BNI San Diego Podcast

In this special "My BNI Story" edition of the BNI San Diego Podcast, Ed sits down with the energetic and inspiring Reuven Politi, owner of an HVAC company and proud member of BNI Carmel Valley. From hesitantly attending his first meeting under the threat of missing Passover dinner to building a thriving business powered by referrals, Reuven's journey is a masterclass in what BNI can...

In this insightful episode of the BNI San Diego Podcast, hosts Ed and Andy dive deep into one of the most challenging aspects of BNI membership: how to effectively generate referrals in industries where the ask isn't so straightforward. Whether you're in criminal defense, healthcare, finance, or any field where privacy, stigma, or complexity makes referrals tricky, this episode is for yo...

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Abbie Wilson, a 13 - year - old powerhouse and the official Celebration Coordinator of BNI San Diego. Abbie, daughter of Executive Director Ed Wilson, shares her fresh and fearless perspective on attending her sixth National BNI Conference — and the unique experience of growing up immersed in the BNI community.   From group Q&As with Dr. Ivan Misner...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Our Guest this week is my long-time friend and colleague, Kevin Barber. Kevin is a 20-year ED in Germany South-West with 50 Chapters and over 1400 members, and his region has generated $1.2 billion in closed business. After 24 years working as a CPA in the audit industry and the services sector, he claims to have had “no idea” what networking was when he start...

In this powerful episode of the BNI San Diego Podcast, recorded live from Houston, Texas at the 2025 BNI National Conference, host Ed sits down with longtime friend and co - executive director of BNI San Francisco Bay Area, Mike Macedonio . Mike shares his incredible 28-year journey with BNI — from hustling through multiple jobs to achieving his ultimate goal of never working for anyone else again...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Our Special Guest this week is my long-time friend and colleague, David Kauffman. David is the Managing Director for the BNI Delaware Valley Regions, which consist of three regions: Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Reading. BNIDVR has surpassed 80 chapters with 1700 members and continues to grow. He has been a member for over 25 years and is the last founding mem...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast!  Today’s Special Guest is my long-time friend and colleague, Mike Barbieri.  Mike is the BNI Executive Director for three regions in Georgia and a seasoned technology entrepreneur. With over 30 years of experience leading tech-driven businesses, over the past two years, Mike has focused on empowering professionals through AI innovation and referral networking....

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast!  I am joined today by my Mentor and Friend, Dr. Ivan Misner, the Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of BNI, the world’s largest referral networking organization. With decades of experience in networking, Dr. Misner has helped millions of professionals build lasting relationships and grow their businesses globally. His innovative approach to networking has res...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today, we are joined by my long-time Friend/Colleague and Inspiring Mentor, Patti Salvucci. Patti was an Executive Director for BNI Massachusetts for 25 years. Upon retiring, Patti had 100 chapters and over 2700 members. Currently, she is the Board Chair for Friends of Thai Daughters. An organization that empowers young girls to keep them out of human traffick...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! My special guest today is Ina Masten, a Fractional CFO and Trusted Advisor with an extensive background as a Controller and CFO. With 55 years of experience in San Diego, Ina has spent her career helping businesses manage their finances with precision and insight. When she’s not working, Ina enjoys socializing with friends, reading, and exploring music across...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast!  I’m so excited about today's special guest, Dawn Lyons, who is also a great friend, mentor, and colleague with BNI in the San Francisco Bay area.  As a referral marketing expert, Dawn is the co-owner of 3 BNI franchises in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her regions have 60 chapters, with 48 Director Consultants on her team, and 1400 members! Dawn is in the...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today, I’m joined by my good friend and colleague Kamryn Reynolds from BNI Tampa. Kamryn Reynolds is the owner of Articulate Advantage, a communications coaching firm that helps business professionals develop public speaking abilities, negotiation skills, and personal influence. Active in BNI Tampa since age 14, he’s now an Area and Launch Director, connecting...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today I’m joined by one of our Fans Favorite Co-Hosts Andy Cruz, with Cruz Productions and the current President of BNI Partners In Excellence here in San Diego.   In this episode, we dive into "The Value of Updating Your One-to-One Planner." Life and business often change every 6 to 9 months, which is why it's crucial to stay on top of your pla...

Today I’m joined by a long-time Friend/Colleague and Mentor Frederick Marcoux. Frederick is the CEO and the National Director (Franchisee) of BNI in Australia. Frederick has been in this role since 2007, under his leadership BNI has more than doubled in size and just last year the members of BNI Australia generated over $600 million of closed business for each other. His favorite core value is Giv...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today I’m joined by one of our favorite Co-Host Andy Cruz, with Cruz Productions and the current President of BNI Partners In Excellence here in San Diego. In this episode, we're excited to introduce BNI San Diego’s new Regional Mentoring Program, launching in February. Join us as we dive into how this program is designed to provide new and existing membe...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today’s special guest is BNI Executive Director, Cathy Barbieri. Cathy Barbieri has been a key player in the BNI community since 1996, starting as a member and quickly advancing to leadership roles in Nashville, TN. After relocating to Atlanta, Cathy spent ten years as the Managing Area Director, helping launch new chapters in Georgia and North Carolina, and w...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Our special guest for the start of 2025 is non other than Alex Terranova. Alex is an Executive and Leadership Coach and Performance and Success Alchemist whose essence is steeped in ontological principles. If you want to learn more about Alex, click on his website link at www. AlexTerranovaCoaching.com and email him at Alex@TheDreamMason.com. In this episode,...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Our guest today is Michelle Campbell, my Good Friend, Mentor, and Colleague. Michelle started her time in BNI as a Financial Advisor in 2000, beginning her journey in East Lansing, Michigan. Over the years, she took on leadership roles, eventually purchasing the BNI Alaska Franchise in 2011, where she serves as the Executive Director, passionately supporting B...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today’s guest is my Good Friend and Mentor, Moji Ajele.  Moji has been a certified executive coach, civil engineer, and BNI Executive Director (in Alberta South, Canada) for 13 years. Recognized globally, she has earned numerous awards including the prestigious BNI Founders Award for Leadership. Moji, a lifelong learner is currently a DBA student at the Haskay...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today, Today’s guest is nothing short of extraordinary. Crystal Privett, known as the “Queen of Crystal Clarity,” is a seven-time bestselling author and global corporate trainer whose journey from deep trauma to transformation is inspiring people worldwide. Iconically featured on New York’s Times Square billboards, has expansive charitable reach and receiving...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today, I’m thrilled to be joined by my great friend, mentor, and colleague, Elaine Zambos. With over 35 years of experience in sales, media, and training, Elaine is a powerhouse in developing marketing and sales strategies for businesses. As the Executive Director of BNI Southeast Tennessee, she’s more than doubled the region's membership in the last seve...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Our returning guest today is Alex Terranova with Alex Terranova Coaching. Alex is an Executive and Leadership Coach and Performance and Success Alchemist whose essence is steeped in ontological principles. If you want to learn more about Alex, click on his website link at www. AlexTerranovaCoaching.com and email him at Alex@TheDreamMason.com . In this episode,...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today I am joined by a good friend/colleague and mentor, Shirley Towne! Shirley is the Executive Director of the BNI of Midlands, South Carolina area. Shirley has been an Executive Director for 6 years. She has grown her region from 379 to 1079.Shirley has been named Executive Director of the Year for 3 years in a row and has the largest BNI Chapter in the Uni...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today I am joined by one of our AMAZING past guests, Corryn Kivett! Corryn is the founder of Evolution Room™( www.evolutionroom.co ) and is a firm believer that time never gives any refunds. As an NLP Master Coach and Trainer, she helps entrepreneurs not only make the most of their time but achieve next-level results both personally and professionally. You can...

Welcome to the BNI San Diego Podcast! Today I am joined by one of my BNI Hero’s Frank De Raffele. Frank is a New York Times Bestselling Author known for his book *Business Networking and Sex: Not What You Think!*, which became an Amazon #1 Best Seller in nine categories and has been translated into Chinese. With a career spanning over 25 years as a professional speaker, Frank has delivered keynote...