GERRY KEOGH, TILE, MARBLE AND STONE CONTRACTOR

Gerry started his work at 19 years old as an apprentice in Dublin.   Today he is working for Marmalade Café, Café 50’s, HQ of mail.com, West LA YMCA, various Hollywood celebrities as well as a number of LeTip members.  One project used plain tiles, interspersed with glass mosaic interlays.  Indoor floors, outdoors, showers, bathrooms, kitchens – anywhere that you think tile can be used and then some.http://tinyurl.com/3eu8bsu

KARL BROOK, (KRB CONSTRUCTION)

Karl gave us tips on how to do a successful remodeling project. Beginning with contacting Grant Norris for financing, Richard Ramer for blueprints, a soils engineer and then picking the right contractor.   Research your project with Jeffrey Fritz and Kenny Furuya for values, Cliff Muller for construction management services, then Karl to make your home something to be proud of.  From a minor remodel, to brand new estate construction.http://tinyurl.com/3n2pmmr

P.J. BURGESS, LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

PJ Burgess, Studio H20.  PJ will put together a palette of color and a variety of plants (many utilizing low water usage) to make your garden unique. He is especially interested in designing water features, from a 2 year project on Columbus Circle (NY) to a project in Texas, and various clients’ swimming pools.    From a small project (a client who wanted to create a “screen” in front of their driveway) to a total re-do of the landscaping at an estate, PJ can transform your outside space to something special.http://tinyurl.com/3du3kup

DONNA WOLFE, TRAVEL AGENT

Donchka Travel. (a certified destination specialist to Turkey).  Donna showed a very interesting presentation about her recent trip to Turkey, which is a wonderful place to go if you want great value and an amazing historical trip.  From a brief weekend getaway, to special care traveling to Europe, Asia, Hawaii or NY, call Donna.http://tinyurl.com/3etbnvd

ELECTION RESULTS, EXECUTIVE LETIP BOARD

Congratulations to our newly elected Executive Letip Board.  Year 2011 is going to be a GREAT YEAR  for business.

   President: Eric Hatfield

   VP: Cathy Cahill

   Secretary: Dave Cagle 

   TipMaster: Sigmund Thomas

   Treasurer: Barry Moser

   Membership Chair: Cathe Caraway-Howard
   Past President: Eve Mazzara

*  Executive LeTip Spring Mixer, Wed., March 30^th, 5:45 – 8:15 p.m. @ Ozuma Restaurant, 395 Santa Monica Pl., 3^rd Floor.  2 hours free if you park before 6 p.m. ($5 after 6 p.m.).  Dinner & No Host Bar.   Members Free.  Guests $28.00 per person.

*  Welcome to our newest members: Julie Jennings, Become Nu (Skin Care/Cosmetics) 310-993-6602.  Contact Julie for skin care, or if you just know anybody who wants to  always have beautiful skin and look young.

b) Maya Hayon, Union Bank, Santa Monica.  Please contact Maya for all of your banking needs and questions.  

GEORGE DUBIECKI, WINDOW TREATMENTS

George Dubiecki, Home Carpet and Window Treatments loves the idea of tipping everybody that he can (hence he is often “Top Tipper”).  George hired David Blattel to take pictures of the window treatments that they are installing in a customer’s beautiful home.  One example, a Hunter Douglas, Vignette that can be rolled up, dropped part way down, closed down and opened – all battery operated.  In the breakfast room, there are sheers, decoratives and wood rods.  Each window in this beautiful house had exquisite window coverings in designer quality fabrics (your choice is endless).  There are truly very few restrictions on what they can do.  You are doing this work on your home to enjoy life, don’t restrict yourself.  Call George, who is a professional when it comes to Window (and floor) Coverings.http://tinyurl.com/36edaee

SAM ROSENBERG, RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

Sam Rosenberg tells us that he is aging along with his population (I don’t think so).   Holiday Villa is a fun place.  Think of a typical senior who moves into the facility.  Last week a senior had fallen, gave up his car and his family helped him decide that it was too dangerous for him to live alone.  We imagine rocking chairs, bingo, video movies and other notions of who a senior citizen is or should be.  At Sam’s last Lunch Bunch, he shared a story of a day that he had, fielding a phone call from the Police Dept.  Somebody had filed a complaint against one of his seniors who had spoken very badly to an employee.  Earlier in the day, this same senior (90 + years old), was in an altercation with another guest.  There was a love triangle and Sam had to mediate amongst these three residents..  Retirement is not about rocking chairs, soft music and soft jello.  Rather, the residents at Holiday Villa are living full lives surrounded by caring staff, a variety of activities and a very good outlook on life..http://tinyurl.com/4862m2w

DR. JEFFREY MARKS, VETERINARIAN

Dr. Marks has been practicing veterinary medicine in L.A. for 31 years.  They have two vet hospitals with 25 employees.  One in mid-city (Washington Bl. Between Normandie and Vermont).  The business has been family owned and operated for 50 years (Dr. Marks is 2^nd generation) and they are open 7 days a week, offering full surgery, medicine and dentistry, also bathing, boarding and grooming.  The other office is across from Rancho Park, the Rancho Park Veterinary Clinic (this office is open 6 days a week). 

Don’t give your dog:  chocolate, milk or bones, but keep your pets healthy (or make them well), call Dr. Jeffrey Marks.http://tinyurl.com/4td6pal

NONI KRIKORIAN, COMMUNICATIONS: CABLING & TELEPHONE

DEK Communications, Inc.  Noni showed up today dressed as a true cabling specialist in her jeans andtool belt.  Doug and Noni started the company in 1986 after the deregulation of AT&T.   Telecommunications has changed quite a bit in that time, but DEK is on top of the change.  They operate quite differently from the “trunk slammers” who are unlicensed, uninsured and under-skilled competitors.  Most business is commercial (where DEK will help design a system to the needs from the jack back.  DEK will do what it takes to get a business properly wired, including: ladder racking, a computer room, racks to hold patch panels and anything necessary for cabling and connectivity.  Call Noni for all commercial (and most residential) professional cabling services.http://tinyurl.com/24t6uwf

DAVE CAGLE, MARKETING CONSULTANT

Dave Cagle talked about helping kids in Nepal today (a non profit),  Please contact Dave if you would like to help.
Strategic Ink will make it happen! He'll put together news releases, brochures, advertising and marketing programs, magazine articles, presentations -- whatever it takes to put your name before your customers.http://tinyurl.com/4898u3m

AUBREY WAITE, POOL AND SPA SERVICE

When you need a pool specialist, and the one to call is Aubrey Waite and Sons. Whether it’s a residential or commercial (condos and apartment buildings) pool, it takes a very reputable, reliable company who knows pool and spa maintenance inside out… not some college kid moonlighting.   Aubrey can be trusted to provide all services related to cleaning and maintaining all types of pools and spas with all types of maintenance systems.   He also provides all necessary repairs and advises when it’s time to purchase new parts.http://tinyurl.com/4qk3kxb

GRANT NORRIS, MORTGAGE BROKER

With over 15 years of experience as a mortgage broker, Grant Norris, Vice-President of the Platinum Capital Group, knows his business. He has participated in over 3,000 loan transactions and specializes in helping first-time homebuyers, self-employed professionals, and those who are credit-challenged.http://tinyurl.com/4jlph2s

ARLENE KRANTZ, HYPNOTHERAPIST

Arlene helps you regain control of your life through the use of hypnosis, emotional freedom techniques (EFT) and neuro-linguistic programming (NLP).  If you know of anybody that suffers from the inability to stop smoking; eating disorders; ADD; depression; pain management issues; sleeping disorders or many other problems, they are a good candidate for a qualified hypnotherapist – Arlene Krantz as well as Arlene’s power partner, Dr. Hoppock .
Arlene tells us that many issues that we carry on our shoulders originated during our formative years and with hypnotherapy these issues can be acknowledged and perhaps making them less of a hindrance.http://tinyurl.com/29mmanu

JEFF NADRICH, PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY

No fee = No recovery.  No charge to you until they obtain a settlement and 99% of their cases are successful.  Specialties include: Auto, motorcycle, bicycle and Personal Injury Specialists.   They will come to your office, home or hospital and advance all case expenses if it appears that you have a valid case. With over 60 years of experience, they handle auto, motorcycle, bicycle, airplane, ship and ferry, Metrolink, taxi-cab accidents, tire-separation cases are just some examples.  Jeff went on to show many dangerous drugs that are or were on the market.  Go to his various websites for more information or if you know of anybody who was injured in a personal injury case.http://tinyurl.com/46qof23

BARRY MOSER, C.P.A.

Barry Moser, C.P.A., Willing & Moser, An Accountancy Corporation.  Barry wanted to thank everyone who has referred to him.  Compliance: Business License, 1099’s Tax Returns,  Personal Property Statements, Statement of Information and Estate Taxes are just some of the issues that the IRS requires.
1099’s are an issue that many businesses overlook.  There is a penalty for failure to file at $15 per information return up to $25,000 if filed by March 30.  In the past, the IRS has not been too strict, but this year there are severe economic penalties.  Several years ago, the IRS required companies to issue 1099’s to all attorneys.  These penalties will double in 2011.  If you own rental property, you must supply 1099’s to anybody who does work on that property including gardeners and repair people.  W-9’s will be necessary for all vendors.http://tinyurl.com/27rg8hc 

MITCH SODIKOFF, WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Intratem Wireless Communications.   Graduate Course in understanding how to drive value to your customers.  Possibly outsourcing certain aspects of the business, including Full-Service Wireless Expense Management.  Phones, Devices, In-Vehicle Contraptions -- all of which are growing in cost.  Same contract. Same Carrier, but a better bottom line and better service than the carrier.  Otis Elevators, DelMar Fairground, Toyota, MPG Office Trust, Cornerstone on-demand, Hallmark, American Golf are some of the larger corporate clients.  Many of them had their IT Departments slashed and were able to utilize Itratem.  Organizations with multiple phone carriers, large employers, non-profit involvement, revenue sharing with non-profits.http://tinyurl.com/4bctfxd