Members Details
Caroline Welsh
Director
Caroline Welsh Physiotherapy
www.southyarraphysio.com
BNI Business Connections in the BNI  Melbourne Region

Tell us about your business:

I give people who suffer from snoring, insomnia, difficulty breathing through their nose an alternative to machines, dental devices, drugs and surgery.I am passionate about everyone getting a great night’s sleep!

What are your top 3 networking tips?

Listen
Listen
Listen

What can’t you live without?

A great nights sleep
Laughter
Meditation

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

The science of getting rich by Wallace Wattles.
It was written in 1910, is simple to read and has stood the test of time.

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

I met a lovely woman at a networking evening and she invited me along. I joined because of the structure and the lack of alcohol!

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

7 Months

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

Visitors Host

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

I have been introduced to some fabulous people in my industry that I wouldn’t have met otherwise. I am starting research into the effect of my treatment on snoring and sleep apnoea

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

Keep it simple , no one understands your language

Your Dream Referral Is…

A sleep Physician in South Yarra, who is passionate about helping people to breathe easier through their nose.

Members Details
Tony Ebejer
Managing Director
Capture Recruitment
www.capturerecruitment.com.au
BNI Growth Partners in the BNI  Melbourne Region

Tell us about your business:

Over 55 years of accumulative Recruitment industry experience is Capture Recruitment, a newly formed registered Corporation established on the 31st May 2010.

Capture Recruitment pride ourselves on our ability to meet the expectations of clients in terms of quality, performance, reliability and cost, as personnel specialists we work with and recruit for Warehousing and Logistics, Trades and Construction, Manufacturing, Process and Clerical, Administration work. Additionally, an Engineering Workshop facility offers a comprehensive ‘maintenance engineering resource for all customers’.

Recruitment companies rely heavily on the quality of consultants within its structure. Capture Recruitment guarantees this high standard, stating that ‘‘it is a fundamental yet too often ignored essential of our industry.’’

Managing Director Tony Ebejer has been a specialist recruiter for the past 18 years, saying that ‘‘our name, Capture Recruitment, is what we do, and that is to CAPTURE our customers’ needs and candidate knowledge. Only by listening and asking those vital questions of them can we ensure their needs are Captured.’’

Much of Capture Recruitments success stems our staffs knowledge and experience within the industries we service. From hands-on experience in trades, manufacturing, process production, transport, logistics, administration and management sees Capture Recruitment benefit greatly from this invaluable knowledge and understanding of the niche’ industries we supply to.

Our quality policy revolves around understanding that our candidates are our biggest asset, and working close with them to find suitable employment is essential. Each time this is achieved, customer satisfaction will follow.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

Be prepared, Arrive Early, Have a Plan.

What can’t you live without?

Family
Friends
Football

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

Dyson, he never gave up

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

Neighbour and I joined to extend my networking

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

Soon to be 4 years

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

Membership Committee, Visitors Host

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

Community awareness, business development and a wider business and social network groups

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

Good question, with its structure most of what was required knowing was told. very informative networking process which leaves you understanding what you have just witnessed.

Your Dream Referral Is…

My DREAM referral would be a logistics company within the western or northern districts of Melbourne who are soon to ask for new submissions to tender for the supply of Labour Hire staffing.

That or Permanent placement opportunities

Members Details
Debra Hilton
CEO
Hilton Copywriting
Http://hiltoncopy.com
BNI Chapel Street in the BNI Melbourne Region

Tell us about your business:

I help Professional Service businesses shorten their sales cycle and increase profits by attracting better quality leads. Copywriting is a specialised skill and businesses find the increased response is worth the investment.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

1. Show genuine interest in the people you meet, don’t just try to sell yourself;
2. Be prepared to say what you do and have business cards and brochures available;
3. Follow up with a strategist interview to take the relationship further.

What can’t you live without?

My fountain pens, MacBook Air and books.

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

Dan Kennedy’s ”Ultimate Marketing Plan” – it doesn’t matter how skilled you are if no one knows you exist and this book has all the blocks you need to put in place for a great campaign outlined.

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

From a friend. I joined because I think the concept is great and I needed to learn many of the skills they teach. Plus, I enjoy our weekly meetings.

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

1 year

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

Membership Committee, Visitors Host

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

New skills, new connections and clients and an exposure to professions I don’t generally meet up with.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

You get out what you put in, and moving to true profitability takes time

Your Dream Referral Is…

SMELL in Professional services who wants to grow and understands the place of direct marketing in growth acceleration

Members Details
Jodi Hamilton
Business Development Executive
Townsville Enterprise Ltd
www.townsvilleenterprise.com.au
BNI Integrity in the BNI Townsville North Queensland Region

Tell us about your business:

Townsville Enterprise is the official Regional Development Organisation, Regional Tourism Organisation and registered Convention Bureau for North Queensland.

Townsville Enterprise works to improve infrastructure, increase visitor numbers, attract skilled labour, attract new businesses, and quality lifestyle development via the injection of new projects into the economy.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

1. Arrive early, leave late.
2. Attend 1 or 2 Networking functions regularly and become known as the key person in your industry
3. Follow up. Send a thank you note to your new contact.

What can’t you live without?

H2H : Human to Human contact – connectivity

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

Start Something That Matters
Blake Mycoskie

Great easy read with tonnes of information on how when you love what you do and are driven to do well, what you can achieve is fantastic.

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

I have attended BNI as a visitor, as a guest speaker and as a potential member over the years.

I joined a year ago representing another company, the benefits were always obvious, timing and location had held me back previously.

Integrity had the right formula for my needs. Day, time, location and most importantly a great mix of people and businesses.

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

12 Months

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

Education, Visitors Host

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

The opportunity to learn intricate details of different industries has helped me to understand the businesses and therefore provide quality referrals.

The opportunity to communicate each with directly with a team of businesses on our projects and activities has increased knowledge within the region immensely.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

What to do and expect when you bring a visitor.

Your Dream Referral Is…

A business looking to expand their existing sales and marketing initiatives into the Townsville North Queensland region – a partnership with Townsville Enterprise Limited offers many great opportunities to reach your market.

Members Details
Tony Hall
CEO
GreenBizCheck
www.tradiesgo.com.au
BNI Beachside in the BNI Gold Coast Region

Tell us about your business:

GreenBizCheck is a global technology-based environmental certification program for business offering environmental certification for offices, retail, hotels, clubs, education centres, IT, food & beverage and recruitment. The program helps companies to quickly implement sustainable environmental practices which rapidly increase profits, attract new business, conserve energy, water, resources and minimise waste.
Companies are provided with a 260+ point online assessment with immediate reporting and action planning.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

1. Spend time to get to know people both personally and professionally.

2. Keep moving around to get to know everyone in the group as they may know someone who can really help your business grow.

3. Resist the urge to drink too much if alcohol is provided!

What can’t you live without?

1. Morning espresso x 2
2. Personal Training at Vision PT Bundall
3. Samsung Galaxy Note 2
4. Two young and bright children Mimi and Nicky
5. Evening whiskey x 2

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

The E-Myth – helps you work out what you are good at in your business and encourages you to seek out others to compliment your skills.

It opens your mind to sales techniques you might not be across.

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

I was referred in by my personal trainer. I joined to get me out of the office and meet like minded fired up business people.

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

6 Months

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

It has really helped me connect to local businesses and reflect on our own business every week. We have a very lively bunch of 35 motivated members at Beachside on the Gold Coast.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

Nothing – BNI delivers on every promise so long as you put in the effort to give as well as gain.

Do You Have a BNI Story to share?

I am trying to personally do business with every member in our chapter so I can honestly refer them as a quality business to my networks. This has been very powerful as it fits theBNI Givers Gain philosophy perfectly.

Your Dream Referral Is…

GreenBizCheck is looking for ANY business looking to save money, boost profits, attract new business and make a real contribution to protecting our planet at a very low cost.

We are also looking for passionate and well-networked distributors to help us expand rapidly.

Members Details
Brian Alexander
Director
Manning Tax & Business Consultants Pty Ltd
www.mtbc.com.au
BNI Riverview Taree in the BNI NSW Mid North Coast Region

Tell us about your business:

We are a Chartered Accounting firm specialising in using technology to make your business life less taxing.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

Leave your comfort zone.
Do as many one on one’s as you can.
Make contact with all new visitors to make them feel welcome.

What can’t you live without?

Windsurfing

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

E myth

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

I was in the foundation group after our real estate client invited me to be part of it.

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

8 Years

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

President, Treasurer, Membership Committee

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

Great resource base of like minded business people. About 10% of our businesss comes from BNI.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

Do your Member success program (MSP) and ten minute presentation ASAP to promote your business from the outset.
You have to build trust.

Do You Have a BNI Story to share?

Our Chapter is a huge success story. Many people have built their businesses almost solely through BNI referrals.
The key is to keep it positive and remember you get back what you put in. (givers gain)

Your Dream Referral Is…

A franchise group.

Members Details
Stephanie Campanella
Owner
Tradies Get Online
www.tradiesgo.com.au
BNI Business Express in the BNI NSW Region

Tell us about your business:

Stephanie Campanella wanted to combine her web design skills and thorough knowledge of the building and trade services industries.

Having been the daughter of a builder Stephanie fully appreciates the demands, challenges and opportunities of trade businesses.

From the early age of 12, Stephanie has worked in the family building and construction business and fully appreciates how tenders, quotes, invoices, estimations, accounting, bookkeeping, job management, supplier management and generally every aspect of how a trades business works.

Tradies Get Online was developed to reduce the headache for tradesmen and their families/staff to go online in the areas of accounting, website management, email marketing, eCommerce and website reports.

Most web designers are great creatives, but don’t understand the value of strategy in a website design. They’d favour ‘pretty’ vs ‘commercially viable’.

Similarly most techos can’t communicate and don’t understand business issues.

Stephanie is a unique character. She’s an awesome designer, commercially savvy and is a techo that can talk plain english and make sense.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

Always Smile.
Never Judge.
Be Memorable.

What can’t you live without?

Extreme Sports

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

jeffrey Gitomer – Little Red Book of Selling.

It opens your mind to sales techniques you might not be across.

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

I always new I had to network. Networking helps builds relationships and relationships impact business decisions.

I was told about BNI from many colleagues.

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

18 Months

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

Education, Events, Visitors Host

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

Expand my network and learn more about other markets.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

Stress less. Everyone is here to help.

Do You Have a BNI Story to share?

BNI made me get up, out of bed at 5am every Friday in order to get in front of 40 business owners.

It allowed me to ’get real’ about my business.

Your Dream Referral Is…

A tradesmen that wants increased lead generation.

I’ll build their website, and organise a communication with their clients. Keeping them top of mind.

Members Details
Josh Pennell
Senior Adviser
Ozplan Financial Services
www.ozplan.com.au
BNI City Corporate Melbourne in the BNI Melbourne Region

Tell us about your business:

We are an independently owned and operate financial advisory practice. This means no conflicted advice or remuneration as we are not affiliated with a bank, insurer or financial institution which really sets us apart from most of the market.

We provide high quality professional financial advice, targeted at business owners, high net worth individuals or people who want to become high net worth individuals. Retirement planning is also a big focus.

Our advice is goals driven. What do our clients want to do or achieve with their money? It’s not about seeing it pile up in the corner or an account….what do they genuinely need and want money for. We then help develop a plan to do this efficiently and we work with them over time effectively achieve this and keep them accountable to those stated goals.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

- Get involved: My time as President of our chapter was demanding & time consuming, but there were so many fantastic benefits that I got out of it.

- Givers gain is the BNI philosophy that we all hear about, but it is so true. Not just in business and networking, but in life.

- Show true appreciation and thanks for referrals. Too many times I see people not being truly grateful for the time & effort someone else has gone to in order to find a referral and help someones business. If you don’t show true thanks then why would you expect to get more in the future?

What can’t you live without?

Technology – Although there are many people out there who are more tech savvy than me. Making the most out of technology and the tools available to us (that our predecessors weren’t lucky enough to have) can create huge amounts of efficiency but it can also create wow factors for your clients and networking contacts.

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

The four hour working week. Unfortunately it’s not a reality for most of us, but the tips, tools and concept behind this book is that we can and should make our working lives more effective by changing our long held misconceptions and approaches to work and business.

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

I was asking my sister about some potential contacts via the company she worked for who I thought could be good referral partners for me. As a result her boss suggested BNI and I then searched it on the internet. After attending as a visitor I felt it was a great concept and really enjoyed the environment & interaction of everyone in the group.

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

4 Years

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

President

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

- Lots of great business & quality clients.
- Excellent referral partners.
- Significantly improved networking and communication skills.
- Improved & refined ability to explain what I do & how I add value to my clients.
- Introductions to so many other great events & networking opportunities from my fellowmembers.
- Awareness & belief that you don’t find clients sitting at your desk. You have to build & use relationships & help others first to generate leads & business.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

Don’t be overwhelmed. The relationships that already exist in a chapter can be extremely strong. I remember thinking how I seemed so far off breaking into those relationships & having good interaction with the group and individuals at the start.

This of course changed very quickly as we had very friendly and welcoming members, but it is hard at first.

So get involved, do as many 1 to 1’s as possible in the first 1-2 months and that will break the ice very quickly.

Do You Have a BNI Story to share?

BNI is a big commitment. Weekly meetings as well as 1 to 1’s and other responsibilities. In our busy lives, you do have times when it all seems difficult & like hard work & sometimes you start to question yourself.

The thing about BNI though is that it will always bounce back in such a positive way. Whenever I’ve started to feel like I’m in a small rut, suddenly 2,3,4 great referrals have all come in at once and in most cases because they are such warm leads, they have converted into business. This has happened on a number of occasions over my 4 years.

Stay committed, stay active, give to others and it will always come back to you

Your Dream Referral Is…

1. A married couple, aged 40+ with accumulated wealth, who are serious about creating an amazing retirement.

2. A self funded retiree who wants to enjoy their retirement, not fuss over managing their money. That’s what we are here for.

Members Details
Brad Bennett
Cash Flow Specialist
FIFO Capital
www.FIFOCapital.com.au
BNI United in the BNI North Sydney Region

Tell us about your business:

FIFO Capital: Invoice today, cash tomorrow.

At FIFO we simply buy your invoice(s), provide you with up to 80% of the invoice value immediately, and when your customer pays we remit the remaining 20% less our fee.

FAST: We can do this initially in 24-48 hours (later in 2-4 hours).
FLEXIBLE: There is no need to lock into an ’all of ledger’ invoice finance product (i.e. can be used only when needed).
COMPATIBLE: There is no need for real estate security & we can work with existing finance providers.
TRANSPARENT: There is a single charge per invoice & no hidden fees.
SIMPLE: We fund businesses banks will not.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

1. Practise active listening. It works.
2. Focusing on others & not yourself builds trust.
3. Networking done right is essentially all about Karma.

What can’t you live without?

My iPhone business card reader App

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

Currently I am reading ”Free Marketing: 101 Low and No-Cost Ways to Grow Your Business, Online and Off”, by Jim Cockrum. There are some great tips to browse that will maximise your digital marketing spend.

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

It was recommended to me by a number of my new colleagues at FIFO.

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

Part of the newly formed North Sydney Chapter (BNI United)

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

Visitors Host

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

It is clear from my short time that by focusing on the other BNI members referrals I can generate goodwill & a willingness to support my own businesses objectives/growth, thereby increasing my own potential many times over.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

…make sure you are an early riser…!

Do You Have a BNI Story to share?

As a new member, not too many stories yet. However, as a former ’bean counter’ that worked hard at having NO network, I seem to have found a group of colleagues willing to help me overnight!

Your Dream Referral Is…

SMEs which:
- Have turnover under $5M
- Need fast working capital funding ($20K-$500K)
- Have B2B customer debtor’s ledgers.
- Have maxed out existing overdrafts / security
- Are new and/or have limited equity in their business
- Which have been rejected by banks
- Don’t want to be locked into ’all of ledger’ solutions

I am also keen to speak to their trusted advisors: small-mid sized accountants & lawyers, loan brokers, business coaches & bankers.

Members Details
Michael Sutton
Director
Zera
http://zera.com.au
BNI Cornerstone in the BNI Brisbane Region

Tell us about your business:

Zera specialises in high impact, high exposure online marketing campaigns for business.

Essentially we help businesses get more clients and customers through Lead Generation strategies via modern advertising and marketing methods such as Google, Facebook, LinkedIn etc.

From Adwords to SEO and Social Media Marketing campaigns, we provide proven results and back up our work with a rock solid guarantee ensuring our clients enjoy stress free investment with us for customer aquistion and lead generation services with confidence.

We also offer web design, website conversion rate optimisation services ( which is making changes website to improve actual customer conversions) and telecommunications solutions.

The business is passionate about over delivering on our KPI’s and building long lasting relationships. Best of all we are a 100% Australian based business.

What are your top 3 networking tips?

1. Talk to someone different every week and pay them a compliment that is genuine.

2. The more you give the more you gain, so get that through your brain!

3. Ask what you can do for people, before asking what they can do for you.

What can’t you live without?

1. iPad / PC
2. Outlook
3. Sports Cars

Which Business Book Would Your Recommend & Why?

”How to win friends and influence people” by David Carnegie.

This book is a gem… i used to say me me me, and get angry when things didn’t go my way. Now I try to ask how i could do this the Nelson Mandella way and forgive instead of belittle. Chuck Norris has no friends so to speak. I still haven’t made any either, however that’s another story

How Did Your Find Out About BNI & Why Did You Join?

I was called by a competitor.

How Long Have You Been a Member For?

4 months, so I’m still a baby

What Position/s On The Leadership Team Have You Held? 

Visitors Host

What value & benefit have you or your business gained by being a BNI Member?

1. Learning how to be a better networker. I truly had no idea. Still dont! It really is an art and I’m learning more every week.

2. I’ve also picked up some business which makes me smile too.

3. Best of all, I’ve already shared over $15,000 in business to other group members.

What Do You Wish Someone Had Told Your When You First Joined BNI? 

Nothing I just wish I was invited sooner. What a fantastic model and great group of people.

Do You Have a BNI Story to share?

My first BNI business was to another member during a GAINS profile. She loved my responses so much she signed up there and then. I wasn’t even selling her, I was just sharing my passion for what I do and that’s when I knew this business model was powerful indeed.

Your Dream Referral Is…

To work with BMW. I’m a BMW enthusiast so I would love to work with the cars I love so much.

BMW don’t actually rank on page one in Google for car dealers, so if anyone knows someone at BMW…….