MABE Social Networking and Marketing Training

When: Thursday October 15 and Wednesday October 28th

Time: 6:30-9:00pm

Cost: $45 per participant - The $45 is based on a minimum of 20 participants over both nights. So someone could spend $45 and come to one night, or both nights. 

Where: Executive Training Solutions, 4926 E. McDowell Rd., Phoenix, 85008

Payment:
In Advance, by check, please make out to:
Rochelle Rodrigo
If someone would prefer to do credit card via PayPal,
She can send them a PayPal link via email.
She will just need a current email address.
She will bring receipts to the workshop.

Agenda:
10/15: LinkedIn and Twitter
10/28: Facebook and Blogging
Other expected topics to be covered:  YouTube, Flickr, Digg, Wikis.   We'll focus more on LinkedIn and Twitter the first night and more time on Facebook and Blogging the second night; however, we'll talk about all of the various technologies on both nights.

There will be computers there at the training that you can use while the training is being conducted

Guests are welcome at the same cost

Guest Event
The first part of the meeting will be a meet & greet.  Then we will have 4 or 5 speakers do 5 minute presentations that should leave you thinking "Wow!  I'm proud to be a member of this group and know such bright and talented people."  Hopefully we will leave guests with an incentive to join or better understanding of why you come.  It will be a really great morning.

Membership
Barbara Kollman has regretfully resigned.  There have been a lot of changes in the type of work she does and she is just swamped.  We hope that she can come back when her schedule allows.

Board Nominations
It was close!  It was a difference of just one vote.  Our new board members are Don Ellis, Bob Busch and Chuck Hultstrand.  Congratulations to all.  Jake Ulrich has agreed to be on a board committee. 

Survey Coming
Dave will be sending out a survey (remember it is completely confidential) to MABE members so look for it in your inbox.  We learned from the speech last week that if you make a decision without surveying your clients (or members in our case) your chance of being correct is only 50%. 

Mark Menasci gave his inaugural MABE speech this morning.  He was born in Montreal Canada.  He was dragged her at 6 years of age.  He got his business and communications degree from ASU.  He didn't study computers at school, it was more of a hobby.  He was on the ASU water ski team.  He still competes.  He also plays hockey when its not so hot out.  Basically, he likes any sport on water. 

Mark wasn't really sure what he wanted to do after graduation.  His neighbor was an IT guy.  This neighbor saw Mark's interest in computers and pushed him to get certification.  Mark passed the Microsoft certification exam and had several job offers in his inbox the next morning.  His took one testing toys, or more specifically, their sound cards.  All day long he played video games and watched DVD movies...over and over again!  His job was to report the sound card problems to the engineers so they could fix them.  It was a temporary position - too good to last. 

After that he worked for another company where he did what he does now.  He learned about the business and how to run things, get clients, etc.  His employer was really good to him and it was a great opportunity to learn. 

In 2003 he decided to open up his own business.  He put an ad in the Arizona Republic.  It was just a little, tiny thing. but he was concerned about the volume of phone calls that would come in.  He only got one.  It was from another tech that had some customers he didn't have time to handle so he gave them to Mark.  One was a phone company.  Their office was a trailer on wheels.  It was a legitimate business (???).  Mark learned a little bit about internet security over there...and internet warfare.  Things really got interesting when the Russian mafia started emailing him.  It was another fun job.

His business started to really grow so he left the mafia behind ( ;-p ).  He wasn't sure how to advertise so he made some colorful flyers.  He handed them out at a gym and apartment complex.  He actually got more clients from these cheesy, little flyers than anything else.  One client got the flyer from his girlfriend's gym which lead to 100 referrals. 

"So what do I do?"  Mark has quite a few customers right now.  Most of them are homes.  It is about a 70/30 split with his commercial clients.  He troubleshoots virtually all computer problems.  He regularly fights viruses, spyware and spam.  He can help you set up firewalls and remotely connect you to to your computer at work.  He sets up a lot of wireless networks.   "Who has a secured wireless router?"  A lot of people buy a Linksys router, plug it in and they are ready to surf.  Guess what?  Your neighbors will be ready to surf on your connection too!  Everyone has a Linsys.  You would be surprised at how many people could be using your connection.  Mark can help you change the name and add password protection. 

How many use Microsoft Exchange Server?  You can share your calendars and contacts with your employees.  Small companies don't need to spend $1000's on this product.  You can have a hosted exchange server for a minimal monthly fee.  This is another product Mark can help setup for you.

When Mark goes to a client's house for the first time he doesn't just show up just to fix the one problem...which ge can usually fix in 5 minutes.  He cleans up the machine so it works like new.  He tries to build a relationship. 

Lately Mark has been building a lot of custom computers.  He actually started doing this with Sandro's help.  He has also been spending a lot of time on iPhones, Blackberry's, etc.   He tries to stay on top of all the latest technologies.  People always wonder how he keeps up with things.  He reads blogs, etc.  It is still a hobby that he enjoys.