Small Businesses at Spencer Small Business Association. Specializing in small business opportunity, home based business ideas, home based business opportunity and small business consulting

 
   Username:
   Password:
  Forgot Username & Password?


John Spencer Ellis, MBA, Ed.D.+

john spencer ellisJohn Spencer Ellis holds bachelors degrees in business and health science, an MBA with emphasis in marketing, as well as a doctorate in education. John owns and operates five corporations in the areas of business development, health & fitness, medical supplies and real estate investment. He became a multi-millionaire in his early thirties and now enjoys guiding others in their quest to do the same.

John has more than fifteen health, fitness, wellness and medical certifications. John is the author of "How Badly Do You Want It? – Your Ultimate Guide to Optimal Fitness" and a contributor to "Power of Champions". His articles have been featured in over 20 publications, and he is a frequent consultant to the world's media on a variety of health, fitness, business, and lifestyle topics. In addition, John is on the Advisory Board for the American Association of Personal Trainers and is a Fellow of the National Board of Fitness Examiners. He oversees operations at his facilities; Spencer Escape Fitness Resort and Spencer Wellness Center, both located in California. Recently, John was nominated for the California Community College Distinguished Alumni Award.

On a personal note, John has a 2nd degree black belt in kung-fu and has completed the Ironman triathlon. He also finished 5th in the U.S. at the National Biathlon (run/bike) Championships.


Samantha McDermott

samantha mcdermottSamantha McDermott is the principal and founder of two companies, Show Staffers and Highbrow Media Group. Her organizations develop highly successful sales, marketing and promotional solutions for a wide range of organizations including major corporations, small businesses, non-profit entities, trade associations and universities. Her clients have included: Apple Computers, Symantec, Spencer Medical, Sport Court International, The Woodworking Shows, University of California at Irvine, and the Orange County Superior Courts.

With clients ranging from the most progressive high tech companies to traditional American woodworkers, Samantha has a scale of expertise to match.

As a broadcast sales executive, Samantha was credited with helping dozens of television sales departments across the country use original programming to drive additional sales at their stations. She then made a rare industry leap into journalism; where her work as a reporter and news director was internationally distributed and nationally recognized. Her public sector experience, including interviews with prominent public figures such as, Presidential candidate and Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy 2d, Attorney General Janet Reno, Andy Rooney, the late Dale Earnhardt and Hockey Hall of Famer Brad Park have earned her dozens of awards. Her public service announcement and subsequent campaign about the consequences of drinking and driving, "The Choice," received national attention and earned her the prestigious Beacon Award.

As a journalist, McDermott perfected the skill of telling a story and conveying its message in a compelling manner. The trade show industry was a natural transition for McDermott, who brought both sales and reporting experience, to her clients' expos and networking events. In the late 90's, she was Symantec's key spokesperson during the Y2K craze. During her tenure, she made presentations to computer user groups across the country and sold thousands of Norton 2000 packages to customers who were eager to ready their computers and data for the new millennium.

From trade show sales and marketing to corporate messaging and video production, her clients typically enjoy multiple returns on their investments. "It's not enough to have a good looking booth, or an interesting video. People want to see tangible, measurable, returns on their investments. And that's what we give them," says McDermott.

Sam’s work has been very rewarding, as she enjoys creating cost effective marketing strategies for companies who want to maximize their return on investments at trade shows and networking events. At any given show, Sam can be seen giving demonstrations, leading a team of her consultants, or coaching one of her clients' teams on presentation skills and sales training.

A champion of continuing education, Sam helps small and emerging growth companies reach their full potential through the Spencer SBA. She is working on a presentation sales skills program which will be offered to students worldwide in 2005.


Bruce Allen

Bruce Allen, described by the Orange County Register as a leading growth company "Catalyst,” Bruce Allen is widely acknowledged for his successes in new business growth and the development of relationship networks, in the world of fast-growth companies and professional services firms. His marketing leadership and consultative roles include Deloitte & Touche LLP, Brobeck, Ingram Micro, Mercury Technologies and Pricewaterhouse.

As a speaker, writer, and mentor, Bruce helps companies define themselves, create connections and synergies in their professional networks, and use marketing as the springboard to fast growth. Bruce is a leading evangelist of innovation in the world of relationship marketing and sales and can be seen speaking to business and professional services audiences across the country. His topics include market and alliance development, entrepreneurship, branding, business development and relationship marketing. His audiences include the Legal Marketing Association, American Marketing Association, Comdex, Red Herring Entrepreneur Summit, the American Electronics Association, Software Council of Southern California, American Mortgage Bankers Association, UCLA, National University, and UC Irvine.

Bruce currently serves on the Advisory Board of the National University Institute (NUI) for Community Research and Civic Entrepreneurship, and the Board of Directors for the United States Adaptive Recreation Centers.


Paula Brici

For over 15 years Paula Brici has developed and implemented public relations initiatives for entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies and start-up divisions of established multi-million dollar corporations. From strategic program development and message segmentation and planning, to successful tactical implementation, her expertise includes copywriting, product launches, trade shows, press and analyst tours, news, trade, broadcast, and feature story media coverage.

Paula’s communications expertise draws on her wide-ranging experience in business and consumer markets as well as her relationships with regional, national and industry media. Her broad-based perspective is ideal for clients who want to reach audiences in key markets.

Paula places a high value on her ability to maintain the highest degree of professionalism, trust and responsiveness to her clients.

She attended Indiana University and graduated with a B.S. in public affairs, with a minor in business. In Indiana, Paula managed PR and legislative affairs for the state’s leading trial bar association. After relocating to Southern California in the late 1980s, Paula held upper management positions at leading full-service advertising and PR firms in greater Los Angeles. Her wide network of contacts includes nationally recognized service providers, who are known for their contributions and achievements in the high tech space.

Paula recently concluded a two-year term on the board of the Orange Coast Venture Group, one of Southern California’s preeminent networking platforms for those who advise, finance and manage fast-growing early-stage and middle-market companies. She is an active supporter of the AeA Orange County Council and has served on the steering committee for its annual Orange County High-Tech Awards. She has also contributed PR support to the Laguna Art Museum, Second Harvest Food Bank, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and American Cancer Society.


Gary Gordon, MS, CFP

Gary Gordon, MS, CFP is the President and co-founder of Pacific Park Financial, Inc. He earned his MS degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology, and has more than 15 years of experience as a financial coach.

As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), Mr. Gordon has distinguished himself as a reputable and trusted investor advocate on the nationally syndicated radio talk show, "Making Money with Doug Fabian." Mr. Gordon's participation on the radio program, currently #1 in Los Angeles, spans more than 5 years.

Mr. Gordon is often asked to consult as an educator as well as a writer. He has taught financial concepts in Mexico, trained insurance professionals in Singapore, presented at conferences in Hong Kong and written speeches for political figures in Taiwan. In addition, he produced the draft copy for a McGraw-Hill publication, Doug Fabian's Maverick Investing.

Gary's family has lived in Mission Viejo and Laguna Niguel for over 6 years. He takes special pride in his little energizer...his 7 year old daughter.


David Hamilton.

David Hamilton, is the principal and co-founder of Ariel Technical Services, Inc. His organization provides Information Technology Support for small to medium sized businesses. His business focus encompasses three main areas: IT outsource support, database and ecommerce website development, and eBilling, an application that allows businesses to invoice their clients via email and collect payments online. Known as the premier Technology Support Provider or TSP in southern California, Ariel’s client base includes Swagelok, Unisys, the IRS, the U.S. Air Force, Allied Signal, and a host of small businesses and associations.

Hamilton began his career in the aerospace industry as an engineer. He transitioned into program management and government contracting. In this arena, his knowledge and expertise propelled him into the computer and networking fields. He began by building residential computers and as positive word-of-mouth began to spread, small businesses contracted he and his team to build and manage their business networks.

Over time it became clear that a great need existed in the small business sector for knowledgeable, cost-effective, technical support, and Ariel Technical Services led the charge. Today Ariel is recognized as the leading tech support provider for small businesses in North America.

Hamilton dedicates much of his time giving back to the community that made him a successful entrepreneur. Ariel continues to support the small business community through its work with the Spencer SBA.


William R. Mitchell, P.C.

William R. Mitchell joined Cummins & White, LLP as a partner in 2002. His practice focuses on corporate law and business litigation. Before joining Cummins & White, he was the Vice President-General Counsel of Interstate Specialty Marketing, Inc, General Counsel for Pick Systems and a sole practitioner himself.

Today, Mr. Mitchell represents corporations and business professionals in all matters related to the formation and governance of business entities. He handles transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and the review and preparation of business agreements. Mr. Mitchell’s expertise includes intellectual property licensing, distribution and protection for technology companies, and agency agreements for advertising and marketing companies. He successfully manages business litigation, including complex out-of-state lawsuits. He also acts as General Counsel for many of the firm’s business clients.

Mr. Mitchell is a member of the State Bar of California and the Orange County Bar Association. Mr. Mitchell’s other accomplishments include an appointment by the Orange County Board of Supervisors to the Government Practices Oversight Committee where he served as Vice Chairman (1995-1996). He served as Chairman of Orange County Common Cause (1990-1996) and was on the Board of Directors of California Common Cause (1992-1996). He also served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Career Beginning, a program that assisted at risk high school students in Santa Ana, California.

Mr. Mitchell attended the University of Southern California (1977), where he was honored with a membership in Skull & Dagger and Blue Key. He earned a J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law (1981), where he was a member of the Traynor Society and received the American Jurisprudence Award in Corporations.

Mr. Mitchell was born in Los Angeles, CA. He and his family reside in Coto de Caza, California.


Robert Natiuk

Robert Natiuk was born in 1940 , "the good old days," on a farm in Manitoba, Canada where he spent his first 12 years. Dirt roads, no electricity, one-room school a mile away, below zero blizzards in the winter, and mosquito clouds in the summer. And plenty of work on the dairy and grain farm. "Bobby," as he was called, started working in the fields and in the barn even before he started school. He could milk a cow when he was five.

After moving to the city of Regina, Saskatchewan, Robert worked evenings in a restaurant with his mother, washing dishes and scrubbing floors. That continued through high school. He worked his way through college, also developing his writing skills as he looked forward to a career in journalism.

Since then, he has written for television, radio, direct-mail, magazines, and other media. He first started in MLM in 1977, thinking it was a good way to free him to write what he wanted to. He was not lucky enough to find a mentor, so he taught himself the principles of good MLM by interviewing dozens of MLM leaders for a monthly magazine. Out of that he wrote several books, YOUR DESTINY: YOUR LIFE AND WORK BECOME ONE, and THE POWER OF INNER MARKETING.

With his musician wife Martha, Robert lives in Paso Robles, California. They are extremely proud of their three grown children and two grandchildren. Principled network marketing along with writing occupy much of his working time. Good books and music, hiking, bicycling and travel (the occasional cruise too) are among their hobbies.


Benjamin R. Putman, CPA, CFP, CDFA

Ben Putman is the Vice President of Pacific Park Financial, Inc., as well as a principal and co-founder of the firm. Mr. Putman has over 21 years of experience as a trusted financial advisor specializing in tax, accounting, divorce consulting, and business advisory services for small companies as well as high net worth individuals.

Mr. Putman is the principal owner of Benjamin R. Putman, Inc., CPA. His CPA firm is a mid-sized company serving the Southern California area for more than 15 years. As a CPA, CFP and CDFA (Certified Divorce Financial Analysis), Mr. Putman has a working knowledge of a wide variety of industries. His background spans manufacturing, wholesale, retail, construction, real estate, food services and well as brokerage and professional services. In addition, Mr. Putman specializes in financial and divorce planning.

A graduate of the University of Southern California (USC), Mr. Putman began his financial advisory career at Touche Ross, a "Big Eight" CPA firm. He subsequently began his own company when he discovered the need to provide comprehensive wealth management services to clients. In 1991, he merged his CPA practice with American Express Financial Advisors and accepted a position as the Managing Director of the Orange County and Riverside Offices. Mr. Putman subsequently left to restart his practice.

Mr. Putman is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Financial Planner, Certified Divorce Financial Analysis, licensed Real Estate Agent, licensed Life Insurance Agent and licensed Registered Investment Advisor.

Mr. Putman and his wife Jaye live in Mission Viejo with their daughter Breanna, and two sons, Jordan and Troy. Ben is an avid triathlete and workout fanatic.


N. Bruce Walton

For most of his career, Bruce Walton has made his living as an entrepreneur. Starting with consulting businesses, he moved into growing, software firms and ultimately into a position where he is seen as a startup, turnaround and problem solving specialist. Bruce has done everything from bootstrapping a brainstorm to knockdown drag out boardroom drama.

Clearly, his strongest asset has always been his ability to identify problems and solve them in a cost effective, productive manner. He prides himself in creating a positive work atmosphere where employees feel invested in the success of the organization. This ability to infuse a sense of dignity and loyalty among staff members has aided him in turning around difficult situations and moving organizations forward rapidly.

Bruce began his career as a Computer Field Engineer with National Computer Systems in the late 1970’s. Feeling that small business would better suit his talents, he joined American Micro Dynamics in 1983 as the Programmer / Engineer on an insurance agency accounting and tracking system. In 1984, he began his first software consulting and development company specializing in custom software, business accounting, quick turnaround problem solving and cost-effective long term solutions. From there, Bruce became involved several businesses as a primary executive / principle or as a long term problem solver.

Bruce began his college career as a Communications and Art major. He also has a certificate in Engineering & Technology, a BA in Business and an MBA in Information Technology. He and his wife Suk-Ha Elaine have a sixteen year old daughter, EJ Bailey. Bruce spends his leisure time participating in Martial Arts (advanced black belt), running (Marathon/Ultra) and Triathlon (Ironman).