Spring into Business - April 4, 2009 : A Great Success!
Thank You!
A heart felt thanks to all for making the second annual Spring into Business a resounding success. The contributions of many culminated in a day brimming with Strategies for Success!
We would like to acknowledge the outstanding workshops lead by Brenda Fair and Kathy Jourdain. They generated lively discussion and fresh ideas for our women in business.
The keynote speaker, Lynn Casey, entertained luncheon guests recounting the highs and lows of entrepreneurship. She demonstrated how determination does pay off!
Also thanks to our panel members Rosmarie Bradley, Anne Fouillard, Christie Chaplin-Saunders, and Gwen Smith. Each provided frank and thoughtful insights on starting and growing their businesses.
Spring into Business would like to express our appreciation for the generous financial support from our sponsors. This notable group include:
- The Centre for Women in Business
- South Shore Opportunities
- Lunenburg Queens Regional Development Agency
- The Clipper
- Lighthouse Publishing
- The Comfort Inn
A note of thanks to the Days Inn for providing comfortable conference rooms and luncheon.
And last, but definitely not least, thanks to those of you who attended the event. Without your enthusiasm and keen participation, we could not host Spring into Business.
| Session | Time |
|---|---|
| Showcase Set-up | 7:30 am - 8:45 am |
| Registration | 8:30 am - 9:00 am |
| Welcome | 9:00 am - 9:15 am |
| Brenda Fair Navigating Rough Waters Workshop |
9:15 am - 10:15 am |
| Break | 10:15 am - 10:45 am |
| Kathy Jourdain Innovation Workshop |
10:45 am - 11:45 am |
| Break | 11:45 am - 12:00 noon |
| Luncheon Lynn Casey : Keynote Speaker |
12:00 noon - 1:15 pm |
| Business-to-Business Showcase | 1:15pm - 2:00 pm |
| Panel Discussion | 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm |
| Business-to-Business Showcase | 3:15 pm - 4:00 pm |
| Showcase tear down | 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm |
Committee Members
Our hard-working committee members were:
Sylvia Booth
Regional Business Facilitator (South Shore)
Centre for Women in Business
Web: Centre for Women in Business
Debbie Dorey
Graphic Design
Visible Image Graphic Design Studio
Web: Visible Image
Ann O'Connell
Executive Director
Bridgewater & Area Chamber of Commerce
Web: Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce
Shirley Oickle
Professional Organizer
Web: Space to Thrive : Organizing Transformations
Jodie Turner
Web Design
Web: LuckyDuck Web Design
Arina Winkelman
Web and Business Technology
Web: Arina Winkelman
Eleanor Wright
Wright's Consulting
Mary Kay - Independent Beauty Consultant
Spring into Business April 4, 2009 - Workshops, Keynote Speaker, and Panel Discussion
“Navigating Rough Waters - Business Trends & Survival Techniques for Economic Downturns”
Brenda Fair
Maritimers are resilient; we are used to tough times. The question is, how can we not only survive these tough economic times, but thrive? We have many new options available to us as business owners - we may need to dust off some tried and true, down home business strategies. We will explore some of these new trends and develop strategies for growth in the years to come.
Brenda Fair, Fairwinds Training & Development
Brenda Fair
Brenda Fair is a proud Small Business owner. She has worked in partnership with her husband for 14 years and remarkably, is still married. They run a Human Resources Consulting Business- Fairwinds Training and Development, however they have vowed to never wallpaper another room together.
Brenda is a graduate of Acadia University and has been active in the community her whole life. She is the Commodore of the Cheema Aquatic Club in Waverley NS and was proud to send 3 members to the Beijing Olympics. She is also chair of the 2009 Human Resources Association Conference and sits on the Board of Directors for the Human Resources Association of NS. Her four children range in age from 14 to 20 and are all equally as busy.
Brenda’s most rewarding work is with other small businesses where she can help to facilitate Strategic plans or provide coaching or training for the owners and staff. She enjoys seeing the success of her clients and marvels at the tenacity of entrepreneurs.
“Spring into Innovative Business Solutions”
Kathy Jourdain
Where is your business stuck? How do you want to grow? You will learn and apply the genius creative strategy of Walt Disney and Albert Einstein. Dream big - or differently - and figure out how to make it work and what is the first step you need to take.
Where does Innovation Inspiration come from? What is the difference between creativity and innovation? It is easy to see the challenges in our future, but what about the opportunities? Bring your most compelling questions and be prepared to tackle them in this hands-on session. Walk away with innovation tools and strategies that can, and will, be immediately applied to your business.
Dream big - or differently, figure out how to make it work, identify potential road blocks and strategize how to overcome them. Do all of this by drawing on the collective wisdom that is inherent in the participants and be prepared to be surprised at what you can accomplish in a very short period of time.
Kathy Jourdain, Chrysalis Performance Strategies Inc
Kathy Jourdain
Over her 20-year career, Kathy has developed expertise in interpersonal and team communication which she applies to helping executive and management teams work through conflict to reach high levels performance levels. Her professional, approachable style has made her a powerful business and personal coach with an impressive track record.
Kathy is certified in Strategic Planning and Strategic Change Management through the International Centre for Strategic Management in San Diego, CA. She holds an MBA from Saint Mary's University and is a graduate of the Banff Centre for Management's Executive Leadership Program.
“All Entrepreneurs Should Be Committed”
Lynn Casey, Keynote Speaker
In “All Entrepreneurs Should Be Committed”, Lynn Casey applies a humoristic twist to the trials and tribulations of becoming an entrepreneur. She points out how to find opportunities, take advantage of them, and turn them into a reality.
Lynn shares her experiences as an entrepreneur to provide inspiration to others. And she offers new tools the audience can apply to their business.
Lynn Casey RN, BScN, MedSenses Inc.
Lynn Casey RN, BScN
Lynn’s infectious enthusiasm and passion for entrepreneurialism are an inspiration to witness when she presents to variety of audiences. Whether it is a nursing symposium or a business focused seminar, Lynn brings her unique insight gained from the many years of growing her business and life experiences dealing with thousands of patients during her 20 year nursing career. Stories peppered with humour, passion and sometimes grief are Lynn’s trademark for delivering content that often stays with the listener long after they return to work.
Starting a business with just an idea and a passion presents many challenges and mine fields that Lynn has conquered and continues to navigate. Her company, MedSenses Inc, co-founded with a co-worker from her hospital, has gone through many stages and metamorphosis to arrive at a position where they have closed the deal with 20 channel partners throughout the US, Ireland, UK and Australia. The ability to recognize the client’s needs and fill the void with customizable e-learning solutions is just one of Lynn’s expertise. Her other is motivating people to want to get up and do. Lynn’s personal drive and determination have led her to run a marathon, master black diamond ski hills, learn a second language, swim with dolphins and take on flight nursing all while running her own business.
Panel Discussion
Our panel members are all successful business women who will explore their Strategies for Success! Reflecting on their experiences, the lively discussion will focus on “Lessons Learned” and “What I Would do Differently.”
Anne Fouillard, Duckworth Real Estate
Anne Fouillard's career spans 35 years: international development in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean in design, implementation and evaluation.
Experienced in environmental management, sustainable development policy and applications, she's worked as development practitioner and educator with communities, governments and learners.
As a university professor, Anne taught at Royal Roads and University of Ottawa. More recently, she has worked in environmental assessment, both at practical and teaching levels in school reconstruction in Pakistan and Kashmir.
Last year in Indonesia, Anne guided NGOs and journalists in the integration of environmental messages in their work. This year, she and an Indonesian partner are furthering the work of these NGOs. She is also conducting an eight-country evaluation in Latin America on climate change and biodiversity.
Christie Chaplin-Saunders, Artifacts in Clay
Christie Chaplin-Saunders, Artifacts in Clay, Chester: Production pottery business employs four and is known for functional sculptures of seashells, sold throughout Atlantic Canada and the Eastern Seaboard. Since 1998, Artifacts has attended the Atlantic Craft Trade Show annually. Since 2006, the Buyer's Market of American Craft.
In 2006, Christie opened a retail showroom in her purpose designed production studio. Also an interpretive display as per membership in the Atlantic Economusee Network.
Christie has been a self employed production potter since 1987. In 1986, she graduated from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design - BFA, Art History minor. She has a diploma with ceramics major. She completed two years of ceramics at U of Manitoba and attended Banff Centre summer school ceramics program.
Gwen Smith, The Tea Brewery
Gwen Smith, The Tea Brewery: All about tea - retail, wholesale and export. In partnership with her husband Bruce - he the creative direction and she the business/operations focus. Relocated to Mahone Bay in 2001 building a successful business locally in a very small retail niche market.
They'll soon move from a small retail shop to their new building - an impressive presence for retail tea shop, blending, packaging and sales - including wholesale and export markets with their own brand.
Gwen has a Level 2 Certification from the Specialty Tea Institute and keeps up with trends, products, history and new developments by attending the World Tea Expo, this year in Las Vegas.
Rosmarie Bradley, Helping Nature Heal
Rosmarie Bradley, Helping Nature Heal: 100% committed to working with nature through organic gardening, eco landscape design and educational services. As the heart, soul and sweat of HNH, a business she launched in 2002, she has a client list of 200+.
Rosmarie is backed by a five year double major degree in conservation and environmental studies, a two year diploma in architecture, she interned with eco-forestry pioneer Merv Wilkinson and spent 14 months at Nova Scotia's Windhorse Farm. She's working on a two-year Master Gardener diploma and has completed level 4 of 5 in a Horticulture as Therapy (HT) diploma.
Rosmarie volunteers, teaches classes and workshops and leads a weekly HT group. She lives the Conservationist's Ethic, spreading the "environmental word" whenever and wherever she can.
