By RICHARD VIRGILIO
Partners. Everyone had partners. Some I met. Some I heard about. The thing was, I could not figure out whether we were talking partners or partners. And that was a great thing.
I was invited to a meeting of the Gay Pride Business Network at Moonstruck recently and learned that the groups definition of partner really means partner in others success.
For almost three years The Gay Pride Business Network, founded by Carol Heller and Bernie Strout, has been educating and motivating members to help build professional relationships and grow gay-friendly and GLBT-owned businesses, stated Bernie.
 Coaster Photo: Members of the Gay Pride Business Network at a recent meeting at Moonstruck Restaurant in Asbury Park. They are (from left) Eileen Sherm, Jeff Bielski, Margery S. Davidson, Carol Heller and Peter Frycki. |
The Network is about people supporting others and their endeavors the gay component is minor if not irrelevant.
This group has helped me expand my business, stated Karen Thoms, Gold Key Appraisal and Title Solutions, who is a Silver Sponsor of the Network. The relationships I have made from the Network have proven invaluable to me in a good and bad economy.
The two-hour meetings are broken into three parts. The first and last part are informal, however Bernie, being the great host makes sure everyone is sharing ideas.
Halfway through the meeting each member presents what is called a 30 Second Commercial and what I more boringly call the elevator pitch. Its bottom lining what every persons business is and does. And members really try and stick to their 30 seconds.
The 30 second time limit is perfect because everyone actually remembers what everyone else does (ideal for those of us with ADD).
During his commercial Chris Renzo revealed his immediate plans to launch a new gourmet cookie business. The cookies are absolutely original and phenomenal watch for more news. He wont let me tell you the name of his company yet, though. Afterwards, the other members provided concrete insights and ideas to help him hit the ground running.
It was really cool to see the brain trust at this meeting and the perspective offered to Chris. Some members have been in business for 30 years. Others have owned international businesses for five years. The various points of view were brilliant.
The Network is another Asbury Park original. Absolutely worth a standing reservation in anyones Blackberry.
Members at the meeting last Wednesday: Jeff Bielski from The Connection, 24/7 computer services in Leonardo; Stephanie Brunson and her daughter of ICAT Academy in Ocean, martial arts training; Peter Calafiore of Towne Florist in Oakhurst; Bernadette Strout a local financial advisor specializing in gay and lesbian estate planning; Frederick Bizzaro of Prudential Zack Shore in Belmar; Joseph Franchi of Prudential Zack Shore in Asbury Park; Sandra Kuzma owner of a local collection agency; Chris Renzo and Karen Thoms.
The Gay Pride Business Network meets the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Moonstruck Restaurant. GPBN.org for more.
Major shout-out to Ken Tyburski part-time of Asbury Park for launching his new art gallery, DCKT Contemporary, in New York City. I have seen Ken skip many-a-beach weekend to travel the world, literally, to find amazing artists. His talent at choosing mind-blowing, thought-provoking, beautiful art in various media is staggering. My current faves are iconic celebrity mug shots reinterpreted in needlepoint. Visit him at 195 Bowery (at Spring Street), 212.741.9955.
And see you at Gay Bowling this Saturday at the unequaled Asbury Lanes, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., hosted by super-sweet Michael Delia and Juicy Jenn. Bowling fluency not required.
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Published every Thursday.
