Strictly Business at Beau Rivage - Second Flight - 2/17/2010

We were back to the Beau Rivage golf course club house for this week's Strictly Business networking event organized every week by Sea-Comm Media's Big Talker FM radio.


The usual host, Curtis Wright, was in Washington D.C. so SeaComm Media's Joe Catenacci stepped in a visiting host.


Derek Sellers, SeaComm Media's most dapper sales guy was on hand as well.


Each week at Strictly Business a local nonprofit is featured to benefit from the weekly drawing ticket sales. This week's group was the Big Buddy Program, along with the Cape Fear Volunteer Center.


As soon as I entered I said hello to Steve Haughey of Worldwide Express and Ezell and Ann Willard of All Kinds of Stuff.


Annie Anthony of CFVC and Rory Platow, Case Manager with the Big Buddy program.


Paul Shaplin of PowerHome Technologies security systems with Steve West of N2 Publishing.


A goodly crowd gathered early.


Russ "Call me Doug" Hauptmann, the funniest SeaComm Media sales guy (sorry Derek), with Mary Bennies of Town Planner Calendar and Mike Hoffer of Snows Cut Media.


Steve with Paul Whitehouse of Lopermedia.


Our hostess for the event, Audra Walker, Beau Rivage Events Director with Derek.


Audra and Bruce Brown (wearing my Brunswick County Sheriff's Department pin, and no, I'm not a member of that department, though I am a fan).


This is why it's rightly called "Strictly Business". These guys are having a good time, but clearly they're hear about business. The name of the game is relationship marketing - building relationships for possible direct business but even more probable later referrals and recommendations.


Vincent Prisco of WWAY and ADT's Nick Arbia.


Fred Kumpel of Strickland Window Coverings with Hanover Center's Bruce Henderson.


These folks are all from The ARC of North Carolina Employment Services. From left to right, Joanne Cain, Alexis Hinds, and Brian Moeller.


Ezell and Ann Willard with Patricia and John Pietrapaolo.


Jerry Ellis of eTelecom and Shari Watters of Deltacom.


Bruce Henderson and Mary Bennies.


Designer Samantha Nguyen.


Alpha Mortgage mortgage consultant Lam Nguyen.


Mike Hoffer of Snows Cut Media.


Stephanie Williams of Edward Jones with Michael Byrd of WordWright Web.


Green Cleaning Technicians' Mark Evans.


Kyle Myers with Derek Sellers.


A view of the Beau Rivage Golf Course from the back deck.

Thank you Audra and rest of the Walker family for hosting this week's event. We'll be back in March. Next week, Strictly Business will be at Antonio's Pizza and Pasta Restaurant in Leland from 5PM till ??

Strictly Business Strikes Beau Rivage - 1-20-10

It's always neat to check out a new place, and this week's Sea-Comm Media Strictly Business networking event held for the first time at the Beau Rivage golf clubhouse in Wilmington proves the rule.

Early arrivals (and new arrivals to the area) Kathy and Jack Henderson of SidebySide Duo were ready to meet new folks. And they did!



Beau Rivage Director of Events Audra Walker with Sea-Comm Media's Russ (Call Me 'Doug') Hauptman, and the Strictly Business hgst, Big Talker Radio Morning Show Guy, the ecologically-aware conservative talk show host Curtis Wright.

Beau Rivage Pro Shop Commander Joe Newnam (okay, I made up the 'commander' part, his real title is 'Merchandiser' but I thought Commander was more fun, and he is the guy in charge). Some folks (since's it's a family owned and run course) call him 'Uncle Joe'.

Lopermedia's Paul Whitehouse. Always on hand, always smiling. A good guy.

Mark Whitmarsh of Primary Mortgage and Sea-Comm Photographer and Producer Paige Freeman.

My very good friend and strategic ally Brad Hodges of Primary Capital.

Artist Angela Johnson. So here's a true story. Angela just started coming to networking events two weeks ago. Her work is enjoyable and impressive, check it out here. Anyway, Angela wasn't sure if she'd be comfortable at a business networking event. Well I'd say she's proof positive that we're all about helping people feel comfortable, have fun, AND make new business connections. In this next photo she was merely smiling . . . which is nice . . .

But then I asked her to show a little attitude and check this out!!

So yeah, come to the next Strictly Business at Fat Tony's on Racine in Wilmington and you, too, can have a blast and talk business with pleasant people who want to meet you.

Okay back to the folks who were there (and of course this post only shows a small fraction of the actual attendees).

Steve West of N2 Publishing ("It's not how many eyes see your ad, it's which eyes.")


Annie Anthony of the Cape Fear Volunteer Center.

Rick Huston of U First, Stephanie Williams of Edward Jones and Linda King, the Edward Jones Branch Office Administrator (see the reference to "Commander" above, I think she's the boss).


Clark Wilson of Southern Sign Company, Jeff Harvell of Cape Fear Business News, and Micheal Byrd of WordWright Web.

Michael again, this time with Shari Watters of Deltacom.

Jerry Ellis of eTelecom and Elaine Huston of Pre-Paid Legal.


There's Michael yet again, this time with photographer Ed Zirkle.

Sam Darakjy of NCACC Consulting with Jean Lee Cherry, with the Summit Hospitality Group.


Jenny and Donald Rhew of Downeast Furniture and Installation.


Kyle Myers and Mike LaBruno of All-Brite powerwashing with Derek Sellers of Sea-Comm Media.

Russ Hauptman and Bruce Brown.


Lori Rooker of Exit Realty and George Tucci of HealthMarkets.


Jon Hicks of Ethos Design Studios.

Judy Bradley of Eventz! Judy is an events coordinator and designer. Judy said she didn't photograph well. Here are two in a row that argue against her statement.



Angela and Audra.

Mike Tucci with Manuel Lopez of Ethos.


Bill Johnson of Mr. Bill's Production House.


Beau Rivage director of Marketing and Public Relations Jake Walker.

Crowd shot.

Audra Walker (far right) helped Curtis and Paige with the many prize drawings.

Stephanie Williams of Edward Jones and Kayla Schwenk of Cape Fear Volunteer Center with a smiling Dan Bernstein of Great American Cookies in the middle. Dan was smiling because he kept winning drawing prizes. Well, and maybe because he's standing next to both Stephanie and Kayla??


Okay, so as you can see it was another highly successful Strictly Business networking event. To keep up with each week's location, check in at the Strictly Business web site at this link.