Business Briefs

New appointments at nab

The nab has announced the appointment of Geoff Rose as Managing Partner, Business Banking for the Hunter Central Coast Region. Mr Rose has been Managing Partner of the nab’s Hunter Region for the past four years and prior to that held a similar position for the North West and New England region, based in Tamworth. His banking experience extends back some twenty-two years of which the last eight years has been with nab. Mr Rose succeeds Natalie Raine who has taken a career break.

At the same time the bank has announced the appointment of Roger Coddington as Senior Partner, Central Coast Business Banking based at Erina. Mr Coddington has been with the nab for thirty years and for the past seven years has worked in a similar role at the bank’s Lake Macquarie Business Banking Centre at Charlestown. Mr Coddington succeeds Steve Sutton who has left the bank to pursue other career opportunities.

New Board of Directors for Gosford City Credit Union

Following the retirement of some long-standing directors, Gosford City Credit Union has looked to local community leaders for replacements. The new Chairman is retired Australia Post Executive, Peter Mulholland who has a dynamic Board comprising Keith Mannix (Vice Chairman), a former Credit Union and CUSCAL General Manager; Syd Triggs, Real Estate Valuer; Darren Lowndes, Senior Manager at KIA Motors Australia; Marc Worner, a former National President of the Australian Institute of Horticulture; Adele Johns, Regional Manager of Central Coast Voluntary Treasurers Support Service; Bernie Farrell, Senior Executive with NSW Trustee & Guardian and Clive Blunt, Principal of Edoceo Consulting. New local staff have also been recruited including a Member Relationship Manager who will implement new business initiatives.

Footprint Recruitment appoints Business Development Manager

Erina-based Footprint Recruitment has appointed Alex Oehm as Business Development Manager. Mr Oehm was previously Business Development Manager and Recruitment Consultant at Drake International’s Gosford Office. Prior to Drake, Mr Oehm worked in the civil and industrial construction industries as a supervisor whilst completing a Degree in Management (Human Resources) at the University of Newcastle.

Coastphones links up with M2 Telcom

Central Coast telecommunications company, Coastphones are now resellers for People Telecom – the dealer network for M2 Telecom. Coastphones Proprietor, Bob Blackall said he had decided to link up with M2 Telcom due to their strong performance with low call rates and the best customer service.

M2 Telecom has in recent times acquired a number of telecommunications companies including People Telecom, Commander Communications, Southern Cross Telco and others. Mr Blackall said, “We can now provide Central Coast customers with a complete telecommunications service including fixed and mobile services, ADSL and ADSL2, 2-way satellite broadband, satellite phones, VoIP services and telephone systems.

Coastphones has been providing telephone systems and telecoms services for ten years on the Central Coast. Mr Blackall said Satellite Broadband is an option for people who live in areas such as Forresters Beach, Yarramalong and Dooralong Valleys, Tuggerawong, Tacoma, Point Claire, Lisarow and Palm Valley and can’t get ADSL. "Under the Australian Broadband Guarantee (ABG), for customers unable to get metro-comparable broadband service, the Government will pay the $1,300 installation cost for a Satellite Broadband service," said Mr Blackall.

Academy appoints Commercial Manager

Central Coast Academy of Sport Managing Director, Ian Robilliard has announced the appointment of Michelle Walker to the role of Commercial Manager. “This appointment provides the Academy with another staff member who holds extensive industry expertise and specific skills in the area of marketing and business services,” said Mr Robilliard. “Michelle will take over the responsibility previously held by Alicia Klein-Schiphorst, who is leaving to have her second child,” he added.

Ms Walker has worked in senior roles across a number of industry sectors including fitness, sport, retail, and telecommunications. “The Academy has experienced strong growth over the past few years and I am confident Michelle will bring further depth to our administration team, helping us to further service the sports industry,” said Mr Robilliard.

Restaurateurs move into Platinum Erina

Central Coast restaurateurs Waynne and Suni Robinson and Chris and Kristi Daly have opened Quattro Restaurant in the Platinum Building in Erina. Both families operated Café la Soul at Blue Lagoon Beach Resort from 2003-2007. The June 2007 storms caused the closure of the restaurant and their relocation to The Entrance, where they have since been operating until the opportunity arose to operate in a corporate environment at Erina. They continue to operate Café la Soul. Both Mr Robinson and Mr Daly are well-known in the Central Coast’s restaurant industry.

Old 2GO team returns

Richard Pryor has been appointed General Sales Manager at Central Coast Radio, owners of radio stations 2GO and Sea FM. Mr Pryor originally joined the company in 1998 as Account Manager and then General Sales Manager until he left in 2006 to work with a Snooze franchise in Western Australia. In 2008 he returned to the Coast, at which time he rejoined Central Coast Radio as Account Manager. Mr Pryor’s appointment shadows that of General Manager, Paul Wrigley who had a Snooze franchise at one point in time and rejoined the company last month.

St. George announces new Regional Manager

St. George Corporate & Business Bank has announced the appointment of Peter Brown in a new position as Regional Leader, Business Customers Central Coast/Hunter Region. Mr Brown joined St. George to take up the new role after working as Regional Manager North for BankWest at Chatswood, and prior to that as NSW Senior Business Banking Manager with Bendigo Bank. He has twenty-five years finance and banking experience, mostly with the Westpac Group. Mr Brown’s responsibilities are to retain and grow St. George’s market share in the small business segment. He will be based at Gosford and has three Central Coast and three Hunter business bankers reporting to him. Mr Brown has been a resident of the Central Coast for thirty years.

Gittoes' open new property business

Licensed Real Estate Agents, Stephen Christina Gittoes have established a new property business in East Gosford. The husband and wife team have successfully operated in the Central Coast real estate market since moving to the area in 1989 from Sydney’s North Shore and Eastern Suburbs. They have decided to establish their own real estate office, to be known as Gittoes – Leaders In Property in the building they own at 61 Victoria Street, East Gosford.

The business will service clientele with residential, rural, and waterfront properties and cover property management, property appraisals and auctions. In addition, the Gittoes’ have established a commercial, industrial and retail operation with Neil Murray which be known as Gittoes – Commercial Property.

Mr Murray has worked in the real estate industry for twenty years as a retail, industrial and commercial property specialist.
For the past four years he has been consulting to private and institutional groups on a range of development and management projects. He has held senior management positions with Colonial First State Property Management and the Commonwealth Bank in asset management and development management.

New venture for Nick Kongonis

After a four year stint with supermarket company Aldi, well-known Wyong businessman and property investor, Nick Kongonis has established Tagtronic Test & Tagging. Mr Kongonis said that all businesses have an obligation under OH&S to provide a safe working place and that includes inspection and testing of all portable electrical appliances. Mr Kongonis holds all the required certififcations and insurances to carry out the work. For more information visit www.tagtronic.com.au

New corporate retreat concept at Star of the Sea

Corporate Consultant, Zoe Long has established a new niche concept in the corporate retreat market, working with Star of the Sea at Terrigal. Ms Long said, “Chill Cook Create Retreats is about having fun with an emphasis on work/life balance. "Participants can take time out for a yoga or tai chi session, create a gourmet luncheon with work colleagues or take in other fun options while factoring in time for strategic planning and business outcomes,” said Ms Long.

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