Greene County Business Group Announces New Leadership

GREENE COUNTY, OH - The Greater Dayton Professionals Chapter of BNI has announced the new leadership team for 2010-2011. Effective October 1^st, President Sharon Zeljak, Vice President Gery L. Deer, and Secretary Treasurer Tina Paddon will step down and pass their duties to new officers.

The international professional networking group BNI, or Business Network International, was started by professional networking guru Dr. Ivan Misner in 1985. With over 5,000 chapters world-wide, the goal of BNI is to help members network with one-another on a level that is not possible in chamber organizations or service clubs.

In the BNI strategy, each member tries to learn as much as possible about the others to the extent that they can give an informed recommendation to potential clients. The Greater Dayton Professionals Chapter of BNI formed in Greene County in 1998 and is made up of business professionals from all over the Miami Valley including Springfield, Jamestown, Bellbrook, Dayton and Riverside. Over the last 9 months, the group's membership passed nearly $600,000 in closed business.

Directing the chapter into the next year will be the new Secretary Treasurer, Carolyn Reed of Gorman Specialty Group in Springboro; Vice President and Membership Committee Chair Sharon Zeljak of Automated Advantage Marketing; and Rob Breckler, owner of Quality Handyman Services in Miamisburg, will take the big chair as president. Freelance writer Gery L. Deer of GLD Enterprises is the chapter's media relations coordinator.

"We have a great crew taking over this year, which will hopefully see an improvement in both the local and national economy," Deer said. "We like to say that we refuse to participate in a recession, but, in fact, there is no recession when you have good people like those in our BNI chapter who are dedicated to helping each other to succeed."

Through the BNI structure, a network of professional connections can grow well beyond the core group and extend the reach of a small business to unrealized potential customers. The organization is intended for entrepreneurs and sales professionals in all types of businesses from real estate and insurance agents to florists and mortgage brokers.

The Greater Dayton Professionals Chapter of BNI meets weekly from 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. at City Barbeque, 2330 B N. Fairfield Rd. in Beavercreek. For more information go online to www.greaterdaytonpros.com or contact chapter vice president Sharon Zeljak of Automated Advantage by calling (937) 427-3277.