Rhode Island’s BNI “Money Makers” Chapter Refutes Recession Woes

WARWICK, Rhode Island – As the 31st member is inducted, the year-old BNI chapter called Money Makers today announced its members are $128,000 ahead of the projected goal to reach $1 million in closed business referrals by year’s end.

Within one year, the Money Makers BNI chapter grew from 14 to 31 members and outgrew its original meeting place. The group now gathers at lunch on Tuesdays at Chelo’s on the Waterfront in Warwick.

Current Money Makers members represent a variety of businesses throughout the region including, but not limited to, travel, financial services, sports nutrition/weight loss, branding design, web design, public relations, real estate, disaster restoration, mortgage origination, signage, printing, advertising specialties, bankcard services, plumbing, heating, electrical, business banking, insurance, radio advertising, computer consultancy, payroll and legal services.

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“The philosophy of this organization is built upon the idea of ‘givers gain’ that by giving business to others, you will get business in return,” said Jeff Elliot, president of BNI Money Makers and senior small business specialist for Sovereign Bank in Warwick. “Our success bodes well for the local business climate despite the current state of the economy.”

Guidelines for BNI membership are specific. Only one person from each profession is permitted to join a chapter of BNI and all participants represent their primary occupation, not a part-time business. Attendance at meetings is critical and substitutes are utilized in the event a member must be absent. The group grows as members bring in visitors from professions not yet represented in the group. All members are required to provide bona-fide business referrals to fellow chapter members.

“Visitors to our chapter are impressed with the high energy level of the group,” said Jean Allard, a founder of BNI Money Makers and vice president of Keystone Real Estate Group headquartered in North Attleboro. “While we are indeed focused on business, we have an exceptional camaraderie which they find both welcoming and inviting.”

About BNI

BNI is the largest business networking organization in the world offering members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts, and business referrals. The concept was established in 1985 by Dr. Ivan R. Misner to provide a positive, supportive, and structured environment for men and women to further their business through word-of-mouth marketing.

2 COMMENTS

  1. We were disappointed to find out Steve Pelosi did not get the required permits, did the plumbing and is not a licensed plumber, and did the electrical but is not a licensed electrician. There were countless code violations that were found during the later inspections. Steve Pelosi calls his company “Heartwood Remodeling” but Steve himself showed no heart at all by not hiring a licensed electrician and endangering the lives of our two young children to save himself a few bucks. It hurt to have to constantly have to speak of our contractor woes to our friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers who would inquire on a daily basis about the lack of work being done on our home and all the nightmare issues we were going through. It was such a helpless feeling to have given all our money to Steve Pelosi only to have him repeatedly not show up, work so painfully slow, and do such a sub par job. Thanks to Steve’s apathetic negligence we are going to have to pay a fortune to finish the job, get it up to code, and fix as much of Steve’s poor work as possible. Nobody deserves to go through the mental anguish that Steve Pelosi of Heartwood Remodeling caused our family.