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Posts Tagged ‘digital-marketing’

BNI Chapters Unite for Joint Visitor Day in Dayton

In Business, Local News, Technology, Uncategorized on January 11, 2026 at 11:58 pm

Dayton, OH – January 11, 2026 – Two local chapters of Business Network International (BNI) will join forces next month to showcase the power of collaborative referral networking during a special Joint Visitor Day in Dayton.

The Green Team chapter of BNI, based in east Dayton, and the Amplify chapter of BNI, based in Beavercreek, will host the event on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at The Galleria Event & Conference Center, 4140 Linden Ave., Dayton.

The joint meeting is designed to bring together business professionals from across the Dayton region for structured networking, relationship-building, and a firsthand look at how BNI chapters operate. Visitors will have the opportunity to connect with members from both chapters, hear success stories, and learn how referral-based networking helps local businesses grow.

“This is a unique opportunity for local business professionals to grow their network and potentially make more money by meeting a group of highly motivated individuals,” said Gery Deer, Mentor Coordinator and Chapter Director Consultant for The Green Team. “No one knows what’s going to happen in the business world over the next year and, as BNI members, we have somewhat insulated ourselves from the uncertainty by agreeing to help each other by referral marketing.” Deer and his company, GLD Communications, a marketing, public relations and media production agency, has been involved with BNI since the late 1990s.

BNI chapters typically meet weekly and limit membership to one professional per specialty, creating an environment where members actively promote one another’s businesses. By combining two chapters for this visitor day, organizers say attendees will experience a broader range of industries and referral opportunities than at a single-chapter meeting.

The event is scheduled in conjunction with International Networking Week ™, intended to encourage professional networking and referral partnerships as the strongest ways to grow and maintain any business. Other events are planned during the week, including a Referral Marketing and Networking Master Class, scheduled later the same day at Dayton’s Entrepreneurs’ Center at The Hub in the Dayton Arcade.

“This joint visitor day highlights what can happen when chapters work together,” said Nikki Gates, Area Director of BNI Miami Valley Region. “It’s about expanding networks, strengthening relationships, and demonstrating how collaboration benefits the entire local business community.”

The event is open to professionals from all industries who are interested in growing their businesses through referrals and long-term professional relationships. Guests will observe a structured BNI meeting, participate in introductions, and engage with established members from both The Green Team and Amplify chapters.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to pre-register to reserve their seat, as space is limited. Both chapters are currently accepting applications to fill a variety of open professional categories, including heating and air conditioning, massage therapy, tax accounting, printing, plumbing, electrical contracting, and many other business services.

The Galleria Event & Conference Center, centrally located in Dayton, provides a convenient venue for professionals from east Dayton, Beavercreek, and surrounding communities.

For business owners, entrepreneurs, and professionals seeking to expand their referral networks, the joint visitor day offers an opportunity to experience the combined energy and reach of two active BNI chapters working together. For more information visit www.bnimiamivalley.com and click on “events.”

Workshop Offers Fresh Strategies for Service Clubs and Nonprofits to Grow Membership

In Business, Local News, Technology, Uncategorized on October 9, 2025 at 4:02 pm

XENIA — On Wednesday, October 15, the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce will host a timely and practical lunch and learn workshop titled Organizational Marketing in the 21st Century, aimed at helping service clubs, nonprofits, and small businesses attract new members, customers, and volunteers. The event will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Chamber’s conference room, located at 334 W. Market Street. Admission is $15 and includes lunch.

Leading the session is Gery L. Deer, founder and creative director of GLD Communications in Jamestown, who brings decades of experience in public relations, media production, and strategic messaging. Deer will share actionable insights on how organizations can modernize their outreach, refine their messaging, and better connect with younger audiences and potential volunteers.

“Too many organizations rely on outdated methods that no longer resonate,” Deer said. “This workshop is about helping groups like Rotary and Kiwanis, as well as small businesses and not-for-profit groups, evolve their approach—because when you speak the language of your audience, you invite them into your mission.”

Gery Deer teaches referral marketing, public relations, and professional development courses as part of his duties with GLD Communications and the Miami Valley, Ohio Region of BNI.

Participants will learn how to identify and communicate their organization’s unique value, leverage low and no-cost marketing tools, and determine when and where to invest in paid outreach. For service clubs and nonprofits facing dwindling membership and board vacancies, the workshop offers a fresh perspective on building community engagement and sustaining growth. Whether you’re a club leader, nonprofit director, or small business owner, this event promises practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Attendees are invited to use the rear entrance and enjoy a complimentary taco bar lunch beginning promptly at 11:30 a.m., with the presentation starting at noon. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. For more information, contact the Xenia Area Chamber of Commerce at 937-372-3591, or visit www.xacc.com.

Gery Deer presents Referral Marketing Master Class at The Hub on February 7th

In Business, Dayton Ohio News, Economy, Education, finances, Local News, Media, News Media, Uncategorized on January 16, 2024 at 3:32 pm

In conjunction with International Networking Week, GLD Communications has scheduled a Referral Marketing Master Class at The Hub in the Dayton Arcade, 31 South Main Street, Dayton, OH 45402, on Wednesday, February 7th,11:30 AM until 1:00 PM. The class typically costs more than $250, but this session has been specially priced at just $40 per person.

Presented by GLD Communications’s founder and creative director, Gery Deer, the 90-minute lunch-and-learn session includes techniques for identifying and developing referral partnerships. Pre-registration is required. Seats sell out quickly. Register at gldcommunications.com. 

GLD Communications Creative Director, Gery Deer, will present the class.

Deer started GLD Communications in 1997 as a part-time job. Today, it is an old-school public relations firm with media production and content distribution all under one roof. The company provides newswire stories, documentary-styled film productions, podcasting, reputation and crisis management, and copywriting services. This master class is part of the agency’s business success coaching services.

Deer said people rarely learn to turn passive networking into proactive referral partnerships. It requires strategy, time, and commitment. He also noted that most people confuse networking with referral marketing when they are symbiotic.

“People mistakenly interchange the words networking’ and referral marketing, but the two have a causal relationship,” said Deer. “This master class explains how strategic networking is just the beginning and provides the opportunity for Referral Marketing partnerships that can generate revenue for years.”

An award-winning writer and creative director, Deer has navigated many changes in his business over the years. “We have withstood recession, lagging sales, and staffing issues,” he said. “I built and maintained our public relations media agency on referrals, but it was a massive learning curve. I wish someone had a class like this back when I started.”

Deer said the course also offers insight into leveraging your current networking opportunities to identify potential referral partners. He will also cover the various networking organizations ranging from service clubs like Rotary to professional referral organizations, specifically Business Networking International (BNI). Nikki Gates, Managing Director of the Miami Valley Ohio Region of BNI, will also be in attendance to offer information on her organization’s growth in the Dayton market. 

Event parking is not included but is available at Reibold Parking, 25W W. 5th St., Dayton, 45422. For more information and a direct link to register, visit www.gldcommunications.com

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