The 2007 BREI Annual Conference

Growing From Within: Thinking Regionally - Succeeding Globally

June 6 - 8, 2007

Regina, Saskatchewan

Biographical Sketches - Keynote Session

Tuesday, June 5th

The Experience Economy

Wednesday, June 6th

KEYNOTE #1: Jayson Myers, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
“The Future of Industry in a Global Market”

KEYNOTE #2: Don Lenihan, Crossing Boundaries National Council
“Break on Through – Communities in the New Economy”

KEYNOTE #3: James Gollub, ICF International
“New Rules for Building High Performance Economies”

Breakout Session_1.1: Building Your Economic Foundation Capacity
MODERATOR: Dion McGrath, Saskatchewan Regional Economic and Co-operative Development
• James Gollub, ICF International, “Collaborative Strategies to Build High Performing Regions”
• Nelson Jatel, Okanogan Partnership Society, “Okanogan Competitiveness Strategy”

Breakout Session_1.2: Competitiveness in Manufacturing
MODERATOR: Monique Lischynski
• Jayson Myers, CME, “The Challenge of Competitiveness for Canadian Manufacturers”
• Monique Lischynski, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources, “Lean Consortiums: An Example of Building Competitiveness Through Collaboration”
• Stewart Bellamy, Brandt Engineered Products Ltd., “Implementing Lean and Lean Consortiums: Our Experience”

Breakout Session_1.3: Using Technology to Build Collaboration
MODERATOR: Cherylynn Walters, Marieval Enterprise Centre Inc.
• Don Lenihan, Crossing Boundaries National Council, “Economic Development in a Wired World”
• CHS Enterprises Inc.
• Cherylynn Walters, Marieval Enterprise Center Inc., “Building Community Economic Development through Technology”
• Marie Prebushewski, Thickwood Hills Business and Learning Centers, Inc., “Using Technology to Integrate Cultural Perspectives into Communities”
• Colleen Stinson, Cap Society of Cape Breton County, “On-line Collaborative Tools for Community Economic Development”

Breakout Session_2.1: Regional Economic Data Intelligence
MODERATOR: Rochelle Smith, Saskatchewan Regional Economic and Co-operative Development
• Eric Canada, Blain Canada Inc., “Business Dynamics: A Context for Decision-Making”
• Stephen Morris, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, “Using Economic Analysis for Strategic Decision Making”
• Kate Humpage, Rural Secretariat, “Community Information Database”

Breakout Session_2.2: Going Global
MODERATOR: Guy Hughes, Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership
• Dave Archer, ATM Export Management, “Global Expansion: Helping Companies Succeed”
• Murad Al Katib, Saskcan Pulse Trading Inc., “A Going Global Perspective from Saskcan Pulse Trading”

Breakout Session_2.3: Building the Ultimate Experience Economy
MODERATOR: Candace Phelps, Tourism Saskatchewan
• Tom Tresser, Passionate Strategies, “Fundamentals of the Experience Economy”
• Peter Kenyon, Bank of I.D.E.A.S., “Good Enough Never Is: Lessons from Inspirational businesses in Australia and New Zealand”

Breakout Session_2.4: Governance of Rural/Urban Interaction
MODERATOR: Ray Bollman, Statistics Canada, “Factors Driving Canada’s Rural Economy”
• Mark Partridge, Ph.D, Ohio State University, “Building Strong Regional Foundations for Rural-Urban Growth”
• Rob Greenwood, Ph.D, Memorial University of Newfoundland, “New Opportunities for Rural-Urban Co-operation”

Thursday, June 7th

KEYNOTE #4: Peter Kenyon, Bank of I.D.E.A.S.
“Fostering Entrepreneurship and Innovation Down Under”

KEYNOTE #5: Robert Porter Lynch, The Warren Company
“Collaborative Innovation Networks”

Breakout Session_3.1: The ABC’s of Economic Development
MODERATOR: Marian Beattie, Rural Development Institute
• Robert C. Annis, Ph.D, Rural Development Institute, “Regional Collaboration-Why do communities come together?”
• Russ McPherson, MidSask CFDC/REDA, “WaterWolf Regional Round Table: Illustration of Multi-Community Collaboration” (joint photo with Denise Guillet)
• Denise Guillet, Midsask CFDC/REDA, “Application of GIS for Multi-Community Planning”

Breakout Session_3.2: Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Garden (roundtables)
MODERATOR: Lanis Anthony, SAINT (Saskatchewan Angel Investors Network)
OPENING SPEAKER:
• Russel Scott Allred, HPE Hot 100, “Building High-Performance Entrepreneurs Using the HPE Hot 100 Business Expansion Program”
TABLE # and Name:
1. Teaching Entrepreneurship:
• Brent Kreuger, Praxis International Institute, “Creating the World’s Future Leaders Through Innovation and Creativity—The Praxis Model”

2. Business Mentorship
• Barb Cox-Lloyd, Business Mentorship Institute of Saskatchewan, “The Value of Mentorship to Building Business Leaders”

3. Business Networking
• Stephen Bell, Business Networks International, “Relationships for Revenue”

4. Business Counseling
• Rena Posteraro, Niagara College, “Effective Business Counseling: A Model for Entrepreneurial Success”

5. Enterprise Centers
• Bill Spring, Regina Business Development Centre, “Assisting the Entrepreneur from Idea to Operation to Profit”

6. Business Financing
• Ben Voss, Entrepreneurial Foundation of Saskatchewan, “Working with Entrepreneurs – Helping Visionaries Build a Stronger Economy”

7. Celebrating Entrepreneurship
• Larry Hiles, Regina Regional Economic Development Authority, “Business Planning Competitions”

8. Entrepreneurial Trends
• Jean-Marie Nkongolo-Bakendu, University of Regina, “The Globalization of Entrepreneurship”

9. Intellectual Property
• Cory Furman, Furman & Kalio Law, “Leveraging Intellectual Property to Enhance Business Opportunities”

Breakout Session_3.3: Growth Planning in Manufacturing
MODERATOR: Monique Lischynski, Saskatchewan Industry and Resources
• Mike Collins, MPC Management, “Growth Planning for Small and Mid-Sized Manufacturers”
• Peter Cruson, Dutch Industries, “Dutch Industries – Company’s Perspective”

Breakout Session_3.4: Business Retention and Expansion: Best Practices
MODERATOR: Fred Morley, Greater Halifax Partnership
• Michael Darger, University of Minnesota – Extension, “After the BR&E Visitation: What will make a community priority project succeed or fail?”
• Del Birch, Executive Pulse, “Building Positive Relationships with your Business Community”
• Karen Fischer, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, “Using Governments as Effective Partners in BR&E Programs”

KEYNOTE #6: Lunch Speaker: Don Holbrook, “Setting the Stage to Becoming a World Class Community” (10-15 minutes)

KEYNOTE #7: Rebecca Ryan, Next Generation Consulting, “Brain Drain: How to Attract and Retain the Next Generation of Talent”

Breakout Session_4.1: Cool Communities – Cool Companies
MODERATOR: Victoria Morris, Saskatchewan Co-operative Association
• Rebecca Ryan, Next Generation Consulting, “Becoming a Cool Community”
• Claudia Sammer, Cool Companies Magazine, “Characteristics of Cool Companies”
• Victoria Morris, SCA, “Piercings, s, and Green Hair, Oh My! Engaging Youth in Business”
• Jeff Stusek, Information Services Corporation, “Attracting and Engaging Youth by Bridging Generations - The ISC Experience”

Breakout Session_4.2: Succession Planning
MODERATOR: Marilyn Braun-Pollon, CFIB-Canadian Federation of Independent Business, “Research on SME Succession in Canada”
• Don Holbrook, “Technology Led Succession Planning”
• Vern Bachiu, Triall Consulting, “Succession Planning: A View from the Trenches”

Breakout Session_4.3: Finding Leadership
MODERATOR: Bert Roach, Estevan Chamber of Commerce, “How the community of Kipling rallied around a red paper clip to spark growth”
• Vince Marsh, Deloitte, “Finding Leadership Everyday”
• Peter Kenyon, The Bank of I.D.E.A.S., “The value of local community volunteer involvement: Why the BR&E process is MORE important than the product”

Breakout Session_5.1: Workforce Development
MODERATOR: Holly Heatherington, Executive Source
• Robin Chisolm, Ph.D, Rural Crossroads Institute, “The REWARD Program: an effective community collaboration for rural workforce development”
• Monica Knight (Coneys), Shosholoza Productions, “Attracting and Retaining a Creative Workforce: Dance to the Beat of Your Own Drum”
• Wayne McKenzie, First Nations and Métis Relations, “Aboriginal Representative Workforce Strategy”

Breakout Session_5.2: Forming Business Networks and Strategic Alliances
MODERATOR: Lori Schmidt, City of Edmonton
• Robert Porter-Lynch, The Warren Company, “Strategic Alliances: Engines of Innovation”
• Lori Schmidt, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation, “Networks as a tool for Cluster Development: The City of Edmonton Experience”

Breakout Session_5.3: Branding to position a city/region internationally
MODERATOR:
• Dean Gagne, Checkmate Strategic Planning, “Branding a Geography”
• Mayor Pat Fiacco, Mayor of Regina, “Benefits of Branding: The City of Regina’s Experience”

Friday, June 8th

Breakfast speakers: Award Winners from Thursday night (up to 10 minutes each)

KEYNOTE #8: Ifor Ffowcs-Williams, Cluster Navigators
Industry Cluster Development: Red Lights and Green Lights

Breakout Session_6.1: Investing in Infrastructure
MODERATOR: Charene Kozak, Industry and Resources
• Susanne Bell, SaskFilm, “Saskatchewan’s Film and Television Industry: Fueling a New Economy for the Province”
• Mark Reid, Verite Productions, “The Economic Impact of the Saskatchewan Film Industry”
• Kerri Charlton, The Stoop Restaurant, “Economic Impact on a Rural Community”

Breakout Session_6.2: Industry Cluster Development Workshop (Part 1)
MODERATOR: Brendan Reding, Regional Economic and Co-operative Development
• Ifor Ffowcs-Williams, CEO, Cluster Navigators

Breakout Session_6.3: A Fascinating Look at the Future of Public Policy
MODERATOR: Greg Marchildon, Graduate School of Public Policy
• Roger Gibbons, Canada West Foundation, “Canada West Foundation: The Next West Project”
• Peter Holle, The Frontier Centre for Public Policy, “A Global Perspective of Public Policy Initiatives”
• Jim Marshall, Saskatchewan Institute of Public Policy, “Trends in Development Policy”

Breakout session_6.4: Community Decision Making Tools
MODERATOR: Brenda Cameron-Couch, Rural Secretariat
• Mike Stolte, Centre for Innovative and Entrepreneurial Leadership, “Is Your Community Business Friendly”
• Nancy Ross, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs, “First Impressions Community Exchange Program”
• Susan Nadon, Industry Canada, “Community Progression Scorecard: Assessing Community Information and Communications Technology”
• Brenda Cameron-Couch, Rural Secretariat, “Community Decision Making Toolkit”

LUNCH SPEAKER (conference overview-and wrap-up), Paul Martin, Paul Martin Communications

KEYNOTE #9: Ed Clark, Fed Ex Trade Networks
“Globalization: The New Reality”

Breakout Session_7.1: Steps to Growth Capital
MODERATOR: Clare Kirkland, Regina Regional Economic Development Authority, “The Challenges and Opportunities in Accessing Financing for Start-up and Growth Companies
• Denis Cote, Summit Consulting Group inc., “Becoming Investor Ready”
• Deborah Thorn, Temple Gardens Mineral Spa, “The Temple Gardens Mineral Spa: Success Story"

Breakout Session_7.2: Industry Cluster Development Workshop (Part 2)
MODERATOR: Brendan Reding, Regional Economic and Co-operative Development
• Ifor Ffowcs-Williams, CEO, Cluster Navigators

Breakout session_7.3: Tips from BR&E Practitioners: Rising to the Challenge
MODERATOR:
• Marty Salberg, City of Swift Current, “Cutting Loose: Swift Current uses BR&E to Turn the Corner”
• Stephen Sparks, Baton Rouge Area Chamber of Commerce.