BNI 7 Bridges

09/01/2026

Who do you know who hears, “We've got a water problem…”? 💧

Our BNI 7 Bridges featured presenter this Thursday, Sept. 3, is Alex Kearson of Omega Environmental, helping Northeast Florida homeowners and businesses deal with water damage, hidden moisture, mold and the restoration that follows.

Who should meet Alex?
🏠 Real estate professionals
🔨 Other contractors
🏢 Commercial property owners
🏡 Homeowners with leaks, water intrusion or suspected mold

Know someone who should have Alex in their network? Bring them as your guest this Thursday!

Register visitors here: https://bninefl.com/fl-jacksonville-bni-7-bridges/en-US/index

Also coming up at 7 Bridges in September:
Sept. 10 — Karen Cox Stabile, Melaleuca Marketing Executive
Sept. 17 — Brandon Denton, Bright Side Painting of Jax
Sept. 24 — Steven Pelikan, Paychex

Visitor note: Guests whose professions are not currently represented in our chapter are invited to prepare 60 seconds about their business and ideal referral. If their profession is represented, they're still welcome to make connections during open networking.

09/01/2026

Same Donald. Bigger name on the business card.

New company name. More resources. Same experienced commercial insurance professional we've come to know! Donald Trombly gave his first BNI 7 Bridges featured presentation since Risk Strategies became part of Brown & Brown Insurance.

And Donald made something very clear: You don't have to understand commercial insurance to recognize when someone could use his help. Listen for:
🔹 “My renewal went way up.”
🔹 “I'm not sure what my agent actually does.”
🔹 “We use a lot of subcontractors.”
🔹 “We're buying, building or renovating.”
🔹 “We've grown a lot.”

In a city where "buying, building and renovating" are happening on a daily basis, you can be confident that when businesses change, their insurance needs likely change, too.

Don't diagnose the insurance problem. Just make the introduction to Donald.

08/28/2026

Absolutely, reach out to Dee Ethridge for a clear understanding of your health insurance options!

Agents may be compensated upon enrollment. No obligation to enroll. Count of policies sold as of 6/18/2024. Individual solutions may vary by product availability.

08/26/2026

You don't need 26 more business cards.

You DO want 26 people who understand what you do, know the kinds of clients you want to meet and are actively looking for opportunities to refer quality business your way.

That's the difference between collecting cards and building a referral network.

Come experience that difference at BNI 7 Bridges.

📅 Thursdays 7:30-9 a.m.
📍 Pro Sealed Asphalt, 4221 Southpoint Blvd., Jacksonville

Discover what Givers Gain® looks like in your business.

08/25/2026

TOP 10 REASONS realtors want Mike Bogart of Dominion Title Corporation on their closing team:

10. Surprises are great for birthdays. Closings? Not so much. 🎂
9. Decades in Title. Very little rattles him.
8. Problems get investigated, not passed along.
7. Questions get answered. Calls get returned.
6. Your client is treated the way you'd want them cared for.
5. Buyers and sellers come to the table knowing exactly what they owe - or what they're getting.
4. Mike's team has been with him since the beginning. That says a lot!!
3. Experience spots things a checklist can't.
2. Honesty isn't a marketing slogan. It's how they do business.

🥁 And #1... 🥁

1. When a closing gets complicated, you want Mike's cell number in your cell!

Mike Bogart has been a member of our BNI chapter for 18 years. You don't build that kind of longevity without fostering a whole lot of trust along the way.

08/17/2026

Our meeting last week for Chapter Success had more than 800 Northeast Florida members in attendance!!! Excellent!!!

For anyone in our chapter who had to miss, see Nick Riscigno’s email with details how to participate in another region’s similar learning event.

🎉 800+ MEMBERS! 🎉

This morning was truly MAGNIFICENT as we celebrated an incredible Chapter Success milestone 800+ members! ❤️🖤

This incredible achievement is a reflection of the commitment, energy, and generosity of every member who shows up, builds relationships, and lives Giver’s Gain® every day.

Here’s to continuing to grow, connect, and Change the way the world does business®!

👏 800+ members. One incredible community. So much more to come!

08/13/2026

There’s a reason BNI is a system, not just a weekly networking meeting.

The more you understand how to use that system - building relationships, giving quality referrals and creating consistent habits - the more valuable your membership becomes.

Chapter Success Program this week is your chance to learn how to make BNI work even better for you.

08/13/2026

Gloria Dongara with AAA Life Insurance Company reminded us, people don’t buy life insurance because they love thinking about dying. They buy it because they love someone who is living.

People often tell us they need it without ever using the words "life insurance." Gloria Dongara gave us some great clues what to listen for in her BNI 7 Bridges featured presentation:

🏡 “We just bought a house.”
🤱 “We’re expecting a baby.”
🚸 “I want to make sure my kids are taken care of.”
📈 “My business partner and I really need to get our agreements in order.”
🏠 “If something happened to me, I don’t know how my family would manage the mortgage.”

Gloria helps with mortgage protection, protecting families, planning for children’s futures and funding buy-sell agreements for business owners. And a great referral isn’t simply handing Gloria someone’s name. It’s making a warm introduction to someone who understands why you’re connecting them and is open to having the conversation.

07/28/2026

Highlighting a new Jacksonville business with its GRAND OPENING this Saturday, August 1. Give your pup the spa treatment she deserves!!

We are pleased to announce Sparkle Mandarin has a grand opening!✨
Join us on Saturday, August 1st from 12pm to 3pm EDT at 10991 San Jose Blvd., #56 to celebrate the opening of the first Sparkle in Jacksonville, Florida!
There will be a live broadcast done by one of our pawtners, Tee Roy from 93.3 The Beat.
Kona Ice will also be giving out free shaved ice along with giveaways for you and your little buddies!
We can wait to see you all, Jacksonville!🐾

07/28/2026

Listen for these phrases:
❗ "The insurance payment seems too low."
❗ "They denied my claim as wear and tear."
❗ "They only approved part of my roof."
❗ "My contractor says the insurance estimate isn't enough."
❗ "The adjuster stopped responding."

Those are all signs it's time to call Lucas Crespi with Omega Public Adjusting, our recent featured presenter at BNI 7 Bridges.

Lucas shared one piece of advice that really stuck with us:

The best time to bring in a public adjuster is before you think you need one. The next best time is when you know you do.

A public adjuster represents you in an insurance claim, while the insurance adjuster serves the company first.

Lucas is also looking to build relationships with roofers, plumbers, restoration professionals, realtors, insurance agents and property managers. If you know someone in one of those fields, we'd be happy to make an introduction.

Sometimes the best referral isn't someone who needs help today—it's the professional who knows exactly when to make the call.