Dr. Bruce Firestone, is a man who exhibits the definition of entrepreneurship! An esteemed real estate developer, lecturer, visionary, realtor, publisher, executive director and university professor…with his impressive list of occupations and credentials, he leaves us with one burning question: how does he manage to squeeze in a wink of sleep?

Upon graduating with his PhD from the Australian National University, Firestone returned to his home town of Ottawa and began his pathway towards success in entrepreneurship. He entered into real estate development with the family firm, Terrace Developments, and simultaneously started a local business newspaper.

In the mid and late 80’s Dr. Firestone became founder of the Ottawa Senators franchise of the National Hockey League (NHL). Aside from sports and real estate, Dr. Firestone has lent his talents to many impressive businesses, such as the Momentous Corporation, an IT company made up of a subgroup of businesses such as rebel.com, and zip.ca.

Today, Dr. Firestone is an entrepreneur-in-residence and teacher at the Telfer School of Management at the University of Ottawa as well as his employment as a commercial real estate agent. Firestone writes regularly on his personal blog about entrepreneurship and business topics and is a widely published scholar in the field of entrepreneurship, engineering, hockey, and more. His publishing credits also include the Entrepreneurs Handbook (a guide to help entrepreneurs get started using the bootstrap method) and http://learnbydoing.ca (a website to provide entrepreneurial experience for students).

To read more about Dr. Bruce Firestone visit http://www.dramatispersonae.org

The following video is the "Wes Nichol Report" competition that Dr. Firestone's students are regularly involved in:

 

 

Co-Chairs for Fresh Ideas 2009

A native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Shingai Nyajeka has contributed to community development and social justice initiatives over the past fifteen years through an involvement in the creation and maintenance of various organizations. His work has predominately focused on supporting and advocating on behalf of youth at-risk, members of the African Nova Scotian community, and people living with cognitive and physical disabilities. Shingai has developed a strong degree of entrepreneurial experience as a former client of the Open for Business Program and the Seed Loan Program through which he owned and operated a retail clothing store for over five years. A recent graduate of Saint Mary’s University, Shingai puts his experience and expertise to use as CEED's Second Chance Assistant to help support the development of participants involved in the program.

The Network of Support

Meghan Beck-White is a born and raised Haligonian. She is an honours student at NSCC in her second year of the Business Administration program enrolled in the Accounting stream. Meghan currently keeps busy working as Vice President, Operations for the NSCC Waterfront Student Association.  In her spare time, Meghan is an avid curler and enjoys playing Frisbee with her golden retriever, Cali. Upon completion of her diploma from NSCC, she hopes to attend Saint Mary’s University to become a Certified Managerial Accountant which will open the doors to her dream job in event management.

Other Workshop Presenters and Panelists

The Network of Support

Elke Sager (Moderator)
Business Development Officer, CEED SEB Program
Business involvement has been a lifestyle for Elke.  She grew up in a business household and has owned several business ventures, the most challenging being an emu farm.  As Chamber of Commerce Manager, Elke provided business advice and coordination while developing and teaching business courses at the local Community College.  For eight years she has been assisting would-be entrepreneurs to develop skills and start a business under the Self Employment Benefit Program in Powell River, BC and here in Nova Scotia.  Elke holds a Hotel Management Diploma from Germany and a Diploma in Adult Education from British Columbia.

Panelists

Jane Veldhoven
Owner, Get Organized! Professional Services
Jane Veldhoven is a Certified Professional Organizer®, and the Owner of Get Organized! Professional Services. Jane has worked with entrepreneurs and business owners helping them improve efficiency and productivity in their businesses and maximize profits by effectively managing their time. Jane provides valuable advice in how to start and run a business in Nova Scotia, especially with the experience of starting her own business in an industry that didn’t even exist.  New and existing entrepreneurs, will learn how to market a brand new service area amid some resistance and skepticism and most importantly developing a network of support as a “solopreneur”.

Floria Aghdamimehr
Wellness Life Coach, Recognize Your Potential
A Wellness/ Life Coach and Nutrition Consultant, Floria has a BScHE degree with a major in nutrition from Mount Saint Vincent University. Wellness has been a lifelong passion for Floria and it gives her great joy to help others eat well, manage their stress, and reach their potential. Floria focuses on work/ life balance issues, and offers a variety of customized group programs to enhance body image, life coaching, healthy living, stress management, eating healthy on the run, relaxation at the work place, team building, time management, personal and professional development to name a few. 

The Art of Asking for $$

Kelly Corkery (Moderator)
Delilvery Agent - Halifax Urban/Rural
Students In Business (SIB)
Kelly has delivered the Students in Business Loan Program in the HRM since 2004.  She holds a BA from Dalhousie in addition to diplomas in Hospitality Management and Entrepreneurship & Small Business Management from NSCC.  A passion for developing entrepreneurial skills in youth led Kelly to establish a course in Social Enterprise and Corporate Social Responsibility at NSCC’s Waterfront Campus.  To date, Kelly has assisted in the start up or expansion of over 80 student ventures.

Panelists

John Cooke
Executive Director
Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC) Blue Water

John has extensive experience in business financing – both conventional and non-conventional – in addition to experience in business counseling, startup, and acquisitions. Currently an Executive Director at CBDC Blue Water, he previously worked as the Manager of Special Accounts at NSBI, a Commercial Account Manager at RBC and a Senior Development Officer at CBDC Blue Water. A former service sector entrepreneur, John has owned and operated a gas station, several laundromats, a fitness centre and a retail venture.

Bill Martin
Director, Atlantic Canada
Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF)
Bill’s 35 year career has spanned retailing, marketing, seminar training, curriculum development and self-employment.  For the last 10 years Bill has been assisting businesses with start-ups & access to capital assistance through the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF).

 

Padraic (Paddy) D. Hynes
Senior Account Manager, Business & Personal
Royal Bank of Canada (RBC)
Paddy has worked for 30 yrs in the banking industry, where he specializes in small business and personal financing.

Amy Rhyno
Account Manager
Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Through BDC, Amy provides Canadian businesses with flexible financing, affordable consulting services and venture capital. She works with entrepreneurs in all industries, with a focus on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), through all economic cycles and helps businesses in their development projects, both local and global. As an Account Manager in the Entrepreneurship Centre, Amy provides financing to SMEs focusing on lending up to $250,000.

Building Your Brand

Andrew Doyle (Moderator)
Partner, President Extreme Group

Andrew Doyle is President of Extreme Group and its chief strategist on social marketing, reputation management and branding. He brings more than 18 years of professional communications experience to the position ranging from retail, tourism and entertainment industries, oil and gas and the energy sector to packaged goods and government relations. Before Extreme, Andrew was the Atlantic Canadian marketing manager for Coca-Cola. Andrew always thought he was an entrepreneur but figured he’d get into business for himself “later” in life; however an unanticipated kick in the butt put him on the path to business ownership. One of the biggest lessons he’s learned being the boss remains hiring well and staying out of the way of good work.

Panelists

Mimi Fautley
Co-owner, Instructor
The Loop Craft Café
Mimi Fautley is co-owner of The Loop Craft Café, a Halifax business with a distinct and innovative identity. The Loop specializes in workshops and supplies for fibre arts including knitting, crochet, felting and spinning. Since its inception in 2005 The Loop has branded itself as a destination for knitters and fibre enthusiasts from near and far.

 

Michelle SaintOnge
Owner, Operator
Michelle SaintOnge Limited Edition Collections & Remnants Accessories
Named one of Progress Magazine’s ‘Young and Fearless’ in 2007, Michelle SaintOnge creates contemporary silkscreen designs that get noticed internationally. Her hand illustrated, silk-screened artwork has been featured in galleries, magazines and television shows including The Martha Stewart Show. In 2005 Michelle opened her own textile design studio in Halifax, where she crafts her unique handbags and eco chic accessories.

Christine Greening
Owner, Bark & Fitz Atlantic Inc.
Christine is living the brand of a franchisee as the dog-loving proprietor and owner of Bark & Fitz Atlantic Inc., a speciality pet retail boutique. With previous professional sales experience, Christine credits business acumen, customer skills, and the ability to put together a great team as key ingredients in building and maintaining a successful brand. 

Don't Hire Your Mom (and other great HR tips for Small Businesses)

Michael Sanderson (Presenter)
Manager, Skills Development & Training
Saint Mary’s University Business Development Centre (SMUBDC)

Michael has over 12 years of experience in entrepreneurship, economic development and professional training, and has gained extensive leadership and project management experience in his role at the SMUBDC. Michael has been responsible for the development and delivery of varied projects including multi year employability training programs for recent graduates, conference planning and coordination, a variety of research and consulting projects, and professional development training. In addition he has gained significant entrepreneurial experience through ownership of several businesses, the most recent being a retail video store. Michael holds a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary's University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Dalhousie University.

The Nanosecond Economy: Success Strategies for an Instant Message World

John Leahy (Presenter)
President & Founder, ImmediaC World Wide Inc.
John Leahy is the President and Founder of ImmediaC World Wide Inc, the author of Get Googled, as well as an entrepreneur and adventurer. Always a student of business and excellence, his passion is making technology work for business.  John’s experience includes more than 20 years building successful IT companies, hosting radio programs, and conducting seminars. John’s current venture, ImmediaC, produces internet software and internet strategies for more than 250 organizations around the world which enable website management, top search engine listings and e-business.

Ideas So Fresh They Should Be Slapped

Ed Leach; MBA, CMA (Moderator)
Assistant Professor, Faculty of Management, Dalhousie University
Site Coordinator, Entrepreneurial Skills Program (ESP)
Ed is an assistant professor in the Faculty of Management at Dalhousie University and teaches courses in the School of Business and Faculty of Computer Science. His research interests include opportunity recognition, social entrepreneurship, guerilla entrepreneurship and computing technology in education.

 

Panelists

April Glavine

Founder and CEO

Lean Machine Healthy Vending Service & Lean Machine Fundraising

In 2007 a plan was announced to phase out unhealthy foods and beverages in Nova Scotia schools.  Enter April Glavine: health nut, innovator, and entrepreneur. When opportunity knocked April answered with ‘Lean Machine,’ a healthy school vending service. In two years Lean Machine has grown by 300 percent, and has expanded operations with ‘The Lean Machine Way’ - a program where students run the machines to generate profit for their schools, and Vita Pome - a locally made healthy snack alternative for school fundraising campaigns.

Kevin Dunn

Director of Operations, Industry Liaison and Innovation (ILI)

Dalhousie University

Kevin Dunn leads the business interaction and industrial relationships for Dalhousie as they relate to contract research and issues of intellectual property. He is also responsible for technology commercialization efforts in Engineering, Sciences, Computer Science, and Management, and all operational issues at ILI.  Prior to joining ILI, Kevin worked with Dalhousie's Technical Cooperative and Career Services, helping engineering co-op students find learning opportunities and meaningful employment.  Before joining Dalhousie University, Kevin worked in senior technical sales management positions across North America with both multi-national companies and a small regional company.  Throughout his career his roles have required close interactions with small and medium-sized business clients across Canada.

Dylan Jackman

Founder/Partner, NL Jungle Pets Store

CBC’s “The Teenage Pet Guy”

Originally developed as a high school project in 2005, NL Jungle Pets is now Newfoundland’s largest exotic animal education facility and has recently expanded to mainland Nova Scotia with a location in downtown Dartmouth. Also CBC TV’s “The Teenaged Pet Guy”, Dylan has appeared on a variety of national television shows, including Kids CBC.

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