What is your primary product or service?

BNI GTA Plus is a referral marketing organization, specializing in the organization and education of entrepreneurs and other associates leading to increased business by referral.

How long have you been in business and what is the history of your business?

BNI was founded in 1985 in California by Dr. Ivan Misner and brought to Canada in 1995.

What makes your business or service unique?

BNI is the world’s largest referral marketing organization. Canada has 254 BNI Chapters servicing more than 5,500 business members. World-wide chapters now number more than 5,600 servicing more than 125,000 members in 44 different host nations.

Who would be a good customer for you?

Entrepreneurs, intra-preneurs looking to increase their business through word-of-mouth marketing. Our ideal client is either in business or responsible for growing their own portfolio or sales book. They typically have a marketing budget or marketing plan/strategy for growing their business that includes referrals. Our ideal client also has the capacity to handle the increased business they will receive from their fellow BNI members.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and to your business? 
Being a member of OGLCC means that members of my community have the opportunity to learn about BNI and how it can help them grow their business through referral marketing.


Visit the BNI GTA Plus website.

Since April 2010, WRIB and OGLCC have been in discussions about how to make women’s networking a success in our community. This year, both organizations had a mandate to improve the quality and participation of women’s business networking.

When I heard that Dee Paul, President of WRIB, was going to really start building up business networking events for their membership, I thought this would be an opportune time for the Chamber and WRIB to join together instead of leaving our business women community divided by independent events from each organization.

The OGLCC is looking to develop a stronger business women representation within the organization and we were hoping that WRIB would welcome the ability to extend business networking opportunities beyond purely women only events. With an eye on better serving our community, both organizations set forth to lay down some ground work for a collaborative initiative that we could bring forth.

July 28^th saw our first joint initiative hosted by the OGLCC. We experienced exceptional acceptance for the joint initiative, as well as attendance at our regular monthly Open Minds Open Doors event. A new energy, enthusiasm, and excitement pervaded the evening’s activities.

Come attend our annual August BBQ and watch for exciting new networking activities!  We hope to make networking more exciting while building stronger business ties within the community.

Lisa Chang
OGLCC, Communications, Advertising & Marketing Director

What is your primary product or service?
Home staging and re-design services.
How long have you been in business?  
About 4 years.
What is the history of your business?
I started my business so that I could pursue something that I had wanted to do for a long time. Home staging in Toronto is a relatively new profession but it has been done in the US for a long time. I read about this in an article and thought it would be something that I could excel at. I therefore obtained a Canadian Staging Professional designation and became a member of Canadian Staging Professionals to show clients that I am serious about doing home staging and decorating.  

I have always had a flair for design and it has been proven with the success that I have had over the last couple of years. Homes that I stage tend to sell very quickly and frequently for more money – a great benefit to the home owner and to the real estate agent. Through networking groups like the OGLCC and BNI I have built up a roster of Real Estate Agents that use my services. And by word-of-mouth that roster keeps growing.
What makes your business or service unique?
I work with the home owner to enhance whatever possessions they have to prepare the home for the target market. In the case of re-design, I help the client make their home more livable all the while freeing them up for their heavy work load or easing the task of decorating.
Who would be a good customer for you? 
Any Real Estate Agent or anyone who is planning on selling their home or wants help in redecorating
What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your business?
An opportunity to make more contacts and increase exposure.

Visit Hendrik on his website.

The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) will be hosting a one-day Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) Symposium that will focus on "Serving with Pride in Policing - Dispelling the Myths and Breaking Down the Barriers" which will be incorporated in the Keynote speech by S/Sgt. Lori Doonan, President of Serving with Pride. This symposium is specifically focused on attracting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender candidates to a policing career with the Ontario Provincial Police.

The LGBT Symposium will be open to candidates, aged 18 years and older, and who meet the basic qualifications for employment under the Police Services Act.* This symposium will be limited to 30 participants and will be held at 519 Church Street, Toronto, on Sept 18, 2010 from 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m.

Participants will have an opportunity to engage in dialogue with currently serving OPP officers who have had successful and diverse careers in the organization.  These mentors will highlight the potential career opportunities available within the OPP and how to successfully balance a policing career and a personal life.  In addition, information about the OPPs hiring process and the Constable Selection System will be provided.

There is no fee to attend, but travel expenses will not be covered for participants. Please visit our website at www.opp.ca to register for this opportunity.  The deadline for submission of applications is August 23, 2010.

* Please visit our website to review the basic qualifications for employment as a police officer.

--

La Police Provinciale de l’Ontario (PPO) sera l’hôte d’un Colloque d’une journée pour les Lesbiennes, Gays, Bisexuels et Transsexuels (LGBT).  Le but premier de cette présentation sera de “ Servir avec fierté – Dissiper les mythes et combattre les obstacles”, un message qui sera incorporé dans le discours de S/Sgt. Lori Doonan, Présidente de Servir avec Fierté. Ce Colloque est destiné spécifiquement aux candidat(e)s lesbiennes, gays,  bisexuels et transsexuels afin de promouvoir leur participation à une carrière policière avec la Police Provinciale de l’Ontario.

Le Colloque de LGBT sera ouvert aux candidats âgés de 18 ans et plus qui remplissent les qualifications de base pour l’emploi dans le cadre de l’Acte de services de police. Ce colloque sera limité à 30 participant(e)s et aura lieu au  519, rue Church, Toronto, le 18 septembre 2010 de 8h00 à 17h00.

Les participant(e)s auront l’occasion de s’engager dans un dialogue avec des agents policiers présentement au service de la PPO qui ont réussi dans diverses carrières de l’organisation. Ces mentors mettront en évidence les opportunités de carrières potentielles disponibles au sein de la PPO et offriront des conseils pour comment équilibrer avec succès une carrière policière et une vie personnelle.  De plus, des informations concernant le processus d’embauche et le système de sélection d’agents seront fournies.

Il n'y a aucun frais pour assister ce colloque.  Cependant, les frais de déplacement ne seront pas inclus pour les participants. Veuillez visiter notre site Web à www.opp.ca pour vous inscrire à cette occasion.  La date limite de présentation des demandes est le 23 août, 2010.

* Veuillez visiter notre site Web www.opp.ca pour consulter les qualifications de base pour un emploi comme agent(e) de police.

What is your primary product or service?
Helping all to cope with and accept the grief that comes with long term care, terminal illness and death. Be it a loved one or yourself. We all go through the grieving process.
How long have you been in business?
Serenity of Hope is a new concept for one of the oldest issues human kind must face. As a service, we are in our first year.
What is the history of your business?

When I lost my partner, I was devastated with no place to go and no one to assist with my grief. My spirit moved me to reach out and help others in this need. I left my comfortable corporate life to dedicate myself and my intuitive insights to provide for others what I couldn't find.
What makes your business or service unique?
The way you perceive end-of-life, has a profound way in which you face it for yourself and others. By sharing the insights that came to me on my own journey, I can help release the fears and anger that most of us have about end-of-life. And as a non-denominational minister, I embrace the beliefs of all. Are not we all, children of a Divine Universe?
Who would be a good customer for you?
Any and all. Illness and death spare no one. Everyone should make this journey with someone. Serenity of Hope is there for your comfort and understanding. It is but a journey, not an ending.
What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your business?
Being part of the OGLCC is a smart choice on many levels. Professionals getting their message to other professionals is one. Acceptance of all is another. Serenity of Hope is for here for all of the people of earth, regardless.

What is your primary product or service? 
Hotel.
How long have you been in business? 
35 Years.
What is the history of your business?
The Delta Chelsea opened in 1975, and after adding a second tower in 1990, the Delta Chelsea became the largest hotel in Canada, and indeed the entire British Commonwealth.
What makes your business or service unique?
The Delta Chelsea is home to nearly 900 employees, each striving for excellence when it comes to our guests. The friendly atmosphere our team members create, combined with our convenient location in the heart of downtown and around the corner from the village, make the Delta Chelsea a hotel like no other.
Who would be a good customer for you?
The Delta Chelsea welcomes all guests. With our close proximity to the Village, we are specifically delighted to welcome many LGBTQ travelers year-round and we look forward to continuing to do so.
What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your business?
The Delta Chelsea is a proud member of OGLCC, having supported LGBTQ initiatives for many years. As a member, we are thrilled for the opportunity to share our specific LGBTQ opportunities, while maintaining our commitment to community support and to provide a diverse workplace.

Visit the Delta Chelsea at their website. 

What is your primary product or service?

I am the creative director and owner of Calleja Design, which focuses on graphic design and communications. I design and produce corporate identity, marketing and sales collateral for small to medium-sized businesses and organizations. I design and oversee the creation and production of one-off pieces or entire marketing campaigns (and everything in-between) from conception to completion.

How long have you been in business?

I have been a graphic designer for over 17 years. Calleja Design has been in existence for over 10 years, and has been my full-time occupation for the last 2 years.

What is the history of your business?

I started out in the design business while working for a publishing company, HarperCollins Canada. I enjoyed using my artistic and stage design skills to produce various marketing materials. I then worked for a web development firm and got hands-experience with the websites back in the early days. With both print and web experience, I was hired by a few design studios and ad agencies. After a gig in a large corporate environment, Dundee Wealth, I decided I preferred to work for myself and freelance my talent full-time.

What makes your business or service unique?

As a senior designer/creative director my clients get my wealth of experience directly: they don’t go through account managers or sales people. I have many years experience in both corporate and agency settings. My clients are all busy businesses. They aren’t large enough to have an in-house design department. I fill that need for them. They consider me part of their team. These businesses need the services of a professional designer throughout the year and can call me anytime to help them with their print and web marketing and promotional needs. How businesses present themselves is so important in these days of heavy competition. Business owners are good at what they do: I can help make them look as professional as they are, and communicate things about their businesses that help to distinguish themselves.

Who would be a good customer for you?

Small to medium-sized businesses are great customers for me. Educational and not-for-profit organizations are good contacts for me too. I also work very well with other marketing and PR firms, as I provide the design of the marketing or PR campaigns.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your business?

I’ve been out and proud for a rather long time now, and I’ve always been a supporter of our LGBT community. Although we as a community are a lot more accepted than we were 10 or 20 years ago, I still think it’s great that I can network and mingle with others who share many similar experiences.

Visit Joe Calleja at his website: Calleja Design.

Now that the new Board of Directors is in place, we will be looking to expand our initiatives for the upcoming year. We could do with the assistance of some volunteers from our members. Here are some of the areas where members can assist:

• Programs & Events Committee
• Membership Committee
• Communications, Marketing & Advertising Committee
• …and more

Lisa Chang
Communications, Marketing & Advertising Committee Chair
OGLCC Board Member

What is your primary product or service?

I produce eNewsletters, flyers and other online marketing vehicles and manage companies' social networking sites including Twitter and Facebook. I help companies maintain relationships with their clients using the Internet.

How long have you been in business?

I started JMD eServices in January, 2007. However, I had spent the previous two years creating eNewsletters on a contract basis for an American company and for Lula Lounge in Toronto.

What makes your business or service unique?

I offer a personalized service that is tailored to the specific needs of each client. Some like to be hands-on and prepare much of their own content, while others are happy to hand me the entire piece and simply sign off on it.

I take care of the email campaigns from start to finish, creating a database, formatting content, enduring the companies' branding is reflected and following up with a report showing how effective the campaign was.

Producing a professional email takes a wide range of skills - a combination of writing, layout, HTML, Photoshop and knowledge of best practices.

Who would be a good customer for you?

My ideal client is a small business, usually owner-operated. It's a business that depends on repeat business and referrals, such as a restaurant, retailer, real estate agent or other service provider. They are usually someone who understands the value of regular communication but lacks the time, skills or interest to produce something on their own.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you and your business?

Belonging to the OGLCC gives me a great opportunity to learn from other people who run their own business and to share experiences. It's not easy to meet so many great entrepreneurs and the OGLCC provides the vehicle for us to find each other.

You can find Mark Brodsky on his website.

What is your primary product or service?

Content solutions. Every piece of communication—whether an email or a website, a promotional flyer or a catalogue, a sound byte or a million dollar corporate video—starts out as words on a page. And though every business depends on effectively targeted communications to draw and retain customers, writing is often the first thing that gets overlooked in preparing a communications strategy. I help my clients translate their passion for their products and services into language their customers can relate to. I also translate from French into English.

How long have you been in the business of writing?

I've been writing my whole life. I started business writing and marketing communications nearly 20 years ago.

How did you get started?

In the early 1990s I lived in France where I wrote promotional brochures aimed at drawing British tourists to the Western Loire region. That was my professional initiation into localizing content to a specific target audience. Since then, I've helped businesses—ranging from travel insurance providers and history museums to major international airlines—with their communications needs. I've had to stand in a lot of different shoes in order to effectively communicate with specific demographic and niche markets, including students, seniors, insurance brokers, luxury business travellers, and, of course, the GLBT community. I've worked as both a freelancer and as a full-time, in-house copywriter for businesses both large and small.

What makes your business or service unique?

My diverse international experience, combined with my sharp critical eye, gives me a unique perspective. With a large range of intercultural experience, I'm able to quickly put myself in the shoes of the specific audience my clients are trying to reach to ask the same kind of tough questions the customers will be asking. Anticipating the concerns of your target audience is one of the keys to effective communication.

Who would be a good client for you?

Any client who recognizes the importance of solid writing in acquiring and retaining customers and who is willing to make a solid investment in strengthening their written marketing and communications. Also, any client who needs French-language materials professionally translated into English and adapted to a specific market.

What does being a member of the OGLCC mean to you?

Meeting other members of OGLCC has been empowering. I've learned a great deal from both those who've started their businesses from the ground up as well as those who've worked as employees of larger companies and who come to OGLCC events for the opportunity to network.

You can find Don Bapst on his website.