Testimonials Galore!

Here is a sample of what Colin's Clients are saying about him and his services ...

Delegate comments about Colin’s Unique Conference Facilitation Service:

- “Colin kept the enthusiasm of the Conference high for   the entire 4 days”
- “…made it very entertaining”
- “ Very good and easy to talk to and understand”
- “ Last presentations was brilliant”
- “ Have him back again”

" Thanks for your fantastic contribution on the day in assisting us to achieve our goal ... we now know we are all working in the same direction"

Melissa Hunter
Marketing Director
Sunliner Recreational Vehicles

Delegate comments about Colin’s Unique Conference Facilitating Service:

Brought back for a second year in 2008... resulting in this feedback:

- "Enjoy his humour and the way he ties everything     up    at the end of each session".
- "Brilliant again"
- "very entertaining, well spoken and very     experienced    and informative"
- "Great- kept flow and stimulated thought and     reinforced when necessary"
- "He is good,skilful,knowledgeable"
- "So Enthusiastic"
- "Full of beans - he's super, has a great memory     and    can hold everyone's attention"
- "Professional,quick-witted,entertaining, kept the     motivation going"
- "Colin reviews all sessions very effectively and     manages to condense very well for overall view"

This is a big thank you for all your guidance in preparation, and for all your skills at the Conference. It was indeed considered to be a 'best ever' event ... In fact, the Ask the Experts segment you organised was recognised as one of the very best parts of the whole Conference. Thanks also for setting me up with Matt Hollywood ... literally! He was a big hit with everyone.

Dennis Edleston, National Operations Manager
PACK & SEND Systems Pty Ltd

Bob Seiffert, Chief Executive Officer
Country Fire Authority, Victoria

Just a short note to thank you for undertaking this year's National Conference at Sanctuary Cove.
After the way you handled our conference in Auckland in 2001, it was an easy decision to have you again this year.
Because of the wide variance in participants, i.e. Muffin Break, Jamaica Blue and NZ participants, it was a much more demanding conference to manage compared with our earlier conferences and your role was even more critical this year than last.
Your contribution assisted us in making this our best ever conference.The majority of the 250 participants have confirmed as much and some who have attended conferences in relation to other businesses have indicated that it was the best conference they have ever attended!
If you require, I would be happy to act as a reference for you should you require as much in relation to anyone else requiring your services.

James Fitzgerald, Managing Director
Foodco Group Pty Ltd

Thank you Colin, you have once again exceeded our expectations with your very professional involvement throughout the planning and delivery of our November 2000 Conference. I worked out recently that I must have met you in 1987 when I asked you to help organise and speak at the National Conference of the company I was with at the time. You did a superb job and you subsequently were involved in every national conference with that company for over ten years.
Your experience and confidence, of what works best to achieve the objectives, is invaluable during the planning stage and your ability as a cohesive facilitator is second to none. I am delighted to report that our Franchise Partners, Company Centre Managers and executive delegates took away some really meaningful goals and I can see the evidence of the implementation of those right now.
So thank you again and I look forward to continuing the working relationship well into the future.

Mark Brown, General Manager
Fernwood Female Fitness Centre

Sincere thanks for the fabulous way in which you Totally Facilitated our event. We really appreciated your innovative way of introducing Peter Brock and how you made our members feel comfortable giving Peter the standing ovation he deserved. Our President commented on how flexible you were to our changing format, due to unforseen circumstances, and how you made it all look like it was meant to be that way. You did whatever we asked, when we asked, plus some, all in a very professional manner. Thanks again Colin for tying the 3 days together for us and for your valuable advice when we were first planning the Conference, your experience and expertise made it possible for us to provide our members and trade exhibitors, with their best Conference ever.

Peter Moore, Program Manager
APRAA HUNTER 2000 Conference

The role of MC is vital and judging from the feedback the event was very successful, with your enthusiasm adding to this . . . you did a fantastic job of motivating and keeping the members informed.

Auto Parts Recyclers Association of Australia
- National Committee

Colin Bockman is simply the Best! We recently engaged Colin to facilitate a full day for our Drytron Franchise system. On that day Colin was instrumental in actually moving the culture of the organisation to a positive and permanent position. I heartily recommend Colin to any Franchisor seeking a culture shift.

Ray Cooper, Group Managing Director
The FibreCare Australia Group Pty Ltd

And the following year

I want to personally thank you for a marvellous job done. Your enthusiasm, sense of humour and ability to ensure that all attendees are able to identify with the message we were trying to get across was excellent. Your ability to assess a situation that may not necessarily be heading anywhere, and link it to the overall theme ensuring the convention remained on track, is to be admired. A highlight was your assistance during the presentation to Ray and Val Cooper, ensuring that all Franchisees were upstanding and giving Ray and Val the recognition they deserve . . . many thanks again.

David Jamieson, General Manager
The FibreCare Australia Group Pty Ltd

Your input with the delegates at the Conference was immense and your chairing of the Thursday night discussion on New Zealand has helped us to turn the relationships to a positive one . . . Without your hosting and facilitating of all the events and tying the themes together the Conference would not have been the tremendous success it was. We are indeed indebted to you and take the opportunity of giving you our sincere thanks.

Chris Malcolm, Managing Director
Clark Franchising Pty Ltd

And from the same Conference

I have been to many Conferences and Expos with different organisations over 23 years of retail involvement and have never been moved enough to write to anyone good or bad. However, I believe your effort and delivery was the best I have seen and I know that everyone at the Conference thought the same as I do.

Bill Paligorov, Group Product Manager
Clark Franchising Pty Ltd

And from their next Conference

Many thanks for our efforts during our conference in Christchurch. Once again the conference went well and you were able to keep the pace up and keep the conference moving in a positive manner culminating in an excellent close with our Product and Marketing team. I look forward to future conferences.

Chris Malcolm, Managing Director
Clark Franchising Pty Ltd

It was what they didn't see, didn't hear or didn't know that made your total contribution so fantastic. The willingness to mix so freely with delegates, to fit into a very flexible program, to do more than even we anticipated and to, well just generally, make SuperConference '99 the outstanding success that it was, is the hallmark of a true professional. Colin Bockman we salute you!

Peter Gosden, Director
SuperConference '99

The feedback from all the delegates has been extremely positive about the Conference, and particularly your involvement. I appreciate all of your hard work and commitment in helping to ensure the successful launch of our various programs.

Ron Pedders, Managing Director
Pedders Suspension

Please accept our heartfelt thanks for the masterful style in which you helped us to extract the best value out of our Conference this year. Your planning and attention to minute detail allowed us to overcome any hitch and pick up on opportunities. I particularly admired your quick appreciation of negative vibes and subtle interventions to nip any problems in the bud. You were able to deliver some home truths coated in humour. More than anything you threw yourself into all activities with enthusiasm and became accepted as a valuable team member. I look forward to building on this relationship to help us through our expansion stage.

Dennis Edleston, Operations Manager
PACK & SEND Systems Pty Ltd

Please accept our sincere thanks for the motivation and enthusiasm which you injected into the Conference. The feeling of belonging to a group was evident throughout and we never felt that we were attending a lecture session to get our 'Annual Injection' from the Franchisor . . . We have talked about the Conference a lot since coming home and each time your name comes up as a terrific motivator and entertainer who we believe created the bond between Franchisor and Franchisee. Thank you.

Goodie and John Tofte
Bright Eyes, Ipswich

National Conference for Service & Parts Managers (over three days)

As in the past, Colin is an informative and entertaining Presenter who is always willing to help solve a problem.
Wayne Chapple, Parts Manager, Reg Hunt Holden, Victoria

Held the attention at all levels and it was thoroughly thought-provoking.
Bill McAllan, Service Manager, Frasers Holden, Queensland

I found Colin to be very motivating.
Frank Bennett, Muirs Motors, Sydney

Fantastic - believable - relates to real-life situations.
Steve Ross, Parts Manager, Suttons Holden, Sydney

Great enthusiasm. Very lively, to keep everyone's attention. Good to see a bit of fun throughout the Conference.
Graham Pryce, Parts Manager, Commonwealth Motors, Canberra

Well prepared and kept to strict timetable. Had good control throughout.
Wayne Dyson, Parts Manager, Smith Motor Company, Adelaide

Colin was excellent in being able to summarise each segment and was easy to listen to.
David Bell, Service Manager, Barkley Motors, Mt Eliza, Queensland

Colin has an interesting and stimulating way of presenting. My concentration levels were always high, something which can be hard to maintained during long Conferences.
Bernie Boylen, Service Manager, Phoenix Holden, Wanneroo, Perth

Very professional and knowledgeable man. Lateral thinker.
Ryan Lamb, Parts Manager, Aryan Holden, Emerald, Queensland

Excellent . . . Without Colin's facilitation, VDO would not have achieved even half of what we achieved. All agree he was excellent (and saved our bacon).

Dorothy Patrick, Marketing Executive
VDO Kienzle

I would like to take the opportunity to express our appreciation for the impact that your coordinated and personal presentations had on our five State launch. Your choreography and enthusiasm ensured that our overall message 'Hit the Mark' to more than 400 Bosch Dealer participants.

Gary Burns, Divisional Manager, Sales and Marketing
Robert Bosch Australia

P.S. The 'icing on the cake' was the professionally edited tape which you prepared to remind all of their responsibilities.

The event was an outstanding success, which was as a direct result of your contribution to this most important partnership with our Bridgestone Tyre Centres.

The feedback from our Franchisee Group has been exceptional.

Once again, we thank you and look forward to your future participation and support for this annual event.

Fumo Okuma - Chairman & CEO, Bridgestone Australia Ltd
John White - Executive Director, Tyre Sales & Marketing

Bob Beaumont, Managing Director
Beaumont Tiles

The reality was it lived up to everything we hoped for. Thank you so much for an interesting, amusing and thought-provoking Session. The contribution of the other Franchisors and our own Franchisees were beautifully coordinated by yourself and we felt very pleased with the results. It was certainly a different type of presentation and shows that your talents are virtually unlimited. Looking forward to your help in the future.

Chris Bonaface, Chief Administrator
Capt'n Snooze

I have attended many conferences and workshops locally and even internationally and was most impressed with the recent Franchisee Conference held on 8-9 September 2001 at the Gold Coast. This was no one-way gabfest. It was kept informal but structured and interactive. Many experiences were shared, problems espoused and some practical solutions found to everyday instore issues.
The facilitator, Colin Bockman, was well prepared and the agenda very relevant. Colin kept it practical, allowed discussion to be made on many issues while avoiding the conference becoming mired too deeply in specific issues.

Bruce Myers, CEO
Lenard's Pty Ltd

On behalf of AFAC and the Bon Jovi Youth Futures Forum participants, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for your commitment and contribution to the success of the Forum.
Your professionalism, humour and high degree of ability to bring out the best in our participants, whilst at the same time keeping them totally captivated, was the work of a highly professional facilitator and entertainer.
It has been gratifying to receive such positive feedback about the Forum. Your participation in our program was a significant highlight, and I trust that on a personal basis, it was fulfilling for you too.
Thank you once again for your participation and we look forward to meeting you next when the opportunity presents.

Len Foster
CEO, Australian Fire Authorities Council

Conference (1999 & 2000) . . . Delegates:
Fan-bloody-tastic! Relevant material, timely and followed on in a logical way. - Julie

Very clear leadership from Colin without being pushy . . . friendly conference with a good mix of activities. - Duncan

Felt Colin related very well to the group. Had a good understanding of the underlying issues and drove outcomes to suit. - Nigel

Colin has the group moving in the right direction. - Alan

Excellent . . . and most of all Colin's wonderful way of putting information across in an easy-to-understand manner whilst having fun. - Leonie

Colin does a great job of achieving objectives. - Debbie

I found Colin to be one of the best facilitators I have experienced (I have previously worked with Jaguar, Toyota and Mazda). He took complete control of the Conference and kept it moving and at the same time got things resolved. - Bevan

Conference (2001) . . . Managing Director:
Colin, thank you for another very successful conference, the feeling from those attending this conference is the best I have seen, and the feedback in the last three weeks has been very positive . . . see you at our March 2002 conference. - Bill Ritchie

Conference (2002) . . . Delegates:
Sorry to have missed hearing you again at the Conference this year however, it has inspired and motivated Al and we are working through an action plan to implement most of your recommendations from your keynote address on Sunday morning. Apparently, Al's feedback is to have more of you and less of everything else so we will see you in Auckland again in 2003, all things going well. Thanks again Colin for inspiring me even in absentia through Alan, as he was exceptionally receptive to what you had to say and again, as every year, we feel you are speaking just to us as it hits the right spot every time. - Julie

I would strongly recommend his services. He spends a great deal of time prior - absorbing exactly what you want to get across and then suggests how it can be done without conflicts. These suggestions worked perfectly - he had a great control of the room - the franchisees really liked having a 'neutral' person there - and especially someone so knowledgeable and someone who they felt could empathise with them.

David Clemmett & Peter Bassett
Directors - Laser Group Management Ltd