Our Members Tell it Best!
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Rich Arrington 
Frankly, I found myself checking my watch on occasion hoping we had even more time. I wanted to keep learning from your stories and insight. I wish there was a way to “download” your wisdom and thoughts. Thank you again for taking your time and sharing your advice with new members like me. |
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Robert V. Gambone Sr. Passion, Leadership, Results LLC. 
Dear Deanna,
To know, like and trust someone is a basic human need, quite often lost in the corporate world, BNI has enabled me to renew my faith in people and the trust they can share. |
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Eileen Conniff Marzullo www.sendoutcards.com/greetingsdemo4u  ACT Now Training TestimonialDave Holzer was dynamic! Thanks for a great training I thought it was very informative:) I especially liked the spread sheet you explained. It will make it much easier for other BNI member to help you out by seeing it and inturn enable you to more effectively help give referrals to the other members. Thanks Again!“ www.socretail.com/greetingsdemo4u |
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Rob Turbeville  What a Great Unsolicited Testimonial!On Dec. 28th 2010 I came home to find my furnace not working. I have had this problem before and usually am able to fix it myself. I worked on it and it worked for about a day. It became apparent that my skills were not enough to fix the problem. I decided that I needed a professional. I needed someone that I could trust and I decided to check for this person on the BNI web site. I found him in the BNI Synergy Group. His name is Rob Turbeville with Aire Serv Heating and Air Conditioning of Allegheny and Washington , 474 Hickman Street Ext. Bridgeville. Pa 15017. I called his number and explained my problem to his answering machine. Within a half hour he returned my call. He gave me a few suggestions and I did as told. My furnace was working the rest of the evening. However, the next morning it was on and off. I called him again and I requested a service call from him. He sent out Terry to check on the furnace. Being a person that has to check everything out and to have a learning experience while doing so, Terry pointed out what could be wrong with my furnace. He gave me two options. He could tear the furnace apart and try to find the problem, such as a cracked or clogged heat exchanger or install a new furnace. Either way it was my choice. He did not pressure me in any way and I decided to go with the new furnace(my furnace was 15 years old.) Rob called me and asked if he could come for a visit and explain what furnace replacements were available. He came out showed me the furnaces and I picked the one I thought would work for us. He said that his men would be out Monday at 8 am and come Monday they were ringing my doorbell at 8. The men were in and out by 5 PM and my new furnace was working great. What I liked about Rob and his company was his response, his options for me to choose from, his care in taking the time to explain everything to me. He did everything on a timely basis and I was grateful knowing with him in BNI I could trust him. Please let this be a testimonial for his company and his kindness. Sincerely, Ken Parsons Parsons Cleaning Service BNI BUSINESS NEXUS CHAPTER |
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Charlotte Kaltenbaugh Sabika  I am an incoming Visitor Host of the Profit Builders Chapter in Cranberry. I absolutely love our group and BNI! The group was so kind and welcoming when I attended as a visitor. I very much admired how organized the meetings were and how committed everyone is to building relationships and referring business.Thank you so very much for the training program held last month. I appreciate the forms you’ve emailed as well. I am relatively new to BNI, since this Spring, so I am still learning the ropes. I am pleased to say I have brought business to other members of our group and within my first 2.5 months, covered my expense of joining, by business brought to me directly and indirectly from our BNI group. I just love BNI and our Profit Builders group! Sincerely, Charlotte Kaltenbaugh Your Sabika Consultant www.mySabika.com Bringing Beauty, Joy and Opportunity to Women...Enjoy the Compliments! |
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Sharon Bowin National City Bank  From Sharon Bowin:Sharon Bowin of National City Bank and member of the BNI Ultimate Chapter in Uniontown, PA is pictured with Dr. Ivan Misner, BNI Chairman and Founder. Sharon is the winner of the BNI Member Extravaganza contest trip to Orlando. Sharon and Dr. Misner had their photo taken during the mixer – one of the special events of the trip. My husband, Larry, & I had a FANTASTIC time in Orlando at the BNI Member Extravaganza. The entire event was well organized from the preflight correspondence to the flight home. We were delighted with the 4 Star Resort, the day at Universal Studio Theme Park & without a doubt, the highlight was meeting & listening to Dr Misner, one of the best speakers we have ever heard. He will be in Pittsburgh in May of 2010 & everyone should try to attend this Anniversary event. At the mixer, we met many BNI members from across the United States & got to share our success stories & enthusiasm for BNI membership. We cannot thank Deanna & Bob Schmitt enough for providing us this wonderful trip. October 2008 |
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Brian J. McKee Publisher  “I have been involved with other networking groups in the past, and by far BNI has given me the “BEST RETURN” on my investment. In the 8 months I have been involved with BNI I have had more sales from BNI than the last 5 year of other networking groups. The statement “Givers Gain” needs to be taken to heart! I made it my #1 goal and I feel it is the main reason for my success!”Thanks! Brian J. McKee Member, BNI Wealth Builders Chapter Publisher McKee Magazines Inc. Peter Township Source Chartiers Valley Source South Fayette Source Northern Washington Source Phone 412-257-0340 www.mcmags.com |
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Ron Morris The American Entrepreneur Radio Show  The American Entrepreneur is Western Pennsylvania's only weekly radio talk show devoted entirely to the entrepreneurial experience. Each Saturday from 9 AM to noon on AM Newstalk 1360, Ron Morris puts over thirty years of entrepreneurial experience to work answering your business questions, solving your business problems, and bringing you all the latest information about everything that is happening on the entrepreneurial landscape.On June 16th, Deanna Tucci Schmitt and Bob Schmitt, appeared on the show to present a check to NIFTE, collected as a result of the proceeds from International Networking Day, February 6, 2007. Shown in the picture are (l-r) Jerry Cozewith (Executive Director, NFTE Greater Pittsburgh), Ron Morris (Host, The American Entrepreneur radio show), Deanna Tucci Schmitt and Bob Schmitt. Click here for a radio clip |
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Eddie Lesoon Asia Carpet Co. I have been a member of BNI for going on 5 years now.I can honestly say that BNI is responsible for about 45% of my business. If you use the BNI system and the concept of Givers Gain, BNI really works and works well. It is like having your own sales force working for you all of the time. A couple success stories that I would like to share are, first off, about a referral I got from a member of our chapter for re-carpeting the corridor of her building where her office is located. She overheard the building manager talking about getting new carpet and asked him if he would be interested in getting another price. Long story short, she set up the meeting and soon after I not only carpeted the main corridor, but all five floors, as well as over twenty office suites in the building! So one hallway turned into practically the whole building and there is still more to do! The next success story, or soon to be success story, is the fact that I have had the opportunity to bid on the biggest job in my 16 years of business! The gentleman that does carpet cleaning in our chapter approached a large corporation in Pittsburgh to give pricing on cleaning the carpet. It ends up that the carpet wasn’t worth cleaning so he asked the building manager if he would be interested in getting a proposal and then recommended me. The building manager was expecting my call and was actually delighted to have a reliable new contact for his flooring needs. I submitted a bid last Friday and have a very good chance of being awarded the job. Keep your fingers crossed!! The bottom line is that the chances of me meeting these people and getting these opportunities would be slim to none if I didn’t have my BNI connections. We have a great chapter with a great bunch of people. I assure you that if you become a member you will be pleasantly surprised at how much money you can generate just through “word of mouth advertising” and “givers gain”. Thank you! Eddie Lesoon Vice President Asia Carpet Co., Inc. BNI Allegheny Valley Chapter |
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Crystal Barr Mary Kay Cosmetics I was challenged by my National Sales Director to facial 100 new people between August 1st and October 31st. The chapter immediately started to come up with "faces" to help me out. Every week when I walked into meeting they asked me "how many faces are we up to?" They kept me excited and motivated to reach this goal! On the morning of October 31st I still needed 3 faces. They came up with 2 of them. Some called throughout the day to see if we were done yet and what they could do to help. At 9pm that night I finished my last face. 2 days latter I left for Atlanta, GA to enjoy my relaxing day at the spa and shopping that I won for completing the challenge. After all was said and done the Airport Chapter contributed 57 of the 100 faces needed for my challenge!!! Over half!!Crystal Barr Independent Senior Sales Director Mary Kay Cosmetics 724-375-4295 www.marykay.com/cjbarr November 2006 |
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Ed Hall Padgett Business Services  I am a founding member of the Circle of Excellence Chapter which is now four years old. This has been the best investment of time and money that I have ever made.I have definitely benefited from the BNI philosophy of “Givers Gain”. I track the referrals that I have given and those that I have received and I record the amounts spent and the income I have received during my membership. The result is, I am way ahead of the game financially and in many other ways also. The percent of my total income from BNI, for the past three years, has grown each year – 2003 = 26%, 2004 = 37% and 2005 appears to be on track for 40%. As one Assistance Director says: BNI = Better Net Income! Another benefit, that is almost as good, is that when I see that a client has a need or asks for help I have people I can trust to take care of that need. I didn’t have that before BNI. My accounting and tax service for small business owners now has 41 former chapter members and hundreds of chapter visitors who are an additional source for referrals. Knowing how important BNI is to my business is the motivating source for 49 months of perfect attendance at my Chapter meetings. None of the above would be possible if Deanna Tucci Schmitt had not brought BNI to Western Pennsylvania. Deanna leads by “GIVING” so much time to training members for success, by selecting superb assistant directors, by exploring new ways to improve chapter success and continuing to grow BNI this area. Thanks Deanna! Ed Hall Padgett Business Services (412) 366-8572 September 2005 |