Le Tip Le News

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, July 28, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our speaker was our home automation specialist, Adam Perkowski (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Adam is able to automate all sorts of technology products in a home, controlled by cell phones. The systems that he installs can coordinate a variety of technologies. He typically uses the Savant system, which used to work only with Macintosh products. However, this home automation platform has improved over time and now uses programming that can put together technology from different companies, all under a single controlling system. Adam works diligently with each individual customer to organize and automate what they want. He tells us that we're actually "getting closer to the movies" in terms of what we can control and how we are able to control it. Adam may not be Iron Man, but he can give Tony Stark's Jarvis a run for his money.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, August 18, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our chapter is happy to welcome our newest member, Bob Latta, a General Contractor with Latta • Kennedy Builders (www.lattakennedybuilders.com).

Our showboater was Theresa Barlow, our Interior Designer from A Perfect View (www.aperfectviewinteriors.com). She showed us a gift bag that she can create for a consultation. This can give a potential client some ideas about what Theresa can do and how her services might benefit them in their home or office. She is always happy to talk to people about how their space looks and feels in order to create a comfortable and attractive environment.

Our speaker was our Portrait Photographer, Jack Ansley from John H. Ansley Portrait Photography (www.ansleyphoto.com). Jack can help anyone who has a cell phone full of digital photos but never gets them printed. He can print photos on archival papers with archival pigment ink that will not be adversely affected by UV light. These prints don't even need to be covered with glass, unless you use a mat around the photo. Jack has hundreds of photos that he has taken, and he can print these for a home or office that needs some more color or visual interest on the walls. He also takes many photos in his studio--portraits of families, kids, pets, and individuals. Contact Jack for portrait photography, prints, or restorations.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by guests representing the category of Electrician.

Our speaker was our interior designer, Theresa Barlow with A Perfect View (www.APerfectViewInteriors.com). Theresa can apply her design skills to a single room or to an entire home. She will look at the current design and layout of furniture and other items. Theresa checks for things that are out of proportion in terms of size, for incidentals (like electrical cords) that are visible yet should be hidden, the amount of light in the room, and the color scheme. One of her basic goals will be to make the space feel less cluttered and crowded. She may also find ways to add plants and natural light to add life to a space. Theresa works closely with her daughter Jena for home staging prior to putting a house on the market as well as design projects for people who are staying in their homes and want to love their space. They can also work on decorating offices, updating the look and/or decorating for the holidays. Contact Theresa to find out how she can help.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, September 1, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by a guest representing the category of Banker. We voted to accept a new member, Garret Davey who is an Electrician. Welcome, Garret!

Our showboater was our web designer, Greg Cazillo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). He displayed a design that he added to a website for photo ordering. Customers could select their desired poses and photo packages on the website and then pay for their order. Greg can design a full website or add components to an existing website, and he always aims to keep viewers engaged.

Our speaker was Scott Brown, our Heating and Air Conditioning Contractor from James Brown Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning (www.jamesbrownphac.com). Scott showed a selection of photographs showing various parts of jobs that he has worked on in the past. James Brown PHAC prides themselves on their green mechanical systems, for both residential and commercial buildings. Scott described radiant floor heating, Unico high-velocity air conditioning systems, and geothermal heating/cooling systems. Many of the newer systems are more efficient, requiring smaller control areas. Scott can install new systems or provide replacements in existing systems. Contact him (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for a consultation to discuss heating and air conditioning options.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by guests representing the categories of Property & Casualty Insurance, Marketing, and Telecommunications. Our showboater was our General Contractor, Bob Latta from Latta Kennedy Builders (www.lattakennedybuilders.com). Bob displayed a variety of wood samples to show what types of materials he can choose from for different construction products. His choice may be based on appearance and also the conditions that the materials will experience (for example, moisture).

Our speaker was our Web Designer, Greg Cazillo (www.cazillo.com). Greg showed us a feature that he added to a local photographer's website to enable ordering of student photos taken at the studio. Greg generated non-guessable links for each student so that no one else could view their photos. Each student was required to select a yearbook photo with cap and gown prior to ordering personal photos. Options were available to order individual prints and/or print collages. The school provided student information from their database that Greg used to populate the order form, so that less typing would be necessary during the checkout process, minimizing the chance for errors. For the photographer, Greg created a program that he could use to upload the photos for each student, connecting with a student roster already in the system. Greg made sure that the photos on the site were a suitable size for easy viewing, including mobile optimization to make viewing and ordering easy on any sized device. The photographer can also view a report that tells him who has ordered and also allows him to send an e-mail to those who haven't ordered, reminding them to look at and select their photos. Greg would be able to take these concepts to create website ordering for any business, not just photography.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We are pleased to announce our newest member: Mike Hoopes, representing property and casualty insurance. We were also joined by guests representing banking, marketing, and graphic design.

Our showboater was our mortgage broker, Lonnie Cooper from The Rate Kings Mortgage (www.theratekings.com). Lonnie always welcomes referrals for customers who are looking for first mortgages or who are thinking about refinancing an existing mortgage. He gives away promotional items at closing for his customers, and he displayed shirts, beach towels and hats that he might give away.

Our speaker was our general contractor, Bob Latta from Latta Kennedy Builders (www.LattaKennedyBuilders.com). Bob has learned a number of construction techniques over the years as a laborer and also as a superintendent prior to starting a business in 2009 with David Kennedy. They began with smaller jobs, but they provided such quality work and excellent service that their small jobs quickly led to bigger jobs. They formed key relationships with other builders and architects that led to more work and more growth as a company. Bob told us that no job is "officially" too small, and they are willing to meet with any potential client. They prefer to work in Chester County but are willing to travel a bit further, as needed. They love doing historical restoration work, and they have also worked on kitchens, renovations, additions, decks, and patios. Contact them to talk about any construction project.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, September 22, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We welcome new member Matt Simmers, a banker with First Niagara Bank. We were also joined by guests representing promotional products, payroll services, solar power, and auto detailing.

Our showboater was Garret Davey (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), our electrician. He displayed several lighting options that he can install. Of course, he can work to solve all sorts of electrical issues.

Our speaker was our mortgage broker, Lonnie Cooper (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Lonnie spoke with us about adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). ARMs have all the same closing costs as a fixed rate mortgage, but they initially have a rate that is lower than the typical fixed rate mortgage, and this low rate is locked in for a period of time (e.g., two years). After that initial period, however, the rate may change, and there is no way to predict how it will change. There is a cap to the amount that the rate can increase (2% above the initial rate), and the rate won't go above that cap for a year. Then there is a secondary cap for the next year of another 2%. The final cap sets the rate at no more than 5% above the initial rate. ARMs make the most sense for people who know that they won't be staying in their house long-term. Young people who plan to move to a larger home within a few years or military families who move every couple of years are typical candidates for ARMs. For questions about rates or more details about how to choose the best mortgage product, please contact Lonnie.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our chapter welcomes several new members: Jacky Wilson representing payroll services with ADP (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), Kat Homnack representing marketing with Solomon Caw (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), and Jenny Hadler representing promotional products with Adelfi Promotions (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We were joined at our recent meeting by guests in the fields of estate law, fence contracting, and an AED specialist.

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.). He displayed some materials that he uses in his painting work as well as a pair of paint-covered sneakers. He will never leave a mess in a work area, but his shoes certainly get spattered!

Our speaker was our electrician, Garret Davey (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Garret works with his father Kevin, who has been working with electrical systems since 1992. Garret studied political science in college and worked for nine years in sales and management at Sears while working part-time with his dad on the weekends. He then decided to leave Sears and do electrical work full-time. Kevin and Garret make sure that they do every job correctly, with minimal invasiveness to landscaping or existing structures. They can design custom lighting solutions that will provide good light but not use intrusive fixtures. They specialize is custom residential electrical work, and they enjoy adding a personal touch to everything they do.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We welcome new member Mike Dobbyn, our financial advisor. We were also joined by guests representing the categories of travel agent and flooring contractor.

Our showboater was our payroll specialist, Jacky Wilson with ADP (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). She had information available about the different services that ADP provides. She also showed us what the computer program would look like from the customer's perspective and explained how easy it would be to add new employees directly. Jacky makes excellent use of technology to make the payroll process as easy as possible.

Our speaker was our property and casualty insurance agent, Mike Hoopes (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).  Mike has worked with the Chester Springs Insurance Group since 2011. He writes policies primarily with Farmers Insurance, but he also has connections that allow him to get policies with other carriers as well. Mike is able to write both residential and commercial insurance policies. He has a strong belief in what he does, which is protecting people in their times of loss. Mike strives to find the right balance between cost and coverage. He warned us that people who shop for the cheapest price may be buying a policy that won't cover them adequately. Ultimately, Mike provides a personal touch--he is YOUR agent, not just a random voice on the phone.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We welcome two new members: travel agent Jennifer Canfield-Clark (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and flooring contractor Zac Mento (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Our showboater was Claudia Roemer from Ceiba Baskets and Gifts (website under construction). She displayed an example of a Halloween gift basket for a family. There were food and gift items for both adults and kids, with several items that would become keepsakes after the edible contents were consumed. Claudia aims to provide unique and enjoyable gifts for any occasion, working with a variety of price points.

Our speaker was our payroll specialist, Jacky Wilson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). She began working at ADP three years ago and is currently a Senior District Manager. ADP is a $10 million payroll company, paying one in five Americans. Jacky personally works with small businesses that have between 1 and 100 employees. She can work with larger companies, and she will then joins force with another ADP representative. Jacky told us that ADP is really a Human Resource company, with payroll being only 10% of what they do. ADP helps employers to create job descriptions, provide help desk answers, perform background checks, provide HR tool kits (for hiring, firing, and disciplining employees), and composing employee handbooks and other important documents. The ADP software integrates with QuickBooks, which helps many employers. Contact Jacky to find out how ADP can help your business.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by a guest representing holistic health and design.

Our speaker was Jenny Hadler, representing marketing specialties with Adelfi Promotions (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Jenny recommends advertising via promotional products, because they don't have at time limit like other forms of advertising. Promotional items increase brand recognition through repeated exposure, especially if a business invests in everyday items like pens, apparel, mugs and cups, etc. Everyone likes to receive something for free, so it can be very helpful to have these types of free items to give to potential customers and/or to reward great clients. Businesses may want to increase their use of promotional products during the holiday season, perhaps personalizing bottles of wine or other special gifts. Jenny has lots of ideas and can help you to search for the perfect items to get a business into the hands (literally) of as many people as possible.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by guests representing home restoration (after fire, flood, etc.), house cleaning, and accounting. Our showboater was our travel agent, Jen Canfield-Clark (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). She displayed beautiful pictures and brochures from places that she has traveled to and recommends to her clients.

Our speaker was our marketing representative, Kat Homnack from Solomon Caw (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Kat told us about her company and their specialization in Community Investment Marketing (CIM). A business that gives back to the community will engage with customers more personally and build trust. Studies have shown that 90% of consumers may change their purchasing habits based on CIM. It is helpful for businesses to engage in inbound marketing, with quality content that draws people in. People are attracted, then converted; the sale is closed, and the people are delighted. In this way, strangers can turn into customers and then into promoters of your business. Kat told us how important it is for marketing to have a visual component, since 90% of the information transmitted to the brain is visual. Solomon Caw wants to help business owners to engage in strategic and effective marketing, because most business owners don't have enough time and resources to do this themselves. They offer collaboration, knowledge, community giving, customer service, and creativity. Contact Kat to find out more about what Solomon Caw can offer to a business you know or own.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Welcome to new member Kelly Smyth from FastPro Restoration Services (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We were also joined by guests representing the categories of energy efficiency, accounting, and graphic design.

Our showboater was Greg Cazillo, our website designer. Greg demonstrated several features of a website that he designed for a hot air balloon company. The site responds to different sizes of computer or mobile device and will always fit on the screen. Certain items (e.g., the menu) may also change format to work better on mobile devices.

Our speaker was Jen Canfield-Clark, our travel agent (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Jen spoke to us about what is offered at Sandals resorts. Sandals will always offer a variety of room categories and price ranges. Every Sandals resort has all-you-can-eat sushi, which can be a meal or simply an appetizer before dinner. Some rooms have a butler and a pool. SCUBA is included for guests who are certified divers, although guests can also pay to receive their certification during their vacation. There are also opportunities for sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, and paddle boarding. Sandals offers daily and nightly entertainment, premium liquor, and pool bars. Excursions are available but will incur an additional charge. A vacation at Sandals will also include a wedding or vow renewal, if desired, and the resort will offer extra perks depending upon the number of guests. Jen has traveled to many Sandals resorts and can answer any questions and help to make plans for an excellent vacation.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Welcome to our new graphic designer, Leigh Friedman with Full Circle Graphic Design (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). We were also joined by guests representing the categories of advertising specialties and electrical contractor.

Our showboater was our mortgage broker, Lonnie Cooper from The Rate Kings Mortgage (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Lonnie has all the latest information about mortgage loan rates and can help people to finance a home purchase or refinance an existing mortgage.

Our speaker was our website designer, Greg Cazillo. Greg showed us some of the components of designing a website, using a particular site that he is working on currently. There are two components to the business, so the home page has two side-by-side photos to highlight each one. Greg added some text, the business logo, a site navigation menu, and buttons to link to social media sites. He also adjusted colors and shading to give the visual appearance that he wanted. Many visual designing can be done on a tablet computer, and that allows Greg to show the site-in-progress to the customer more easily. Later on, he will add all the code and background information that makes the site work and respond to screen size and user interaction. He is happy to work on new websites or update existing sites.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by guests representing risk management and food products.

Our schedule now includes two showboaters and two speakers each week. Our showboaters were Dave Kozak (our life, health, and disability insurance specialist) and Mike Hoopes (our property and casualty insurance agent). Dave is especially passionate about life insurance and how it can be used both for death benefits but also for wealth building while the policy holder is alive. Contact Dave at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. Mike can help with the need for property and casualty insurance, and he provides excellent customer service as well as competitive rates for insurance policies. He is happy to look at existing policies to make sure that coverage is sufficient and also to see whether he can find a better rate. Contact Mike at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Our first speaker was Kelly Smyth from FastPro Restoration (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). In addition to providing a fast and effective response, FastPro will also share empathy in times of loss. They are happy to provide free inspections and estimates for possible damage from fire, water, mold, or smoke. The company's owner comes from a background in public adjusting, so he has seen all types of damage and knows what are the appropriate remediation techniques. FastPro uses heat and plenty of fans to make sure that water is dried with minimal change to the home structures (walls, floors, etc.). No job is too big or too small, so contact FastPro for an estimate, and enjoy their excellent customer service and skilled work.

Our second speaker was residential realtor Scott Darling (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Scott has now been in the real estate business for 24 years, and he has added seven additional real estate designations to his expertise. He calculated that 84% of his business currently comes from previous clients and referrals, so we know that his service and care keep people coming back and recommending him to others. Scott sells four times as many homes as the average real estate agent each year. He likes working with both home buyers and sellers. If he has a client who is selling their home locally and then moving out of the area, Scott has a network of trusted realtors in other states that he can call upon to assist his clients with their out-of-state home purchase. If someone would prefer to rent their house rather than selling it, Scott can help with that, too. His moving truck is available for his clients: "Buy or sell with me, and use my moving truck for free." Contact Scott for any questions about selling or purchasing a home.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by a guest representing organic food products.

Our two showboaters were electrician Dan Frame (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and graphic designer Leigh Friedman (Leigh@FullCircleGraphicDesign). Dan provided some promotional items as well as flyers that list many of the services that Electrical Plus offers to their customers. Leigh displayed a wide variety of items that she helped to design, including printed materials, shirts, and a mug. She has helped people and businesses in very different fields to create images and products to promote their company or vision.

Our first speaker was Mike Hoopes, our property and casualty insurance agent (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Mike talked about the growing trend of customers purchasing insurance online and buying the state minimum coverage. True, this tends to give a lower rate for the insurance premium, but it also tends to lead to people having inadequate coverage in the event of a loss. Mike wants to help people get great coverage--not too much nor too little--at a good price. All insurance companies have to raise their rates sometimes, but Mike will make sure that his customers know why rates are going up when that may happen. He knows that customers are frustrated when they see an unexpected surge in their insurance premium. Mike is happy to be a resource for all insurance questions, and he will look at anyone's current policy to see whether it can be improved. In addition to home and automobile coverage, he can write policies for boats, ATVs, snowmobiles, or business insurance. Mike also highly recommends renter's insurance for anyone who is living in a rental space, including college students.

Our second speaker was Dave Kozak, our life, health, and disability insurance agent (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Dave spoke about life insurance and gave an example of a higher-end policy that he wrote for a family who wanted to use their life insurance policy as a vehicle to provide money to pay for college tuition for their three kids as well as a second home after they retire. Not everyone is able to afford payments of the amount that this family is investing, but Dave can help people at various financial stages to find a policy that will help them not only to provide a death benefit but also to supply benefits while they are still living. There are tax advantages to building wealth in this way, and Dave is ready to help any individual or family to acquire a policy that fits their budget, needs, and goals.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We welcome new member Sheryl Jennings, our food specialist (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Our showboaters were home automation specialist Adam Perkowski (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and general contractor Bob Latta (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) of Latta-Kennedy Builders. Adam displayed blinds that can be raised and lowered using a cell phone app. Bob had photos of several different projects that he worked on recently. We look forward to hearing more from both Adam and Bob at the next meeting.

Our first speaker was Leigh Friedman, our graphic designer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Leigh loves designing, and she invests a great deal of intention, planning, and execution into her work for each client. At the beginning of the process, she asks the client what they would like to communicate with their design. If the client isn't clear on their goal or message, Leigh will ask plenty of questions to gain clarity. She will listen to the client and think about how best to design something that communicates their intended message. Leigh will brainstorm to think about a variety of design approaches. If she is designing a logo, for example, she will draw up several concepts for the client to look at and give their feedback. In the end, it is important to Leigh that the client is happy. She showed us two examples of design projects that she completed: a logo for a local physician, and a publication for a law school that wanted to combine two magazines into one. We saw steps throughout the design and collaboration process as well as the final results. Both clients were very pleased with what Leigh designed for them.

Our second speaker was Dan Frame, our electrician (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Dan is committed to client education. He will help a customer to make the best option to meet their needs, even if it mean recommending a product that they could buy themselves at a hardware store without using Electrical Plus for that job. Dan finds that providing customer-centered service and generating goodwill promotes more business in the future. For a larger electrical project, he will first visualize the whole room and think about how the wiring and outlets would work out best. Dan and his crew always wear protective booties for a job, and they clean up after themselves. They try to make as few holes as possible in the existing structures. The Electrical Plus trucks are always kept clean, since they are like travelling billboards for the company, and they want to make a good impression wherever they are seen. Electrical Plus provides service in Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties, parts of the state of Delaware, and they have even done work at the Jersey shore. They are a Generac certified dealer and can service any generator.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, February 2, 2106. We were joined by guests representing the categories of marketing specialties and landscaping.

Our showboaters were Claudia Roemer and Beth Rondinelli. Claudia is our gift basket provider from Ceiba (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). She had photos of several different types of baskets that she has made for her customers, all beautifully arranged and filled with edible products, functional items (towels, mugs, etc.), and decorative items. Claudia has a ribbon printer that uses a variety of ribbon colors and embroidery colors to personalize a basket with a business name/logo, a greeting, the recipient's name, or any other message. Contact her to make a personalized and memorable gift for any occasion. Beth (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) is our estate attorney, and she prepares simple wills, powers of attorney, and living wills. Beth understands the importance of having these documents drafted before they are needed, and she charges $150 for the set of three documents to keep this peace of mind affordable for her clients.

Our first speaker was Adam Perkowski (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), our home automation specialist. Adam can design home automation products differently depending upon the customer's desired final result. He wants each person to have the experience they want and expect. Adam's home automation designs allow people to control various systems in their home from one source, which keeps things simple. The Nest Protect system can detect carbon monoxide, which will trigger the system to shut down the heating and air conditioning in the house and ping the customer's phone to alert them. The customer can silence the alarm on the phone to turn everything back on. Adam can install a thermostat that learns customer patterns and reprograms itself accordingly. He can install Sonos sound system products in one room, several rooms, or throughout the whole house. Nest Cam security cameras can be programmed to respond to motion, light, alarms, or other triggers. Adam can install home lighting with controls to adjust brightness, colors, etc. As summer approaches, he will also work to make outdoor living spaces more enjoyable, with outdoor lighting and sound as well as pool jet control.

Our second speaker was Bob Latta (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) of Latta-Kennedy Builders, our general contractor. Bob's goal is to provide the construction services and products that his customers want while helping them to feel comfortable during the building process. He showed a home project for which he and his team moved several house functions (including the kitchen and bedrooms) to another part of the house for the duration of the project. Bob makes sure that all floors are protected to prevent damage and also to allow for easier clean-up. The air-return system in the house is typically shut off to prevent dust from travelling throughout the house. Bob showed pictures of two other projects, one in which a garage was converted to a living room, and another in which a separate garage was built on the customer's property. All of the work was clean and professionally done.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, December 29, 2015 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We welcome new member Dan Frame, an electrician from Electrical Plus (www.electricalplus.net). A guest representing telecommunications visited with us. Our showboater for the meeting was our portrait photographer, Jack Ansley (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Jack showed us that, in addition to taking professional portraits of people and animals, he also has a large library of scenic photographs that would make excellent gifts or add a touch of beauty to any home or office.

Our speaker was mortgage broker Lonnie Cooper from The Rate Kings Mortgage (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). The mortgage loan process begins when a potential customer fills out an application, either online or over the phone. Lonnie will take a look at all of the pertinent data supplied in the application to look for anything that could become an issue once the application is presented to the bank. It's better for Lonnie to address the issues with his customers before they get surprised by unexpected questions or problems from the bank. If Lonnie feels that there are no issues (or that they have been dealt with appropriately), then he will give a rate quote to his client. Once the client accepts the rate, Lonnie will send them a checklist of all the items that the bank will want to see prior to approving a mortgage loan. Once again, Lonnie will check to make sure that all documents are accounted for and that he doesn't notice anything that could be a red flag for the bank. The customer then will look over several pages of disclosures, which they then need to sign. Lonnie then will review all of the documents and signatures prior to sending the whole package to the bank. Once the title to the home has been cleared and an acceptable home inspection has been completed, the client is cleared to close and can confirm the closing date. Lonnie is proud of the service that he provides, including all of his pre-underwriting that minimizes unforeseen problems from the bank. He wants the entire process, from application through closing, to be as smooth as possible. He typically receives five-star reviews from his clients once closing is complete. Contact him for mortgages or refinances.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, February 9, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We were joined by guests representing the categories of landscaping and marketing specialties.

Our showboaters were Mike Dobbyn and Gregg Clark. Mike (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) is our financial advisor with Wells Fargo Advisors, and he shared information about investing and retirement planning.

Gregg was representing Jennifer Canfield-Clark, our travel agent with All In Vacations (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). He displayed photos of beautiful vacation sites, and he ended up filling in as a speaker for us also. Gregg and Jennifer specialize in all-inclusive vacations. They have had many excellent experiences with the Sandals family of resorts. Gregg recommends using a travel agent, because booking and holding various rooms on your own can actually drive up the price. The shortest vacation package for a good deal is three days, and more discounts will become available for trips of six days or longer. If someone wants to book a three-day vacation, Jennifer and Gregg suggest choosing a location based on the availability of direct flights and a resort close to the airport. Sandals offers a Sandals Select lifetime membership, but they may not advertise it openly. Jennifer and Gregg know how to get their customers signed up for the Select discounts and points, even for a vacation that already happened years ago. Talk to them to find out the advantages and price breaks that are available when booking with an experienced travel agent.

Our other speaker was our estate attorney, Beth Rondinelli (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Beth urges everyone to be prepared with a simple will, power of attorney, and living will. Over one million Americans die suddenly each year, and it is important to have these documents in place before they are needed. People may avoid getting their wills drafted, because they are busy and don't want to face their own mortality. Married people may assume that their spouse will automatically get everything, but this is not necessarily the case. Beth can help each person to talk through their wishes in a simple visit and get the documents drafted quickly. She will also look at anyone's existing documents to make sure that they reflect the person's true intent. Beth can make a difficult subject much less scary and provide peace of mind for her clients and their families.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. We welcome new members Vince DelVacchio (landscaping - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Toni Schmidt (marketing specialties - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Our showboaters were Kelly Smyth from FastPro Restoration (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and Dieter Enz, our painting contractor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).Kelly brought helpful information about how to contact FastPro for their restoration services dealing with water, mold, and smoke damage. Dieter displayed paint color samples and some of the supplies that he may use for a painting project.

Our first speaker was our food specialist, Sheryl Jennings (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Sheryl offers Wildtree organic food products that are also free from GMOs, peanuts, dyes, high fructose corn syrup, additives and preservatives, Their products are all low in sodium. Sheryl helps busy people to get healthy meals on their dinner tables by offering freezer meal workshops. Wildtree provides shopping lists and detailed instructions. Each customer purchases their proteins, produce, and possibly canned goods prior to the workshop and does some preparation ahead of time. They come to the workshop with their prepared items in freezer bags; then at the workshop they add the Wildtree sauces and seasonings in an enjoyable social atmosphere. Many people won't do this much preparation at home, but they will jump at the chance to have a social afternoon or evening with friends and also put together 10 meals that serve four to six people. Sheryl also told us about Wildtree Gives Back. Wildtree as a company likes to help people, and Sheryl has taken extra steps in her local community. She located two organizations that help women and children who are struggling, and she donates meals that they can then distribute to the families they serve. Each workshop participant is given the option to donate one of their meals, and Sheryl also runs donation-only workshops in which local businesses or individuals can sponsor 10 meals and either do the shopping and prepping themselves or donate the cost of 10 meals and let Sheryl and her volunteer crew do the work.

Our second speaker was Matt Simmers, our banker from First Niagara (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). First Niagara offers many services and products including business checking and savings accounts, personal checking and savings accounts, home equity lines of credit, personal and business credit cards, and mortgages. The benefits of banking with First Niagara are accessibility (with Matt as our banker), knowledge, a customer-centric operation, and good communication. Matt talked with us about the importance of having a good credit score. Factors that contribute to credit score include making payments on time, the capacity of available credit used, length of credit history, types of credit used, and past credit applications. First Niagara offers credit card balance transfer promotions to move credit balances away from cards with higher interest rates. They also have plans for debt consolidation and the ability to borrow against the equity in your home. Contact Matt to ask about any of First Niagara's products or services.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboaters were Scott Brown of James Brown Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning (www.jamesbrownphac.com) and new member Vince DelVacchio of DelVacchio Landscape & Garden Center (www.delvacchio.com).

Our speaker was Theresa Barlow Conahan, our interior designer (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). When she meets with a new client, Theresa asks plenty of questions about what they like in terms of colors, style, etc. She will pick a starting point, which could be a fabric, and work from there to design the room, adding other items like window treatments, pillows, hardware,unique furniture and decor, and lighting. Theresa aims for timeless design that will serve the client well for many years. She will accept both small and large jobs, from holiday decorating to changing the look of a whole house or office. She offers a one-hour free consultation for new clients, and then she typically charges by the hour for her design work. Contact her to schedule a consultation.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboaters were web designer Greg Cazillo (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and mortgage broker Lonnie Cooper (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

Our first speaker was Scott Brown, our heating and air conditioning contractor (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Scott showed photos of some of the issues he has had to repair due to poor designs, incorrect installation, quick/unsafe fixes, fire hazards, and inaccessible systems. When Scott completes an installation, everything is done properly and in compliance with existing codes.

Our second speaker was landscaper Vince DelVacchio (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). He does all sorts of landscaping and hardscaping, but he talked with us about mulch, because it's getting to be the season for ordering and laying mulch. Mulch is beneficial, because it helps to retain moisture, regulate temperature, prevent erosion, and prevent the growth of weeds. Mulch decomposes over time and nourishes the soil. There are several types of mulch depending upon the desired look and use of the area being mulched. Vince can help you choose from bark, hardwood, cedar, playground, wood chips, or dyed mulch. DelVacchio Landscape & Garden Center has both mulch and soil available. Contact Vince with any questions or to order mulch for this season.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboaters were our realtor, Scott Darling (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) and our financial advisor. (Due to regulations in the financial industry, we do not blog about our financial advisor, but you can find out more about him on our chapter's website www.letipcce.com.)

Our first speaker was our mortgage broker, Lonnie Cooper with The Rate Kings Mortgage (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Lonnie spoke about options for down payments when buying a home. The length of time that a buyer plans to stay in the house can make a difference in the amount of money they will want to invest in their down payment. Lonnie can help each buyer determine what makes sense in their situation. He can also give more information about first-time buyers getting down payment funds from immediate family members as well as the possibility of seeking seller assist. Every person's plans and finances will be different, and Lonnie enjoys helping people to make the best decisions for their home purchase.

Our second speaker was Greg Cazillo, our web designer with www.Cazillo.com. Greg emphasized the draw of video in business promotion. Many people prefer video to text. An e-mail newsletter may have a higher open rate if it contains a video and this video is referenced in the subject line. YouTube is the second most popular search engine (with Google being the first). YouTube videos can increase brand awareness and drive viewers to your website. Video also increases trust, because people can see you face-to-face. Contact Greg to put together a video or other web design components.

LeTip Chester County East met on Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel in Exton, PA. Our showboaters were Mike Hoopes and Dan Frame. Mike (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) is our property and casualty insurance agent, and Dan (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) is our electrician.

We had two speakers, but due to regulations in the financial industry, we do not blog about our financial advisor. You can find out more about him on our chapter's website http://letipcce.com/meet-your-sales-force/344-financial-advisor.html. Our other speaker was our residential realtor, Scott Darling (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). Scott spoke about how and when people may choose to appeal the tax assessment on their home. Scott can help a homeowner to evaluate the assessment of comparable properties in the neighborhood and decide whether an appeal is a good idea. Appealing can be helpful if there appears to be a reasonable chance of decreasing taxes. However, opening up the appeal process can result in a change either way, increasing or decreasing the assessment. Scott is always willing to answer questions and provide advice and assistance.

Lonnie Cooper from The Rate Kings Mortgage, LLC is our mortgage specialist. He explained how a business owner can get a mortgage with a new product which is based on your bank statements. Lonnie also gave us some details on another product called a jumbo loan, which is greater than $424,000. This affects the amount of money you are required to have as a down payment. One suggestion Lonnie has is to always purchase title insurance. Contact Lonnie today at 610-572-3635 or send Lonnie an email.

Vince Del Vacchio from Del Vacchio Landscape & Garden Center is our landscaper. He explained how some things are good or bad for your turf. Compacting from vehicles or walking on it a lot is bad for it. Crab grass and weeds are both bad, along with irrigation systems need to be used properly. Fertilization and aeration when done at the time of the year can make a huge difference in the lawn and make it green and healthy, but they need to be done right and with proper timing. Vince's process is more organic and sustainable more like a natural forest. Contact Vince today at 610-692-2422 or send an email.

Scott Darling from Remax Action Associates in Exton PA. Scott has over 20 years of experience in the realty market and has sold hundreds of homes in the Chester County Area, some multiple times. This time of year you can have your property reassessed so that you are paying the proper amount of county, local and school taxes. He can help you through the appeal process and recommend the best appraiser. Contact Scott today at 610-594-7268 or send an email.

Greg Cazillo is our website designer. He showed the group a recently completed website for a local remodeling contractor. Greg redesigned the entire website, added about 50 pages of new content, tons of photos, new contact and service forms, photographed their showroom and setup website analytics to track user interaction on the site. Content is the most important part of a new website; it gets clients onto the site from Google and other search engines. Greg will work with clients of any need from very small website changes that only take an hour to full redesigns including writing, photography and videography. Contact Greg today at 610-572-3722 or contact Greg