The Pensacola Leads Group Two meets on the second & fourth Thursday of each month — we have a meeting TODAY at 11:30am.
Who: Pensacola Leads Group Two
What: May Meeting #2
When: Thursday | May 27 | 11:30am
Where: Pensacola Chamber of Commerce | Boardroom
Our meeting this week will feature two speakers from our group:
Business Education: Tom Brunelle | Leroy Hill Coffee
Member Spotlight: BK Williams | Out ‘O’ Space Storage
See you there!
~ Charles
The Pensacola Leads Group meets on the second & fourth Thursday of each month — tomorrow will be our first May meeting!
Who: Pensacola Leads Group Two
What: May Meeting #1
When: Thursday | May 13 | 11:30am
Where: Pensacola Chamber of Commerce | Boardroom
Our meeting this week will feature two speakers from our group:
Business Education: Jeff Martin | AVS Security
Member Spotlight: Charles Baisden | Fusion Media
See you there!
~ Charles
Pensacola Leads Group Two (a Pensacola business networking group) will host is second April meeting this Thursday at 11:30am.
Who: Pensacola Leads Group Two
What: April Meeting #2
When: Thursday | April 22 | 11:30am
Where: Pensacola Chamber of Commerce | Boardroom
Our meeting this week will feature two speakers from our group:
Business Education: Shane Stults | Sellstate Gulf Coast Realty
Member Spotlight: Ben Socia | Northwestern Mutual
See you there!
~ Charles
Just a reminder that Pensacola Leads Group Two will host the first April meeting this coming Thursday at 11:30am. As usual, the meeting location will be the Boardroom at the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce’s downtown location.
Who: Pensacola Leads Group Two
What: April Meeting #1
When: 11:30am
Where: Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
Please be sure to arrive promptly so that the meeting can begin at 11:30am. See you there!
Brynn Ammon joined Leads Group Two last month & jumped right in with her member spotlight. Brynn is the Business Development Manager for Pen Air Federal Credit Union, and we’re tickled to have her in our group. We asked Brynn to share some thoughts about her industry with us.
1) Question: Tell us a bit about yourself & your business?
Brynn: I’m a 10 year Credit Union veteran. I have worked in Credit Unions from Sea to Sea (California to Jacksonville, FL) during that time. Credit Unions are not-for-profit financial cooperatives that are governed by an all volunteer board of directors.
Pen Air FCU was started in 1936 to meet the needs of the military personnel aboard NAS Pensacola. Over the years, we’ve grown to serve over 800 employers and membership groups with the free benefit of providing credit union services to their employees and members.
Pen Air FCU offers financial products and services to help consumers and businesses to “Get it Done!”
2) Question: What is the biggest challenge facing your clients right now?
Brynn:: We’re in a recession, so, money is tight everywhere. Our members are constantly looking for ways to save money. Additionally, with the new credit card legislation, a lot of consumers will begin to see higher interest rates on credit cards and other loan products. Another challenge our members are facing is the security of knowing that their funds are safe.
3) Question: What is your company doing to help?
Brynn:: At Pen Air FCU, we offer our standard products with no monthly costs. Additionally, we offer low rate loans. All funds at Pen Air FCU are insured up to $250,000 per member and Pen Air FCU has been awarded the Bauer Financial Five Star rating for 76 consecutive quarters.
4) Question: What advice would you give to our readers?
Brynn:: Pay close attention to what your bank is charging you. You could be getting hit with hidden charges that are adding up to a lot of money in the long run. Make sure you find a financial institution that is willing to go the extra mile to make you happy.
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If you’re looking for a new partner in Pensacola to take care of your banking needs, then check out Pen Air Federal Credit Union.
Brynn Ammon | Pen Air Federal Credit Union – (850) 505-3200, ext. 3330
When Blake Bramlett first joined our Pensacola Leads Group, he gave a great presentation on the ins & outs of his business, OEC. OEC is a leading supplier of next day office supplies in Pensacola. They’re giving the big guys a run for their money – no minimum order, and Blake promises to cut your office supply bill in a number of ways.
Blake was kind enough to share a few thoughts with us for his member spotlight.
1) Question: Tell us a bit about yourself & your business?
Blake: I graduated from the University of Alabama in 2007 and then moved to Washington D.C. to work for Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions. After about six months there, I decided to move back to the Gulf Coast Area. That’s when I began my sales career with Office Equipment Company. OEC is an office furniture and supply company that has been headquartered on the central Gulf Coast since 1973. OEC has offices in Pensacola, Mobile, and Gulfport. I’ve been working in the Pensacola area for two years now.
2) Question: What is the biggest challenge facing your clients right now?
Blake: The biggest challenge facing my clients right now is the weak economy. Over 85% of my clients had to downsize their business over the last two years. However, since a declining market is all I have ever known in my sales career, I just continue to call on new prospects. I try to not get discouraged when nine out of ten say “no” to me.
3) Question: What is your company doing to help?
Blake: OEC is focused on helping its customers to save money and to operate more efficiently. We introduced our “Smart Business” program. It shows our customers how to reduce the time it takes to purchase office products, while suggesting items that are the best value.
4) Question: What advice would you give to our readers?
Blake: Since no one knows how long this recession is going to last, the best advice I can give is to stay focused on what you do best, and look to others who are able to strengthen your business. I welcome the opportunity to help your readers reduce their office products expenses.
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If you find your small business in a tight spot, and you think that saving a chunk of change on your office supply bill could be the first step towards cutting your costs, then give Blake a call.
Blake Bramlett | OEC – (850) 438-1100
Before the holiday break, Sean Quigley of Brown, Thornton, & Pacenta gave us a fantastic presentation on the upcoming tax issues facing all small business owners for the 2009-2010 tax season. Sean’s firm (Brown Thornton Pacenta) specializes in small business tax issues & consulting to assist growing Pensacola companies with their financial decision making. Sean took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to share some insights with all of you:
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1) Question: tell us a bit about yourself Sean: I’m a CPA with Brown Thornton Pacenta & Co., a Certified Public Accounting Firm located here in Pensacola. We provide tax, accounting and audit services to business and individual clients. 2) Question: How long have you been in this industry? Sean: I’ve been practicing for 22 years. |
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3) Question: What is the biggest challenge Sean: The current economic situation has touched each 4) Question: What is your company doing to help? Sean: We are striving to identify and inform our clients 5) Question: What advice would you give to our readers? Sean: Love what you do. We’ve all met people who are — As your Pensacola small business prepares for the upcoming tax season,
Sean K Quigley | Brown Thornton Pacenta – (850) 434-3146 |
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Over the last week, Pensacola Leads Group Two has added several new members to the group. We’d like to take a moment & welcome them!
Tom Brunelle | Leroy Hill Coffee
Jill Ferguson | AT&T Wireless
Misty Way | ECB Services
Pam Keen | Realty Masters of Florida
Shane Stults | SellState Gulf Coast Realty
You can find complete contact information for these group members on our Members page. If you have an associate or colleague that would benefit from joining Pensacola Leads Group Two, now is the time to have them contact Christy. The Chamber is currently adding to the Leads Group roster, so don’t wait!
~ Charles
As you know, Pensacola Leads Group Two is a business networking group here in Pensacola that is designed to assist members in developing relationships with other small business owners. These relationships, when cared for properly, can form a foundation for referrals & new business.
To start 2010 off with some insight, I wanted to share the following article from Entrepreneur Magazine on “10 Ways to Waster Your Time in a Business Networking Group”.
Here is the link: Pensacola Business Networking
The moral of the story: like all relationships, having a successful experience in your business networking group requires effort. The time you invest in your group will be returned to you. The time you do not invest will be wasted. So let’s make 2010 the most productive year yet!
~ Charles
As we start a new year, I’d like to start off with an update about our most recent meeting. As you know, Pensacola Leads Group Two meets in the Pensacola Chamber Board Room on the 2nd & 4th Thursday of each month.
During the meeting we discussed a brand new undertaking for 2010 which is going to include member-elected leadership for the group. We’ll have three positions open:
- Chair
- Vice Chair
- Secretary
If you missed the meeting & you are interested in participating in group leadership, please contact Christy at your earliest convenience. The group will be selecting the leadership positions at our first February meeting. For our final meeting in January (January 28, 2010), everyone is encouraged to attend the Chamber’s Quarterly Luncheon.
Have a successful week!
~ Charles
