The Gorilla Group

September Meeting, Tuesday the 14th

Gorilla Group — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:57:30 +0000

Guest Drinker Amy Fulford

The August Meeting was a stellar night. Just before the 6:00 PM, the clouds parted, the sun started to shine brightly and the blue sky of Summer day dominated. Those who attended enjoyed a great night of food, music, start ups, buyouts and succession plans.

The Browns are kicking off soon so our thoughts now turn to the Fall and the pursuit of greater business dreams. We have a solid line up in September. The Gorilla Group is proud to bring you Amy Fulford the founder of Enlight Advisors.

North Coast Entrepreneurs Beach Bash

Gorilla Group — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 12:48:18 +0000

The North Coast Beach Bash

Tuesday August 3rd

The Gorilla Group Annual Meeting

It is time to come down to the Shores of Lake Erie for the

North Coast Entrepreneurs Beach Bash

This is our 9th year celebrating new business, wealth generation and the future.

This will be one of the best gatherings of risk takers and business builders in Cleveland. Bring your pro growth, low tax, capitalist friends.

Registration is on line.

Dock Space is available for those that wish to boat to the event.

Location: Wendy Park, Whiskey Island

Time: 6:00 PM to Sunset

Tuesday August 3rd

Cost: $40 Preregistered/ $50 at the Door

July Meeting

Gorilla Group — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:42:02 +0000

Tim has been in business for almost a decade. He started his company, West Park Direct, after 14 years with Sun News Papers. Executive recruiters wanted to place him around the country but he wanted to stay in Cleveland and raise a family. The logical answer was to start a company, be the boss and build his future.

He opened on Tuesday September 11th, 2001 and made his first sales call that morning. That was not the most successful day in the history of the business. Nothing quite like starting a business on the first day of a war. The markets turned down and prospective clients pulled back from spending money. However he still grew the company into a multimillion dollar business and his overcoming the current economic state and is positioned for more growth. Come hear how Tim has taken on two of the worst economic periods of the last 50 years and is still loving everyday of it.

Join us in July for Good Food, Good Cheer and Good Business.

Tuesday July 13th

6:00 PM

Touch Supper Club

See you at the June Meeting.

Registration is on line

Registration is open for the July Meeting and The Beach Bash in August.

Tuesday July 13th

6:00 PM

Touch Supper Club

See you at the July Meeting.

Registration is on line.

Hot Seat

businesses with a high failure rate. That’s why these entrepreneurs are taking their restaurant experience and creating non-traditional foodservice businesses. Join us for a panel discussion on this month’s hot seat, including

Mary Wills (www.thegoodfork.net)

Matt Mytro (www.stovemonkeys.com)

Jeremy Esterly (www.dimanddensum.com)

We’ll discover how Mary is taking personal catering to a new level with her focus on corporate female executives and dinner parties she calls “Sexy Fork;” how Matt is meeting a niche of designer clothes for chefs by chefs; and how Jeremy and his partner Chris have taken their restaurant to the streets….literally!

June Meeting

Gorilla Group — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:13:38 +0000

Guest Drinkers Ellie Chalko and Debbie Holy

We have a solid double line up in June. The Gorilla Group is proud to bring you NOT one but TWO Guest Drinkers. The team of Ellie Chalko and Debbie Holy are the owners of Cynergies Solutions. Each has been a leader in the IT world for over 25 years. The company has been undergoing nearly triple digit growth for a solid ten years. They are passionate about delivering to their customers and it has paid off with a great company.

Hot Seat Tom Lash

Tom is the founder of SocialSeen. Before you jump to the conclusion that is another startup trying to be the next Facebook and remark that the ship has sailed, wait! This is a business to business company. It is really about putting all the data in the hand of the business about what is being said on the existing social media sites. Given the instant worldwide communications that these achieve, it pays to be informed and to react fast.

Join us in June for Good Food, Good Cheer and Good Business.

Tuesday June 8th

6:00 PM

Touch Supper Club

See you at the June Meeting.

Registration is on line.

May Gorilla Group Meeting

Gorilla Group — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 09:57:44 +0000

We have a solid double line up in May. The Guest Drinker is Lou LaGuardia Sr. His is different path to entrepreneurship. After a long career at Xerox he retired from the world of big business. Although some friends and family thought he was crazy, business ownership was to be the next stop. He acquired Repros from one of his former customers 12 years ago and has not had to look back since. The company is a specialty printer located downtown. It is not the place to come get 50 copies for a presentation. If however you have very unusual needs for oversized projects, it is the right place to visit.

On the Hot Seat is Michael Battaglia. Mike has been around the block with a couple of different businesses. His latest venture is natural gas powered cars. He has a vision of pulling into your garage at home and filling the vehicle. With the price of oil climbing every day, this is an idea whos day may have finally arrived.

Registration is on line.

April Meeting

Gorilla Group — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:44:49 +0000

Well it finally feels like the last vestiage of Winter is behind us. The sun is out, the snow is gone and our thoughts are turning to the development of business. In the Guest Drinkers chair is Russ Hill from Ultimate Lead Systems. In business for nearly 30 years, Russ has a great list of clients including Sherwin Williams, Caterpillar and Mitsubishi. He has seen some of the ups and downs to more than one business cycle, and is very bullish on the future.

Registration is on line.

March Members Only Event

Gorilla Group — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 13:22:24 +0000

Mike Maczuzak of Smart Shape Design is hosting us on Tuesday the 23rd of March. The business in an international Design and Manufacturing firm. They have built new office space at 1240 Rockwell in Downtown Cleveland. We are getting a tour of the company, a look at some of the products and and spending a little time at the built in bar.

March Meeting

Gorilla Group — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:06:28 +0000

Joe Pease

The Guest Drinker in March is Joe Pease the founder of Pease and Associates. Joe is coming back to North Coast Entrepreneurs. He was an Industry Titan on Capitalist Cleveland several years ago and now will be talking to us personally. He is a life long entrepreneur having run bands while he was at Cleveland State. He took the Corporate America track briefly but took control of his own destiny and struck out on his own 20 years again. With a lot of family support he has got a great business and one of the best offices in Downtown Cleveland.

The Five Minute Business Plan in March is Meagan Howe. She has a business called Farrell Ink. Come here the dreams of new entrepreeneur kicking her business to the first level.

Registration is on line.

February Gorilla Group Meeting

Gorilla Group — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:23:42 +0000

Our Guest Drinker is Rachael Torchia the Founder of Gateway Title. She started the business over 15 years ago and has seen many gyrations in the business cycle but nothing like the last 12 months. Somewhere around 30% of her competition has gone out of business during the Great Recession. However she did not take the challenge lightly. A consistent out reach to customers and solid business planning have kept her above water and looking for a great 2010.

The Five Minute Business Plan in February is Marylee Gotch. She is starting a business called Commuter Cuffs. Come here the dreams of new entrepreeneur kicking her business to the first level.

Registration is on line.

January Gorilla Group Meeting

Gorilla Group — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:03:33 +0000

Our Guest Drinker is Margaret Judd the owner of Executive Arrangements. No this is not a flower or bridal shop. The company provides B2B services for corporations bringing CxO level personnel into Cleveland. They handle a myriad details from help in the recruitment process, to the relocation and special events. They have worked with every major firm in the region.

The decision to pull the trigger was made from the inside. Margaret started as an employee and bought out the Founder of the business. This is a very different story of entrepreneurship, Due Diligence and risk taking. There is also something to negotiating with the boss…….

Registration is on line.