Congratulations to All of Our Members of the Month!

Each month the Team Member who most exemplifies the goals and ideals of Team Network, is spotlighted on the front page of our web site.

Members of the Month have proven that networking works! They may have provided leads to other members, hosted a Marty that was particularly helpful to their Team Members, or assisted another Team Member with a project. But above all, they gave something of themselves to enrich their fellow members.

Team Network Members of the Month

February 2008
Team Member of the Month
Barbara Ames, CPA of Barkanic & Ames

Barbara Ames, CPA has been a loyal Team Network Member since 1994. Probably could have been awarded Team Member-of-the-Month a half dozen times over the years, so although over due, congratulations Barbara. This is your month.

Why this month? Well she was the primary host behind a really Super Marty in February... or should I say Super Sunday Super Bowl Marty!

Being a member of both the Upper Montgomery and Lower Montgomery Teams, she, along with fellow Team Member and friend Brendan Mattingly (who deserves huge kudos himself for putting up his home and more for the event) invited her two Teams to attend and asked them to bring all the family and friends they want... and they did!

It was a great turnout, the game was great, and a fun time. Will this become and annual event? "Maybe after the pain of birthing this thing is long forgotten" Barbara said with tongue-in-cheek. Ha! Ha! We understand Barbara. Great idea and great job.

January 2008
Team Member of the Month
Susan Lee of Heartland Payment Systems

November 2007
Team Member of the Month
Kevin O'Neill of Keller Williams Realty

Building and launching a new Team Network is no small accomplishment. Not everyone has the capacity to make that happen. That is why I want to recognize Team Leader of the new Frederick Area Networkers (FAN's), Kevin O'Neill as November's Team Member of the Month.

"We are at 21 members right now and we are just getting started" Kevin said proudly. "We were going for quality people. I think we have done that and I truly think this group will one day be the biggest in Team Network. There is tremedous potential for a group like this up here," Kevin continued.

Kevin was challenged right off the bat as he volunteered to host this month's Marty at his home in Mt. Airy. It fell on the the Wednesday night that the snow storm pushed through. "We decided not to cancel and it got nasty as the day wore on," Kevin went on. "I live on some back country roads that were not in good shape. We had three members show plus myself, but you know what? We had a great time and a great meeting."

That's the Team Network spirit Kevin. Biggest goup in Team Network someday? Hmmm... with you at the helm, I would not bet against it.

October 2007
Team Network
Member of the Month
Jim Everline of Headlines Hair Designers

Jim and Diana Everline have been loyal Team Network Members since 1994. Their award winning salon, Headlines Hair Designers located on Georgia Avenue in downtown Silver Spring has been the host of many great Martys. Last year in fact, they hosted our first Team Network Fashion Show that was taped and has run on Montgomery County TV Channel 21 many times now. They recently taped another show for Potomac Pride so keep an eye out for them again.

Their Marty last month was another big winner as they featured their manicure and pedicurist with a live demonstration and how-too session, which was followed with discounts and door prizes galore!

If you are looking for a downtown style, high end salon, without the downtown prices, :) then please visit the talented and friendly folks at Headlines. You'll find the October Team Member of the Month taking your next appointment. Oh... and mention Team Network for that "extra" special care.

September 2007
Team Member of the Month
Samantha Tunador of Arbonne International
Ind. Distributor

I always love it when a new Team Network member is given Team Network Member of the Month honors.

Arbonne Team Leader Samantha Tunador and her trusty sidekick Ann Robohm only became Team members in August. More often than not, new members are a little shy starting out and are not ready to plunge right in and host a Marty right away. But not these two.

Smantha and Ann jumed in and volunteered to host in September. Not only that, because they love the Team Network idea so much, they started inviting everyone they knew to come to their Marty. I guess they like the saying "build it and they will come" because guests seem to out number members at their Marty! Great people too and all had a great time.

As a result, I believe they booked a half dozen Arbonne parties that successful evening proving you get out of Team Network what you put into it.

Great job ladies. You did it!

August 2007
Team Network
Member of the Month
Michael Larsen of Coaching Institutes, LLC

The Team Network takes it's turn to host a Marty just like every other member. Only difference is, we will have 13 to host this year!

As a result, I am always looking for a little something special to do or present to make our Martys a valuable part of being a member. I found just-the-ticket... Mike Larsen of Coaching Institutes.

Mike is an experienced businessman, professional speaker, and business coach. I asked Mike three times this summer if he would come in and speak to my members at the Martys. He graciously agreed each time, doing a wonderful presentation on the decision making process. Not only did he do this at no charge for us, he also is offering Team Network members 50% off his normal pricing for his full blown professional workshops that he conducts on a variety of business topics.

Thanks Mike for coming through and I am sure I will be calling on your help again soon.

July 2007
Team Network
Member-Of-The-Month
Sol Gordon of Gordon Insurance

Sol Gordon is a man whose quest in life is to help others any way he can. In a phone conversation with Sol back in June discussing that the two Teams of which is is a member, Greater Rockville and Upper Montgomery, that we needed to help the groups by bringing in some new members. Those of you who know Sol, know he is a man of many words, ;-) but more importanly, Sol is a man of ACTION!

"Here's what we'll do" Sol boldly said. "I belong to Woodmont Country Club and Gordon Insurance will sponsor a Team Builder Breakfast at the club and I will pay for any guests who attend. In fact," he continued, "I will pick up half the fee for breakfast for any Team member who brings a guest to the event!"

That turned out to be a breakfast for over 25 people, half of which were guests! It was a great morning and several new members have come on board and several are pending.

Thank you Sol. That was an awesome effort on your part. Your loyalty to Team Network and to the success of your fellow Teammates is unmatched.

June 2007
Team Network
Member-of-the-Month
Jeff Annis of Jeff Annis Real Estate

Realtor Jeff Annis is known for providing incredible service in Montgomery County. He is experienced and knows his business. But to decribe Jeff as your every day, conventional real estate guy, would be like saying Elton John is just a piano player. Jeff is a guy that thinks outside the box, he does what it takes to get the job done, and it's what his customers love about him.

So when it came time to co-host a Marty with his friend Jacob Shoval of Sandy Spring Bank, you already knew something unique was going to happen and Jeff did not let us down.

The Marty fell on Flag Day so the theme was decided. Then Jeff started out by sending his Teammates a video invitation. He used U-Tube See Invite and promised to show everyone at the Marty how to do the same for their business, which he did!

Jeff also asked his fellow Teammates to come dressed to show off their patriotic side. As you can see (above) Jeff lead by example. Ha Ha! It was great!

Having fun and doing business is the Team Network way. Jeff, you fit right in. Great job!

April 2007
Member-of-the-Month
Lilliane Farag of PNC Bank

Branch Manager, Lilliane Farag, of the new PNC Bank in Ashburn, Virginia took her duties of hosting her April Marty seriously. She told me she was "ordering enough food for 40 people." Well, as they say, shoot for the stars and hit the moon. Lilianne had over 30 people at her Greater Loudoun Team Marty. How so many? Lilliane wasn't going to take any chances. She started inviting potential member guests and seven of them showed up! I do believe that is an all-time Team Network record for guests coming from one source.

Awesome job Lilliane. She proved she is a Team Network member you can "bank" on!

March 2007
Team Network
Member of the Month
The Ross Team of The Ross Team
Re/Max Premiere Selections

"Ask not what your network can do for you, ask what you can do for your network."
These are the words that John thinks everyone should live by. John Kennedy? No... John Ross!

Team manager John Ross and his partner Jan Brito are not only the managers of the Bethesda Chevy Chasers (just passed 30 members), but they are also the leaders of that Team. They lead by example through their actions and not by just words.

John and Jan have done more one-on-one meetings than anyone else in their group. They can verify they have personally done business with most of their Teammates in one way or another. My guess is they have sent out the most referrals in their group as well and they most certainly have brought in the most new members. This is not something that John and Jan brag about, it's just a matter of fact. When asked if they have gotton a lot of business back, they smile and say "some, not a lot, but some. But we are not worried about that. The business will come, it always does."

Team Network members everywhere can take this lesson to heart and ask themselves... "what have I done for my network lately?

February 2007
Team Network
Member of the Month
Alex Shekhtman of Elite Remodeling

Alex Shekhtman of Elite Remodeling has been a Team Network member since the Fall of 2000. He is a man that I have known to do things only one way, and that's the right way. He exemplifies the old Team Network creed, to be a business person "you can count on." He proved that once again this past February as the host of his Team's Marty.

The Lower Montgomery Team was scheduled for their Marty on the 13th, the day before Valentine's Day. Alex is originally from the Ukraine and we had this great James Bond Marty theme going with his side-kick Barbara Ames, CPA (See Pic Above)

Alex found a special caterer in Baltimore and ordered authentic Russian cuisine. Then... the ice-storm hit. Too late to cancel the food. He drove all the way out there to get it anyway. We set up the Marty for the next week and I said "what are you going to do about the food?" He said, "it won't keep, but don't worry Curt, I will just order it all again. It's what I promised and that's what I will do."

That's just Alex's way, the right way. The Team Network way.

June 2007
Team Network
Member-of-the-Month
Jeff Annis of Jeff Annis Real Estate

Realtor Jeff Annis is known for providing incredible service in Montgomery County. He is experienced and knows his business. But to decribe Jeff as your every day, conventional real estate guy would be like saying Elton John is just a piano player. Jeff is a guy that thinks outside the box, does what it takes, and it's what his customers love about him.

So when it came time to co-host a Marty with his friend Jacob Shoval of Sandy Spring Bank, you already knew something unique was going to happen and Jeff did not let us down.

The Marty fell on Flag Day and the theme was decided. Then Jeff started out by sending his Teammates a video invitation. He used U-Tube and promised to show everyone how to do the same for their business, which he did!

They also asked everyone to where patriotic colors. You see above how Jeff lead by example. :)

Having fun and doing business is the Team Network way and Jeff fits right in. Great job Jeff.