First City Chapter of BNI

Every Thursday morning I participate in a networking group that meets in Bemidji called BNI (business networking international)
In a nutshell, it's a group that meets every week to help each of it's members grow their business through networking. Click here it you want more information. Or email me if you want more info on my chapter specifically.
Each week we have two people lined up to present information on their business. They have ten minutes to help us learn more about what they do and how we can help them. It's sounds incredibly terrifying to most people but it really isn't.
Anyway, I thought that every Thursday I'd like to share some of what I've learned about my fellow business owners.
Today we heard from:
Chris Lehman from Country Financial. He is my insurance agent.  Today I learned from him that his company offers discounts to Teachers, Police Officers, Firefighters as well as EMS people. I myself feel these people commit their lives to helping others and find it pretty amazing when someone else feels the same way!
If you want Chris to give you more information on what kind discounts he can give you, or answer any of your insurance questions call him at 218-444-8320
or email him at chris.lehman@countryfinancial.com

We also heard from Jane Hastig Owner of The Glass Doctor
She shared with us a business practice that is common in her industry that I found to be borderline unethical! Here's how it works. There are glass shops and insurance agents. Many insurance agents go through a middle man of sorts to connect those who have an auto claim to services that can fix that problem. (for example, you broke your windshield and need a new one) Sounds logical so far right?
But what happens when that middle man  throws their hat in the ring and competes for those same repair jobs? Instead of connecting a repair shop with a claim, they take the job themselves!!!
Did you know that many times when you call the 800 number on the back of your insurance card it will direct you to that "middle man" who is selling their service first and foremost? You might not even be aware that you have other, local, independent options that are just as good, if not better than the ones presented to you first. That seems very under handed to me. And not at all the way I'd like to be treated.
Lucky for me I don't ever have to worry about that. With a savvy insurance agent and Glass Doctor, I will never know the frustration of being pushed around like that.
To help combat this truly unethical behavior, know that you do have a choice and you can insist on having a say in where your repairs are done.
If you would like more information on this feel free to email jane.hastig@mail.glassdoctor.com