BNI Flagship Chapter- Erie, PA

06/05/2026

This week’s Feature Presentation spotlight was on Ray Brooks with Be Bright Electric! ⚡

Ray shared the heart behind his business and what makes Be Bright Electric stand out. After more than 20 years of hands-on electrical experience, Ray started his company with a simple mission: to put people first, do honest work, communicate clearly, and make sure every job is done right from start to finish.

What stood out the most is how much pride Ray takes in his work - whether it’s a smaller project like landscape lighting, troubleshooting an issue, a service upgrade, a remodel, or a more complex electrical job. His goal is always the same: quality craftsmanship, honest guidance, and making sure his clients feel confident they called the right electrician.

Our chapter has heard so many great testimonials and positive feedback about Ray’s work, his reliability, and the care he puts into every project. He has built Be Bright Electric one customer, one referral, and one relationship at a time - and that truly says a lot.

Thank you, Ray, for sharing your story with us and for being such a valuable part of our BNI group! ⚡

Work hard. Be honest. Do good. That’s what Be Bright Electric stands for — every job, every time.

06/04/2026

This week’s 60-second trophy went to Alena Nasibyan with LuxRally Travel! 🏆✈️

As our Social Media Coordinator, Alena is usually the one celebrating everyone else’s wins, so today we get to turn the spotlight on her!

Alena has been part of our BNI chapter for a little over a year and specializes in personalized travel planning with a concierge-level approach.

During her 60 seconds, she shared why working with a travel advisor still matters, even in a world of Google, AI, and ChatGPT. While technology can search and compare options, it can’t replace personal relationships, industry connections, exclusive perks, or having someone advocate for you when something goes wrong.

Alena offers her clients no booking fees, no 1-800 numbers, personalized research, exclusive rates and perks when available, and support from start to finish.

Thank you to Jamie Thompson for the nomination, and congratulations to Alena! 🏆✨

P.S. Our real trophy is still missing… so the honorary trophy tradition continues. 😂

05/29/2026

Please help us welcome our newest BNI member, Diane Sickles with Special Olympics Pennsylvania! 🎉

From her very first visit, Diane brought such a positive, warm, and energetic presence to the room. Everyone could already feel the passion she has for the work she does, and we are so happy she officially joined our chapter!

Diane is part of Special Olympics Pennsylvania, an organization that provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Their mission goes far beyond sports -it gives athletes the opportunity to build confidence, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and share their gifts and friendships with their families, other athletes, and the community.

One of the most incredible parts of Special Olympics PA is that all training and competition opportunities are provided free of charge to athletes and their families, making this life-changing experience accessible to everyone.

Diane shared that she is excited and blessed to be part of the Northwest Region of Special Olympics and to be back in the nonprofit world. It is clear she has a heart for service, fundraising, community connection, and making a real impact.

We are so excited to have Diane as part of our BNI family and can’t wait to learn more about her work and support her mission. Welcome, Diane! 👏❤️

05/29/2026

This week our featured presentation was from Preston Carney with Equitable Advisors.

Preston shared more about the work he does helping individuals, families, and businesses take a more comprehensive look at their finances. His approach covers many important areas, including retirement distributions, income and cash flow planning, tax management strategies, wealth and investments, life insurance, risk management, and estate planning.

What stood out during his presentation is how knowledgeable and personable Preston is. He really looks at the full picture, not just one part of someone’s financial situation, and helps guide clients with both today’s needs and long-term goals in mind.

Preston also shared a little about his career journey from accounting into finance, and it’s clear why he has already become such a valued member of our chapter. He was appointed Vice President in January 2026, which speaks to his leadership, professionalism, and the trust he has built.

Thank you, Preston, for a great featured presentation and for educating our chapter on such an important topic! 👏

05/27/2026

🏆 This week’s 60-Second Award goes to Bryce Cronk from Cronk Insurance!

Bryce’s 60 seconds really stood out today. He shared a great reminder about how important proper insurance coverage is - not just for homeowners and families, but also for vendors at craft shows/events and small business owners who are out in the community serving people.

Bryce is truly a favorite in our chapter, and it feels like there isn’t a single meeting where someone doesn’t mention him in a positive way. He consistently receives great feedback for his knowledge, responsiveness, and the personal care his company provides.

Cronk Insurance has such a strong reputation in our community, and Bryce continues to show why so many people trust him with their home, auto, and business insurance needs.

And on a funny note… our official trophy is still missing, and we still don’t even have the backup bag, so today’s “trophy” was a bottle of hand sanitizer. 😂
Honestly, with Bryce helping people stay protected, it kind of worked - clean hands and covered plans! 👏

Great job, Bryce! 🏆

05/26/2026

Great reminder-the way we choose to look at situations, people, challenges, and opportunities can completely change what we see.

In business, perspective matters. Sometimes choosing a better “lens” helps us build stronger relationships, give better referrals, and keep growing.

Worth the read/listen!

https://www.bnipodcast.com/2021/06/16/episode-711-choose-the-lens-you-see-the-world-through/?fbclid=IwZnRzaASCtI1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEec-n-FzUoZ7AJEI3s6wUMI9vF0VHvZN0O52Onu-d9X0NHpNwTGZIGHsATQDk_aem_IH1PeTtbZwFDc0mdUovZLQ

You can choose to see the world through a lens that lets you deal most effectively with the hand you've been dealt.

05/25/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aGX7HShg1/?mibextid=wwXIfr

People often confuse a positive attitude with blind optimism. It’s not. It is seeing the situation clearly and still choosing to believe that you can create a better outcome. Realism gives you clarity. Hope gives you directions. When you combine the two, you get action. In business and networking—you need both. https://tinyurl.com/3vcjsx6t

05/23/2026

🌿 This Week’s Featured Presentation: Aaron Bertig with AFB Services LLC

This week, we had the pleasure of hearing from Aaron Bertig with AFB Services LLC, your local go-to for landscaping and property maintenance needs.

AFB Services is family-owned and operated right here in Erie County, serving areas like Erie, Millcreek, Edinboro, McKean, Waterford, Fairview, and Girard.

Aaron shared more about the work his team does, including:

🌱 Mulch installation for residential and commercial properties
🌱 Sitting walls around homes and outdoor spaces
🌱 Lawn maintenance
🌱 Landscaping and property maintenance
🌱 Snow plowing in the winter months

One thing that really stands out about Aaron is his work ethic. He is hardworking, reliable, and always focused on doing the job the right way. His motto says it all: “We are not done until the customer is satisfied.”

He takes pride in helping homeowners and business owners improve their outdoor spaces with quality work and dependable service.

If you know someone looking for landscaping, mulch, sitting walls, or property maintenance, Aaron with AFB Services LLC would be a great referral!

📞 AFB Services LLC: 814-528-7464
🌐 afbservicesllc.com

05/21/2026

🏆 60-Second Trophy Winner: Matt Bresee with ActionCOACH Erie!

The trophy may have mysteriously disappeared again today… but that didn’t stop us from recognizing one of our amazing members! 😉

This week’s 60-second trophy went to Matt Bresee with ActionCOACH Erie for his positive, clear, and impactful message.

Matt helps business owners and executives create practical, results-driven plans so they can grow with confidence and stay on the right path to success.

Today, Matt shared that he is looking for introductions to families who are starting a business and could benefit from having the right guidance, leadership habits, and business plan in place from the beginning.

Matt is always right to the point, brings a great positive attitude, and shares advice that can truly help people move forward.

Congratulations, Matt! 🏆👏