Bridges to Better Business Event News Release

September 09, 2009

For Immediate Release

From: Greater Barrie Business Enterprise Centre

Contact: Terri Plaxton Smith, Manager

October is Small Business Month and Help is on the way!

October is Small Business Month in Ontario, and that means the return of the SMALL BUSINESS EVENT OF THE YEAR – Bridges to Better Business. On October 28^th the Greater Barrie Business Enterprise Centre (GBBEC) will host the 8^th Annual Small Business Conference at Barrie’s ANAF building on George St., Barrie from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Registered Bridges participants will benefit from keynote speaker, seminar leader and business coach Curt Skene’s edu-taining presentation “Mastering the Marketplace”. They will discover a simple strategy for creating customer WOW, learn to uncover pockets of opportunity to grow their businesses, get powerful ideas on how to look at adversity in a positive light, plus… over 75 actionable ideas that will help them excel and achieve business and personal success.

Participants will also gain valuable information from Round Table Discussions on key business issues, such as: Marketing/Public Relations, Sales Strategies, E-Commerce, Exporting, Manufacturing, Access to funding, HR and much more!

A B2B Trade Show will run from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. and provides the perfect opportunity for local entrepreneurs to access availabcurtle products and services that can help them grow their businesses and to network with local suppliers and the business community at large.

“Bridges is a one-stop shopping opportunity for small businesses!" says GBBEC Administrator, Terri Plaxton Smith. “Everything the small business owner needs to grow their business can be accessed through the various activities available at this event."

Bridges to Better Business is a Provincial initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade and is offered in partnership with the City of Barrie through the Greater Barrie Business Enterprise Centre.

Networking opportunities, door prizes, and a hot catered lunch are just a few of the additional highlights of this information-packed day!  Cost is only $ 60.00. Tradeshow booths are available for an additional fee. For more information or to register, CALL 705-720-2445 OR EMAIL admin@barriebusinesscentre.ca

- 30 -

· 

Tentative Agenda

7:30 am            Trade Booth Setup

8:15 am           Registration and networking, continental breakfast

8:45 am           Welcome and Introductions (Partners, Sponsors)

-  Mayor Dave Aspden, City of Barrie

-  Brian Opitz, Canada Ontario Business Service Centre (TBC)

-  Ted Northcott, Ministry of Economic Development & Trade (TBC)

9:15 am           Key note Speaker, Curt Skene “Mastering the Marketplace”

10:45 am         Break

11:00 am         Round Table Discussions

12:00 pm        Lunch and Networking

1:00 pm          B2B Tradeshow Opens

2:00 pm          Strategies for Success in Tough Economic Times  – Brian Chuipka, The Achievement Centre

3:00 pm          Networking

4:00 pm          Wrap Up

Curt Skene Background

At Microsoft, Curt grew his business unit from $800K to over $36M in five short years. In 1997 Curt was recognized by Microsoft as one of their best in the world. In 1998 as President of ExecuTrain – Curt won four worldwide awards for business development and sales growth. In 1999 at BrainBuzz Inc. – Curt grew the monthly revenues of his department from $80K to $210K in just six short months. Curt is an expert on helping businesses grow. Today Curt is a gifted story teller who combines wisdom and wit to engage and excite his audiences on finding more business. This is a program about sales, service and being the best in life that you can possibly be!

Curt Skene – ( 905) 814-1776   curt@curtskene.com

Get the printable news release