Each week Strictly Business meets at a greater Wilmington area restaurant for networking and conviviality. Usually the food, which is provided free by the host restaurant consists of generous arrays of appetizers. Well we all sat down at Antonio's because Manager Doug Manning provided trays of lasagna, sausage and peppers, and their famous garlic knob bread twists. This was definitely not stand up and walk around with a glass of wine food - this was sit down and dig in food. And we did.
But before, during, and after there was a whole lotta networking going on.
Denise Kinney, Broker in Charge of the Leland office of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty (who is also my boss) was a first time attendee at Strictly Business and she was also one of the big prize winners during the drawings at the end of the event - Denise won a free radio spot on Curtis Wright's morning show which is pretty cool.
Each week at Strictly Business a nonprofit organization is the beneficiary of the raffle ticket proceeds (all prizes are donated by area businesses). This week it was the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce. Below is NBCC's Executive Director Terry Grillo.
Kris Peterson, a Wilmington area accupuncturist and Jim Tuzzeo, a financial planner with Blueprint Advisory Group. Kris was another big winner in the drawings - he scored a year's membership to the North Brunswick Chamber of Commerce.
Sea-Comm Media's Michael Snyder and Steve Haughey of Worldwide Express.
Jim Tuzzeo with Derek Sellers, an aptly named sales guy with Sea-Comm Media.
Addy Bullara of Bugsy's Cigars.
Linda Killian of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty. Linda won rounds of golf at Beau Rivage Plantation.
Denise Kinney with Jeff Harvell, NBCC Board Member, developer, and publisher of Cape Fear Business News.
Denise with Liftech's Rob Whitney (they pick stuff up with cranes), and Don Swartz of 360 Wilmington.
Kris with Monica Clark of Prepaid Legal and Derek.
Mark Johnson of Buff Masters Car Detailing, Jerry Ellis of e-Telcom Communications, and Scott Gales of The Becker Building Supply, Co.
NBCC Board Members Frank Williams of Pioneer Strategies and Tony Vlach of Hibiske Nationwide Insurance.
NBCC Board member Franklin Rouse of State Farm Insurance.
Mary Bennies of the Town Planner (an area-wide event calendar - it just came out and is way cool) with Terry Grillo.
Marilyn and Greg Darrow of Images 8 Photography.
US Cellular's Devon Nichols and Joyce Diggett. This was their first time at a Strictly Business event and they've also just joined NBCC, so a double welcome.
Stephanie Williams with Edward Jones and Elaine Williams with Riegelwood Federal Credit Union. Hey, are you guys related? Got to find that out. When I cropped this photo I thought you sorta looked like happy trouble makers - I wonder if you are sisters?
Marge Brown of SendOutCards talking with Donna May of Party Lite Candles.
Paul Whitehouse of Lopermedia.
Marketing consultant for nonprofits Susan Rivenbark who is also the new Marketing and Event Coordinator with Boys and Girls Home of North Carolina. Susan is here with Terry Grillo.
Hertz Local's David Merrill (David's also the guy that publishes the very helpful Wilmington Networking Event calendar) with Marge Brown.
New NBCC members and Strictly Business first-timers Christina and Robert Cappiello of The Family Tree Nursery and Garden Center, located on Route 17 in Winnabow.
Peter "The Man" Larson of Franklin Rouse State Farm Insurance.
The crowd sticks around the Strictly Business events because there are plenty of cool prizes each week.
Here's Curtis Wright during the drawings, assisted by Big Talker FM Producer and photographer Paige Freeman.
One of the prize winners was Scott Reeves of Azalea Place Rentals. You might recognize Scott as one of the guys who ran the Leland Under the Lights car show in Septemer. (You more likely might recognize him as Santa Claus - Scott is very busy this season with many many appearances - including at last Saturday's Christmas Festival and Parade sponsored by The Unity Group.)
Marge Brown and Monica Clark.
Marilyn and Greg Darrow talking with Brad Walker, Sales and Marketing Manager for Cape Fear National, the (awesome) new golf course in Brunswick Forest.
So as you can see, this was a blow out, great Strictly Business event. Next week Strictly Business moves to Cameo Nightclub in Lumina Station (5-7PM) - come check it out. There will be no event on December 30th, but then on January 6th the first Strictly Business of 2010 will be upstairs at Caprice Bistro in downtown Wilmington. The stay current with the Strictly Business events, check out The Big Talker Web site event page. And for all area events, don't forget David Merrill's Wilmington Networking Event Calendar.
