Capital to the Coast BNI

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning sits down with Tom Hessler , founder and CEO of Natural Restoration , to discuss how focusing on the right relationships and ideal clients can drive significant business growth. Tom shares how his engineering background helped him build a science-based restoration company specializing in mold remediation, crawl space moisture control,...

Struggling to explain what you do clearly when networking or meeting potential clients? In this episode, I share a simple messaging formula — Problem, Process, Outcome — that helps service-based business owners create an elevator pitch that actually generates referrals and clients. Most business owners ramble or sound too generic when talking about their business. When people don’t clearly underst...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , hostMike Manning sits down with Alana Morentin , founder of Five Diamond Cleaning Service , to share her inspiring journey from personal setbacks to building a successful cleaning business. Alana explains how she started her company during the COVID shutdowns, turned early mistakes into valuable lessons, and grew her business through word-of-mouth refe...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning sits down with Heather Phillips , owner of Triangle Business Solutions , to discuss why bookkeeping is one of the most important systems small business owners need to get right. Heather shares her journey from working in healthcare as a recreational therapist to building a successful bookkeeping business that helps entrepreneurs under...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning sits down with Jon Blakely , founder of Engaged Management , to discuss how businesses can grow by focusing on their core strengths while outsourcing operational challenges. John shares insights from over 40 years of experience in facilities management, logistics, and operational leadership. His career began during the Silicon Valley...

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning talks with Ben Horak , owner of Dream Entertainment NC , about building a successful event company from the ground up. Ben shares how what started as DJing on the side eventually turned into a full-scale event production company handling weddings, corporate events, outdoor festivals, military balls, and large community celebrations ac...

As the year comes to a close, it’s the perfect time for business owners to reflect, reset, and start planning for the year ahead. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning discusses a practical approach to setting and achieving business goals for the coming year. Instead of focusing only on big outcomes like revenue targets, Mike explains how successful entrepreneurs reverse...

How do you start investing if you feel like you don’t have enough money? And what are the financial fundamentals everyone should understand before chasing the latest investment trend? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning talks with Philip Passey , financial advisor and owner of Pillar Financial Services , about the fundamentals of building a strong financial foundation....

In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning talks with Ginny Seeley , founder of Outcome Academy , about turning vision into real results in business and life. Jenny shares her journey from a career in the medical laboratory field to becoming a business strategist and entrepreneur , helping business owners create systems, set meaningful goals, and stay accountable as they grow....

Podcasting has become one of the most powerful ways for small business owners and entrepreneurs to share their expertise, grow their audience, and build meaningful connections. In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning talks with producer Amnon Nissan about how business owners can start their own podcast—even without technical skills. They discuss the practical steps to launc...

What does it take to change careers, move across the country, and build a new business from scratch? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning talks with Andrew Buchbinder of Mortgage Investors Group about his unique journey from 18 years in minor league baseball to becoming a mortgage lender in Wilmington, North Carolina . Andrew shares insights about building a new career t...

How do you build a successful real estate business when you’re just getting started? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning talks with Scott French of Relevate Real Estate about launching a new career in real estate and building a book of business from the ground up. Scott shares how he transitioned from software sales into real estate , joined forces with his wife and top...

What financial mistakes do small business owners make when trying to manage their own bookkeeping? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning sits down with Shelley Cole, owner of Balanced Bookkeeping of NC , to discuss why accurate bookkeeping is one of the most important foundations for small business growth and financial stability . Shelley shares her journey of launching h...

What does it take to build a successful service business while responding to emergencies, managing employees, and growing through relationships? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning sits down with Ryan Strickland , owner of 911 Restoration of Fayetteville and Raleigh , to talk about entrepreneurship, business growth, and how networking helped shape his career. Ryan share...

How do you grow a business through referrals, networking, and consistent prospecting ? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning talks with Bravin Troy of Aflac about building a career in insurance, the power of BNI networking , and how entrepreneurs can grow their business by focusing on relationships instead of cold selling. Braven explains how supplemental insurance works...

How far ahead should business owners be planning their marketing and sales strategies? In this solo episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning shares a powerful concept that can help entrepreneurs avoid slow seasons and create more consistent revenue: staying 90 days ahead of your business season . Many small business owners react to slow sales instead of preparing for them. Mike expl...

What makes referral networking work—and why do some business owners thrive in it while others struggle? In this episode of Capital to the Coast BNI , host Mike Manning sits down with Steve Hand , Executive Director for the BNI Triangle and Coastal Regions , to discuss how relationship-building, trust, and consistent networking drive long-term small business growth . Steve shares his journey from e...