A Successful CEO Meetup In Boston

I'd like to thank everyone who made yesterday's IBN Boston Area Event such a wonderful success. It's the first time I've ever been inside Maggiano's Little Italy and the experience of holding an event there has left me wanting to make up a reason to book another event with them. All the staff and management were absolutely fantastic and couldn't do enough to make us comfortable. For me, this is so important when choosing a venue.


This was our private room. There were nine of us total, and this gave us all the room we needed. The tables were set up lovely. We had nice background music that staff would turn up or down according to our desire, and whatever the hustle and bustle of their busy restaurant we had no idea that there were anyone there other than us.

Business consultant and professor, Nunzio Bruno shared his expertise on business plans and answered individual questions in ways that gave everyone at the table knowledge. Being small business owners, there were many questions and everyone gained so much from what he brought to the event.

There was plenty opportunity to get personal one to one sessions with both our guest speakers. Here we see Deb of Grace Farm Organics and guest Alfonso Santaniello, the mind behind the Creative Strategy Agency, a great marketing company here in Western Massachusetts. Deb was able to get insightful advice on Alfonso's Topic of the Day which was how to increase holiday sales as the Fall season approaches fast. Deb brought a great selection of products, including her aloe and jojoba facial cleanser.

Brenda of Bubs & Scrubs makes absolutely wonderful soaps and scrubs. I love the way her soaps are stamped with the name of her company. They look beautiful. Brenda traveled all the way from Philadelphia for the event, and it was a great pleasure to have her there to tell us her story.

This is Lisa of Wunder Budder, and I can see why she calls her company this name. She brought awesome tins of her super soft salve and other magical balms and inhalers. She kindly handed them out and we all got to take one home with us.

House Boss, Dana brought her company's products with her along with questions for Nunzio and Alfonso. Dana's packaging is lovely, and her bath salts were to die for! Here she is in the video room being interviewed by Alfonso, talking up her products. Deb, Lisa and Brenda also got their time in the video room with Alfonso and all will be spotlighted in upcoming business shows on The Businews Channel.

If ever you wondered if Indies really rock or not, let me tell you, as IBN's director in Boston, they certainly do. It was great meeting up in person with these fantastic CEO's. I loved hearing all about them and watching them shine. It was a really special day, and I'm looking forward to meeting up with these dynamic Indies again.

Meet Me In Boston

If you've been following my Manor Hall Soap company you will have heard of Donna Maria Coles Johnson. She's the President and CEO of the Indie Beauty Network and I'm always talking about her. Donna Maria has been a huge inspiration to me and to many others. Leading a 7,000 member strong network of small business owners, her tireless work and research for all things business bring us together, helping to improve our daily grind.

One of the latest brainstorms from Donna Maria is splitting the U.S. up into Indie regions so that her members can get together and bring our power together locally. I have had the great honor of being named the representative for the Boston region, and I'm really excited to announce that the first meetup is going to be on Saturday, July 30th, at the Indie Business Summer Sizzle Networking Luncheon in Boston.

I recommend that if you have any kind of small business and you think you can get to Boston on July 30th, you go and get more info over at Indie Business Blog. This is a great opportunity you absolutely don't want to miss.

In addition to meeting me and Donna Maria, you'll also get the chance to make contact with two other great business minds. Speaking first is the amazing business coach, financial analyst and professor, Nunzio Bruno (catch him at his informative financial blog, Financially Digital). And speaking second will be the wonderful marketing strategist Al Santaniello, host of the awesome Businews Channel.

One of Donna Maria's favorite sayings is that "a rising tide lifts all ships". Well, Donna Maria is that tide, and she has helped lift me up, along with thousands of others. This is going to be a really great event, designed to bring real information to small business owners, and I can't wait for it. If you have a small business, a start-up business, or even just thinking about going into business for the first time, I'd really like to meet you there. You'll arrive full of the usual wonderings of what it's going to be like.... and you'll leave, knowing that your business has just turned a real corner!