Elpi Lakalakis
Area Group Manager
Elpi Lakakis loves interacting with people. It is her natural ability to communicate with people from all walks of life, along with her 30 years experience working within the hospitality industry that drives Elpi to create unique and positive realty experiences for her clients. For Elpi, people come first and her ability to listen and put them at ease means she can quickly evaluate her client’s needs. Thinking beyond the sale is also part of the process; Elpi believes that helping clients find solutions that are right for them is important for their future happiness and overall satisfaction. She loves positive outcomes and works hard to achieve them. Elpi’s warm and friendly personality is backed by a strong work ethic, ingrained as a teenager when she worked in her brother’s restaurant and then went on, with her husband Dimitri, to run two successful Christchurch businesses - Costas Souvlaki Bar (the first in New Zealand) and Costas Taverna.
Katrina Harding
Area Group Manager
I’m a Travel Broker – check out www.katrinaharding.travel – still operating throughout Covid, although I’m not quite as busy. I love travel and I love to travel and to assist my clients book their dream holidays, wherever they may be. As travel returns networking will renew its importance as people will look for the hand-holding and support that a professional can give, passing on border rules and updated country entry requirements. TNG is a great way to connect people and ensure contacts are looked after.
As a visitor you can attend two TNG meetings for free. No fees, no contract, no commitment. If you like what you see, you can simply sign up.
ROD KELK
Area Group Manager
Empower Business offers business advisory and systems accounting services to all types of businesses across Northland.
Our proprietary STAR Cycle (Strategy . Tools. Activity . Results) helps business owners to increase the profitability and value of their business in a structured manner.
Call us for a no-obligation chat about your situation.
ROD KELK
Area Group Manager
Empower Business offers business advisory and systems accounting services to all types of businesses across Northland.
Our proprietary STAR Cycle (Strategy . Tools. Activity . Results) helps business owners to increase the profitability and value of their business in a structured manner.
Call us for a no-obligation chat about your situation.
Tibor Mackor
Area Group Manager
Business owners generally have no money or time, you gain both, in working with me, so that you have a business that creates more money and gives you the opportunity to have the time you always wanted from your own business.
With an extensive background in chartered accounting, I have over 20 years involvement in advising business leaders on strategies to achieve growth. Heading up diverse businesses, including co-operatives and private companies in New Zealand, South Africa and Europe, I am a specialist in managing change and stimulating business improvement and development.
Theo Simeonidis
Area Group Manager
UProtectNZ Insurance Services
Following an extensive career as a Company Secretary and CEO and 30 years of community volunteering, Theo continues to provide important services to the community. Theo is very well known as a networking 'legend' in TNG giving tirelessly to his groups and members.
Theo specialises in risk protection for individuals, families and businesses. All insurance companies have their specific 'sweet spots' – Theo’s detailed product knowledge enables him to find the best 'sweet spot' for his clients, in terms of the type, quality and amount of cover, as well as making sure the cost is competitive, manageable and sustainable. He provides a comprehensive and professional service, including advocacy, in pursuing claims on behalf of his clients.
Founding Member TNG Ellerslie 2014, Area Group Manager TNG Orewa, Silverdale and Hibiscus Coast, Group Manager TNG Warkworth, Chairperson Silverdale Business, Rotary Club member of Orewa-Millwater, Organiser "Greek Extravaganza" Annual Charity Function.
Ron Schalkwijk
Area Group Manager
Director
Ron Schalkwijk Consulting
Leadership Coaching • Team & Culture • Business Performance
Phone: 021 0886 3379 www.rsconsult.co.nz
Ron has an extensive career working in the banking and investment sectors with break from banking to establish a number of small businesses on his own account including a small chain of mortgage brokerages, a personal financial planning practise and of course his current advisory/coaching business.
He has worked with many small to medium businesses who want to achieve more but have limited support available to them. Ron understands business and the needs of business owners.
Ron stepped into specialist business consulting to bring a more hands-on approach to assisting businesses with their journey, while also keeping them accountable to themselves and their business.
When not spending time with his family and grandchildren, Ron likes to create things and is an avid scale model builder, ranging from his collection of model cars to the scale railway layout he is building in the garage.
Tibor Mackor
Area Group Manager
Business owners generally have no money or time, you gain both, in working with me, so that you have a business that creates more money and gives you the opportunity to have the time you always wanted from your own business.
With an extensive background in chartered accounting, I have over 20 years involvement in advising business leaders on strategies to achieve growth. Heading up diverse businesses, including co-operatives and private companies in New Zealand, South Africa and Europe, I am a specialist in managing change and stimulating business improvement and development.
Howard George
Area Group Manager
Howard is a Chartered Accountant with over 40 years’ experience in senior accounting and management positions in New Zealand businesses. Howard has been a business sales specialist with Company Sales and Acquisitions Limited for over 3 years. His background and experience enable him to help owners prepare the business for sale so as to generate strong genuine interest and the best returns. If you are considering selling your business please give him a call.
Steve Smith
Area Group Manager
Steve is a multi-faceted sales and marketing professional with experience across a broad spectrum of industries including automotive, retail, publishing, electrical engineering, leisure and financial services. With a particular focus on customer service Steve’s mission is to work on your brand to make your brand work for you. He does this by supplying customised apparel and promotional products, helping your brand ‘get noticed’.
Sarah Kavanagh
Area Group Manager
The Live Well Tribe
Sarah successfully launched the Cambridge group of TNG in 2018 and has now moved to Wellington where she has opened the first TNG group in Wellington. "I am thrilled to be involved in the launch of TNG Wellington. TNG has helped me make valuable connections and grow my business through referrals. I look forward to meeting Wellington business people and creating a vibrant networking group in our capital city
Paul Foster
Area Group Manager
Senior Sales Partner at Iron Bridge Real Estate since 2009 and previously Property Investment Sales Manager 2006 - 2009.
Recognised for reaching a standard of excellence, I received Gold Badge Status in 2012 in the Pittard Training Group putting me in the top 5% of the industry. Later that same year Paul became the first Kiwi to win an award at the Australasian Real Estate Awards being awarded 'Most Improved Salesperson'.
Nigel Ekins
Area Group Manager
Nigel Ekins is the owner of Phoenix Consultancy Services Auckland. He specialises in web development and makeovers, lead generation, web analysis and copywriting. Nigel has worked in a variety of industries and his focus has been on the back end, looking at processes regarding how businesses communicate with clients, staff etc.
Clare Baker
Area Group Manager
I am a passionate, self-motivated, people person who loves a challenge and thrives on excellent customer service. The thrill of reaching and over achieving targets compliments my competitive nature.
I am fortunate to be part of eGENTIC Asia Pacific who are industry-leaders in digital lead generation services. I enjoy working as part of a team and firmly believe that as individuals we can shine together to provide the best outcome for our company and our customers alike.
My work history demonstrates that my technical knowledge has enabled me to leverage sales opportunities and gain ‘Win-Win-Win’ situations. My sales methodology is very much consultative based.
Every contact and conversation presents an opportunity. I always want to make sure I am ready for the opportunities that come my way.
Karl Jackson
Area Group Manager
Karl is a property management specialist with extensive experience in managing a large commercial property. He has specialised in property maintenance and has overseen large renovation and maintenance projects. Developing strong relationships is the foundation of Karl’s work ethic. This has enabled him to build a successful network within the Remuera and Eastern Bays area. Karl achieved a Diploma in Health and Safety which has given him an in-depth understanding of how to navigate the intricacies of current legislation.
Rawinia Matthews
Area Group Manager
Are you considering selling a property in Central Auckland or West Auckland?
To see if I can add value to you, I'd like to ask you a few questions:
• Why are you selling? Is there some way in which we can help you to keep this property?
• By what date do you want to sell? Is there anything pressing you to that date?
• Who are your advisors (finance/legal/insurance/etc.)?
• Do you need help in getting your property ready to go to market?
Here’s how I help people in your situation: I am a licensed real estate agent with over 3 decades in real estate sales, so I have usually experienced most situations that a seller could face.
The people who find I’m ideally suited to help tend to be committed sellers who are market ready.
My sellers hire me because of the benefits of my service, which include:
• I am proudly aligned with Arizto Limited, a NZ company and licensed real estate agent
• We are a digital full-service agency with a fixed fee of $10,000 +GST for successfully selling a property; all our documentation is online, and we are really easy to deal with
• Being a fully-digital agency means that I can spend more time working for my sellers
• After the initial appraisal, every step in the sales process is automated on mobile/PC and fully transparent. The only exception to this is if the property is going to auction, in which case there must be an on-site auctioneer and paperwork on the sale day
• The deposit paid by a seller always goes to a third-party trust account, never to the agency
• We make the connect to the lawyer and send them the documentation for review pre-sale
• A feature of our system is the ability to instantly convert a viewing into an open home
• I have a pool of trusted advisors and contractors who can be sure to smooth the sales experience for my sellers and we will ensure that the property is fully presentable to the market
• For buyers, I teach them how to be market-ready
Just briefly, here’s how I came to be in this business: with a young family I couldn't go back to nursing, so going into real estate was a way to get a business up and running whilst raising my children. I had recently purchased a property and I thought that I could do as good a job. Now, some 3 decades later, I know that I made the right choice, and so do the hundreds of sellers who have entrusted me with the sale of their homes (many of them having done so more than once).
If you’re interested in learning more, do get in touch for a friendly chat about how I can help.
Geoffrey Hughes
Area Group Manager
Geoffrey has had a varied and rich working life, he has worked in a number of senior management positions and as a self-employed contractor. He co-founded a start-up taking it to a national company within 10 years, receiving a letter of congratulations from the Prime Minister on their 10th anniversary. Geoffrey is now Business Manager & co-owner of a full suite accounting practice based on Auckland’s North Shore.
I work with clients either on a 1:1 basis or via my unique, semi-group coaching course, called the Construction Business MasterClass.
Andy Burrows
Area Group Manager
I specialise in coaching the owners of construction-based companies to improve their business performance. They include builders, electricians, plumbers, HVAC and other specialist contactors.
The typical business owner I work with loves what he does, is happiest solving technical challenges for his clients, but feels held back by all the other stuff that is essential in running a successful business. That may be building a marketing and sales system, clients from hell who are over demanding and then slow to pay; staff who can’t come up to the owner’s standard of work and result in too many call-backs, or the demands of all the quoting and administration that keep you up all hours of the night. Many tradies have had extensive technical training in their chosen field, but seldom any training in running a growing business. I help fill that knowledge gap.
I work with clients either on a 1:1 basis or via my unique, semi-group coaching course, called the Construction Business MasterClass.
Rich Ellis
Area Group Manager
Rich Ellis is a health coach, a speaker and a mentor. Rich helps kiwi businesses get healthier through workshops and programmes that address organisational culture and individual health and wellness challenges.
Rich takes a holistic approach, leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of optimal health and a stronger bottom line.
Sharon Kawe
Area Group Manager
The principal of SJK Accountants Ltd, Sharon brings a wealth of business knowledge and understanding of challenges facing small to medium sized business owners. She believes owners need a consistent point of contact they can ring to chat about their latest business challenge. SJK help take the stress out of dealing with forecasting, accounting packages, tax compliance and change. SJK work with small to medium sized businesses, trusts and rental owners.
Judith Scott
Area Group Manager
Melaleuca The Wellness Co
Judith has been passionate in business networking and connecting people and earned many major awards for her work in enhancing lives. She loves helping others gain financial freedom & improved wellness. Her story took her from pain to gain.
Yvonne Procter
Area Group Manager
With over 25 years’ experience, the award-winning advisers at Insurance Works create personalised insurance strategies providing advice and protection for all aspects of your business and family life, utilising medical, income protection, trauma and life insurance products.
Trevor Huett
Area Group Manager
Empower Business offers business advisory and systems accounting services to all types of businesses across Northland.
Our proprietary STAR Cycle (Strategy . Tools. Activity . Results) helps business owners to increase the profitability and value of their business in a structured manner.
Call us for a no-obligation chat about your situation.
John Milner
Area Group Manager
My name is John Milner, I am an award winning Certified Financial Planner and managing director of boutique investment advisory firm Collaboratrive Consulting Ltd.
With three decades of industry experience, advising busy successful individuals, businesses, family trusts and charitable trusts I have seen and done it all. Rather than work with institutions, we prefer to work with academics, to provide what we call Evidence Based Advice and placing our clients interests before our own.
For those that are wanting to make work optional, we provide less risk, more control and greater certainty with their financial future.
Catherine Cooke
Area Group Manager
A business owner turned business advisor and Founder of The Engine.
I’ve always been fascinated by business and the opportunities to scale to greater heights personally and professionally.
I built my first company from the ground up, to multiple companies with a staff number of 90. And I almost lost everything when another business venture was derailed by circumstances out of my control.
It’s safe to say I know growing pains and adversity well and have seen what happens when a business goes well …and not so well.
I’ve been a business advisor for the last seven years, with an extensive track record in helping hundreds of businesses grow. I was the Business Advisor for the Business Chamber of Commerce covering business problems nationwide in 2015.
But what I’ve observed in this role is the lack of holistic business advice in the marketplace.
Sure there are plenty of coaches, consultants and companies out there doing great work to help businesses but it’s often directed to one specific area of business, and doesn’t look at a business as a whole or include the voice of the team and clients. This can lead to all sorts of issues and can really stall growth.
I’ve also watched business owners try to do it all, wearing too many hats, not focusing on what they’re good at then delegating the rest.
My motto is “delegate to elevate” and that’s what I’m passionate about helping business owners do, so they can experience true growth.
But I know they can’t do it alone.
That’s why I founded The Engine.
It’s a collaborative community of business professionals from experienced advisors, to a network of specialist business owners personally selected by me.
Because lets’ face it – running a business is a lonely business.
Having a team of skilled people cheering you on and offering sound business advice and trusted services is invaluable and a key to business success.
If you’re looking for access to unrivalled monthly business support that won’t break the bank – you’re in the right place.
Garth Partridge
National Groups Manager
My learnings from business ownership, my work as a business coach and my belief in the advantages of business networking, provide me with the skill to perform my role. My passion is to help business owners achieve even better results.
Chanelle Reid
Area Group Manager
Chanelle Reid is founder of Ice Marketing which is a full service, bespoke marketing agency located in Pukekohe. Combining forces with her husband, Matt and his web design company, Razor Web Design, Chanelle and Matt operate their team of 13 people across the services of web design and marketing through these two brands.
Ice Marketing specialises in social media marketing but also covers strategy, digital marketing, online/offline integration and more.
When she isn’t in the business, Chanelle is a competitive Dressage rider and also loves property investment and travel.
Business Networking has been a huge part of Chanelle’s growth in business which is what has drawn her into being involved in TNG as South Auckland Area Manager.
Melanie Budden
Sales Manager
Melanie has owned her own businesses for over 25 years and understands what business is like from all perspectives. With this empathy she is available to work with our members and our visitors to maximise their networking opportunity, discuss ideas, feedback and strives towards the philosophies of both constant improvement and consistency.
Mark Trafford
Director
Mark had already successfully built a multi-million dollar business through networking and his passion for business networking led him to start TNG in 2012. Mark truly believes that small business in New Zealand doesn’t need a big marketing and advertising budget. What they need are other great business owners and professionals around them to support their many challenges in their business. Mark believes TNG provides that very platform for its members.