A while ago we had the #1 networking group in Broward County. This group not only made several million dollars for one another, but was nationally recognized. The success of this group was based on the hard work of its members and in particular our President. He not only led the group but he also brought in many connected business people himself to share with others in the group. We were well over 50 members and we expected all members to present professionally (suits and ties for men no matter what their profession. Dress appropriate business clothes for women). We attracted a very professional group of people that made a lot of money working with each other.
We actually had to work around a few BNI placements because they were not referrable with our big business contacts. They may have been nice people but we were running businesses and this was a business referral group that we paid for and worked hard to maintain at our own time and expense.
One day while the president was on vacation Leo Martel and his unconcionable crew barged into our group meeting unannounced and disbanded it. All the people who paid $450 dollars or so plus the one time fee of another $100 or so instantly lost their money. Just like that.
There were many very unhappy people in the room since there were no warnings, just the abrupt halt of the most successful group in Broward. Dawn Hanna was the director (cannot remember her official title). She is some bean counter dispatcher type who quit the moving company to become a dog walker or something very low level. She was the "professional" who oversaw our group. She would show up in jeans with her belly hanging out and this was the person they sent to help us be successful.
Other workers at bnibroward according to their site are Laura Newman who is a gift card mailer (really that is her job), Matt Kinsey who claims to be in computers, Dani Isohn who cleans, Dave somebody who does voiceovers or something like that, and they list Helen Penland as an Administrator and Jeanine as some sort of tech administrator. After meeting most of these people at the forced training that you also have to pay for yourself, they are very unimpressive, small minded and certainly not professional business people and are not presentable as teachers either.
My recommendation is if you are a professional do not get near this organization. Not only will you work for BNI whether you like it or not but they tried to ruin our president and several others' reputations who worked dilegently for the group by making slanderous secret claims against them that spread. Fortunately word got to the victims and they were able to put a stop to it. These are not bright people who run BNI Broward. They have proven, however, that they can be ruthless, heartless and without integrity whatsoever, and they promote this kind of behavior from low level, members who are so brainwashed by this organization that they are afraid to leave it. Some are like those kindergarten lunch line nazis who never had power before and they think BNI power is a big thing. This shows a lack of character on these members part for not doing what is right but mostly I pity them.
If you are in a professional where you think you need BNI because your business is more quantity than quality driven then this is what you do. Pick a group with connected members but realize that a lot of these members in spite of what they claim, will not pass referrals to you that are rightfully yours. They keep them for themselves, or they make you trade one for one and otherwise they send these to their other business contacts for referral fees, or worse they also work in your industry and closed you out of referrals wrongfully. Also, whatever you do, do not get into any position of authority. The more you do, the more BNI drags you into their cesspool. They will try to make you think that you work for them and they then try to handle you to do their dirty work. Fact is you do not work for them and your group is your group, not theirs and they have said that in training but then look for people they can manipulate like dog trainers and small computer guys. Last thing, don't be surprised if you are sharing a breakfast with a criminal. BNI uses them to help in defaming those that see through them. They are actually in the room with you. I have heard various stories of some pretty outlandish acts by this crew before and since, so proceed at your own risk, but with eyes wide open. Then if you join, once you make your contacts, get to a real group of networkers and take your friends with you like we did. It will not only be more beneficial, but it will cost you a lot less money and you do not have flunkies teaching you how to do business. Buyer beware.
BNI Broward Inc Reviews
A while ago we had the #1 networking group in Broward County. This group not only made several million dollars for one another, but was nationally recognized. The success of this group was based on the hard work of its members and in particular our President. He not only led the group but he also brought in many connected business people himself to share with others in the group. We were well over 50 members and we expected all members to present professionally (suits and ties for men no matter what their profession. Dress appropriate business clothes for women). We attracted a very professional group of people that made a lot of money working with each other.
We actually had to work around a few BNI placements because they were not referrable with our big business contacts. They may have been nice people but we were running businesses and this was a business referral group that we paid for and worked hard to maintain at our own time and expense.
One day while the president was on vacation Leo Martel and his unconcionable crew barged into our group meeting unannounced and disbanded it. All the people who paid $450 dollars or so plus the one time fee of another $100 or so instantly lost their money. Just like that.
There were many very unhappy people in the room since there were no warnings, just the abrupt halt of the most successful group in Broward. Dawn Hanna was the director (cannot remember her official title). She is some bean counter dispatcher type who quit the moving company to become a dog walker or something very low level. She was the "professional" who oversaw our group. She would show up in jeans with her belly hanging out and this was the person they sent to help us be successful.
Other workers at bnibroward according to their site are Laura Newman who is a gift card mailer (really that is her job), Matt Kinsey who claims to be in computers, Dani Isohn who cleans, Dave somebody who does voiceovers or something like that, and they list Helen Penland as an Administrator and Jeanine as some sort of tech administrator. After meeting most of these people at the forced training that you also have to pay for yourself, they are very unimpressive, small minded and certainly not professional business people and are not presentable as teachers either.
My recommendation is if you are a professional do not get near this organization. Not only will you work for BNI whether you like it or not but they tried to ruin our president and several others' reputations who worked dilegently for the group by making slanderous secret claims against them that spread. Fortunately word got to the victims and they were able to put a stop to it. These are not bright people who run BNI Broward. They have proven, however, that they can be ruthless, heartless and without integrity whatsoever, and they promote this kind of behavior from low level, members who are so brainwashed by this organization that they are afraid to leave it. Some are like those kindergarten lunch line nazis who never had power before and they think BNI power is a big thing. This shows a lack of character on these members part for not doing what is right but mostly I pity them.
If you are in a professional where you think you need BNI because your business is more quantity than quality driven then this is what you do. Pick a group with connected members but realize that a lot of these members in spite of what they claim, will not pass referrals to you that are rightfully yours. They keep them for themselves, or they make you trade one for one and otherwise they send these to their other business contacts for referral fees, or worse they also work in your industry and closed you out of referrals wrongfully. Also, whatever you do, do not get into any position of authority. The more you do, the more BNI drags you into their cesspool. They will try to make you think that you work for them and they then try to handle you to do their dirty work. Fact is you do not work for them and your group is your group, not theirs and they have said that in training but then look for people they can manipulate like dog trainers and small computer guys. Last thing, don't be surprised if you are sharing a breakfast with a criminal. BNI uses them to help in defaming those that see through them. They are actually in the room with you. I have heard various stories of some pretty outlandish acts by this crew before and since, so proceed at your own risk, but with eyes wide open. Then if you join, once you make your contacts, get to a real group of networkers and take your friends with you like we did. It will not only be more beneficial, but it will cost you a lot less money and you do not have flunkies teaching you how to do business. Buyer beware.