14 November 2011
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Local entrepreneurs are taking centre stage at showcase events this fall in Atlantic Canada. The annual events bring together business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and government officials in a forum to celebrate business leadership and promote innovation. The Entrepreneurs’ Forum Newfoundland and Labrador Showcase will be held on Wednesday in St. John’s, and presents an opportunity to raise the profile of local entrepreneurs and to recognize the many volunteer advisors who help contribute to their success.
“Our Government is determined to see the economic recovery through, and we will continue to focus on what matters to Canadians – creating jobs and promoting economic growth,” said the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie. “Atlantic Canada has a strong tradition of entrepreneurship. This investment will help leverage local business expertise and will help Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs be more innovative and competitive, and create jobs.”
Featured Newfoundland and Labrador entrepreneurs include: Scott Oldfield, CEO, Essential Coding Inc. (Grand Falls- Windsor); Gerry Heffernan, CEO and founder, Onplug Innovations Inc. (St. John’s); Keelin O’Leary, Manager, The Genesis Centre (St. John’s); Kim Todd, owner, Quick Brown Fox (St. John’s); and Brian Lundrigan, owner, WYSE Design & Development Inc. (Conception Bay South).
The showcase event is part of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum Showcase Series presented by RBC, which takes place in each of the Atlantic provinces. All five entrepreneurs in the Newfoundland and Labrador Showcase have taken advantage of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum business advisory services.
Entrepreneurs’ Forum services focus on improving the growth and competitiveness of innovative businesses in Atlantic Canada. In 2010-2011 alone, over 200 Entrepreneurs’ Forum volunteer advisors assisted more than 100 clients, contributing nearly 3,000 hours to providing a “real-world” point of view to problems and opportunities that new and existing innovative companies have to face. The advisory services help Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs gain access to experienced local business professionals who provide sound, practical advice on key issues, including the development of strategic management skills, product development, commercialization, increased access to international markets and growth planning.
“Entrepreneurs’ Forum has created many business relationships and looks at business in a different way,” said Scott Oldford, CEO of Essential Coding Inc. “Within the sessions, the advisors were helpful and the knowledge acquired has allowed me to progress in business, as well as in my personal development moving forward.”
“It’s essential that we recognize commitment to entrepreneurship throughout the Atlantic provinces,” said Entrepreneurs’ Forum President David McNamara. “Our volunteers and advisors devote many hours to helping talented and determined innovative entrepreneurs succeed. They deserve to be commended for their contribution to furthering entrepreneurship and innovation across Atlantic Canada as do the key funding contributors to EF, which are: ACOA, the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP), Business New Brunswick, Nova Scotia Economic and Rural Development, the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, and Innovation PEI. RBC Royal Bank is EF’s presenting sponsor this year for the Showcase Series, and Canadian Youth Business Foundation, Manning Atlantic and Deloitte are all also sponsors of Entrepreneurs’ Forum.”
The Government of Canada, through ACOA and NRC-IRAP, is providing a total investment of $320,000 to support the Entrepreneurs’ Forum throughout Atlantic Canada.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
An Entrepreneurs’ Forum Showcase presented by RBC will be held on November 16, 2011 at Portobello’s Restaurant, in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. This annual event brings together local business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and government officials to celebrate business leadership and promote innovation.
ACOA Minister Bernard Valcourt said the Government of Canada is determined to see the economic recovery through, and will continue to focus on what matters to Canadians – creating jobs and promoting economic growth. He said the federal investment of $320,000 will help Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs tap into local business expertise so that they can become more competitive and create jobs.
Featured Newfoundland and Labrador entrepreneurs include: Scott Oldfield, CEO of Essential Coding Inc. (Grand Falls- Windsor); Gerry Heffernan, CEO and founder of Onplug Innovations Inc. (St. John’s); Keelin O’Leary, Manager of The Genesis Centre (St. John’s); Kim Todd, owner of Quick Brown Fox (St. John’s); and Brian Lundrigan, owner of WYSE Design & Development Inc. (Conception Bay South).
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INFORMATION:
Andrea Richer
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt
613-790-3637
Kevin Dubé
Director of Communications, Client Services
ACOA Head Office
506-851-7632
Kathleen Rayworth
Entrepreneurs’ Forum
902-492-7600
902-229-6167 (cell)
kathleen@entrepreneursforum.com
Following are the five companies that are participating in the Entrepreneurs’ Forum Newfoundland and Labrador Showcase:
Essential Coding Inc.: Essential Coding Inc. opened its first office in Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador in 2007. The company provides web development, mobile applications, social media and all marketing touch points in between. Over the past 18 months, the innovative e-Marketing technology provider has firmly rooted itself within Atlantic Canada, expanding into St. John’s and Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador; Moncton, New Brunswick; and Halifax, Nova Scotia. www.essentialcoding.com
Onplug Innovations Inc.: St. John’s-based Onplug Innovations Inc. designs and markets energy saving electrical products. The company’s Onplug Power Saver is an electrical device used by eco savvy consumers to reduce their phantom power consumption and save money in the process. The product is also being adopted by companies and organizations looking to “green” their workforce and for corporate promotions.
Quick Brown Fox (thegreenrock.ca): Quick Brown Fox is a creative communications company with almost 20 years experience in reaching target markets with messages that make a difference. thegreenRock - habits for your habitat, a project of the St. John’s-based company, is a social media campaign dedicated to raising awareness of sustainable practices in the Northeast Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland and Labrador. ThegreenRock website was launched in October 2011. Each week a new on-line video, created by a Conservation Corps Green Team during the summer of 2011, tells stories of green practices, practitioners, and opportunities. www.thequickbrownfox.ca / www.thegreenrock.ca
The Genesis Centre: Located at Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), the Centre is a support network for technology-based ventures that have high-growth potential, and are seeking business guidance and capital. It also connects entrepreneurs to the scientific, technical and business expertise resident at MUN. By helping entrepreneurs develop comprehensive business plans and implement effective Advisory Boards, the Centre prepares promising ventures for private investment. Twenty-nine companies have graduated from the Genesis Centre since 2000, and the Centre is currently working with 12 companies. Graduates include Rutter Technologies, Verafin, and Genoa Design. www.genesis.mun.ca/GenesisCentre
WYSE Design & Development Inc.: Located in Conception Bay South, Newfoundland and Labrador the company has created a new category of mechanical systems with its innovative design that allows the winch to "float" mid-span between the vehicle and the anchor point. It has taken existing winch technology and made it better and is the next step in winch technology. WYSE Design is both dedicated to finding solutions, and the design of innovative new products for present day concerns. www.wyse-design.com
Entrepreneurs’ Forum Showcase events were held earlier this fall in the following locations:
- Nova Scotia – October 18, 2011 – Cape Breton University, Sydney
- Prince Edward Island – October 25, 2011 – Culinary Institute of Canada, Charlottetown
- New Brunswick – November 1, 2011 – University of New Brunswick, Saint John
