CBD Forum Chapter
Discover a Smart & Effective Way to grow your business!
Fact: 98% of small companies rely on Referrals to gain new business.
Fact: only 3% of businesses have a strategy for obtaining Referrals.
BNI CBD Forum would like to extend an invitation for you to join our chapter so that you can make word-ofmouth marketing part of your business success.
\\ A MESSAGE FROM CBD FORUM PRESIDENT Thank you for visiting our business networking breakfast group this morning. I do hope you enjoyed the meeting and the opportunity to promote your business and network with other business professionals. Allow me to take this opportunity to tell you a little more about BNI, and specifically about our group. Unlike other networks, our group is focused on helping each other obtain more business by passing referrals among members without having to be good at networking. For many of our members, their lives and businesses have changed for the better as a result of having joined the group. Before I go any further, I want to share with you what BNI means to me and to my business. I first heard about BNI through my own personal network, having received introductions to high quality professionals from a BNI member. I saw first hand the potential this had to help me grow my business, and immediately looked for a suitable chapter to join. When I visited the CBD Forum, I was impressed by the calibre of the members and the businesses they represented. In particular, the CBD Forum has a well-deserved reputation for being one of the most welcoming BNI Chapters, whose members develop strong professional and personal relationships. This translates into a desire to see one another’s businesses succeed, and a willingness to help each other achieve that goal. As a corporate and commercial photographer, word of mouth referrals are critical for my business. Indeed, since joining the group, I have received many quality referrals from our members, leading to significant growth in my business. That’s why I took on the presidency, because it is so clear to me that the CBD Forum is a shared enterprise which brings real benefits to its members. Moreover, it’s always a great pleasure to reciprocate, to help other members of the group by bringing quality referrals to them. This has had an additional benefit to me, as I have been able to build my credibility with my clients and my extended network by being able to connect them with members of this group. You now have a great opportunity to take the first step to share in this success and improve your business. I invite you to complete an application form to get your seat at our table - a place where you will do more business during breakfast than most people do all day. If you are genuinely motivated to create a higher income, greater sales, greater stability and security, then you’re in the right place. You can even try us out for a 2nd visit to see if it’s a good fit for the both of us! Please continue to study this book to get an insight into our members and how coming together with a common goal has improved our respective businesses. Thank you again for learning more about BNI CBD Forum – we hope to learn more about you in the near future. Jesse Taylor Chapter President BNI CBD Forum
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\\ CHANGE THE WAY YOU DO BUSINESS
BNI is a business referral organisation whose primary purpose is to assist its members to find and exchange qualified business referrals for each other and develop word-of-mouth marketing techniques. Rapid growth has seen BNI become the world’s largest business referral organisation of its kind, with over 6,000 chapters in 40 countries, and more than 138,000 members worldwide. Last year, members of BNI in Australia generated business referrals that resulted in more than $200 million in new business. This, the CBD Forum chapter passed 1,133 referrals during the 2011 calendar year, resulting in $533,834.00 worth of business being done between our members. BNI provides a structured and supportive system of giving and receiving business. It does this by providing an environment in which personal relationships can be developed with dozens of other qualified business professionals. By establishing this ‘formal’ relationship with other people, each member has the opportunity to substantially increase his or her business.
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\\ UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY Unique opportunity to network with other “like-minded” and successful business owners and entrepreneurs. “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Jim Rohn If you believe the above quote, then you will want to surround yourself with successful people who are taking action and making BIG things happen. By “building your success team” and surrounding yourself with like-minded, driven, and positive people, you will be propelled to higher levels of achievement and accomplishment. This simple strategy is a trait common to all business giants. So how do you go about building your success team? It’s simple. Join our CBD Forum business networking chapter. Every week, like-minded, positive, and successful people are getting together with the common goal of expanding their circles of influence, and of giving and receiving referrals. Just being in the same room with a dynamic bunch of people each week is the equivalent of getting a shot of adrenaline for your business and your life. Each weekly meeting offers you the opportunity to build the foundation of your success team and to form important business relationships. Each member has the opportunity to educate fellow members on what it is they do, and what a perfect referral is for them. And doing this every week guarantees that the referrals you receive are of the highest quality.
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\\ NEW MEMBER MENTORING PROGRAM & TRAINING
To help you achieve success as soon as possible, you will receive the valuable support of a mentor. Your mentor will introduce you to the chapter’s techniques and guide you through the BNI process. You can rely on your mentor having your best interests at heart. The mentoring program is a systematic 4 week quick start program for you to work with your mentor so that you reach higher levels in the shortest time possible. In addition, you will attend a 3 hour, Members Success Training Program run by BNI.
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\\ LEADERSHIP TEAM AND MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE President:
Jesse Taylor from Jesse Taylor Photography
Vice President:
Cindy Dahiya from Alpha Advisers Group Pty Ltd
Secretary/Treasurer:
Pablo Scodellaro from Jim’s Bookkeeping Kingsgrove
Timekeeper:
Elli Augerinos from MyPlace Estate Agents
Membership Committee:
Cindy Dahiya from Alpha Advisers Group Pty Ltd Angelo Ziaziaris from Live By Design Barbara Robertson from Barbara Robertson Training Nick Viner from Buyers Domain Stephen Knights from Commulynx
Educational Coordinator:
Angelo Ziaziaris from Live By Design
New Member Mentor Coordinator:
Shankar Vishwanath from Kwik Kopy Printing Centre
Events Coordinator:
Joanne Cruickshank from NHM Entertainment
Visitor Hosts:
Richard Carter from Business Connections Resources Joanne Gianotto from Stella Design
Visitor Host Assistants:
Francis Fox from Storyfox Stan Zets from Optivance360 Ganesh Natarajan from Ontrack Systems
BNI Chapter Director:
Bob Greenup, Director of BNI Sydney CBD/South Region
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\\ MEMBER DIRECTORY Angelo Ziaziaris
Live By Design (Direct Marketing)
Barbara Robertson
Barbara Robertson Training (Training and Development Ergonomics, Manual Handling and Presentation)
Cindy Dahiya
Alpha Advisers Group Pty Ltd (Financial Planner)
David Conley
Clark & Jacobs (Accountant)
David Wurth
Write you are (Human Resources Consultant)
Elli Augerinos
MyPlace Estate Agents (Real Estate Agent - Residential)
Francis Fox
Storyfox (Copywriting)
Ganesh Natarajan
Ontrack Systems (Accounting Software Consulting)
Jeff Brown
Sala Consulting (Telecommunications)
Jesse Taylor
Jesse Taylor Photography (Photographer)
Joanna Cruickshank
NHM Entertainment Pty Ltd (Event Entertainment)
Joanne Gianotto
Stella Design (Graphic Design)
John Encina
Macquarie Commercial Finance (Finance Broker – Business)
Margarita Kospetas
Living Estate Agents (Property Management & Leasing)
Nick Viner
Buyers Domain (Buyers Agent)
Nicola Deakin
HMP (Personal Coach)
Pablo Scodellaro
Jim’s Bookkeeping Kingsgrove (Bookkeeper)
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\\ MEMBER DIRECTORY Peter Chapman
Chapman Law (Business Law)
Richard Carter
Business Connection Resources (Social Media Strategist)
Shankar Vishwanath
Kwik Kopy Printing Centre (Printer)
Simone Checchia
Milne, Berry, Berger, Freedman Solicitors (Lawyer - Family Law, Wills, Conveyancing)
Stan Zets
Optivance 360 (Business Development)
Stephen Knights
Commulynx (IT Support)
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\\ MEMBER – LIVE BY DESIGN
Name: Angelo Ziaziaris Company: Live By Design BNI Category: Direct Marketing About Me I love Marketing! I’ve spent 20 years passionately working with Big and Small Businesses to create sustainable customer acquisition and retention programmes that drive serious profitability. After taking a declining $10m Westpac Direct Insurance business to grow to $30m+ within 18 months (2008) – I decided to use my talents ‘for good & not evil’ supporting small business. About the Business Live by Design is my personal philosophy to spend every day doing what I love and do best, giving other small business owners the freedom to do more of what they love and do best. I’m only interested in developing & implementing marketing communication programmes that deliver a return on investment by proactively getting you in front of your ideal customers in a highly leveraged way. How we help I honestly don’t know how I can help you until I’ve sat down with you to understand what you are trying to achieve in your business, who your ideal customers are, what their biggest problems are and how you are uniquely qualified to solve them. This is why I offer a FREE 2 Hour Marketing Audit; designed to identify the gaps and opportunities in your Marketing Strategy for actionable outcomes. My Golden Referral looks like... Small Business Owners that are sick of spending money on Advertising that does not work; or who have no time or expertise to devote to achieving effective marketing for their business. I work best with small business owners who are interested in attracting more local customers or have a specific audience in mind to target with a high cut-through communication strategy. Testimonial “I was worried where my next customer was coming from. Then I met Angelo and I’ve never worried since! Quote requests pour in everyday and in less than 12 months I’ve turned over $1M in new business because of an easy Direct Marketing Strategy he designed. Thanks mate!” Darren White, WatersEdge Waterproofing “I paid $7,000 for a radio advertising campaign and the phone never rang! In my first month working with Angelo – we had 122 new customers. Unbelievable!” Arlyn Ellis, Advanced Beauty “We hardly advertised before – how that has changed! We now have a consistent weekly local advertising programme managed for us that’s paying itself many times over. Awesome!” Joshua Kerr, Bruce Kerr Real Estate Mobile: 0412 225 528 Email: angelo@livebydesignconsulting.com.au Website: www.livebydesignconsulting.com.au Page 8
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\\ MEMBER – BARBARA ROBERTSON TRAINING
Name: Barbara Robertson Company: Barbara Robertson Training BNI Category: Training & Development - Ergonomics, Manual Handling and Presentation About Me Barbara has a background in Education and a passion for Health and seeing people reach their potential. She has a BA., Diploma in Teaching and is a member of The Australian Society of the Teachers of the Alexander Technique. Barbara’s philosophy puts people first. She works constructively with people using encouragement and individual feedback to help them grow. About the Business Barbara Robertson Training has been advising clients, including top-tier law firms and government departments for over 15 years, specializes in Presentation, Ergonomic, and Manual Handling. All programs are interactive, “hands-on,” personalized and participatory. Presentation Training teaches simple skills to improve posture, breathing and performance skills. The result is confidence, credibility and memorable and gives presence and a truthful connection to the audience. Ergonomic Training gives you simple techniques to allow you to identify and remove tension and develop efficient work habits, avoiding strain and injury. This training focuses on the use of the body in the workstation. Manual Handling training teaches staff to identify poor posture and manual handling patterns, to improve body use and how to use their “new improved body” in order to perform manual handling tasks safely. How we help The added value of these training programs is The Alexander Technique which teaches people the “how” of Performance and Occupational Health and Safety. People learn how to undo fixed and often unconscious habits, which limit people in performance. Attention can be focused on promoting a more flexible and dynamic use of the body. By maintaining positive change participants become more confident, credible and productive in the workplace, and achieve a greater work-life balance. My Golden Referral looks like... Is a proactive Learning and Development Manager, Human Resources Manager or Occupational Health and Safety Manager. Testimonial “The Alexander Training is highly sought after and valued by staff as it is perceived as something most beneficial for themselves as individuals. From an Occupational Health & Safety perspective the technique has delivered two things often lacking in Occupational Health & Safety Programs: motivation and long term positive change.” Les Corbett, Occupational Health & Safety Consultant Phone: (02) 9363 4939 Email: barbara@barbararobertsontraining.com.au Website: www.barbararobertsontraining.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – ALPHA ADVISERS GROUP PTY LTD
Name: Cindy Dahiya Company: Alpha Advisers Group Pty Ltd BNI Category: Financial Planner About Me I believe that everyone deserves a financial plan; A road map that tells you where you’re going and how to get there as efficiently and effectively as possible with the least amount of fuss, and risk. After working as a trainer for Technology and Financial products at Banker’s Trust Australia, Deutsche Bank and State Street, I realised my true calling in life. Today I do what I love; simply teaching, training, and coaching people on how to manage their finances better; It’s my privilege to assist individuals, families and business owners responsible for their staff’s Corporate Super. About the Business How do you know you are getting Great Financial Planning Advice... ‘We believe great Financial Planning Advice is the advice you would give yourself, if you had all the benefit of our knowledge and experience...’ Our advice is not aligned to any financial or insurance institution; we are free of any conflicts of interest; because we are not tied to any financial products or financial product company providers. Our only vested interest is in you and achieving the best results possible for you. How we help We are Corporate Super specialists. Our promise to employers is simply to make life easier when it comes to Corporate Super because we get that it is our passion and top priority...and not necessarily yours. Our objective when assisting individuals and families is to help them build a bridge from where they are today, to where they want to be in the future. We ask and help answer the tough questions: When will I pay-off my mortgage/debts? How will I pay for my kid’s education? Will I have enough money for retirement? How can I protect my lifestyle? My Golden Referral looks like... An Employer; CEO, Chief Financial Officer, General Manager or HR Director of a company employing 10 to 5,000 employees. An Individual or Couple; looking for assistance with their personal finances. Pre-Retirees; Uncertain or unsure of whether they have saved enough for retirement. Aged Care; A very complex area where our expertise adds great value and assurance. Testimonial “The biggest problem I believe you have solved for us is, knowing where our money is going on a day to day basis. And the greatest benefit I think that we have obtained is the flexibility our new home loan has given us. Hopefully we will be able to pay it off sooner than later...” “The one thing that stands out for us is how accessible you both are when we require advice or assistance with a particular matter. It is very reassuring to be able to contact you or Desh when we need a query answered, because when dealing with financial issues it can be quite stressful, and knowing that we can have people we trust to guide us, is very re-assuring.” Mobile: 0407 703 856 Email: cdahiya@alphaadvisers.com.au Website: www.alphaadvisers.com.au Page 10
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\\ MEMBER – CLARK & JACOBS
Name: David Conley Company: Clark & Jacobs BNI Category: Accountant About Me I love helping people to manage their personal and businesses, firstly ensuring they are set-up in the most appropriate way to protect their family and assets, and secondly ensuring that they operate in the most efficient way to manage their tax and compliance obligations. There is no single solution for all people and businesses: each one is unique, so tailored solutions are critical. About the Business Clark Jacobs is a business-services firm dedicated to small/medium business and individuals with growing personal wealth. We provide advice and practical implementation strategies for: • investment and business structures; • operating businesses; • accounting issues; • taxation issues; • business sales and acquisitions; • superannuation; and • government incentives for research and development. How we help If you are a business owner or investor, we ensure you are aware of all structural options available to you when establishing a new venture, in terms of asset protection, revenue flow, and tax consequences, obligations and opportunities. You can then confidently choose the most suitable option for your specific circumstances. My Golden Referral looks like... A business owner or investor who has grown into a position where their existing accountant can no longer provide the level of service they require. They may be encountering more complex business issues that require greater technical advice or they may simply need greater support in managing their increasing compliance burden. Call to Action I’m happy to meet for an hour or two, at no cost, to review your circumstances and determine if Clark Jacobs can assist you in any way. Phone: (02) 9264 1111 Email: dconley@clarkjacobs.com.au Website: www.clarkjacobs.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – WRITE YOU ARE
Name: David Wurth Company: Write you are BNI Category: Human Resources Consultant About Me I’m an HR consultant with 25 years experience in corporate Australia. I work with small companies who are growing their business, helping them provide a solid HR framework for their employees. I focus on legal compliance, policies and procedures, performance management and employee development. About the Business Write you are is an HR consulting business passionate about helping small business owners focus on growing their business while taking care of the issues involved in employing people. How we help Business owners can spend up to 30% of their time on employee-related issues. Write you are provides worry-free HR support making businesses legally compliant and putting in place a robust HR framework. My Golden Referral looks like... My best referral is a company of 10-50 employees with no HR policies or processes in place. They would be looking to grow and see the need to have a sound HR structure to assist that growth. Call to Action Call us today on 1300 900 741 for your free HR health check. We will identify areas where your business might not comply with current employment legislation and suggest ways to remedy that situation. Phone: 1300 900 741 Mobile: 0407 451 382 Email: david@writeyouare.com.au Website: www.writeyouare.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – MYPLACE ESTATE AGENTS
Name: Elli Augerinos Company: MyPlace Estate Agents BNI Category: Real Estate Agent – Residential About Me Property became my obsession after I bought and renovated my first home 11 years ago. I’ve been in real estate ever since. I am an award-winning agent most well known in the suburbs of Alexandria, Beaconsfield, Waterloo, Redfern and Zetland, however I can and do sell anywhere in Sydney. I am currently the lead agent selling off-the-plan developments in a block of 107 apartments in Marrickville called the QUARRY APARTMENTS. Seeing my vendors happy, and return as customers again years later, gives me the biggest buzz! About the Business MyPlace Estate Agents specialises in residential and commercial sales and leasing. We keep a comprehensive database of sellers and potential buyers, enabling our team to maintain ongoing contact and target relevant potential buyers when we list their “perfect” property. We are proud to say that more than 50% of our business comes from return clientele, which is a powerful testament to our professionalism, strong results, and level of outstanding service. How we help If you are thinking of selling, or just curious about the current value of your home, MyPlace will provide a complimentary market analysis report on your property, including current & recent similar sales, plus marketing tips and information about your suburb, and your property. We give advice on how to maximise the overall presentation of your property, to generate more interest. We are all experienced, successful agents who will go the extra mile and fight for the best possible price for your property. My Golden Referral looks like... A home owner that is thinking of selling their home in the near future. We often get regular referrals from Financial Planners, Lawyers, Mortgage Brokers, Buyers Agents, Builders, Architects and Tradespeople. Testimonial “I would like to recommend Elli Augerinos as an excellent “no nonsense” real estate sales agent. I engaged Elli to sell two of my investment apartments in Sydney which had been on the market for many months with another agent. Elli found purchasers for both properties in less than two weeks and followed through the exchange of contracts professionally, whilst regularly keeping me updated on the progress via email and phone calls.” Ajan Khanna Mobile: 0451 515 018 Email: elli@myplacensw.com.au Website: www.myplacensw.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – STORYFOX
Name: Francis Fox Company: Storyfox BNI Category: Copywriting About Me I was captivated by the written word as a child and I’ve been captive ever since. Doubtless, my life has been a quest to perfect the art of communication. I have done this in my creative writing, in my theatre work and performance training, and in my many years as an educator. One way or another, I have always made a living out of trying to make language live. About the Business Storyfox is a copywriter. He believes that people read text because they have to, and story because they want to. His fantastic talent is in getting people to love your story. And your story is your brand and your brand is your business. Web copy, blog, marketing collateral, case studies, white-papers, editing and proofreading; these are all services Storyfox is expert in. How we help Plenty of copywriters will give you a voice so that your message is heard, but the Storyfox will ensure your message is listened to. We write copy that people can’t help wanting to read. There are three compelling reasons to choose Storyfox as your copywriter: • you want your message crafted by a communication expert. • you want someone whose grammar and punctuation are flawless, having taught these skills to a university level. • you simply don’t have the time to do those text jobs you’ve been putting off forever. My Golden Referral looks like... An SME passionate about its brand, impressive in its insistence on professionalism, and determined to be a quality enterprise- this is someone I can work with. If you’re looking for cheap, plastic copy, you’ll find it elsewhere. Call to Action With Storyfox writing your script, business will listen when your business speaks. Do whatever it takes to find me. There is no profit in delay. Mobile: 0488 544 202 Email: francis@storyfox.com.au Website: www.storyfox.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – ONTRACK SYSTEMS AUS PTY LTD
Name: Ganesh Natarajan Company: Ontrack Systems Aus Pty Ltd BNI Category: Accounting Software Consulting About Me In 2000 I decided that the time was right to make a career move. After 20 years plus as a project and contracts manager in energy and heavy engineering, I was ready to go it alone. The IT services business I set up was remarkably successful, to the point where, in 2008, Ontrack Systems India bought me out. It is now my goal to become a leading supplier of management information systems to SMEs in Australia. When I’m not doing that, you can find me holing in one on the golf-course, hitting sixes with cricketing friends, or at home, enjoying my lovely family. About the Business Ontrack is an IT Consulting company providing software development and testing, as well as ERP consultancy for SME’s. The range of products and services we dispense provides the perfect perspective on your business. As an SME owner or manager, you literally need only to flick a switch and hit a few keys to get a 360 degree view of your current situation. That’s power for you, the power of a packaged solution such as SAP B1 or bespoke development. We can also set you up to handle Google Apps. How we help We begin by conducting a comprehensive health check of your systems and operations. Once the problems have been identified, we create the solution. Any of our ERP offerings can generate a one screen synopsis of all your transactions, ensuring visible gains in productivity, rapid market response, and an exceptional reporting tool. You can rely on us to get you on track. My Golden Referral looks like... My golden referral is any SME, particularly in wholesale, retail, logistics or manufacturing, with 10 to 100 employees, and a turnover of between one million and a hundred million dollars. Testimonial “Ontrack Systems proved themselves as outstanding contractors, who not only had the technical expertise to implement the solutions we required, but did so in a way which was a perfect match with our company’s culture. Their remote quality IT support provided us with viable and cost effective solutions. It’s amazing how much value they were able to add to our business and management processes.” Dilip Magan, CIO of ANL Mobile: 0414 627 884 Email: ganesh@ontrackaus.com Website: www.ontrackaus.com
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\\ MEMBER – SALA CONSULTING
Name: Jeff Brown Company: Sala Consulting
sala consulting
BNI Category: Telecommunications
About Me I have 20 years experience in telecommunications, mostly in voice and pabx solutions as well as data/internet. I enjoy coming up with smart solutions for small and medium business as well as reducing their costs. About the Business We have relationships with most of the major carriers and act as a telecommunications broker and consultant. Being independent, we provide honest advice and find the best deal approprate to your needs. How we help We can either reduce your costs, improve the way you use telecommunications or provide some innovative ideas. We can also price check your current carrier. My Golden Referral looks like... Business with 10-50 staff who are not happy with their telecommunications provider or simply want to reduce their bills. Call to Action Arrange a time to have a coffee and go over their business and telephone bills. Phone: 0418 338 333 Email: jeff@salaconsulting.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – JESSE TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHY
Name: Jesse Taylor Company: Jesse Taylor Photography BNI Category: Photographer About Me I have been passionate about photography since childhood. After a few years working in the corporate world, I decided to turn my passion into my profession. I trained with some of the best photographers in the business and studied at the College of Fine Arts and at the Australian Centre for Photography, before establishing my own studio in 2008. About the Business I specialise in corporate photography, helping businesses and NFPs market, promote and celebrate what they do. I give my clients the images they need to tell their stories and communicate with their stakeholders. Whether it’s showcasing their people, products and services, or documenting an event unfolding, I bring that story to life through finely crafted professional photographs. How we help Everyone sees the world differently, so to engage me is to get my unique perspective and vision. My photographs are clean, simple and bold. My approach is straightforward and relaxed. I pride myself on being able to work with people from any background and make them comfortable in front of the camera. I work quietly and efficiently. I smile a lot. My Golden Referral looks like... Business owners, Marketing & PR Professionals, Graphic Designers, Web Designers and Events Managers are all great referrals for me. I love working with people who understand the value that quality photographs bring to their corporate image. Call to Action Give me a call to discuss how I can help market, promote and celebrate what you do. Mobile: 0420 393 289 Email: jesse@jessetaylorphotography.com Website: www.jessetaylorphotography.com
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\\ MEMBER – NHM ENTERTAINMENT PTY LTD
Name: Joanna Cruickshank Company: NHM Entertainment Pty Ltd BNI Category: Events Entertainment About Me Joanna Cruickshank is the owner and creative force behind NHM Entertainment, one of Australia’s leading entertainment management companies. Her focus is to meet each client’s needs and ensure their satisfaction with the services provided. Prior to immersing herself in the entertainment industry, Joanna had a successful career in sales & marketing. About the Business NHM Entertainment is your one stop solution for all your entertainment requirements for any event. We provide entertainment to corporate events, weddings, significant birthdays, christening and children’s birthdays. We can provide live music from solo to large 14 piece bands, dj’s, string ensemble, magician, fire eater, living statue, body painted performers and much more. How we help NHM is all about entertainment. We can supply all genres of music, roving characters to fit all themes and carnival performers and much more. We are very flexible and have a can-do attitude. We will deliver reliable, experienced musicians and entertainers to corporate, government and private events. My Golden Referral looks like... Event Managers, Marketing Managers, Human Resources Managers, Office Managers - anyone who is responsible in organising an event. Call to Action NHM Entertainment specialises in offering a personalised service to our clients giving expert advice on the appropriate repertoire, timing and the overall co-ordinatation of music and entertainment for the event. We understand our client’s ideas and desires and will translate those into actuality. Mobile: 0429 590 620 Email: joanna@nhmentertainment.com.au Website: www.nhmentertainment.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – STELLA DESIGN
Name: Joanne Gianotto Company: Stella Design BNI Category: Graphic Design About Me My experience lies outside the design industry, and my addition to Stella Design has brought with it a technical view that complements the creative side. My interest in digital technology and creating an environment that works allows the creative juices to flow. I believe that everyone should have an opportunity to look and be the best they can be. Helping people is something that I value and am very passionate about. About the Business Stella Design has been creating, building and maintaining brands for 10 years and winning numerous awards along the way. A family owned business, we offer our clients a variety of graphic design and digital solutions. We mix our creative skills with business/marketing knowledge to create dynamic connections between businesses and their clients. How we help We believe there is ‘no excuse for bad design’, and we inject this mantra into every branding and graphic design project we do. You deserve something different. Our understanding of branding is the difference between a logo and a recognised and loved brand. We will help you build a brand that builds a great business. After all, we are ‘the brand for brands’. My Golden Referral looks like... A great referral is a Business Owner or Marketing Director of a medium sized business that wants to look and be the best they can through their brand, collateral or marketing materials. Testimonial “It gives me great pleasure to put words together for quite simply the best creative agency Sydney has to offer. Over the years, I have asked Stella Design to help me with our brand image, design and general concepts to help develop our business and help us ‘change with the times’. Stella Design easily translates what I am thinking. Stella’s creativity, great ideas and humor combined with their warmth and total focus to customer satisfaction is second to none.” David Goldman, Goldman Travel Corporation Phone: (02) 8217 0000 Email: joanne@stelladesign.com.au Website: www.stelladesign.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – MACQUARIE COMMERCIAL FINANCE
Name: John Encina Company: Macquarie Commercial Finance BNI Category: Finance Broker About Me I am passionate about helping business people grow their business and achieve their dreams. I do this by arranging finance for business and professional clients in a way which takes the stress out of it for them. I believe in long term relationships, and many of my clients have been with me for over 15 years. My 10 year background in commercial banking has placed me in good stead to understand how to get deals done with the Banks and the lenders we deal with. About the Business We are a finance broking business and have been established for over 15 years. We have been nominated for and received various industry awards. We specialise in SME and self employed clients and our products include: 1) Commercial Property Loans 2) Business Cashflow Finance 3) Self Managed Superfund loans 4) Home and Investment Loans 5) Motor Vehicle & Equipment Finance How we help There are very few brokers who specialise in commercial and business lending and can still offer the whole range of products we do. We are city-based and have excellent long-term relationships with our lenders. What’s more, we have the clout required to get deals across the line. This means I can call a banker, meet for a coffee and get a deal over the line for a client. We have over 25 lenders on our panel and hold our own Australia Credit Licence which means we are not restricted in the products or lenders we can offer. My Golden Referral looks like... A medium sized business client who is looking to buy a commercial property, or take out an overdraft. They may have trade finance needs, transactional and online banking requirements, or they might just want their own private banker. Testimonial “I have worked with John on a number of engagements; he has done an excellent job of obtaining finance for our business and commercial clients. He has a professional approach, access to a vast range of products and his years of experience mean that our clients are recommended products that are suited to their needs and the process is made very simple. I would have no hesitation in recommending John to any prospective business or commercial client.” Simon Allsop, My Accounts Phone: (02) 9695 7666 Mobile: 0415 362 972 Email: johne@macfin.com.au Website: www.macfin.com.au Page 20
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\\ MEMBER – LIVING ESTATE AGENTS
Name: Margarita Kospetas Company: Living Estate Agents BNI Category: Property Management & Leasing About Me I have worked in the competitive Eastern Suburbs and Inner West real estate markets for over 10 years, demonstrating a commitment to the industry in a range of roles including Senior Property Manager and Office Manager. I am degree qualified with a Bachelor of Land Economics. I offer a professional, proactive approach to property management along with impeccable attention to detail, strong communication skills and an ambition to deliver outstanding results. About the Business Living Estate Agents is a boutique real estate agency specialising in leasing and managing residential and commercial properties in the Inner City, Inner West and Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. How we help At Living Estate Agents we seek to develop a sincere rapport with each of our clients and establish lasting relationships based on honesty and integrity. We aim to provide all our clients with reliable and current advice to help them make well informed decisions for their investment properties. We have specialised knowledge and a wealth of experience in leasing and property management. My Golden Referral looks like... Any property investor with residential or commercial investment properties in the Inner City, Inner West or Eastern Suburbs of Sydney who wants a professional, experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated Property Manager to manage their investment property. Testimonial “I write to thank you for all the hard work you put into leasing and managing my property. I appreciate your extensive communication and valuable advice. You have leased my property at a premium rental price with excellent tenants. I am extremely impressed with your level of service.” Perry Savidis, Alexandria Mobile: 0414 265 115 Email: margarita@livingestateagents.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – BUYERS DOMAIN
Name: Nick Viner Company: Buyers Domain BNI Category: Buyers Agent About Me Helping people to buy property is what I do best. I originally trained as a property solicitor and have an extensive legal property background. As one of Sydney’s top buyers agents, I have successfully helped numerous clients find and buy their ideal homes and investment properties. I use my professionalism, attention to detail, extensive network of contacts and broad property experience and knowledge to exceed my clients’ expectations. About the Business Buyers Domain is a buyers agency and property advisory service. We will save you a huge amount of time by finding a suitable property including off market properties, and conducting the research to make sure the property stacks up. We organise all the due diligence and negotiate the best price. How we help If you are looking to purchase a new home or investment property, we will find you the right property and conduct all the research. We also manage the entire process from start to finish. We will then negotiate the best possible price or bid at auction if required. We save our clients time and minimise stress. We have often saved our clients thousands of dollars. My Golden Referral looks like... Anyone looking for a property in Sydney who is: a) Time poor. b) Wants peace of mind, knowing they are buying the right property at the right price. My best clients are generally busy professionals in medicine, IT, arts and media and the law. A lot of my clients work in the CBD. Testimonial “After ten years of half-hearted searching for a house we spoke to Nick. Nick impressed us immediately, and true to his word we had properties being forwarded for consideration within 24 hours. With a budget of $850,000, Nick found us a property within three weeks that fulfilled all our criteria for $575,000 – and that’s in Sydney! Nick was a haggling demon. A buyers agent is perfect for the time-poor, and in our case, it well and truly paid for itself. However be warned, if you engage Nick, you will be moving house sooner than you think!” Ed & Laelene, Sydney Mobile: 0405 134 645 Email: nick@buyersdomainaustralia.com.au Website: www.buyersdomainaustralia.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – HMP
Name: Nicola Deakin Company: HMP running “Action on Purpose Program” BNI Category: Personal Leadership Coaching About Me Nicola is a seasoned, results-focused and academically qualified coach and facilitator. With ten years of operational management experience across a range of industries she brings a powerful combination of organisational savvy and disarming directness to her work. Clients comment on her unwavering energy and warmth, while she persistently and courageously questions and challenges to get to the core of what is blocking performance, in order to move forward. She is often described as a catalyst for new ways of thinking. About the Business HMP runs a 10-week personal leadership group coaching program. With weekly workshops of 2½ hours each, run over 10 weeks, clients explore their thinking, develop new skills and clarify their direction in order to increase their performance. These are augmented by individual coaching sessions at the start, mid-way through the program, and at the end, to tailor the program materials to each individual client, and to set specific goals for the program. How we help We help people define, and then perform, as the best they can be. Whether to get them back to previous high levels, or make a new upward shift. Rather than giving them an intellectual understanding of what they should do, we walk with them as they take on new ideas, test out new techniques, and build their performance muscles. Over the 10 weeks we provide practical support so that new thinking becomes habit and meaningful program goals are achieved. My Golden Referral looks like... A results-focused business leader who truly believes that people are their greatest asset, so they view on-going investment in their people’s performance as a critical element of business success. A progressive business on a high growth path, recognising the need for their people to be performing at their best in order to achieve their stretch targets. They know that to be the best they need great people with the attitude, skill and resilience to help the business excel. A business going through change, needing a shift in the mindsets of its people in order to realise the potential results of the change. Call to Action First step: initial complementary consultation to define needs and explore potential organisational and personal goals. Mobile: 0408 480 840 Email: nicola@hmpstuff.com Website: www.hmpstuff.com
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\\ MEMBER – JIM’S BOOKKEEPING KINGSGROVE
Name: Pablo Scodellaro Company: Jim’s Bookkeeping Kingsgrove BNI Category: Bookkeeper About Me I am passionate about providing accurate and cost effective bookkeeping services for small to medium businesses. My goal is to give back to my clients the time they spent updating their books, or guessing accounts issues. I started Jim’s Bookkeeping Kingsgrove in early2006, and since then I’ve been helping clients to make business decisions by using accounts systems. About the Business This is how I can help you: Update your books and prepare reports, liaise with your Accountant, prepare and lodge your BAS, process payroll, reconcile accounts, take care of your receivables and payables, prepare budgets and cash flow projections. And more importantly, I can help you make sense of all the figures involved in the services above. How we help I will help you save time and money doing the work you least enjoy. My clients save up to 3 working days per month, are free from bookkeeping issues, payroll problems and accounting software complexities. They are free to invest this extra time and peace of mind wherever they feel like. My Golden Referral looks like... I specialise in restaurants, as this is one of the SME’s where I can save more time and headaches to the client. Testimonial If you sacrifice part of your evenings or weekends updating books, if you get frustrated by payroll issues or accounting issues, if you are cost-conscious, if you want to be in charge but realise that you can’t do it all please contact me to discuss how i can help you as I did with many others. Mobile: 0422 418 919 Email: pablos@jimsbookkeeping.com.au Website: www.jimsbookkeeping.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – CHAPMAN LAW
Name: Peter Chapman Company: Chapman Law BNI Category: Business Law About Me An accredited specialist in business law, I secure protection and peace of mind for business owners. I am about building long term partnerships based on service excellence by: • proactive engagement with clients; • effective risk minimisation to protect business and personal assets; • practical, commonsense and commercial solutions tailored to individual businesses; • close co-operation with my clients’ other business advisers; • on-time project completion. About the Business My commercial law practice services an exceptionally diverse range of industries: from building project management to group online buying; from accountants to IT consultants; real estate, hospitality, entertainment, you name it. How we help Areas of practice include: • all types of commercial contract review and negotiation • ownership agreements - joint venture agreements, shareholder agreements, unit holder agreements, partnership agreements • corporations law matters • trade practices • business structuring • trusts My Golden Referral looks like... My golden referral is a small to medium business owner wanting to protect and grow their business, but requiring the kind of specialist help that only someone of my training and experience can offer. Testimonial “I have been a client of Peter Chapman for over 10 years. Peter provides advice on a variety of matters including contracts, leasing, employment, and general commercial law. He takes a practical solutionfocused approach to achieve successful commercial outcomes. His responses are punctual and easy to comprehend. Peter adds significant value to our business.” Wayne Golledge, Managing Director, Impact Group Phone: 8098 0114 Mobile: 0402 621 694 Email: peter@peterchapmanlaw.com.au Website: www.peterchapmanlaw.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – BUSINESS CONNECTION RESOURCES
Name: Richard Carter Company: Business Connection Resources BNI Category: Social Media Strategist About Me My career has revolved around producing outstanding results in the areas of business development and specialist consulting. I thrive on challenging projects which allow me to make innovative use of my extensive skills and experience. About the Business Business Connection Resources provides: • • • • •
Business Development Services Social Media Marketing LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+ Consulting Online Content Generation Collaborative Online Networking
How we help Business Connection Resources help businesses to leverage Social Media platforms to increase their visibility. Our overriding aim is to use this activity to support the development of relationships with potential clients and business partners. For most organisations operating in the business-to-business marketplace this is the most essential step in their business development process. My Golden Referral looks like... A business person who knows that their organisation must become involved in the Social Media arena. But does not have the internal resources available to exploit the growing opportunity which Social Media represents. Call to Action All my business relationships kick-off with an informal, non-chargeable discussion of business objectives. Whatever the outcome of this initial discussion, those taking part can be guaranteed to gain some valuable insights into the world of Social Media. Phone: (02) 9956 2999 Email: richardc@business-connections.com.au Website: www.business-connections.com.au LinkedIn: www.au.linkedin.com/in/businessconnections Twitter: www.twitter.com/networking20 Facebook: www.facebook.com/BusinessConnectionResources Google+: www.plus.google.com/u/0/105556057500176833206
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\\ MEMBER – KWIK KOPY PRINTING CENTRE
Name: Shankar Vishwanath
Homebush
Company: Kwik Kopy Printing Centre Homebush and West Ryde BNI Category: Printer
About Me Owner - Kwik Kopy printing center at Esh Bros Pty Ltd - August 2009 - Present (2 years 1 month) Director at Esh Bros Pty Ltd - July 2009 - Present (2 years 2 months) Head of Supply Chain, Woolworths(I) Pty Ltd - March 2005 - June 2009 National Replenishment Manager at Dick Smith Electronics - 2001 - 2005 (4 years) Interests - Play chess, reading, cricket, travel About the Business From business cards to wall banners, Kwik Kopy can print almost anything your business could require. Lending a professional touch to your printed project, we can handle even the most important corporate printing tasks. We are able to deliver on every part of the design and printing process, including the binding and collating of catalogues and company manuals. Utilising the best in digital and offset printing technology, Kwik Kopy can incorporate a variety of extra services into your print job including variable data printing, laminating and embossing. Kwik Kopy aren’t restricted to paper-based printing though - they’re also able to make your mark on everything from mouse mats and pens to umbrellas and coffee mugs. • Colour Printing • Business Card Printing • Catalogue Printing • Postcard Printing • Digital Printing • Offset Printing • All kinds of indoor and outdoor signage My Golden Referral looks like... Any business with 30 or more employees and a regular need for printing Testimonial “Our company, Wonderware Australia, conducts training courses for its range of software products on a regular basis and, as a result, requires many different manuals to be printed. We have utilised the excellent services provided by Kwik Kopy Printing Centre Homebush for many years. Kwik Kopy Printing Centre Homebush has consistently exceeded meeting deadlines for our training manuals, as well as other materials, to be printed. Its personnel often go out of their way to have these items delivered to us urgently. We have no hesitation in recommending Kwik Kopy Printing Centre Homebush’s services. The team is approachable, reliable, offers us guidance and has maintained the highest level of professionalism at all times.” Cynthia Sing, Wonderware Australia. Mobile: 0412 226 985 Email: shankar@homebush.kwikkopy.com.au Website: www.homebush.kwikkopy.com.au CBD Forum Chapter
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\\ MEMBER – MILNE BERRY BERGER & FREEDMAN SOLICITORS
Name: Simone Checchia Company: Milne Berry Berger & Freedman Solicitors BNI Category: Family Law, Wills, Conveyancing About Me How did I develop a passion and obsession for Wills, Probate, Estates and Family Law? I’m Italian... so family means everything to me! I’m proud to be considered a leader in this area of the law as Chair of the NSW Young Lawyers Wills, Probates and Estates sub-committee, which I established in 2011 through the Family Law Committee with a view to promote greater education and improvements in legislation and the court system. About the Business Milne Berry Berger & Freedman Solicitors is a practice that has been providing legal advice to families, businesses, organisations & charities for over 80 years. We pride ourselves on being a multicultural close knit organisation. Languages spoken by our staff include: Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Hungarian, Hebrew, Arabic, French, Croatian, Italian and Vietnamese. Our diversity helps us understand families. Our partners’ ‘hands-on’ and compassionate approach ensures MBBF delivers the best possible outcome for you. How we help If you are an individual, small business, or even a multi-national company we can offer a wealth of experience to help with all your general legal matters including Business, Children, Conveyancing, Commercial, Criminal, Debt Recovery, Divorce, Family Law, Litigation, Migration, Property, and Wills, Power of Attorney & Estates. Your first half hour consultation at our office is free. My Golden Referral looks like... Anyone looking for an experienced team to assist in their conveyancing (selling or buying property), Wills, Probate, Estates, and family law. Commonly our clients are seeking assistance with binding financial agreements, relationship breakdowns, divorce and custody, guardianship and power of attorney, succession planning for retirement and Elder Law. Or a local subsidiary company who requires a trusted legal firm to assist with their Australian legal matters. Testimonial MBBF has recently provided legal services to Vivian Solon, an Australian citizen wrongfully detained and deported from Australia as well as Cornelia Rau, a mentally challenged permanent resident who was improperly detained at the Baxter Detention Centre. “The main focus of the negotiations was providing for Ms Rau’s health and safety and (ensuring) that the award was substantial enough to ensure her future was secure and she could get on with her life.” David Crawshaw, Sydney Morning Herald. Phone: 9264 3877 Email: schecchia@legalmbbf.com.au Website: www.milneberrybergerfreedman.com.au
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\\ MEMBER – OPTIVANCE 360 Name: Stan Zets Company: Optivance 360 BNI Category: Business Advisory About Me Experienced Chartered Accountant providing business advisory services. Helped hundreds of SMB owners develop plans, models, strategies and capital structures to grow their business. I thrive on watching people succeed. Built my last company to a 700 partner global business. Past president of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants and director of numerous small companies. I am the ultimate optimist. About the Business Optivance 360 is a business consulting and non executive management firm dedicated to assisting clients grow and attain their full potential. Our visionary 360 degree approach and exemplary skills and experience focus on delivering a sustained competitive advantage to clients; helping them create, deliver and capture value in the most optimal manner. Services include: • Advice to owner operated businesses; • Non executive management services; • Business Planning, Modeling and Strategy for growth; • Marketing, brand and communication advice; • Capital raising and strategies including franchising. How we help Our goal is to help you grow and flourish. Generally that means - make more money. We assess and evaluate your existing business, analyse and prioritise your goals, develop an effective business plan, business model and strategy to implement your plans. We determine your capital requirements, help you source capital to support your business plan and then help you manage expenditure. We hold your hand each step of the journey. We are your partner in business. My Golden Referral looks like... Any business owner who wants to grow their business and make more money. Size and industry does not matter; just the desire to grow and the courage to ask for help. Testimonial “Outstanding affordable value”. First consultation is free. Pick up the phone and call – NOW of course! Mobile: 0414 577 714 Email: szets@optivance360.com Website: www.optivance360.com
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\\ MEMBER – COMMULYNX
Name: Stephen Knights Company: Commulynx BNI Category: IT Support About Me I have a passion for technology, which over my 18 year in IT has grown to a beep appreciation on how businesses use technology to function, grow and prosper. Now as the Managing Director of Commulynx I have the pleasure of assisting many businesses with their IT and assisting them on how they can best leverage what is available in the market to both make their business life easier and also offer them strategic advantage over their competitors. About the Business The Commulynx team has over 50 years experience supporting IT for business large and small. We have a great understanding of the IT and Communications Services Industry, and know how to meet the their needs. Some of our valued customers are: • The Maritime Union of Australia • Manly Warringah Sea Eagles • Blacktown City Council • Fujitsu • Instyle Fabrics How we help If your IT System is not meeting your business requirements and you need a support partner that can help you gain control of your IT then Commulynx can help. Commulynx will allow you to focus on delivering outcomes for your customers and take the hassle away from having to worry about your IT. We do this by proactively maintaining your IT Systems, offering our Helpdesk Support Services and providing consultancy to assist with the future direction of Companies and the IT choices. With our experts involved you can be assured that your have access to the latest that technology has to offer when your business needs it. My Golden Referral looks like... A business that relies on IT that is supporting a team of 50-200 users located in Australia with the head office in Sydney. The best contacts are IT Managers, CIO, COO, Business Executives and Business Owners. Commulynx specialise in IT maintenance for our clients, where we either work with their existing IT Support Team offering overflow and expertise when and where they require or to act as the complete IT support team. Call to Action For a FREE 2 hour assessment of your IT systems to ensure your IT is secured and setup right for your business, contact Commulynx today. Mobile: 0419 111 199 Email: sknights@commulynx.com Website: www.commulynx.com
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Live the Life You Deserve Do you want more business? Do you want more effective business networking? Do you want more qualified business referrals? Assuming you answered ‘yes’, BNI CBD Forum is the answer. • Wouldn’t you just love to have a TEAM of people who knew your business, and could refer you NEW clients/customers – without your having to pay for the privilege? • How would you like to INCREASE your sales? • What if your sales team could STOP cold calling because they received qualified leads? BNI provides a structured and supportive system of giving and receiving business. It does so by providing an environment in which you develop personal relationships with a group of quality business professionals. These relationships are certain to become a means whereby you substantially increase your business.
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BNI CBD Forum would like to acknowledge the CBD Forum Marketing Power Group Team for their contribution to this booklet: • • • • • •
Angelo Ziaziaris from Live By Design (Direct Marketing) Francis Fox from Storyfox (Copywriting) Jesse Taylor from Jesse Taylor Photography (Photographer) Joanne Gianotto from Stella Design (Graphic Design) Richard Carter from Business Connection Resources (Social Media Strategist) Shankar Vishwanath from Kwik Kopy Printing Centre (Printer)
Connect Stay in touch and get the latest from BNI CBD Forum: Sydney’s most connected professional network. Visit out website bnicbdforum.bnisite.com Like us on facebook facebook.com/BNICBDForum Follow us on twitter twitter.com/BNICBDForum Join us on Google + plus.google.com/103505263655651005581 Check out our blog bnicbdforum.blogspot.com.au