Divine Weddings and Beyond vendors at AFP

Divine Weddings and Beyond™ of the Piedmont Triad Area were vendors at the Association of Fund raising Professionals-North Carolina Conference.

Divine Weddings and Beyond™ currently consists of 7 weddings professionals from around the Piedmont Triad Area.

Please click on any of the links below for more information on their wedding business.

• Diana Gardner-Williams-Landscape Design and Installation
• Clayton Halls-Fitness Together
• Nancy Briggs-Sabika Jewelry
• Roberta Pearson-Create a Cake Catering
• Betsy Goforth-Goforth Travel
• Jo Proia-Make up Artist
• John Haskins-Friendly Neighborhood DJ (below)

We have come together as a professional wedding team for brides and bridal parties of the triad area. Attending the  AFP conference was the first event as a group for Divine Weddings and Beyond.

As the keynote speaker, Viken Mikaelian was talking, he stated to network with a group of people not connected with your organization.

 Divine Weddings and Beyond™ did just that. We actually heard about the event through a business peer, Michelle Davis of Lifespan (seated in black).

It was quite interesting to meet with the attendees of the conference.

I would have to say our booth was the most attractive. Obviously, our colors are black, red and white. Very traditional colors for a wedding.

We passed out Divine Weddings and Beyond™ brochures and people also registered to win a prize.

An event in October will be the official welcome to our team where brides and bridal parties can win $1000 worth of products and services. For more information, please contact one of the team members. Pass this valuable tip to a potential winner!!

Divine Weddings and Beyond™  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

 

Natural Science Center of Greensboro & Weddings?

Could this be true? The Natural Science Center of Greensboro, NC may be added to the venue list for wedding locations. Let the wild side come out and rent the entire center with lions, tigers and bears, oh my!!

Glenn Dobrogosz, Executive Director of the Science Center spoke at the Perfect Wedding Guide Networking luncheon today. He enlightened us on the possibilities for wedding parties to enjoy this vast facility filled with wildlife, this tickles my fancy.

 

Not only is this a new and innovative idea, it is very affordable. What a unique experience to wander the facility with a dinosaur, bear or tiger staring you right in the face as you turn the corner.

Glenn even stated the outside grounds are lit up in the evening hours with the animals left outside for viewing. What a beautiful experience, especially for those who LOVE animals, like myself.

The bride and groom along with the entire bridal party can have their pictures taken with a tiger in the background, hold a python snake or cuddle up with a turtle.

Another unique feature is the Omnisphere. This is a total immersion theater featuring a forty foot dome with 3-D effects. Glenn stated that a groom proposed to his bride in the Omnisphere. How romantic.

The bride and groom that decide to have their wedding at the Natural Science Center will most definitely have photographs that roar!

Welcome to the World of Weddings Glenn and the Natural Science Center.

Happy Planting!  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Diana Gardner-Williams

Landscape Design and Installation

 

Non-Profit Day at Greensboro’s BNI Diamonds Chapter

The BNI chapter, “Diamonds” had their first successful non-profit day. Several organizations came to our weekly meeting to promote their groups and meet the “Diamonds”.

It was standing room only with 10 visitors joining us on a rainy afternoon. We extended invitations to many non-profit groups hoping to introduce and make connections. Each non-profit organization were allowed a 2 minute commercial to educate and ask for their perfect referral.

Some on the non-profit organizations that attended were:

• Our Children’s House
• NC Cooperative Extension
• Hand Up Home-ownership Initiative, Inc.
• United Way of Greater Greensboro
• UNCG Spartan Club
• Housing Greensboro

In addition to a lively lunch meeting, our networking group inducted 3 new members.

• Roberta Pearson with Create a Cake Catering
• Marty McFarling with Ameriprise Financial
• Joe Smith Sole Proprieter of his Masonry Company

Our group is growing rapidly and the number of referrals and closed business is also on the rise. Seats we are currently interviewing for are:

• CPA
• Interior Designer
• Re-modeler
• Banker
• Exterior Painter
• Roofer
• Photographer
• Health Insurance Provider

Our weekly meetings are held at Anton’s on Battleground every Thursday from 12-1:30 in the basement. Please email me if you can attend-diana @ justacloudaway.com.

We also had a toast for the new year. Our networking group will ban together and beat the recession. Giver’s Gain is our philosophy.

Happy Networking!!

Diana Gardner-Williams  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Landscape Design and Installation

 

Greensboro Restaurant needed for BNI Networking

The Diamonds chapter of BNI in Greensboro, NC is seeking a new location to hold networking meetings on a weekly basis. We are growing our networking chapter and now looking for a new restaurant to accommodate this growth.

The Diamonds would need: 

• a private room seating anywhere between 30-50 people
• every Thursday from 11:45-1:45 with lunch being served at approximately 1pm
• a sit down lunch
• the cost of lunch between 10 and 12 dollars including tip
• a small area to keep our supplies
• preferably the same waiter or waitress each week
• option to change menu every several months

The BNI “Diamonds” chapter is a word of mouth referral networking group based on the philosophy of “Givers Gain”. The more referrals given, the more referrals gained. The BNI “Diamonds” chapter strives to support one another through building strong, long term relationships between members.

We are looking for a Greensboro restaurant with an uplifting ambiance promoting our enthusiasm in beating the recession. The “Diamonds” chapter is a high energy networking group who meet on a weekly basis to encourage, educate and pass referrals to members.

If you know of a Greensboro restaurant owner interested in talking to the BNI “Diamonds” chapter, please contact Diana Gardner-Williams at 392.4031 or diana@justacloudaway.com. We are a team will discuss the options for our new networking lunch venue.

Thank you for your interest in serving the #1 BNI Networking chapter of the Triad, the “Diamonds”.

Diana Gardner-Williams  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Landscape Design and Installation

 

Greensboro BNI Chapter-Casual Networking

Unfortunately, BNI “Diamond” chapter weekly meetings fell on both holidays this year. That did not stop some of the members from gathering in a casual setting to network. By doing so, a few one to one’s were completed over appetizers and cocktails, provided by BNI.

The members that attended were

• Ann Hardee and Vicki Honeycutt-Remax 1st choice
• John Haskins-Your Friendly Neighborhood DJ
• Tonya Zimmerman-Alltel Wireless Solutions
• Steven King-The Talking Phonebook
• Diana Gardner-Williams-Landscape Design and Installation

Networking is an art that the “Diamonds” chapter of BNI are trying to perfect. During this holiday networking session we were given clues on how to provide referrals and given a little more information of the products and services provided.

House condition, location and price were stated by Ann Hardee of Remax 1st choice as being the 3 reasons a house will sell or not. If one of the 3 are lacking, it must be compensated for elsewhere. Vicki Honeycutt provided us a networking opportunity at our local college which has great potential for creating increased awareness of our products and services without the heavy price tag of print advertisement.

Tonya Zimmerman of Alltel Wireless Solutions stated that the Blackberry product offered by her company is a big hit, providing efficiency for serious networkers.

John Haskins, Your Friendly Neighborhood DJ is number one in the wedding market, but eventually wants to participate in corporate events. By golly, why not. He is amazing to see. Check him out at the new Underground in downtown Greensboro.

Steven King of  The Talking Phonebook is new to our group and we are delighted to have him  You can tell networking is not work for this gentleman because of the ease in talking to people.

Diana Gardner-Williams, Landscape Design and Installation, this would be me, held the BNI”Diamonds” informal networking session for those going through networking withdrawal. My Landscape Company offers one hour landscape consultations, master landscape plans, installation and speaking to groups interested in the landscape world. I touched on one of my specialty gardens, Memory Gardens. These types of gardens are very popular allowing bereaved families to nurture a part of their landscape dedicated to a loved one passed.

If you are interested in joining our chapter please email me your profession and contact information, diana (@) justacloudaway.com.

Network Network Network

Diana Gardner-Williams  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Landscape Design and Installation

 

BNI “Diamonds” Networking Event at The Village on Elm St

A fantastic BNI Networking Event at The Village last night was a huge success. We met new faces and connected with other businesses interested in visiting our chapter.

• Charlene Money
• Ronnie Cardwell
• Maryann Kingsmill

Hopefully we will see their smiling faces at one of our weekly BNI meetings on Thursday’s from 12-1:30 at Anton’s, in the basement.

We have a dynamic chapter with a few positions open, which I’ll be posting at a later date. If you are interested in visiting our Thursday meetings to promote your business, just shoot me an email and we will get you in before the position is filled by your competitor.

Jeff Johnson, our BNI area director proudly stands with Travis and Ray of the “Diamonds” chapter.

The weather was just fantastic, allowing people to mingle and network in comfort.

All you needed for admission was a can good for the local food bank.

BNI “Diamonds” chapter had great attendance including:

• John Haskins
• Wes Jolly
• Tonya Zimmerman
• Brian Japp
• Ray Cardwell
• Travis Carter
• David Senkus
• Lea Frederick
• Gerard Pepin
• Randy and Pennie Melton
• Sue Mangiapane
• and myself~Diana Gardner-Williams

Lea Frederick had a table displaying her beautiful custom gifts from All Wrapped Up.

It was the best looking table there and a big hit.

I am excited about the new year for our chapter and the profits forthcoming.

Let BNI “Diamonds” be your next best friend.

Diana Gardner-Williams  www.dianadigsdirt.com

Landscape Design and Installation