BNI - Business By The Bay

07/22/2025

Business by the Bay 360 views!!!
Thank you
Pierre
Your BNI Photographer
Pierre CHICOINEAU
[email protected]

LOGO 250 pix JPG.jpg

07/02/2025

This morning might have started off a bit hectic, but it turned into a fantastic meeting.

We had several visitors and great substitutes join us as we kicked off a brand-new month — even on a short holiday week. A huge shout-out to all our members who showed up, especially since many other groups chose to skip their meetings this week. That commitment really sets us apart.

Ron Freedman led our education moment, highlighting how being intentional — setting up one-to-ones, making connections, and following through — is essential for a successful chapter. He reminded us that it would have been easy to cancel today’s meeting because of the holiday, but our members showed true dedication by showing up. Ron wrapped up with a simple message: put in the time, keep things simple, and make sure you log your referrals, one-to-ones, CEUs, and thank-you-for-closed-business acknowledgments.

Our 60-second spotlight winner this week was David Drab from Pelican Roofing — we’re looking forward to hearing more about the roofing industry in Southwest Florida from him next week!

For our featured speakers, Dr. Juan Caceres from Vitality Chiropractic Family Practice gave us an inside look at how he and his wife, Jessica, run their family-focused practice. With their two sons, Leo and Laith, family is truly at the heart of their mission. Dr. Juan explained that every new patient starts with a 10–15 minute intake discussion, followed by a full spinal evaluation, thermal scan, and x-rays. They don’t leave treatment to guesswork — instead, they review all findings thoroughly to build a custom care plan for each patient.

Next, Kim Bontrager, representing Kauffman Thompson, PLLC, our realestate attorney shared her journey from growing up in the cornfields of Illinois to moving to Sarasota with her husband Milt and his two children — plus adding one of their own. Kim has worn many professional hats over the years but has found her home with Kauffman Thompson, where she never looked back.

We also celebrated the renewal of Chris Tennant, our chapter’s trusted mortgage lender, and teased the addition of a new member coming soon — stay tuned for that announcement and be ready to give them a warm welcome!

Our top open seats right now include pressure cleaning, handyman, interior designer, catering, pool service, and business broker — please keep an eye out for business professionals who could be a great fit for these roles.

A couple of announcements to remember:
• On August 23, the second graduating class of Learn My History Foundation will take place, lets make a efforts to attend
• Dr. Juan also noted that with school and sports ramping back up, they’re offering $25 sports/school physicals for kids.
• Finally, don’t forget about tonight’s happy hour at Bricks in downtown Sarasota from 5 to 7 — spouses and kids are welcome, so bring the family and come enjoy some networking and fun!

07/01/2025

🌟 BNI Business By The Bay — Open Seat Alert! 🌟

Our BNI chapter, Business By The Bay, meets every Wednesday morning at 7:30 AM at the Van Wezel. We currently have an open seat for a pressure cleaning company!

We are a strong group of local professionals who consistently pass quality referrals, and there’s a great opportunity for someone in the pressure cleaning industry to grow their business with us.

✅ Weekly breakfast and coffee included
✅ Proven referral network
✅ Supportive, professional community

👉 Christopher Tennant is inviting you to our BNI chapter meeting!
Click this link to register as a visitor: https://bni.app/bc1299

Let’s connect and help another great business thrive! 🚀

Visitor Registration,BNI

06/26/2025

While yesterday’s meeting may not have had the waterfront view, it delivered in value and energy—especially with a peek at our future leadership.

We kicked things off with Vice President Rayne Davenport, who recognized the top three members with the most CEUs year-to-date: Row Hawkins, Kim Bontrager, and David Manning. Huge shoutout to them for their continued commitment.

Next up, Education Coordinator Ron Freedman reminded us that getting into the Green isn’t about giant leaps—it’s about doing the small things consistently. He then turned the spotlight on Robert Richardson, who recently made an impressive jump from Gray to Green. Robert credited time blocking and consistency in entering referrals and data into BNI Connect. Once he began attending his Power Team meetings regularly, his numbers soared. The message: small actions done consistently create massive momentum.

Our first featured speaker was Penny Davies from Succentrix Business Advisors—our group’s go-to accountant. Penny shared a bit about her journey: originally from the UK, she lived in Bermuda before landing in Florida with her husband and two kids. As a Chartered Certified Accountant, she specializes in accounting, bookkeeping, tax prep, and corporate setup.

Our second speaker was Robert Richardson (yes, again!) representing Wholesale Payments. With over 10 years in the merchant services industry, Robert explained how next-day funding and compatibility with nearly any system sets his company apart. He’s consistently ranked in the top 20 reps nationwide and is a regular in the President’s Club—all driven by his commitment to his family.

Top 5 Open Seats in our chapter right now:
• Handyman
• Interior Designer
• Caterer
• Pool Service
• Life/Disability Insurance Agent

Let’s keep our eyes open for like-minded professionals in these fields—referrals are waiting!

Announcements:
• 🎉 Happy Hour: July 2 at Bricks starting around 5 PM.
• 🧊 Yeti Cooler Giveaway: Brian O’Hara from Correct Property Management is running a Facebook contest. Like and share their page to enter:
👉 Click here to enter https://www.facebook.com/share/16f6wpzJ97/?mibextid=wwXIfr

06/16/2025

BNI Business by the Bay – Weekly Recap | June 11

This week’s meeting kicked off with well-deserved recognition of our members climbing the Power of One rankings. We’ve seen major progress across the board—but leading the pack is Robert Richardson with an impressive 20 points. Congratulations, Robert!

Our Education Coordinator, Ron Freeman, shared details on the upcoming leadership team changeover. He encouraged any members interested in a leadership role to step forward, reminding us that even a small increase in engagement can make a big impact and move you into the Green.

We had two dynamic speakers this week:
• Dr Kitt from AcuMed Wellness & Acupuncture introduced us to the benefits of BEMER therapy and cupping, and explained how injection therapies can be a natural alternative to Botox.
• Christina Florand from Florand Mediation explained why mediation is all about finding solutions. She highlighted the difference between a mediator and an arbitrator—emphasizing that mediation is focused on cooperation and resolution, not judgment.

Let’s keep building momentum—reach out, schedule those one-to-ones, and invite visitors to grow our chapter!

06/14/2025

🇺🇸 Honoring Our Flag, Celebrating Our Heroes 🇺🇸
Today, we salute two cornerstones of American pride: Flag Day and the 250th Anniversary of the United States Army. They remind us that the freedoms we enjoy were built on courage, sacrifice, and unity.

At Fairway Funding Group, we’re proud to help families plant roots and build strong foundations—because homeownership is part of the American Dream.

To our veterans and active-duty heroes: thank you.
To those building their future: we’re here to help you get home.

—Chris Tennant
Your Local Hometown Mortgage Lender
NMLS 737578

06/04/2025

Everyone make sure you reach out to Dr Juan and wish him happy birthday


06/04/2025

BNI Business by the Bay – Weekly Recap

Today’s meeting kicked off with recognition for our top three members in one-to-ones: congratulations to Dr. Kitt, Robert Richardson, and Chris Tennant!

Our Education Coordinator, Ron Freedman, shared insights on the upcoming leadership transition. He encouraged members to think about who might be a great fit for specific roles—and to feel free to check off multiple nominations when submitting the leadership changeover form.

This week’s featured speakers were Michael G. Brown of Michael G. Brown & Associates, P.A., and Daryl Schmucker of Noble Web Works.

Daryl started us off with an insightful presentation on how AI-enhanced search is transforming business visibility. He introduced the concept of E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) and shared useful AI search hacks to improve online reach.

Next, Michael G. Brown spoke about his professional journey from New York to Sarasota and how he found his passion in family law. His experience and dedication to helping families navigate legal challenges was inspiring.

Announcements:
• Learn My History is celebrating its second graduation! Please see the attached flyer for details.
• Let’s keep inviting visitors to fill our open seats—especially for the following categories: Lawn Maintenance, Handyman, Pool Service, Business Broker, and Life Insurance.
• Also let’s continue to check in on Facebook at each meeting and share the weekly recaps to try and reach out to possible members to fill our open seats

Let’s continue growing strong together!

05/25/2025

Today, we recognize the courageous heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect our country and our freedom. Thank you to everyone who has served for our country, past, present, and future. 🇺🇸

05/01/2025

Chapter Meeting Recap – 4/30/2025

This week, we were back in the education room (and missing that usual view!), but that didn’t slow us down — with over five visitors joining us, the networking energy was strong. Great job to everyone who invited guests! Let’s keep that momentum going.

We kicked things off with some well-deserved recognition of our top three members for “Thank You for Closed Business”:

1. John Svanda
2. Pat Tan
3. Christina Florand

These members truly embody the “Givers Gain” philosophy. Let’s all remember to log our referrals and thank-you-for-closed-business entries promptly — it helps us track our success and build stronger connections.

Education Moment with Ron Freedman
Ron reminded us that the fastest way into the Green is to bring a visitor. The easiest way? Complete your CEUs. Building a strong power team and focusing on quality one-to-ones is also key. Don’t underestimate the value of even a five-minute phone call — sometimes a simple question like “How can I help you this week?” opens the door to valuable insight and collaboration.

Featured Speakers
Chris Tennant – Fairway Funding Group
Chris, a lifelong Sarasota resident, shared his background, his family story, and insights into the ever-evolving mortgage market. He also presented stats on the 2025 market outlook and provided helpful resources regarding trigger leads and how to opt out of them. (The “Opt Out Prescreen” link is attached.)

David Drab – Pelican Roofing
David fielded great questions, including one about metal roof longevity — which can last 40–50 years. Most insurance companies won’t require a new roof for 25–30 years or more. David emphasized the power of reviews and referrals for his business since they currently don’t use sales reps. If you’ve worked with Pelican Roofing, hop on Google and drop a 5-star review!

Top 5 Open Seats in Our Chapter:
1. Commercial Realtor
2. Handyman Services
3. Acupuncturist
4. Business Broker
5. Lawn Maintenance

Announcements:
• Leadership Team Meeting: Scheduled for the 14th.
• Sarasota High Football Fundraiser: As mentioned by Chris Tennant, Ho***rs on Clark Road is donating 20% of sales this Friday and Saturday to help rebuild Sarasota High’s football equipment. Be sure to stop by and support! Must show flyer to waitresses (Flyer attached.)

Let’s finish the week strong, keep inviting, and keep referring!

https://www.optoutprescreen.com

04/23/2025

Meeting Recap – Last Wednesday

We had a lively room last week with several subs and visitors—and of course, it was Breakfast Taco Day!

Education Moment
Our Education Coordinator, Ron Freedman, shared valuable insights on business growth and traffic light improvements. A key takeaway: each power team will benefit from having a dedicated team mentor. These mentors will support members who haven’t gone green yet by helping them identify ways to move the needle forward.

Featured Presenters
Ron McKeaver, our Health Insurance Agent from Gallagher Insurance, took us through his journey into the health insurance industry. He shared how the landscape has evolved over the years and addressed several questions from the group.

Joe Muscatell from Time Saver Fitness introduced us to their super slow high-intensity training, a method developed at the University of Florida. This innovative training approach delivers impressive results with just two sessions per week. Joe and his certified trainers provide personalized guidance, making Time Saver Fitness a great referral—especially for chiropractors or those seeking efficient, effective workouts.

⸻

Announcements
• Happy Hour!
Join us tomorrow at Marina Jack’s for a group happy hour starting at 5 PM—and going until whenever!
• Presentation Time Update
Individual presentation slots are being extended from 6 minutes to 8 minutes.
As a result, it’s even more important that everyone respects the time limits during 30-second commercials and “I Have” moments.
During “I Have” moments, please stick to referrals and testimonials only.

⸻

Open Seats

We’re currently looking for professionals in the following industries:
• Dog Training
• Business Broker
• Commercial Realtor
• Acupuncture
• Lawn Maintenance
• Interior Design
• Pool Service
• Handyman Services
• Auto Mechanic

If you know someone in any of these fields who could benefit from joining our dynamic group, please send them our way!

⸻

Looking forward to seeing everyone at tomorrow’s meeting!

04/15/2025