Dennis Bukantis

Remember in the summer of 1999 in the Superior National Forest, a storm of catachlysmic preportions struck on July 4, 1999?

The Blowdown as it is called, walloped 477,000 acres of this forest in northeast Minnesota covering a swath five to twelve miles wide by thirty miles long. 

So seven years have past, and the twisted, split, broke or uprooted twenty-five million trees, stand just like they did on the Fourth of July after the Blowdown. 

The Principles of FireStorm Marketing are based in part on what happened in this enormous event in Minnesota.  In sales and marketing, we believe that you must ignite one customer, build that fire in him first.  As a marketer, you must discover his ignition point, and then touch the match to him...fan his flames and then touch another customer through him.  There's a heck of a lot more to it than that, and I'll be happy to share that with you, just contact me at any of the media listed below.

Getting back to the Minnesota Blowdown:  Amazingly, it remains unburned, in spite of the fuel load in this forest, hot weather, careless campers...why do you suppose that this is so?  I believe that it remains unburned because it has never experienced fire.  When you write to me, I'll give you the lowdown on the Blowdown!

I'll also share with you how the physical properties of "catching fire" can be very instructive to you as a professional sales person with any product, goods or services.

I would love to hear from you.

Dennis Bukantis, denni1640@comcast.net 720-535-4934 www.dennisbukantis.net

Here's a timely paper that's now available FREE!! 

What is the finite nature of your marketing resources?  This paper draws comparison with your marketing and being lost on a mountaintop..freezing, starting to snow...getting dark...and you suddenly realize that you have only ONE match to start a fire to survive.  Nothing is more important to your survival in this situation than building a fire.

How you channel and spend your marketing dollars is exactly like that..your marketing and advertising must deliver in order for your sales business to not only survive but to grow. 

Many small businesses often times think by trying to emulate their bigger competitors with things like, mind-share, branding and perhaps worse yet, advertising awards.  Almost no good can come from this. These marketing ploys can only be the result of one thing...SALES!

Seeking things like, mind-share, market-share or branding first is like saying - I'll build the fire after I warm up.  Fact is though, if your marketing doesn't produce SALES, you'll never warm up.

The street-proven principles of FireStorm Marketing can energize your marketing and sales beyond your wildest dreams.  FireStorm Marketing will help you chose tactics that deliver results.

As a way of introducing you to these time honoured principles, I'm making available to you at NO COST, a two-page report that will give you the tip of the iceberg.  I'm so confident that you'll realize the same thing that myself and now hundreds of others are practicing on a daily basis..at virtually no cost! 

Yes, you're on the mountaintop, getting dark, freezing, starting to snow..if you can picture that single match..a reminder of the finite nature of your marketing resources.  No matter what they are..money..people or time..you only have so much. How will you use your match?  What will you touch it to?  What tactics will deliver results? Use it wisely by building your marketing fire according to proven FireStorm Marketing principles. You may only get one chance.

Contact Dennis Bukantis, Founder of Bukantis Marketing and FireStorm Marketing for your FREE report. 

Dennis A. Bukantis - 720-535-4934 DennisBukantis@helloworld.com or Denni1640@comcast.net

While I don't usually write on topics like this but after learning of what may be called a 'sting' against a Michigan Milk Producer by the Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA)..this got my dander in an uproar.

The MDA in complicity with other law agencies conducted a sting on Farmer Richard Hebron for transporting unpasteurized, unprocessed milk of the highest quality to enthusiastic consumers.  The same day, his wife was served a warrant at the family farm and the jack booted thugs confiscated computers, records and all stored raw milk.

While it is illegal to sell raw milk - milk that has not been subject to pasteurization - to American consumers, Mr. Hebron was not breaking the law.  Hebron manages the Family Farms Coperative (FFC), a private membership co-op.  To get around the raw milk edict in Michigan (and other states), FFC members buy shares in the herd in order to receive the raw milk for personal consumption.  It is considered to be the highest quality milk produced, and no retail sales are involved. 

What became apparent is that the MDA and the Michigan State Police officials were opposed to the FFC program and so they set up an elaborate scheme to shadow Hebron and others and even infiltrated these peace and health loving people in the Great Lakes State.

An MDA warrant went so far to note that the raw milk was tested several times that indeed confirmed that the milk was raw - and of the highest quality.  Not to be foiled, the MDA trumped up some rediculous and unfounded charges how this raw milk had caused health problems.  The joke was on them as the illness was found to have been caused by chinese food. Interesting is the fact the Michigan Attorney General in recent years issued an opinion that the MDA has no jurisdiction over cow-share arrangements.  Michigan law only gives officials the authority to bgan retail sales of raw mild and related dairy products according to Sally Fallon of the Weston A Price Foundation.

More information may be found on this from American Free Press correspondent, Mark Anderson @ truthorelse@msn.com  Other information on this afront to free enterprise and health may be found by visiting the website of the Weston A. Price Foundation.

This is far more about something than raw milk. It's about freedom for all of us. I would greatly welcome your feedback on this. What do you think about this?  Please email me at denni1640@comcast.net or DennisBukantis@helloworld.com   I'd love to hear from you. 

Dennis Bukantis, Denver, Colorado

Dennis Bukantis is Founder of Bukantis Marketing, home of the branded marketing tools, FireStorm Marketing.  For a complimentary article and handsome desk clock, please contact us at denni1640@comcast.net or DennisBukantis@helloworld.com

If you're looking for an innovative approach to going to market, regardless of what you sell, then you need to consider the principles of FireStorm Marketing, our proprietary brand of marketing concepts that will energize your sales and marketing and allow you to grow your business with very low cash and advertising outlay.

Some of the principles of FireStorm Marketing are so simple and basic, you'll wonder out loud...I know this..why didn't I think of this!

I'll be pleased to consult with you on a one on one basis in the method of your choice..email, telephone, webconferencing and more.  There is no charge for your initial consultation.  We make our proprietary training and tools available for you on an as needed basis.  We know that our proven concepts are working in many different sales scenarios and invite you to get in on the time honored methods to energize your sales and marketing today!  Satisfaction and Results are Guaranteed!

Our contact information is: Phone: 720-535-4934 or by email at: denni1640@comcast.net

Let's talk it over today, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!  I'll share some neat things that you can implement today..FREE! In fact, the first 3 sales professionals to contact us will receive a handsome desk clock FREE!  Contact Me Today!

Dennis Bukantis, Founder, DennisBukantis.net, llc Denver, Colorado

For over 16 years, the Odell Brewing Company has been brewing and selling their craft-brewed beers and ales throughout the Rocky Mountain Region. 

Truly a close-knit family brewer, Doug Odell began his brewing experience in his home kitchen in Seattle.  After perfecting his skills, he decided to take his plan to the big leagues and opened the first Odell Brewery in Ft. Collins, Colorado. I don't think he or his devoted fans of his product have ever looked back!

The brewery is unique in inself by being family owned and operated.  You might say that many of the brews are in the english tradition of quality pub products.  If you're fortunate enough to live near Ft. Collins, you can drop by the Tasting Room and sample all of the current ales and beers available.  We particularly enjoyed Isolation Ale and Levity Ale and one of their most popular brews, 90 Shilling, but found that all of the products we tried were first rate! 

The brewery also features Single Batch Beers, brewed in small quantities and served in the Tasting Room..and usually, when they're gone, they're gone.

Doug and the crew have received numerous awards for their products as well as being named an Outstanding Business.

Odell Brews are proudly served in hundreds of restaurants and pubs across the region, including Uno Chicago Grill @ 16375 E 40th Ave, Denver, Colorado.  For those not living in their distribution area, you can purchase all of the Odell products online.

For the complete rundown on Odell Brewing Company, check them out on their website at www.odellbrewingcompany.com   Our thanks to Brewery Representative Ryan Bogart for hosting us at the Brewery and Tasting Room. 

Dennis Bukantis, President, Bukantis Marketing

My United Airlines flight departed Denver on-time for the 1 hour 40 minutes flight to the Minneapolis St Paul International Airport (MSP).  The only distasteful thing about air travel these days is the hassles of clearing security, although as a seasoned flying passenger, I was well prepared..many of the folks heading through the TSA managed security checkpoints were not...huge baskets of 'stuff' no longer allowed as carry-ons overflowed as the smug security people abscounded 'stuff' like toothpaste, mouthwash, hairspray...I mean, come on. In spite of the long lines at both ends of my travel, the trip to Russell's On The Lake in Big Lake, Minnesota made it all worthwhile! 

Big Lake is approximately 40 miles northwest of Minnesota and an easy drive using the Interstate system.  With only a light breakfast in Denver and a dry Biscotti offered up by the flight attendant, I was ready for lunch!

One of the joys of found throughout Minnesota is the specie of fish, Walleye!  Not to be disappointed, it was on the luncheon menu and is cooked to your order..although they offer it broiled and Dijon style, I opted for the waitress recommended, Pan Fried.  Covering half the plate, it was accompained by a huge order of special hashbrown spuds, cooked with onions and topped with cheddar cheese.  Back to the walleye...in a word, delicious!  As a starter I opted for the Dill Pickle Soup...reminiscent of a Polish style soup...creamy with cubes of potatoes and dill pickles, it was almost a meal in inself.

My two luncheon companions had the Penne Pasta with Sausage...judging from the size of the bowl, enough for all of us!! Their full-service menu for both lunch and dinner will satisfy most diners.  They also have a well stocked bar for libations of your liking...and service I might add, is very personal and efficient.

Russell's sits on the shore of Big Lake..an idyllic setting on any particular day, but today, a slew of Canadian geese and ducks frolicked outside in front of us..swimming and flying, their act was a first-class show in itself. 

If your travels call for you to be in this beautiful section of Minnesota, make it a must to stop in at Russell's.  You can find them on their website at: www.russellsonthelake.com

Dennis Bukantis, www.dennisbukantis.com www.dennisbukantis.net

Denver, Colorado

The Soiled Dove Underground was the scene for this charismatic jazz vocalist's one night performance as part of her fall schedule. More on this venue later, but here's what I saw and heard at the 10pm show on October 28, 2006.

Karrin ("Kar'-in") appeared in fine form as she took the stage with phenomenal guitarist Rod Fleeman, drummer Todd Strait and I believe it was Bob Bowman on bass..all longtime musical associates of this New York based singer.

In her relatively short recording career, Karrin has 9 cd's..all gems, including her latest, Footprints on the Concord label.  A seasoned artist, she included material that presented songs from several cd's, much to the delight of the appreciative crowd. At one point, she even asked the audience what they would like to hear..these were people who seemed to know her music well as they asked for their favorites..and she really connected with them.

Some of the songs performed were the opener, O Pato, a Brazilian tune about a duck, goose and a swan that translates well to human form with english lyrics. She caressed the ballad Too Young to Go Steady, with her musical accomplices gently supporting her.  Other highlights were her takes on Melissa Manchester's I Got Eyes.  Karrin, who can hold her own at the piano, played and sang a Jay Leonhart composition, Robert Frost..a humorous tale about the great poet of the same name and is indicative of how Karrin digs and sings the blues..wheee! What she gave us was about 90 delightful minutes of great music!

The Soiled Dove Underground is a brand new, 350 seat performance center that epitomizes comfort, and excellent sight lines from anywhere in the space. They spared no design planning and cost in coming up with a venue that surely will become a favorite of both artists and music aficionados. Excellent management, lighting and audio system make this a winner.

Upon exiting the club, the post-show talk that you can frequently pick up on was that this was a great performance by Karrin and the group..cohesiveness and understanding of how to play this music together set this performance up there with the best. 

Karrin and her musical associates may be heard on her recordings and I highly recommend visting her website for getting hip to this singer and her music.  Visit her at www.karrin.com for all things Karrin and her latest tour schedule. You can sample and buy her music online as well as sign up for her eNewsletter that will keep you up-to-date with her goings-on.

Thanks again Karrin for the great time Saturday night in Denver.

Dennis Bukantis

Dinner guests coming tonight and you're not sure what to have for dessert?  This nearly classic recipe for Autumn Apple Crisp is sure to put a delightful ending to your meal.  For dessert for 4, you'll need:  3 crisp medium apples, peeled, quartered and sliced, Juice of 1 fresh lemon or lime, 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar, 3/4 cup uncooked old-fashioned rolled oats, 1/2 cup of of flour, 1 tsp Cinnamon, 1/2 tsp Allspice, a grating of Nutmeg, 6 Tablespoons of cold, unsalted butter.

Heat oven to 375 F.  Place apples in ungreased baking dish and sprinkle with the fresh lemon or lime juice. Set aside.

Combine brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Blend or cut in cold butter with a pastry blender or a couple of kitchen forks..you can also use your God given hands to to the mixing, but be careful to work quickly as you don't want the butter to melt in the mixing process.  Dot with 2 Tbs unsalted butter. Bake for approximately 45 minutes until apples are tender and the topping is golden brown.  Serve warm with freshly whipped creme or ice creme if desired, but it's perfectly delicious on its own.

Apple Tips:  We like to use a tart baking apple like Northern Spys, Braeburns, Golden Delicious and others which give you a crisp apple with a slightly tart taste, excellent for baking and cooking as well as eathing fresh.

Total preparation and baking time is about 1 hour.  Each serving about 350 calories..well worth saving room for!

Enjoy and Bon Appetite!

Recipe Courtesy of Ashley Famous Culinary Arts, Denver Colorado  For other recipes from our collection, please see other posts on this blog site.  Ashley Famous Culinary Arts is a Strategic Partner of Bukantis Marketing and DennisBukantis.net and DennisBukantis.com

Here's a great way to prolong the excellent taste of summer basil. You'll need: a bunch of fresh cut basil, 2-3 cloves of garlic, 1/2 cup of Parmagiana-Reggiano cheese, grated, fresh lemon juice, about 1/6 cup, a handful of Pine Nuts,  Extra Virgin Olive Oil, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper.

Whirl all ingredients in blender, adding enough olive oil to desired consistency.  Correct seasoning to taste. You can use this right away on al dente cooked pasta, or refrigerate to allow the flavors to meld.  This also can be frozen for use much later. 

Variations include:  Adding pieces of cooked chicken to your pasta and pesto - Using other nuts like walnuts that can be used right from the container or for another extra touch and taste dimension, toast* and cool them before making this recipe.

Yield: about 1/2-3/4 Cup

*Toast nuts in a dry saute pan over low heat, turning freqently to desired color...cool and enjoy in this recipe and others!

Recipe courtesy of Ashley Famous Culinary Arts, Denver, Colorado, 2006.

Good things sometimes come in bunches..while talking with the co-founder of this vocal jazz quartet Ginny Carr, she suggested that I should definately get their first CD, Half-Past Swing, (HK UVJQQ01).  I'm glad that I took her advice.

Recorded and released in 1999 with members, Ginny Carr, Robert McBride, Lisanne Lyons and Roger Reynolds, this fine effort is a collection of some more very familiar compositions associated with jazz as well as some unique and rather unknown material from Ginny Carr. The quartet calls on some classic bebop charts from cats like Bud Powell and Gil Fuller with Bouncin' With Bud and Benny and Buster Moten's Moten Swing...probably written in the early 1930's!  Nostalgic indeed, but the bygone mainframes are kicked up a notch or three by the quartet and the blowin' small, big band behind them.

Duke Pearson's Jeannine a real blowing tune for jazz players and this line may have first been vocalized by the late Eddie Jefferson, noted for his approach to vocalese.  Here they take it up right out of the box, turn it over to guitarist Paul Wingo who states how to play this instrument, and heavyweight alto saxophonist Chris Vadala who rips off a dandy run through before the quartet returns to take it home. 

Ms Carr, a prolific writer, contributes her works with Close Your Eyes with a scat chorus from Roger Reynolds.  Jouet (Joo-A) with both french and english lyrics, showcases the vocal solo and ensemble work in both tongues!  Good Stuff here!

In this writer's opinion, the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet is setting the standard for singers who sing good music, using their voices like the instruments that they really are.  Again, my opinion only, but this should be the relevant music of today, considering all that is out there masquerading as 'music'. 

Plans for a future recording from this DC based vocal jazz quartet call for a release of all Ginny Carr originals.  To learn more about the Uptown Vocal Jazz Quartet and purchase their CD's or snazzy Designer T-Shirt, please visit:  www.uptownvjq.com  Oh yes, if you buy this CD, you'll also get 4 takes from their photoshoot at the famous Ice House Cafe'.

Dennis Bukantis, Denver, Colorado