Motivational Speakers Beware! Willow Mist, Brenda Keefer, International Speakers Network and the great speaker Scam

I guess there are times when, in the writing of a blog, you hit a nerve.  Yesterday, after much research, I wrote a blog about Willow Mist Professional Services in TN and Brenda Keefer – the company’s owner (at least that’s what I’ve been told).  The response has been overwhelming.  It seems that Miss Brenda has been active and the reports from speakers internationally has been – well – let’s put it this way…there’s screaming and gnashing of teeth over how Motivational Speakers have been scammed.

The article yesterday is here.

Sometimes our past and our experience create the path for a future that is outstanding.  As a business ethics and fraud prevention speaker, I am keenly aware of the choices we make and the consequences that follow.  In the case of Brenda Keefer and Willow Mist Professional Services – there are far too many speakers who are now coming out of the woodwork stating that they, too, have been scammed to ignore the problem.

Every choice has a consequence.  Based on what I see and hear from my experience and the experience of others, it would be worth investigating thoroughly whether the services offered by Brenda Keefer and Willow Mist are valuable or just a way to scam unsuspecting folks out of money.

BEYOND WILLOW MIST -

The brush stroke of fraud and deception seems to be pervasive in Sevierville, TN.  Not only is Willow Mist Professional Services located there, but another “speakers bureau” or “speaker services” company is there too.  Their name:  Internation Speakers Network or ISN Works – a division of The Innovators Group, Inc.

I received an unsolicited email from them with a CALL FOR SPEAKERS.  I was about to trash it or mark it as spam when it caught my eye that they were located in Sevierville, TN.  I thought it strange that two companies that “market” speakers would be located in that small town.  My first thought was that it was Willow Mist or Brenda Keefer repackaged.  However, after calling ISNWorks and talking to their representative, I found that they were quick to point out that they once were the employer of Brenda Keefer, but that she had been let go for “unethical business practices”.  Soon after the Brenda Keefer discussion the conversation returned to what they could offer me as a speaker.

Now…as I wrote the blog about Willow Mist and Brenda, I find that ISN doesn’t have the best reputation either.  Below is a link to the Complaints Board and comments related to ISN:

http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/international-speakers-network-c207754.html

The starting comments states:

The International Speakers Network convinces you they can help speakers market their speaking services, and charges a lot of money to develop mailings, sell sheets, and other marketing materials. But they don’t actually perform any of the marketing services speakers pay them for. yes, they will print materials, but they take a lot of money to distribute those materials which are never distributed. They have several names like ISN, Book a Speaker. net, Innovators Group and others. Learn more about them at http://burnedbyisn.blogspot.com/ You’ll see that they have a horrible track record with the Better Business Bureau, too.

While not all of the comments related to ISN were bad – there were certainly enough there to cause one to wonder what’s in the water there in Sevierville that causes two firms, both doing the same thing, to have such poor reputations.  Buyer beware.

If you have had an experience with Willow Mist and/or Brenda Keefer or ISN Works – how about doing us a favor and submitting a comment.

YOUR COMMENTS ARE WELCOME.

Is Another Round of Stimulus Spending Necessary To Prevent Double-Dip Recession?

GUEST BLOG by Vincenzo Desroches

When The Great Recession of 2008 exploded in September of ’08, Central Bank and government leaders from around the world held emergency meetings on how to save the global economy, and in an unprecedented act of cohesive unity, financial leaders around the world slashed short-term interest rates to historically low levels in an attempt to loosen credit markets and prop up a failing global economy.

Common monetary theory says that during a recession, private demand dries up as consumer and businesses cut back on spending.  This decreased demand in the private sector can serve to destroy an economy; thus, a government will generally loosen monetary policy in the form of some combination of lower interest rates, tax cuts, or government spending This helps stimulate the economy back into growth mode; then, as economic growth resumes, private demand will again increase and monetary stimulus can be removed gradually from the system.

On February 11, 2009 Congress enacted the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  The bill was intensely resisted by Republicans as they cited that the bill’s pricetag and passage was a sign of President Obama’s desire for big government and a sign that he would increase the U.S. deficit without regard to the future costs to America.  The effectiveness of the Stimulus Package has been a central debate between politicians and monetary experts over the last 8 months.

Currently, the United States economic recovery is faltering.  Unemployment is high and economic growth is stagnating.  This combination can be deadly and has led countries like Japan into extended periods of deflation.  In late July, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the economic outlook in the U.S. is “unusually uncertain.”  This lack of clarity out of the Federal Reserve has caused global investors to become very worried concerning the economic future of the global economy and their forex trading strategy.

There is essentially a battle raging among the most powerful economic leaders in the world.  On one side of the argument we have Ben Bernanke saying he will stimulate the U.S. economy by instituting another round of quantitative easing measures and the U.S. government may enact another round of stimulus measures.  On other side of the argument you have European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet who is arguing that countries should not run up budget deficits, but they should instead enact fiscal austerity measures and reign in government spending.

Anyone who says there is absolute yes or no correct answer to this problem is unwilling to look objectively at the facts.  The truth is—no one knows for sure what the best path is.  No recession has ever been like this one.  We are dealing with a very complex global economy, and evidence that there is no clear yes or no answer to this very complex problem can be seen in the fact that the best and brightest and most educated financial world leaders and economists are split on the issue.  The truth is that there are strong, valid arguments on both sides.

Opponents of further stimulus measures are concerned about a few things.  First of all, the size of government has increased dramatically as a result of public spending.  This has conservatives very concerned.  How will the U.S. be able to pay off these huge, unsustainable debts?  And what if debt markets become concerned with the size of the U.S. deficit and begin demanding higher interest rates?  Also, where is the hard evidence that the first round of stimulus measures has actually helped job creation?

These questions are causing many critics to stand in opposition to further stimulus measures.  The passage of another round of stimulus will heavily depend on the fall elections.  Another round of stimulus measures may be unlikely if republicans gain much of a footing in Washington as a result of fall elections.

Written by Vincenzo Desroches working with Forex Trading

Brenda Keefer and Willow Mist Professional Speaker Services – Business Ethics gone South or just a plain ole Scam?

I recall my uncle one time telling me as we were sitting in a boat fishing, “Son, sometimes you just have to call them as you see them.”  I honestly don’t recall what we were talking about and frankly, at the time, I don’t recall connecting with the true meaning of his words.  But today they ring true…  Sometimes you just have to call them as you see them.

Let me be clear to those who read… as an Ethics speaker and Fraud Prevention Expert, I often hear of circumstances – perhaps questionable in nature – and, from time to time, find it helpful to research further.  Rarely do I find that I have personal experience with the firm or organization.  In the case of Willow Mist and Brenda Keefer – unfortunately I do and it appears that I’m not the only one.

On November 6, 2008, I received an email from Brenda Keefer – apparent owner and operator of Willow Mist Professional Services welcoming me to her fold.  Her initial pitch was that she (through her firm) offered speakers (Motivational speakers, etc.) direct marketing services thereby helping those she represents increase their bookings.  For those services, speakers (such as myself) or perhaps (in retrospect) I should label myself as a “sucker” – would pay her a nominal fee up front and she would take us on as clients representing that she had limited clients (unlike traditional speakers bureaus).

Now, as a good ole boy from the South, recognizing that she was just over the NC border in Tennessee, I thought “surely she was straight up” and frankly, I thought to myself, “if I am scammed the amount won’t break me.”

Well…I WAS SCAMMED!

After the payment was received by Brenda Keefer – NOTHING HAPPENED.  I mean I got no calls, no indication that I was being marketed, NOTHING.  I followed up with several emails but (as one might expect) NO RESPONSE.  In fact, I called and finally got Brenda on the phone.  She seemed confused about who I was and our relationship (I guess that’s obvious as we had no relationship other than her taking my money).  When confronted about my payment she said she’d have to look into it, at which time I provided her information about my canceled check.

LET’S BE CLEAR

I am not writing this because of my experience.  To me that would be unfair and perhaps bring my ethics into question.  Rather, let’s look at the facts and then perhaps the light of truth will shine brightly on Willow Mist and Brenda Keefer.

For those who follow my blog you certainly know that I have a sordid past.  For those that don’t here it is in a simple clear format:

1. In the mid ’80′s I was a CPA who (being really dumb) effected a Ponzi scheme
2. In 1990 that fraud or scam that I created came crashing down and I lost everything
3. In 1991 I made restitution to those I defrauded (not that that makes right my wrong – it does not)
4. In 1995 I was sentenced to Federal Prison and on October 2, 1995 I took 23 steps in to Federal Prison
5. Upon release I started life over and in 2006 was a Sr. VP of Sales and Marketing for a public company
6. Today I am the Chief Operating Officer for a private national company and a professional public speaker sharing insight into ethical behavior and fraud prevention.

I feel that sharing my past helps those who read know who I am and where I am coming from.  That said, when I talked with Brenda Keefer with Willow Mist I found out that she and I have something in common.  We are both CONVICTED FELONS (nothing by the way that I’m proud of – but our past is our past).

When I shared my background with Brenda she was willing then to share her’s with me.  According to her, I was an example of how someone with a “sorted past” can make different choices and turn their lives around.   Frankly, I did agree.  I think from that conversation I found a level of trust that now, in retrospect, was unfounded.

Some people learn nothing from past experiences and it would seem, in this case, that Brenda may be challenged with dealing with ghosts from the past in her present day dealings in business.  And, that give all folks, who may have made bad past choices – a bad name.

BEYOND JUST ME…

But, as I said, this isn’t about me.  Several weeks ago in the email blast – SpeakerNetNews I spotted something submitted from another speaker – asking about Brenda Keefer and Willow Mist Professional Services.  Since it had been almost two year, frankly I had put Brenda and Willow Mist out of my mind.  But the question jogged my memory and brought me back to my experience with Willow Mist.  I emailed and asked what the issue(s) were and was told that it related to payments not paid from Willow Mist to speakers and payments to Willow Mist for services not delivered.  More importantly, I was told that the response from the inquiry regarding Brenda Keefer and Willow Mist was somewhat overwhelming.

SO HERE’S THE QUESTION:

Is the operation of Willow Mist Professional Services with Brenda Keefer at the helm a SCAM?  Is it that Brenda is INCAPABLE of providing what she promises?  Have lessons from past unethical and illegal actions been learned or is this nothing more than a repeat of past prior performances?

I don’t know the answers to these questions.  What I do know is this – if one takes money from another and promises to perform services and then fails to perform – even in the face of repeated questions and requests for performance – there is a good chance that doing business with such a firm is not only UNWISE, but from outward appearances it would appear that UNETHICAL ACTIONS or a SCAM is being perpetrated.

As a final note, it appears that Brenda Keefer worked for ISN Works doing essentially the same service for them before setting up here own business in the same town.  From what I understand, she is not connected with ISN Works and perhaps her departure uncovered similar actions (unethical) that has left ISN Works with a mess to clean up.

BE WARNED…

P.S.  Here’s a link that just adds fuel to the fire.  http://burnedbyisn.blogspot.com/2009/07/this-time-its-brenda-keefer-and-willow.html

Ethics require Transparency – Dan Frishberg is caugh up in the Illusion of the Scam

They say it takes one to know one!  How many times do I wish that weren’t true, but in the case of Dan Frishberg and the BizRadio saga, I am uniquely qualified to report as I’ve (regrettably) been in his shoes and dealt with the consequence – federal prison.  Just last week, in doing a program for the US Navy, I was asked: “What did you learn in prison?”

Answer: “I learned three things: (1) every choice has a consequence! (2) often we get caught up in our own illusions and fail to see or acknowledge the truth; and (3) Success is measured by the impact we have on others, not by the stuff we acquire over our lifetimes.”

I freely acknowledge that I am not proud of my past choices from 1986 – 1989, but I have been honest in what I did, why and the lessons that were learned as a result.

So…where does this take us in the case of Dan Frishberg and BizRadio?

I was told by several folks that Dan has become frustrated at the publicity that he’s received.  When either BizRadio or Dan Frishberg is searched on the internet, articles (some mine) appear which shine a light of truth on what he, Al Kaleta and David Wallace have done to unsuspecting investors through their BizRadio scam. (Perhaps it didn’t start as a scam, but certainly became one by all accounts).

So what did Dan do?  Instead of looking at the truth of the matter, he’s continued his journey into the fog of illusion and enlisted the help of other bloggers to blog positively about him and the work that he does.  In other words, he’s trying to fill the media outlets with more illusion so that he counteracts his devious actions – currently being investigated by authorities.

One new blog by Mike Wazowski is a feeble attempt to shine a positive light on Dan.  Mike states the following regarding Dan Frishberg’s plight:

I have a feeling Dan “The Money Man” Frishberg knows just what Ray Donovan meant, even though his ordeal has been played out on a smaller field. Dan’s is a familiar voice on the radio and TV, where he has been a frequent commentator of Fox Business and CNBC, among others. If you want to see what caught my attention, take a look at this YOUTUBE VIDEO of The Money Man’s television appearances from 2008 and 2009.

Unfortunately for Frishberg, fame came with an opening for shady operators including a con artist who named himself CEO of Dan Frishberg’s radio enterprises and proceeded to try to sell the home station of his radio show, “The Money Man Report”. Also finding his way out of the woodwork is a blogging Lone Ranger who has spent more than a year on his lonely crusade against Frishberg’s reputation.

Let’s see – to be clear Dan does have commentary on YouTube, but then again anyone can have YouTube video.  What I notice is the total absence of Dan Frishberg as a guest of any legitimate media outlet since he’s come under the scrutiny and investigation of the SEC and his beloved radio station – BizRadio is effectively up for sale under the direction of an SEC Receiver.  Has Fox or CNBC had him on in 2010?  Sure would be interested to know if they did or perhaps they’re working on a new segment related to Dan on say – American Greed?  Just asking?

And, let me get this right – now Ron Crider is being implicated as a self appointed CEO “con artist” – hum…somehow I don’t think the fact bear out that claim.  But then again, I’m not yet sure that Mike is holding true to the title of his blog – Truth in Blogging.

Ah…but there’s more.  Mike now wishes to take a swipe at me.  Trust me, I’ve had many swipes, but this one is a bit comical.  Here goes Mikes comments:

Apparently a paid propagandist, he calls himself a “home grown journalist” and claims to be an Ethics Consultant. But his “reports” are nothing more than innuendo backed up by vague sources like “numerous phone calls and emails”, violating the first rule of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Code of Ethics. Of course, since he’s bucking the Mainstream Media by, alone among all the business reporters and editors in America, portraying Dan Frishberg as a villain and not a brilliant financial strategist, he may think he is not bound by “professional” ethics.

This deceptive blogger says he is a CPA, yet he is apparently also a convicted felon. I don’t understand how those go together, but in any event, he pretends not to understand the difference between capital and equity when he is straining to understand how an investment fund with more than $50 million in real estate could have also invested in BizRadio.

So for TRUTH IN BLOGGING – let’s set the record straight:

1. I am not a paid propagandist – NO ONE PAYS ME TO WRITE WHAT I WRITE.  As you might notice, my blog is free and not used as a site for advertisers or sponsors.  So – Mike you’re wrong here.
2. He calls himself a “home grown journalist” and claims to be an Ethics Consultant.  Well…I suppose I am a bit of a HOME GROWN JOURNALIST as are most bloggers, but to clarify, I also have been published in numerous national magazines, featured on numerous talk shows including but not limited to CNN, CBS and NPR radio as well as TV appearances.  AND I AM A PAID ETHICS AND FRAUD PREVENTION CONSULTANT.  Again, Mike you might wish to check your facts before you assume that I am not what I say or appear.
3. His “reports” are nothing more than innuendo backed up by vague sources like “numerous phone calls and emails.” VAGUE SOURCES – hum, Judges orders, SEC Receiver reports, Written Documents and interviews by those who have been victimized by Dan Frishberg.  Wow…I guess those are insignificant in comparison to what Dan Frishberg says is true (ah…the fog of illusion).  Hum…I guess we’d never have had Watergate reported by Woodward and Bernstein if we could not report from “vague sources”.
4. This deceptive blogger says he is a CPA, yet he is apparently also a convicted felon. – Mike you really miss the boat “Big Kid”…as you are apparently incapable of doing simple research?  I WAS A CPA – created a PONZI SCHEME and SERVED TIME IN FEDERAL PRISON.  Wow…there’s no NEWS HERE!  You report as if you’ve found something.  Sorry, but you didn’t.  Rather all you’ve done is show that I am exactly who I say I am – I am transparent.  Clearly, I’m not the one caught in the fog of ILLUSION.

So…to those who follow my reporting on Dan Frishberg, David Wallace, Al Kaleta and BizRadio … I will continue to do so and appreciate all the help I’ve been given along the way.  There’s an old Elvis song that says, “what you do in the dark, will be brought to the light” – and in Dan’s case that is true.

TRUTH:  “Keeping it real by bring you the truth!  Mike Wazowski” – Mike may be a real person (I honestly don’t know), but what is true is that it appears that Mike is no more than a mouthpiece for Dan Frishberg – spouting reports that are designed to counteract the light of truth that the Houston Chronicle, I and others have been shinning on Dan.   Nice try Mike…but in the future, call me and let’s discuss the truth…my number is published!