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

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

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

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

Charles Baisden | Fusion Media from Pensacola Leads on Vimeo.

Charles Baisden of Fusion Media gives a presentation on search engine optimization. Pensacola Leads Group Two offers business networking to Pensacola small businesses.

If you’re a small business in Pensacola, and you’re looking for a business networking group to call home, come check out Pensacola Leads Group Two! We’d love to have you.

- Roast Sirloin Of Beef
- Grilled Chicken with tri-colored Penne

NOTE: If you RSVP and don’t show you will be charged as the Holiday in is cooking specifically for our party. Lunch will be $19.14 ($15.95 + 20% gratuity). Please have your payment ready for Irene the day of the party.

Dirty Santa
We are also having “Dirty Santa” the limit is $10.00 for a gift. Please being a wrapped gift…and your best “gift stealing” moves. See you next Friday!

The Date: December 18, 2009
The Time: 11:30am
The Place: Holiday Inn Pensacola on Davis Highway
The Menu: choice of…
- Roast Sirloin Of Beef
- Grilled Chicken with tri-colored Penne

We would like to extend an advanced THANK YOU to Irene Beck for generously agreeing to host the party at the Holiday Inn. We literally could not have done it without you Irene!

Please make your selection & RSVP by December 10th to Christy Steil. Also the group voted to have “Dirty Santa” gift limit $10.00. Be creative and shop for something fun! I hope you can all attend; this will be a fun and festive Christmas Party with your “peeps” so please mark your calendars!

Aaron can handle anything from identity development (logo design, branding, etc.) to merchandise printing. Take a few minutes to check out Aaron’s presentation to the group:

Here’s our Q&A with Aaron:

1) Question: tell us a bit about yourself & your business?

Aaron:

Education

• Master in Fine Arts in Visual Communication with an emphasis in Advertising
• B.A. Commercial Art, Minor—Advertising

Personal

• Enjoy sports, art, family, church and our 2 dogs
• Married with 2 children

Ebert Creative

• A Full Service Creative Design Firm
• We design and create anything visual—including advertising, marketing, web, brochures, flyers, stationery, forms, promotional items and more.

2) Question: How long have you been in this industry?

Aaron: I started drawing when I was 8 and have been in the art/design field ever since. I Graduated from College in 1993 and started my own business in 2005. Before 2005, I taught design and art and also worked in advertising departments and agencies.

3) Question: What is the biggest challenge facing your clients right now?

Aaron: Most of the clients that come to me need me to take care of the design process help them look their best and to keep the prices affordable. Often times my clients went to a variety of sources to get all their items designed and produced. At Ebert Creative we strive to help the client by designing and helping them with ALL their needs so that their brand and identity are consistent in the eye of their customers and clients.

4) Question: What is your company doing to help?

Aaron: Coming through by fulfilling their needs.

5) Question: What advice would you give to our readers?

Aaron: Talk to Aaron at Ebert Creative before you consider cutting corners on design or other visual needs. Often time when a business cuts corners to save money their designs aren’t as effective and they lose customers in the long run.

Aaron Ebert | Ebert Creative – (850) 941-2751

1) Question: tell us a bit about yourself & your business?

Lee: I am the Divisional Vice-President (FL/AL/MS) for USHealthGroup – a National Company with local, personal service – boasting nearly a decade of service to others – helping small business owners, self-employed, employees, ANY individual, family, or group to obtain quality Health Insurance at Group Rate Savings!

Married two years to wife Darlene Parker – long term Milton resident – who serves as Administrative Director for USHG. Prior to marriage, I single-parented raised two boys, now 24 and 20 years old. Ryan, the oldest, is serving in US Army Artillery in mid-east and Dustin is pursuing a music career in Atlanta, GA.

2) Question: What is the biggest challenge facing your clients right now?

Lee: Finding quality Major Medical Health Insurance to PROTECT THEIR FAMILY at a PRICE THEY CAN AFFORD now – and not suffering huge RATE INCREASES year after year!

3) Question: What is your company doing to help?

Lee: US Health Group is the only national Health Insurance Company offering customers an opportunity to “LOCK IN” their rates for up to FOUR YEARS!!!

Additionally, we don’t “force-feed” our customers into a “cookie-cutter, one size fits all” health plan. We work with our customers – up close & personal – helping them design a plan customized to meet their needs. Our customers CHOOSE their plan deductibles, CHOOSE their co-insurance levels, CHOOSE their maximum out of pocket costs! If you no longer need maternity benefits, pay a lower cost! If you don’t need dental, pay a lower cost. If you rarely go to the Dr. – pay a lower cost! CHOICES!!!

4) Question: What advice would you give to our readers?

Lee: Two Important Things: If you don’t have Health Insurance you are a financial “walking time bomb” waiting to happen. Healthcare professionals do a great job of healing & saving lives – they do an even better job of collecting their money – and changes in bankruptcy laws will not void medical expenses! If you are paying for part, or all, of your Health Insurance, you should give us a call to see if we can HELP YOU get better benefits for LESS MONEY!!I
Lee Parker | Affordable Health Insurance – (850) 623-0062