Pensacola Leads Group Two | Pensacola Business Networking Group » pensacola business networking group

Meeting Reminder | April 8, 2010

Charles — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:52:35 +0000

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!

Member Spotlight: Blake Bramlett | OEC

Charles — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 04:24:28 +0000

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.

—

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

Member Spotlight: Sean Quigley | Brown Thornton Pacenta

Charles — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:36:48 +0000

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:

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

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.

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

Sean: The current economic situation has touched each
of us in some way. We have family, friends, or neighbors who’ve lost jobs.
We see “bank owned,” “short sale,” and “foreclosure” attached to real
estate listings. The challenge for today is to deliver more value using
less resource. When we succeed in facing that challenge, we’ll leave ourselves
well positioned to benefit as economic conditions improve.

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

Sean: We are striving to identify and inform our clients
about unhealthy trends in their income and spending. Frequently such changes
go unnoticed in the daily rush of running our businesses and our households,
and a brief conversation can lead to meaningful change.

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

Sean: Love what you do. We’ve all met people who are
passionate about what they do. I find their enthusiasm contagious, and
they seem to get good results in what they seek to accomplish.

—

As your Pensacola small business prepares for the upcoming tax season,
consider that ways the Brown Thornton & Pacenta might be able to help
you.

Sean K Quigley | Brown Thornton Pacenta – (850) 434-3146

New Members: Welcome to Pensacola Leads

Charles — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:59:45 +0000

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!

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

Pensacola Business Networking Group

Charles — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:41:38 +0000

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

Meeting Minutes: January 14, 2010

Charles — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:36:48 +0000

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