LeTip met on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboater was Adam Perkowski, our home automation specialist. He had several Sonos speakers that he could control with a cell phone. Adam can install a sound system in various locations inside and outside of a home, and each speaker can be controlled separately, to play different music at different volume levels. Contact him (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) to learn about your options.

Our speaker was carpenter contractor Gary Hunter from Hunter Custom Carpentry (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Gary and his son Jason work together on both interior and exterior projects. They can fix doors that don't close properly or that scrape the carpet. They can make railings, chair rails, molding, and wainscoting. Gary is also gearing up for outdoor projects like decks, either new construction or resurfacing of existing decks. He can also fix exterior doors that need better weatherproofing.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboater was Greg Cazillo, our website designer (www.cazillo.com). People use different web browsers to view the internet, and Greg has a program that will allow him to see how websites will appear on a variety of browsers. It is important for sites to look good on multiple browsers.

Our speaker was our painting contractor, Dieter Enz (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Dieter showed us photographs taken at various stages of two complex painting jobs. Dieter and his crew are very meticulous with their preparation prior to painting. They will power wash, remove windows, sand the surfaces to be painted, and apply primer. Sometimes there is even a coating that is applied to the walls prior to the primer to ensure a smooth surface for painting. Often the power washing will uncover areas that need repair or that were not treated properly when the prior painting was completed. Dieter will always perform the highest quality work. For exterior painting jobs, he will also make sure to bring equipment that allows him to perform his job well but also leave no trace on the property or grounds where he is working. Contact him for a quote on interior or exterior painting.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 24, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by a guest representing the category of Banker.

Jack Ansley, our portrait photographer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), provided the showboating, and he showed us several examples of the copy and restoration work that he can do with older photographs and documents. Even items that have been damaged by time, folding, or water can be beautifully restored. Jack also displayed options that can be added to an old photo, including colorization of a black-and-white picture and the addition of an area surrounding the photo that gives the appearance of being a mat and can also have the names of the people in the picture printed on it for future generations.

Our speaker was Greg Cazillo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), our website designer. He informed us that Google will be making changes soon that may impact how high a website will place in their SERP (search engine results page). Greg has always highlighted the need for new content on a webpage, and that one factor may still be the best for increasing a site's Google ranking. Other things that are important for a webpage are speed, photos, videos, and mobile optimization. More and more people are viewing websites from phones and other mobile devices, making mobile optimization important not just for ranking but also for customer satisfaction and willingness to stay on a site. Mobile optimization includes ease of use with touch (items not too close together when a user tries to click on one thing), plus all items and text need to be the correct size for quick loading and clear viewing. Greg can help to create or correct the factors on a website to enhance search ranking and user interaction on the site.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboater was our painting contractor, Dieter Enz from SLCI (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Dieter displayed various parts and attachments for his dustless sanding system. He makes sure that all surfaces are perfectly smooth prior to painting, and his sanding equipment allows him to be meticulous with his work and also leave no mess behind.

Or speaker was the chapter's mortgage broker, Lonnie Cooper from The Rate Kings Mortgage (www.theratekings.com). Lonnie places a high value on customer service and on helping each client understand the math and the process behind applying for a new mortgage or refinancing an existing mortgage. Many people who aren't familiar with the professional financial world would have a difficult time making the best choice without Lonnie's assistance, especially with refinancing. There is often a tradeoff between reducing the term and reducing the rate, and Lonnie can weigh the options and help his clients to make the best choice based on their goals and what they can afford to pay monthly. Lonnie can also help people make the decision between whether a fixed rate or adjustable rate is better; this generally depends on whether the client plans to stay in the house for longer than five years after closing. Anyone considering a home purchase or refinance should consult with a mortgage expert. Lonnie is certainly an expert, and he will make sure that each client is educated and satisfied with their mortgage decision.