We're so excited to have some fun and talk some marketing! Two parts to our evening session:

First - meet the candidates!  Those of you interested in volunteering on the leadership team for 2025 for the chapter will get a chance to introduce yourselves. There's the first part of who you are and then share what you are excited to do for the chapter and community as you grow your own business!

Then our second part features our welcomed guests, Allison Maertens, where we will have her help us with our pitch of who we are and the value we provide our clients. With her expert eye on brand and marketing, our candidates will go first and get insight on how to best position themselves as the winning brand their clients need. As time allows, we'll then open up to the attendees that if you want to practice your pitch in a safe and welcoming environment, you will then get the additional support of how Allison might help you boost your brand and secure those sales and clients!

This will be an interactive session that all are welcome to participate and learn from each other!  We'll also use this to help get to know what each other does so that we can be better at referring great professionals in our own work. You are much more valuable to your clients when you can recommend qualified professionals and that's what we want to help you do!

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More about Allison:

Allison Maertens is a marketing and communications executive with over 20 years of experience.  Her boutique agency, ALL IS ON BRAND Hawaii, specializes in crafting impactful marketing and communication strategies that align with an organization's culture, vision, and values. During her career, she implemented successful brand and marketing initiatives and led a multi-year commercial renovation project of a 10-story Headquarters building for Hawaii’s largest credit union. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Ethnic Studies from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Master of Arts in Communication Management from the University of Southern California. She enjoys travel, music, sushi, golf, and cycling on her Peloton bike. She resides in Mililani, Hawaii with her husband and two children.

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Connect with Allison on Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/allisonmcmaertens

And check out her services here:  www.allisonbrandhawaii.com

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Guests are welcome, though they must register please. Members - ensure you are logged in to get discounted member rate!

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At The Old Spaghetti Factory at 3 Aloha Tower Dr 1106 ste 1106, Honolulu, HI 96813

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Have an idea or recommendation?  Then please share with info@nsahawaii.org!

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NSA HI Meeting

The NSA HI Meeting focused on enhancing members' business pitches. Jamie, who helps people collaborate with technology, was advised to use positive adjectives and contextualize her work. Becky, a connector and dream realizer, was encouraged to emphasize her authenticity and credibility. Paulette, creating sassy women over 60, was suggested to elaborate on the tangible benefits of her program. Kelly, a children's entertainer, was advised to highlight her educational background and use of balloons. Adam, a leadership coach for first responders, was recommended to simplify his pitch and use specific terminology. Annabelle, an international motivational speaker, was suggested to start with her credentials. Dana, a presenter with humor, was advised to combine her presentations and emphasize educational value.

Transcript

https://otter.ai/u/Shxes8BPj8UC72J9nQqchjkukqQ?view=transcript

Action Items

• [ ] Get a video recording of the presentation to the school administrators.
• [ ] Follow up with the school that agreed to let Kelly present to their teachers and students.
• [ ] Arrange for someone to film Kelly's presentation to the school to use as a promotional video.

Outline

Introduction and Initial Questions

• Speaker 1 initiates the meeting by asking everyone to share their business activities and how they help others with technology.
• Speaker 2 inquires about the specific context in which Speaker 1 helps people engage with technology, such as in-person or virtual training.
• Speaker 1 explains their approach, including hands-on and virtual training, writing a book, and speaking engagements.
• Speaker 2 suggests that Speaker 1 could amend their introduction to highlight their positive and energetic approach to making technology fun and collaborative.

Becky's Pitch and Feedback

• Becky is introduced to pitch next, and she describes her approach of speaking, connecting, and finding common ground with people.
• Becky shares her experience of starting a YouTube channel and being authentic and vulnerable.
• Speaker 2 provides feedback, emphasizing Becky's authenticity and suggesting she describe herself as a connector who helps people realize their dreams.
• Speaker 1 appreciates the feedback and encourages everyone to share their thoughts and ideas.

Paulette's Pitch and Feedback

• Paulette introduces herself as Dr. Paulette, creating sassy women over 60 through coaching and speaking.
• Speaker 2 asks for clarification on what "sassy women over 60" entails, leading to a discussion about empowering women and their achievements.
• Paulette explains that her program helps women feel empowered and live the life they want after sacrificing for careers and families.
• Speaker 2 suggests that Paulette's pitch should focus on the tangible results and benefits of her program to make it more compelling.

Kelly's Pitch and Feedback

• Kelly introduces herself as a children's entertainer and former educator, sharing her mission to help students find happiness and share it with others.
• Kelly explains her transition from party entertainment to classroom education to help students find their happiness and motivation.
• Speaker 2 advises Kelly to emphasize her credibility as a former educator and highlight the unique combination of her skills in balloon twisting and motivational speaking.
• Kelly shares her challenges in prospecting and the importance of not giving up, drawing a comparison to Colonel Sanders' persistence.

Adam's Pitch and Feedback

• Adam introduces himself as a leadership coach for first responders, focusing on organizational psychology and work-life balance.
• Speaker 2 suggests simplifying Adam's introduction to include his current role, previous experience, and the value he offers.
• Adam mentions his upcoming speaking engagement at the International Violence and Trauma Convention.
• Speaker 2 advises Adam to use specific terminology and pain points that resonate with his audience to make his pitch more effective.

Annabelle's Pitch and Feedback

• Annabelle introduces herself as a motivational speaker, corporate trainer, and executive coach, emphasizing her passion for helping people overcome adversity and change.
• Speaker 2 suggests that Annabelle highlight her international recognition and unique approach of incorporating the aloha spirit into her presentations.
• Annabelle shares her experience of speaking at a convention in Australia and the positive feedback she received.
• Speaker 2 recommends starting with Annabelle's credentials to build credibility and then transitioning to her value proposition.

Dana's Pitch and Feedback

• Dana introduces herself as a presenter who reminds people of common sense principles through humor and entertainment.
• Speaker 2 suggests combining Dana's various presentations into a cohesive pitch that highlights her unique blend of education and entertainment.
• Dana mentions her struggle with creating a perfect pitch and the need for help in making it concise and effective.
• Speaker 2 advises Dana to focus on the value she provides and the unique combination of her skills in humor and education.

Final Thoughts and Group Photo

• Speaker 1 thanks everyone for their participation and emphasizes the importance of having a safe space to practice and grow.
• Speaker 2 shares her appreciation for the feedback and the opportunity to help others improve their pitches.
• The group takes a group photo and discusses the logistics of paying the bill and sharing contact information.
• Speaker 1 mentions the importance of having a speaker reel and the value of speaking engagements for marketing and branding.

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