Strangers Becoming Friends, Friends Becoming Family
It’s a beautiful Thursday night, October 26, 2017, in my favorite city on earth, St. Petersburg, Florida. Here at my world-class wedding and event space NOVA 535, the HQ for the ESC.
I’m reminded each Thursday night during my Entrepreneur Social Club ™, of how much of a family of friends we’ve become. There are always new faces each week, of every shape, size, from every industry and ancestry. Those smart/wise enough to hang around eventually become family. Our Family. Of Entrepreneurs. Small Business owners, visionaries, “misfits”; those who are the round hole to a world of square pegs. And square we most certainly are not. Shown here is just one wonderful chunk of our family, Tony Michaelides with Chris Jenkins, Bill Cason and Kym Jenkins. Oh the laughs and moments we’ve shared over the years. So many magical moments, all because of ESC.
Above is Networking King Kong Jeff Sassano, then Michael S. Novilla (that’s me!) and Mr. Smooth Art Gueli.
Below are several new faces: Larry The Leasing Lawyer, Dr. Q and Jason Harless president of MyComputingRX.com, all surrounded by longtime member Julia 5DollarFacials.com Marie.
Speaking of new faces, above is Michael Serwer and Eileen Brock, with newcomer Joubert owner of Welcome Home Chiropractic.
Below are super cute hubby and wife Michael and Dolores Rosner, who are truly super Entrepreneurial. They have been a couple “forever” and are a notary, provide dog boarding and make custom jewelry, are published authors, actors, do lots of volunteering, and in their “spare time” play Santa and Elves for the kids. Mike had cancer and used gofundme.com to help with the finances. Welcome!! They are looking for items to take to the schools with kids with special needs, please call them at 727-308-8827 if you can help with toys or $$ donations for “their” children. Wonderful people, welcome to the ESC!
Greg Simmons shares a hug with newcomer Marina Solo. Marina is with Real Estate Michael Sanders, and is here at ESC promoting how to purchase commercial Real Estate via syndication.
Below we have lovely ladies Julia Marie, Michelle Rodriguez owner of EliteBodyCryoTherapy.com and newcomer Dagnet Reverend of the Body Temple. Dagnet travels around offering portable infrared sauna to help remove toxins in your body. She’s looking for complementary health care business to share vendor trade show booths with. Next (wearing hat) is Ashley McClure a 30 year veteran TV producer of high end music videos, ESPN pieces, etc. Finally is Michael Serwer, who’s Linkedin bio states that he “graduated May 2017 with his MBA in Finance, and focuses on Human Rights while serving marginal communities, plus he’s fluent in Spanish.” Nice work Mike!
Above is newcomer Derick Bernard an insurance agent, who is also looking to get into voiceover work. Speak to Diane Kutz about that! He sits next to writer, editor, and book publishing consultant Keith Long, who mentions how many industries being disrupted by FANG. “FANG is the acronym for four high performing technology stocks in the market as of 2017 – Facebook, Amazon, Netflix, and Google. The term was coined by CNBC’s Mad Money host Jim Cramer,” according to Investopedia.com.
Below with Keith Long and newcomer Dolores Rosner is business development consultant Sherman Bryan, with Binger Financial. Welcome back Sherman!
Lovely photographer Jenna Michael poses above with our pal Keith Widmer of Acclaim Plastics.
Below is newcomer Tami Podlasek, R.N., who owns her own Laser Hair Removal boutique NuYuLaserHair.com with the always sweet, hardworking, Queen of Networking Eileen Brock. Jeff Sassano and Paint Nite Tampa / St. Pete owner Pamela Sprecher finish out this fantastic Four! Pam will be hosting her 1st (of hopefully many) Paint Nite here at NOVA 535 soon. Click here for more info!
Above is photographer Michael McCoy of MPStudios.com, Mr Super Cool Rock-n-Rolla Tony Michaelides, Mr. Body Nutrition Greg Simek, who you’ll most likely find on a skateboard, and Dr. Q of Healthy LIfestyles Tampa Bay.
Dr. Q smiles above next to newcomer Kelly Perkoski of HandCraftedHealingStPete.com, a Boutique Massage Studio. Welcome Kelly! Next is newish ESC member Bill Tarelton a Financial Planner with NW Mutual, and finally our friend and photographer Jenna Michael. Below is a quick peek at our dinner, from a cocktail’s POV, which was held again at the Iberian Rooster, found at 475 Central Avenue DTSP.
Here is our lovely Healthy Eating Guru, Simmy Pop of KeepItSimmy.com. She’s fabulous even when we are down in the swanky Rooster Lounge and I have to remind her to shoot video landscape mode. Simmy!
Group Rants and Stuff:
We don’t want to call you (business owner) to pay with Credit Card over a phone, it’s almost 2018 not 1998. DORKSAUCE!! Make it easy safer and quicker online. Use Stripe. Square, Autho.net Paypal, VendMo, etc. Hello??!?!
Rising Costs, shipping, fees, etc are happening. How are you adapting?
Mark Knoll is seeking sponsors for Dia De La Muertos Florida Craft Art April 6, 2018.
Chris Jenkins looking for content strategist.
Mike is creating a more hip Hotel for backpackers, Spanish Home Stay, in Guatemala.
It’s a MUST VISIT, our Saturday Morning Market, 9 am to 2 pm, from October to May; then it “summers” in Williams Park.
Chris Jenkins say “Don’t be afraid of your failures. It provides a good internal shakedown and review of your processes, procedures. They show you where you are weakest, and opp to learn and grow.” Smart guy he is!
Here’s all the photos from Strangers Becoming Friends, Friends Becoming Family on Thursday night, October 26, 2017, here in St. Petersburg, Florida, DTSP, at my world-class wedding and event space NOVA 535, the HQ for the ESC. Enjoy! PS Please keep NOVA 535 in mind for your weddings, receptions, seminars, film shoots, fundraisers and private events!