he may end up as my best referral source, as he already understands what I do. The member who was concerned did not get it, is no longer in BNI, and no longer benefiting from it. He thought I was being unrealistic. Well, of course not, I was just being open to the possibilities.
I got to know this atty. and he said his wife wanted to stay home with their child and when she gets a call for acupuncture they will send it my way. I thanked Bruce for the connection to his wife to try to get the group to understand co-opetition in the testimonial section of the meeting, as there is business for all of us, in any profession. It turned out even better than I thought, as she had friends telling her to look for a place to work part time to keep her skills up. It turned out they were friends we had in common, who did not know I had space available. Next, I met her at our holiday party and realized who she was and we hit it off quickly. My clients are happy to be looked after when I am not in town, and happy with the quality of who is seeing them, and my office also benefits from her being there when she wants to be, as she went and had another child recently and is busy at home, probably waiting for me to say I am going on vacation.
If I went looking for another person in my field to be in my office I could not have found the Caliber of practitioner or a person who doesn’t want their own office in a few years. Of course my husband, a bni member, wanted me to find someone, so I could travel without worrying about my patients and their care. He is as happy as I am with the choice, as we also have new friends in Bruce and Michelle.
Thanks for being part of BNI along with me,
Lissa Nirenberg
Doctor of Oriental Medicine
Miami Oriental Medicine, LLC
BNI South Miami
Website: miamiorientalmedicine.com
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Manny Toledo
Lurim Technologies
Ever since I was a kid and as a young adult I was not able to speak in public. Even in front of small groups or gathering of about 4 or 5 people. Please don't misunderstand: I have always been very outgoing and friendly.
I went to our current chapter Trusted Source and was introduced to the training machines Mr. Max and Mr. Koolmeyer who then took our whole group into the pre-chapter BNI boot camp. We went through a series of exercises and training. They helped me to speak in front of an audience about my business with confidence and with effectiveness.
BNI is more than a networking group. BNI helps business owners and professionals to be an effective speaker and a better business man or woman. Yes business is the bottom line but what is business if you don't enjoy the ride? "Have fun with the fundamentals" enjoy.
Manny Toledo
Lurim Technologies
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Dr. Robert Bueso
The Valuation Group
Right after I had been formally approved and become a member of the Pinecrest BNI chapter, my sponsor, Rich Bragassa, private investigator, encouraged me to go to the official Miami Dade BNI website and post all my information.
I was skeptical of the level of importance this would have, as I was focused on meeting the Pinecrest members, and trying to create a bond with them.
Not quite convinced but willing to learn, I placed my information on the \website, saying to myself, ok, this wont hurt…..but, within a few weeks, I received a call from a California-based BNI member who had been looking for a valuation expert, and he relied on BNI’s websites to find us! An investor group wanted to buy a software game from Atari, and they wanted to know the value of the game, as well as what the first offer price should be.
This would be a mega-million dollar transaction, and my company received a six-figure contract to estimate the precise value of the game.
The assignment was interesting, and profitable, but more importantly, it opened my eyes to the huge BNI worldwide network, and its ability to generate referrals for us from every corner of the world. BNI is an efficient worldwide marketing model!
Dr. Robert Bueso
The Valuation Group
BNI Pinecrest
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Jon Bragman
Lones Gemologists & Appraisers
Three years ago, my wife suggested that I build the Jewelry Appraisal Business at Lones Gemologists & Appraisers. This was a new direction for me.
How was I to meet the main users of my services. Was I going to cold call every Trust, Estate, and Probate Attorney. Or the Family Lawyers, or even those Bankruptcy Attorney’s? We all know how much fun and how successful COLD Calling is.
Fortunately for me, a dear friend of mine, Lisa Pearson, contacted me about this Networking group that she was involved with that was looking for someone just like me to do business with. All it took was one meeting. Seeing 30 motivated, intelligent, category exclusive, and successful business people at a meeting at 6:30 in the morning was all it took.
The expression, “I’M IN!!” was my response. I didn’t even know about the other 20 chapters in Miami at the time.
Jon Bragman
Lones Gemologists & Appraisers
www.jewelryappraiser.org
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Melissa Rubin
Miami Beach Chapter
I am part of the Miami Beach Chapter.
An old friend said “BNI is Home” so I thought I would share with you a bit of our happy home.
In May, we shared with each other our life altering referrals- Diana from Velocity processing was introduced to the Leading caterers of America- a network of 5000 potential clients and I had the opportunity to speak with Bill Mayer on NBC-ask and you shall receive.
Week 2 September, we revolved our commercials around school supplies and donated 2 carts worth to Brownville Middle school. Next year, we hope to engage BNI Miami Dade in helping more Dade County Schools. We also donated a hole in our BNI charity golf tourn.
October is of course Halloween and again revolved our commercials around candy. Leila the CEO of Hands on Miami asked us to help the kids in Liberty city. How lucky are we to have had the chance.
December is toys for kids in Columbia, a passion for Alfonso and food for the food bank sponsored by Mercy Hospital and our Jesse.
In November lead by Dr. Todd Narson of MB sports chiropractic and Adam Cronin of Soma Fitness, 20 of us did a nutritional cleanse for 21 days. We had support weekly from our fellow members and great recipes from Bill Hansen.
We had 6 babies, 2 weddings, planted trees in Israel for the loss of a parent and cried together.
3 of our attorneys branched out to grow their practices supported by our BNI members.
Altiva Architecture Company was formed with our member and the husband of another.
JB got trademark approval after 18 months of Loren Pearson beating down the board.
Our members run ½ marathons and triathlons together and we are there to cheer at the end.
Our Jason’s were honored- Jason Loeb at the Miami Gay and Lesbian Chamber event and Jason Beukema in Las Vegas for travel person of the year. In Miami I was so proud to see 70 people stand up when Jason humbly accepted his award. So much happens outside our morning meetings.
In September we had the biggest visitor day ever for both our chapter and Dade county-why because we strive to keep raising the bar.
We have exchanged over $5,000,000 in business this year and we will keep doing what we are doing and pushing to the next level.
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Javier Unzueta
Speedy Signs & Engraving
I stood up at the MCRA Awards in 2008 and gave a testimonial about how BNI was responsible for 93% of my business accounting for a 723% in gross revenue over 7 months. A year later I'd become what I hate most - Complacent. I still attended, had an occasional 1-2-1 Dance Card meeting, and gave the odd referrals, but I was more passive than active. What could I do?
I got the solution from my 7 year old daughter who came and asked: "Daddy, isn't it time to change your filter?" She meant the Air Conditioner, of course, but I took it a bit more literally. After calling Jeff Fetzer for a replacement A/C filter, I proceeded to work on my own filter.
First of all, I attended MSP again, even though it had been only 5 months since my last visit, Did I sit in a room looking at the clock, hearing the same training as before, seeing a blur of people I didn't know and wasn't going to bother meeting?
Nope.
With my new filter, I saw 25 business owners, most of whom I hadn't met yet. 25 energetic new members willing to share. I saw an opportunity to give referrals, build relationships and yes, increase my sales. I saw an assistant director refresh my memory on the basics of what had given me my continued growth. I left refreshed and renewed.
I made time to have more than just one 1-2-1 in a week.
With my new filter, I listened intently and tried to pick out a unique client that my friends needed. I asked multiple questions to find out how I could help them.
I attend the occasional mixer. Did I just have a drink and surround myself with people I know? Not this time.
I was introduced to new potential clients and listened carefully with my new filter for what they each wanted.
In the end, my new filter allowed me to take a more active role in BNI and resulted in tripling my revenue for the following month and so much extra work that I hired a personal assistant and two part time employees.
Javier Unzueta,
BNI Coral Gables
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Jody Johnson
ActionCOACH Business Coaching
Hello I'm Jody Johnson and I belong to the South Beach BNI group. I joined BNI in September 2006 shortly after opening my business 3.5 yrs ago. Inside the structure of doing a 1:1 weekly I got to know the members of my group and in the spirit of givers gain we have a policy of offering a complimentary coaching session to everyone we meet with. We have had an AMAZING return on our investment of time and money.
The 1st year in BNI I personally had a 7000% return on my dollar investment.
That was year one.
From then till now our firm has generated $475,964.00 between myself, my partner Doug and our team. By December 31st 2009 this year it will be greater than 1/2 million generated by our participation in BNI.
Needless to say the impact of that kind of return has literally made our business a roaring success. We have won national and international awards within the ActionCOACH community directly related to our participation in BNI.
This year alone we generated $179,870.00 by December 31st that will top $200,000.00 representing 43% of our business revenues in 2009.
Interestingly enough $35,000.00 of that is from a gentleman that attended a visitor day one time. He walked up to me that day and said I need you, we got started about 3 weeks later and I'm still working with him and his team.
Now even though the dollars are important and they are, for me personally I have met some of the most extraordinary people up to great things in their lives and communities. I have made lifelong friendships and have had the privilege to help transform businesses and lives.
If you want to know how we got these kind of results be sure you do one on ones and listen, listen for what is needed and wanted then give that.
Be of service, take on a leadership role.
Give first and give freely.
Thank you South Beach BNI you are dear to my heart. Thank you South Florida BNI what a great community to be a part of. Lastly thank you Jeff Stay and Ivan Misner for giving me the opportunity to fulfill my mission of transforming the economic landscape in South Florida through the vehicle of your courage and vision.
Jody Johnson
ActionCOACH Business Coaching
BNI South Beach
Website: www.actioncoachteamsage.com
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Dr. Todd Narson
Miami Beach Family & Sports Chiropractic Center
Dr. Todd Narson
This is the story of how my helping a friend turned into 35 direct BNI referrals in 2 months and a total of 45 referrals in all.
Since becoming a BNI member in February 2002 I've received an average of 56 referrals per year. My wife, who is also my business partner, is also a member of a BNI chapter - she receives an average of 56 referrals per year.40/year and we've given back equally. As if this isn't enough already, we've met some of our closest friends in BNI and we can't think of life, let alone business without it.
February 2009 was when I made the decision to do a 21-Day nutritional purification program to help reduce my weight, my blood pressure and my triglycerides which, according to my own doctor, were way too high. In the 21 days that followed I stuck to what amounted to a “caveman” diet supported with some nutritional supplements and protein shake. Over the course of the 21 days I lost a total of 19 ¾ pound, my blood pressure went from 150/100 to 124/82. My cholesterol went from 270 down to 190 and my triglyceride levels from 305 to 150.
I promised myself I would do this purification program once per year for the rest of my life.
At the end of July a friend’s wife asked me to speak to her husband about losing weight and getting his blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes under control. I spoke with him and told him that if he is willing to do the 21-day program, I would do it with him and coach him through it.
I told a couple people in my BNI Chapter (BNI Miami Beach) about what I was doing and it created a buzz in my chapter. Melissa Ruben, our president referred 9 people to the purification program alone. Out of the 45 people doing the current 21-Day Nutritional Purification Program, 35 were either referred from or are in BNI.
As a result of this program bumping into BNI, I have created a new business out of the 21-Day nutritional purification program. Everyone on the program is losing weight, people have noticed their energy levels have gone through the roof, they aren’t hungry, they aren’t missing their morning coffee (2 people are major coffee drinkers, 1 does 10-12 cups/day, the other 22 cups per day and neither are missing it). Out of the response from BNI alone, we gone beyond the basic nutritional purification program and have combined efforts with other BNI members and the program now includes:
• Drs Todd & Corey Narson(BNI Miami Beach/South Beach) – Nutritional consultations and 21-Day Purification Guidance
• Adam Cronin/SOMA Fitness(BNI Miami Beach) – Cross-Train fitness classes 3x/week for those doing the purification program
• William Ltaif – Personal Healthy Chef who provides organic pre-prepared meals and was referred to me by Leila Chang-Ripich of BNI Miami Beach.
• Todd Goodwin (BNI Pioneers) who provides stress reduction and weight loss hypnotherapy to the purification program participants
• Dr. Eddy Blanco MyMobileMeds.com (BNI Miami Beach) Pharmacist, is consulting with purification program participants that are on medications and have allergies that may have unwanted interactions with the nutritional supplements (luckily, none have )
• Jose Varona (BNI Miami Beach) – MyHomeDoctor.com, providing us with the ability to get labwork (blood work to measure cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, etc…)
• Todd Paton(BNI Biscayne Connection) Paton Internet Marketing/ GradeYourWebsite.com; who is helping us with an on-line program for the purification program.
Together, we’ve created a program with a synergy that came right out of BNI Miami. Within 2 months, this went from me helping out a friend, to what seems to be an entirely new direction for my healthcare business.
I’ve been looking for that multiple stream to add to my chiropractic, physical therapy & rehabilitation business for years and due to the cooperation and referrals from my fellow BNI-ers, I’ve finally found it.
Thanks to BNI, my practice has taken a new direction and giving people back control over their health at the same time.
Now that’s some bang for your buck!
Dr. Todd Narson
BNI Miami Beach
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Brian Barakat
Barakat, Jacobs & Associates, P.L.
When I first joined BNI a few weeks after starting my own business I didn't take it very seriously, and I wasn't a very good member. After several months the vice president came to me and asked me to check how much closed business BNI generated for me. I pulled my quick books file, grabbed a highlighter, and started marking in yellow the clients I got from BNI. There was a whole lot of yellow on that page!
So I thought to myself, if this is what I can accomplish without taking this seriously, I can only imagine what it would be like if I put in the effort. I embraced the fundamentals: I showed up at every meeting, on time, prepared for the events of the day, but more importantly, I took on a leadership role. This gained me visibility & credibility. As a result of the good work I did as Vice President and president of my chapter, I was invited to be an Ambassador. Again, this increased my exposure, my credibility and as a result, my business.
Now BNI is about a 1/3 of my over all revenues.
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Marko Evans
Now Hiring You, LLC
My executive recruiting firm is represented within the BNI Miami Beach Chapter that meets Thursday mornings, and like many of you, we strive to develop deep and meaningful relationships.
RULE #1- BNI has taught me that working with committed people, in any business, is the shortest path to success.
RULE #2- Having a clear vision and setting your expectation level will allow you to achieve your goals.
RULE #3- Forget the “SHOTGUN” approach. Do your research and get to the right buyers for your products. Laser, pinpoint accuracy combined with due diligence will get you the orders.
What BNI has done for our business is priceless.
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David Rhugnanan
Trinity Effects
As a 23 year old starting in BNI where most people started their businesses before I was born, it was daunting to even offer a service to such professionals. Paying the BNI membership fee was quite a pinch at the time, but I had heard good things about BNI and thought I'd give it a try.
I was able to get an office shortly after, a new car, and hire some help. A member in our group referred me to the marketing supervisor in the CrepeMaker. That referral snowballed into many other restaurant websites. One of these caught the attention of the Miami Heat. Within a very short period afterwards, the NBA home office called me up and asked us to do some work for them, and following them were the Los Angeles Lakers. Since then we've been in talks with 3 additional teams as well as receiving steady work from both the Miami Heat and the LA Lakers.
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Tracey Hagen
Tracey Hagen Photography
“ As a founding member of BNI Central I can remember just 3 months ago meeting with about ten professionals and no one in the room except for Adam Max knew what was going on. I saw the potential and was determined to get to the magic 20 members that we needed to launch & continued to invite guests weekly and be as involved as I possibly could. Barry Schwartz was so helpful and right by my side with enthusiasm from the start and I knew we would be great friends especially after I met his wife Sally. I must admit there was a time that we were on the fence and I was not sure which way it would go. I just continued to invite guests and have dance cards networking with the professionals we already had in the group and began passing referrals. I believe the structure of BNI works and there truly is a method to the madness! There was a major turning point once we began mailing out our invite letters for our visitors day kick off and next thing we knew we had 111 RSVP’s for visitors. It seemed like BNI Central took on a momentum and energy of it’s own. This energy was so apparent when we received a record breaking 28 APPLICATIONS to join our chapter on our kick off event. We were very selective on accepting new members and have turned away quite a few. One week after our kick off I was honored to receive an opportunity and from BNI corporate to bid on a photography job for the Extravaganza Cruise with Dr. Ivan Misner. I have made friends in our chapter that I have brought to dinner with my Mother & invited to my birthday lunch with lifelong friends. Just two weeks later BNI Central ACCEPTED 15 NEW MEMBERS, bringing us to 35 members, and has earned the Hall of Fame Award for the first time in S. Florida history! I am very proud to be a part of our team and I look forward to our growth as a chapter, friendships & creating endless possibilities together.”
Tracey Hagen
Photographer
305.695.9288
www.memories.me
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Alan Kristal - BNI Kendall
Alan J. Kristal, CPA, P.A.
It may have taken 7 months to get that first referral, but as of today, my business has grown some 300%, in the past 6 years, and more than 65% of the total is as a result of BNI.
If taxes make you cry by the gallon Relieve your woes and just call ALAN!!
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Javier Unzueta - BNI Coral Gables
Speedy Signs & Engraving, INC.
In the 7 months I’ve been a member, I’ve given over 100 referrals, invited a couple guests, attended all the meetings ON TIME, and had over 120 Dance Card meetings, several events including a memorable family bowling night and a wonderfully beneficial charity golf tournament.
I’ve visited 12 other chapters and promoted my chapter as well. I gained insights into how others in my field conduct business and, in many cases, now conduct business with them.
This minor investment of my time resulted in a 723% increase in gross income over a period of six months. Thanks to relationships with members throughout BNI, I’ve been warmly introduced to chambers of commerce. I’ve gained a confidence in approaching strangers that I never had before. And most importantly, the incredible resource of business knowledge that is now available to me is unprecedented.
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Ed King
Kaleidoscope Conspiracy
February 2008
Jeff,
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to write a little bit about my BNI experience. I have said to you that BNI has had a huge impact on my business. During the last week, I really took some time and thought about what BNI has actually meant to me.
My BNI experience has been a wonderful mix of education, motivation, and business prosperity. As a person who believes that you become what you surround yourself with, I knew that I needed to be a BNI member from the first meeting. Thank goodness for Dena Willman and her invitation to come to the South Beach chapter as her guest.
Education - I am a neo-pop artist. This means that I have a lot of skills that have nothing to do with running a business. Surrounding myself with people like Laurie Wynn and Jon Kidd have given me a lot of perspective about how to approach business that I never had before. The quality of the membership and the lessons I learn from being around them is priceless. Coupled with the educational coordinator and the mini networking workshops during the meetings has, for me, been like attending business school for pennies on the dollar. BNI continues to be a beneficial learning experience for me.
Motivation - BNI has forced me to become more motivated about my business. Being in the room means that I have to be prepared to talk about my business formally through commercials and 10 minute presentations. It also means that I have to be able to effectively sell myself to members and guests. This need to be prepared motivates me to critically think about who I am and what my business represents. It allows me to analyze what my approach will be with networking. It forces me to try new things and to discuss different strategies and options with existing members of the group. When I talk to other artists, they consistently tell me that they never think about these issues. I wonder if I would be like them without BNI... and this question speaks directly to my appreciation of the BNI philosophy.
Business Prosperity - I love saying that when I started BNI, I had a job and that within nine months of BNI, I was a full time business owner. How did it happen? My success in BNI boils down to hard networking and outreach with my BNI members. Through the EDM philosophy, having 1-1 meetings, and giving my 10 minute presentation as much as my group allows, I have been able to educate my group on who I am and what I need. My continual focus on corporate collaboration and the need to position myself as community leader in the arts has lead to amazing referrals. The quality of the membership has opened doors to arenas that would never have been available as a cold call or walk in request. The result of my relationships with BNI members have lead to a huge increase in sales, opportunities, and an expanded rolodex of new contacts. The growth has been amazing and, better still, I am extremely happy to have built a fine group of new friends who, on a personal level, are truly wonderful people. The prosperity is not cash based - it is the feeling of support and the joy from interacting with good, honest, and down-to-earth individuals.
All in all, BNI has been a defining source of success for my business. I can look back to one referral - a singular invitation to visit a chapter - as having a direct and inimitable effect on the growth of my business. It continues to give me new insights into how to become a better business person and for that, I am truly grateful.
Ed King
786-553-4528
www.kaleidoscopeconspiracy.com
info@kaleidoscopeconspiracy.com
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Matthew S. Sarelson, Esq.
SARELSON, P.A.
Dear BNI Friends:
Today mark’s the 1 year anniversary of Sarelson, P.A. Being a member of BNI gave me the chutzpah to start my own Firm at 28 when others said wait several more years. Not only has BNI given me the confidence and motivation to own my own business at such a young age, but it has helped me with revenue. I represent several members of South Beach and Miami Beach BNI (for confidentiality reasons I won’t mention who) and most of my largest clients have come through BNI. My long-shot goal of $100,000 in revenue my first year was shattered months in advance of today.
I moved to Miami on May 16, 2004 without ever stepping foot in the county and without knowing a single person (except the judge I was clerking for and who hired me from DC having never even seen the courthouse). For reasons unknown, I felt called to Miami (which is odd considering how people outside Miami view us). I knew it was here I would plant my seed and become a mensch. My father and I rented a u-haul and drove non-stop from Washington, D.C. When I dropped him off at the airport to fly home I was as alone as I’ve ever been in my life. For about 2 weeks the only in-person communication I had was the store clerk at the Coral Gables Baha Fresh, where I went everyday for a tasty Dos Manos. A quick three and a half years later and I’m well on my way to making it. People in town know who I am and my phone rings non-stop with potential business. I have great friends and colleagues. Short of a wife and kids, my life rocks.
The most important thing for me – lots of lunches and networking with BNI people outside of the regular meetings. I also make sure I go the extra mile for BNI referrals.
I’m not known for being overly emotional, but I honestly want to thank you all. It means more than I am capable of articulating.
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Dena Willman
Family Resource Center of South Florida, Inc.
Todd…
BNI Miami Beach truly out did themselves at Thursday’s meeting with the toy drive benefiting Family Resource Center of South Florida, Inc. I brought the toys back to have the Full Case Managers so they could pick the toys for their foster kids and everyone was so excited to have such nice gifts that were age appropriate for teenagers. They are used to toy drives bringing in baby toys only. But the MP3 Player and Harry Potter were the hit! In all of the toy drives I have seen, yours was one that was off the charts. Your chapter donated nice, high quality, thoughtful and educational toys for our kids. And on Christmas Day, I hope everyone in your chapter remembers that from this toy drive, they made a difference in a child’s life and they put a smile on a child’s face which is amazing.
Dena Willman
Director of Development
Family Resource Center of South Florida, Inc.
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Doswell C. Coakley
BNI Bahamas
To: Jessica Wilcox
Assistant Director
BNI Miami-Dade
Jessica,
Thanks for the invitation while in San Diego at the BNI Int'l Conference to attend your recent BNI awards event. Janice and I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction with fellow BNI members from within your district.
It was also good to observe the BNI formula at work. I now look forward to attending a regular BNI network meeting of one of your chapters.
Please extend our thanks to the Executive Director and his team. Your Executive Director is very inspiring. I like his style.
Doswell C. Coakley
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Dr. Corey Narson
Miami Beach Sports & Chiropractic
Dear Jeff;
The 2007 Member & Chapter Recognition Awards were AMAZING. You Jeff, outdid yourself this year!
We left feeling well.... musical.
Corey
Dr. Corey Narson
BNI South Beach
Founding Member
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Kenneth Rader
The Cereal Bowl
Jeff,
Congratulations on this morning's event, which seems to have been a huge success. It was very impressive to see the amount of people you and BNI have been able to affect and personally I was able to learn a great deal, and best of all, make some valuable connections.
Kenneth Rader
President & CEO
The Cereal Bowl
[P](305)428-2695 x101
[F](305)662-2696
kenneth@thecerealbowl.com
www.thecerealbowl.com
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Joe Haber
Haber Mortgage & Financial
Dear Jeff & TEAM BNI MIAMI-DADE;
Thank you for all the hard work you put into the MCRA today. This year, I was pleasantly surprised how improved the event was. I was particularly excited to hear the speaker, Freddie Ravel. I found his presentation to be fun and entertaining, with a strong message about trying harder to actively pay attention when networking. His method of fusing music and dialogue is refreshing.
The event was tight. Registration was easy. The venue was excellent. The coordination between you and the other Assistant Directors made the event run smoothly. The timing was managed efficiently. It was informative and well worth the cost to attend. It was a very enjoyable event.
Again, thanks for all your hard work. BNI has helped me, my business and my family over the years and I want you to know that it is greatly appreciated by this proud member.
Sincerely,
Joe Haber
President
Haber Mortgage & Financial
BNI Aventura Chapter
305.978.9513
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Debbie Blake
Hi Adam,
I wanted to let you know that even though I had to give up my BNI membership so that I can care for my husband during his illness, I still rely on BNI members to provide excellent service; I believe that when someone shows outstanding service, they should be recognized.
Today, I was at a hospital in Broward County with my Dan, who was having a very long medical test. He had a prescription to be picked up at Baptist Hospital and I knew there was no way I was going to make it before the pharmacy closed. It was important that I get the medicine for Dan, so Rick Machado from the Dadeland Chapter gave me the number of Johann Torres at Global Express Courier, a member of the Kendall Chapter. For some reason I was not able to get through to Johann, so I contacted Harmony Nix to ask for a recommendation; she gave me Johann's name, too! I told her that I was having difficulty reaching him, so she contacted him on my behalf. Johann was very quick in calling me and having his dispatcher call me to take the pick up instructions. Not only was Dan's medicine delivered promptly to my doorstep, about an hour later, Harmony followed up to be sure that Dan had received his medication.
I want to thank Johann so very much for the professional and fast service and I want to thank Rick and Harmony for referring me to him. Harmony's follow up went way beyond what was expected; as always, she is a great BNI member, as well as a great friend.Heartfelt thanks from Dan and me.
I now have his number stored in my phone and will definitely call him the next time I need this service.
Sincerely,
Debbie Blake
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BNI Charity Golf Tournament
Big City Mountaineers
November 3rd, 2006
Assistant Director Team
BNI Miami-Dade
Dear Assistant Director Team;
Thank you for helping sponsor the BNI Miami-Dade/BCM Charity Golf Tournament in September 2006. Your tax-deductible donation of $250 and the proceeds from this event (totaling over $20,000 and donated through the BNI Misner Foundation) will be used to support BCM's recreational mentoring program for at-risk teens.
As you may know, BCM (www.bigcitymountaineers.org) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, and is the country's leading volunteer organization devoted t providing significant mentoring during wildnerness trips from urban teens from some of America's most needy communities. I wanted to share with you, a note from a recent South Florida participant, which we received via email:
" In 1993 I had been in and out of the YMCA youth shelter in Sarasota, Florida on several occasions, when a call came that I had been picked as a kid to participate in the backpacking adventure. It was certainly a life changing experience as later on that summer I moved to a placement in Texas to live until I graduated High School. Well - I graduated High School, the organization paid for me to go to college, and long story short, I now have my Masters in Education/Community Counseling and I work for the organization that helped to raise me. Recently I was promoted from a casework position to an Intervention Specialist, where I will be utilizing several different forms of experiential therapy to work with teenage girls. We have a challenge course and use equine therapy, and this year, I will be integrating regular hikes and bike riding adventures into the program. I write all that to simply let you know that the work you guys do is amazing and an inspiration. I may have forgotten the names of the people, but I will never forget what they did for me."
Because of your generosity, BCM is able to provide outdoor experiences that inspire for a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Mark Godley
Executive Director
Big City Mountaineers
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Jared Asch
Tomorrow's Strategies
Today I broke through to my chapter on a different level. I used a commercial and reference to another group member that I have used before, yet three people came to me and said... I get it!
- A member said, "let's have lunch next week, as I have two people you should meet with who need to know you."
- A visitor wanted to speak further with me about what we do, which was a first!
- Last week I asked for an introduction to Pashas restaurant, and four members offered to help me attempt to arrange the meeting.
- Judson Cohen made an introduction to his visitor and nailed the introduction to my business within 25 seconds, which was potent enough it lead the individual to follow up with questions.
- My best referrals from the group have all come from Robert Arkin, our General Contractor. Who would have ever thought! NOTE: Within 3 months, his introductions single handedly might make up 1/3 of my business.
My thanks to you all for your support over the last nine months. BNI is about relationships, and BNI Miami Beach is about turning relationships into business.
Jared Asch, CEO
Tomorrow's Strategies
"Opening Doors & Closing Deals"
305-677-3364 work
jared@jaredasch.com
www.tomorrowsstrategies.com
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Jake Poritzky
Esquire Express
Dear Harmony:
I must take a quick time-out to let you know that as soon as I walked into my meeting this morning I was bombarded with accolades regarding your representation of Esquire Express during my absence last week. Next month marks my four year anniversary with BNI and the consistently high level of professionalism within the entire organization never ceases to amaze me. I only hope that you enjoyed yourself half as much as I enjoyed taking credit for the wonderful job that you did. As stated in our previous emails, if ever you're faced with the need to have the favor returned, I sincerely hope my email address makes its way to the top of your list.
Thank you once again!
Jake Poritzky
Esquire Express, Inc.
1501 NW 29th Street
Miami, FL 33142
(786) 402-1521 Cell
jake@esquireexpress.com
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Peter C. Leighton
The Sterling Aventura
Thanks to the assistance of our BNI Director team, we are the newest chapter of BNI in Miami! We enjoyed a great meeting today for our BNI Biscayne Connection chapter! High energy and total motivation are the hallmarks of our chapter, including our membership, our visitors, and our Leadership Team.
Presently our chapter is 20 Members, plus 3 new high quality applications currently being considered, which has all of us excited about the possibilities for "Giver's Gain." From 12/1/2006 through our meeting this week, we have 52 referrals passed, and approximately $4,500.00 in member revenue, known as "BNI Bucks."
As the newest chapter of BNI in Miami-Dade, we are proud to be a part of this organization.
Sincerely -
Peter
Peter C. Leighton
The Sterling Aventura
Luxury Assisted Living
786-295-5018
www.sterlingaventura.com
24/7 Quick Admit Program: 786-299-2146
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John Knowles
Photo Offset
To The Next Level
Turning Competition into "Co-opetition"
Turning category conflict into cooperative success.
by Mavis Lamb, PR & Event Coordinator—BNI Miami-Dade
We've all had someone like John Knowles visit one of our chapters. He is the visitor who represents a category in conflict with an existing member. But when we look deeper, there is room for something else: cooperation. John first visited the Coral Gables chapter of BNI more than eight years ago. There was already a printer in the chapter, so it seemed there was no opening for him. However, the representative for the existing printer, Dan Lincoln, didn't see competition—he saw a chance for cooperation.
Dan's company, Haff-Daugherty, is a large-sheet fed printer, focusing on big-scale jobs, like catalogs. He was frustrated with the fact that he could not directly help many of his fellow BNI members with their smaller projects—like brochures, business cards and letterhead. Working with John Knowles and the membership committee, they created two categories for the chapter: large project printer and small project printer. "I joined the chapter and took on the small printer role," explains John Knowles. "At first I wasn't sure I wanted to do this, because all the large jobs Haff-Daugherty specialized in, Photo-Offset could handle as well. But, I wanted to give BNI a try, so I only promoted our smaller project expertise in my commercials."
"After about a year, Dan ended up not renewing his membership, but to this day Haff-Daugherty is one of my top-20 referral clients," shares John. "I think one of the things that made the relationship work and has kept it consistent for so long is that Dan really gets Givers Gain. When I first walked into that chapter meeting, he could have seen me as the competition, but instead he was excited because he saw how I could help the rest of the chapter—and even his existing clients—where he could not."
So often our members get sidetracked with wanting to make sure no one takes a piece of their "BNI pie." But with a willingness to see the mutual benefit a co-opetition relationship can create, they'll actually end up with a bigger pie overall. Just ask John Knowles!
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Lara Nezami
Visitor
I enjoyed meeting you at the BNI event today. I must say that your energy and enthusiasm is contagious! It was a terrific event and a great group of people.
You have done a fabulous job putting this organization together. It was networking, but in a relaxed and fun environment. I will be attending a chapter meeting tomorrow morning, and I look forward to it.
Thank you for hosting me in BNI!
Regards,
Lara
Lara Nezami
Mandel & Mandel LLP
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BNI-Misner Foundation
BNI Franchise Corp
To: All BNI Miami-Dade Members
From: Jeff Stay, Executive Director
re: BNI Contributes to Tsunami Relief
Dear BNI Miami-Dade Members, Leaders, & Directors;
It gives me great pleasure to share with you the email from Dr. Ivan Misner, our Founder & CEO regarding the contribution that BNI has made to Tsunami Relief Efforts in 2005 through the BNI Misner Foundation.
"Givers Gain" is our core philosophy in BNI, and I am proud to say that in Miami, in the United States, and throughout our 23 Countries of BNI, our people make the difference and our level of giving spans well beyond the realm of business.
It is a privilege to serve You in BNI,
Jeff
Jeffrey J. Stay
Executive Director
BNI Miami-Dade
"Building Profitable Relationships"
Subj: $57,000 Given For BNI Tsunami Relief!
Date: 4/22/2005 1:19:13 PM Central Daylight Time
From: misner@bni.com
Distribution: BNI Directors and Board of Advisors
Please feel free to share this announcement (note: two schools will be named for BNI - go to the "Find out more here" section below).
$57,000 and Counting!!!
The BNI-Misner Foundation is thrilled to report that, thanks to all of your help, we have raised more than $57,000 during our Tsunami Relief Fund Campaign!
Pictured here (from left) is Marjan A. Manzil, National Director of BNI Sri Lanka; Dr. Ivan Misner, BNI's Founder & CEO; and Elisabeth Misner, Administrator of The BNI-Misner Foundation, with a check for more than $57,000, all of which will go to Relief Efforts in the areas devastated by last year's Tsunami!
Find out more at www.bni.com
THANKS to all of you who have helped us to help others in this program.
Additional donations for the Tsunami Relief can be sent directly to the BNI Foundation OR, credit card donations can be made directly at this URL:
http://calfund.org/8/giving_bnimisner.php
Ivan R. Misner, Ph.D.
Founder & CEO
BNI
Misner@BNI.com
www.BNI.com
www.MastersofNetworking.com
www.MastersofSuccess.biz
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Niri Patel
BNI INDIA
Hi Jeff,
Greetings from the UK (..and India)
Just a quick note to say how much Niraj and I appreciate your support. You are a shining example for BNI and Givers Gain.
Sincerely
Niri
National Director
BNI INDIA
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Linda Davis
BankAtlantic
I just wanted to share a great story with you and re-affirm the importance of the "one on one" meetings. Tom Washburn, President of Wilson, Washburn and Forster is a member of my BNI Chapter.
During a "one-on-one" BNI business building meeting, I realized that I had a referral for him, so I called my customer after our meeting. Of course, he stated to me
that he already had a commercial insurance agent. I told him that he needed to speak with Tom, because knowledge was power and just because he had the same insurance agent for years, did not make him effective.
Well, my customer listened to me and met with Tom. My customer now has a new insurance agent. Through our BNI one-to-one, Tom got a referral from me, that turned into new business for him, while saving my client $2,600!
BNI has provided a valuable tool for my business, and my clients, with the "one-on-one!"
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Lewis Feldman
Fine Arts Photography
I was first invited to BNI a number of years ago, but I was already a member of another networking organization, so I chose not to join. My photography business has been in Dade County for over 50 years, as my father founded it, and I have long since been successfully continuing it.
After a few years of meetings with the other organization, I noticed that I had received very few referrals. In fact, very little business was being done among the membership of this group.
What I most needed to grow my referrals, was education about word-of-mouth marketing. The difference between BNI, and other networking organizations, is the value of the education being offered to its' membership.
Thank you for teaching me "how" to network effectively.
Lewis Feldman
Owner/Photographer
Fine Arts Photography
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Drew Kern
Esslinger Wooten & Maxwell
To Whom It May Concern:
I am entering my 9th year as a Founding Member of BNI Coral Gables, the first chapter of BNI in Miami. Being a member of an organization for 9+ years says something about the return on investment.
I joined BNI as a relatively new realtor associate. Today, in part because of BNI referrals, I am in the top 1% of all realtors nationwide. BNI is a big part of my success, and after 9 years, I still look forward to Wednesday mornings with my sales team.
If you want more business, and better relationships, then BNI is the organization for you.
Drew Kern
Realtor
Top 1% Nationally
Esslinger, Wooten & Maxwell
"Buying or selling, old or new, call EWM and ask for Drew."
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Contact Jeff Stay, Executive Director, Email
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