MEMBERS ONLY SECTION:
MEETING MINUTES
 
[_private/visitormenu.htm]
[_private/membersmenu.htm]

MEETING MINUTES
 Friday, April 29, 2011
Volume 18; Issue 16

What's on your mind?

  • Barb Luther - Improving economy, beware of what you hear
  • Brad Green -  Our website, blog, Twitter, Facebook
  • Tim Green - Continuing to improve our employees
  • Robert Busch - God save the Queen!, Revamping inventory
  • Carole Weishaar - Refocusing on my business
  • Lin Schmelzer - Spending the summer away
  • Jake Ulrich - The weekend!
  • Joe Zingale - Getting everything ready for MABE next week, overwhelmed with work that has come in, which bottle of wine to drink tonight
  • Althea Bussert - Cleaning out the garage for my new car
  • Dave Lathrop - Getting myself unencumbered, lightning my load
  • Mark Menasci - Catch up on emails, voicemails, text messages
  • Don Ellis - The spotlight
  • Chris Curran - Why is there never time to do it right the first time but always time to go back and fix the screw up?
  • Andy Jensen - My daughter getting ready to go to NAU and how to pay for it, Refocus on being proactive in business rather than reactive
  • Terry Schnelle - Building my clientele list
  • Joe Burr - Trying to learn, implement six sigma processes at shop, streamline to become more efficient
  • Sandro Menasci - Make sure you check your air conditioning
  • Nick Mawrenko - Getting organized, in control

Member Spotlight
This week's spotlight is Don Ellis.  Please keep this member top of mind this week for referrals. 

I have stepped back from the back from the business quite a bit and stepping into rental business as a hobby.  A few months ago if you made a bid on a property, no problem.  But now they are bidding them up.  Things are starting to happen.  At the Landmark we are still paying the bills.  We had Ken Sherman come over to show us different things we can do at the Landmark.  He suggested we use the completed comment cards to advertise.  This group has helped me out tremendously.  So many people have become friends.  I can count on them.  I thank you all for that. 

Social Update
Don Ellis is still taking signups for the overnight MABE trip to historic La Posada in Winslow (with a stop at Flagstaff and Montezuma's Castle on the way).  The date is Saturday June 11th, coming back Sunday.  If you have not signed up already, please do.  Don needs ideas on activities.  Next week he will need payment.  Please bring the full amount.  ("How Harvey tamed the West" http://www.azcentral.com/php-bin/clicktrack/email.php/9715560).

Meeting Update
On May 6th we will NOT meeting here at Shalimar.  Instead we will have an event at Joe Zingales' new facility (McDowell Rd and 70th street in Scottsdale). 

"In preparation of the May 6 MABE meeting at the offices of Berghoff Design Group, I have attached a map of the area and google earth photo highlighting the entrance to our building. If anyone gets lost or has a question they can call my cell phone number listed on the attached map. I will also have copies of this to distribute at the meetings over the next few weeks. Thanks." Joe Zinagale

Today's Program - What does it cost you (time, money, effort) to hire an employee?

  • Andy Jensen - We have hired head hunters before but they are expensive.  There are fees and rules.

  • Don Ellis - It costs us $25 on Craig's List.  But then you have to train them which can add up (especially if you lose customers because of their mistakes).

  • Joe Zingale - It depends on their technical level.  Shoveler vs. designer, big difference.  You have to get them up to speed about "how" we do things.

  • Jake Ulrich - We factor 10-15% of their annual salary it the cost.

  • Sandro Menasci - I haven't had to hire new personal in 6+ years. 

  • Herb Stokes - We have to factor in unemployment.

Today the room was split up into groups by businesses with employees and those without.  Each group discussed the employee issue as it pertains to there situation.