Eighteen participants announced for New Brunswick Roundtable on Entrepreneurship

    SAINT JOHN, NB, Feb. 19 /CNW/ - The New Brunswick Business Council and
the Wallace McCain Institute of Business Leadership today announced eighteen
leading entrepreneurs who will be participating in New Brunswick's first ever
Roundtable on Entrepreneurship.
    The Roundtable was a key recommendation stemming from the FullSail Summit
held in Moncton in 2007 to strengthen New Brunswick's entrepreneurial culture
and is being co-hosted by the two groups.
    Leading entrepreneurs were selected from across the province to
participate in a weekend retreat in St. Andrews where they will meet with
established business leaders and share insights into overcoming the many
challenges of starting a new business. Entrepreneurs represent various sectors
ranging from technology and advertising to construction and fitness.
    "We've assembled a group of very bright minds who have significant
potential. They have all demonstrated an ability to evolve an idea into a
commercial reality, and possess a clear commitment to New Brunswick's growth
and prosperity," said New Brunswick Business Council Chair, Ed Barrett.
    The Roundtable has three primary goals:

    1. To support the creation of more NB-based enterprises
    2. To raise awareness of the importance of entrepreneurship in securing
       New Brunswick's future prosperity
    3. To facilitate communication between players in the New Brunswick
       economy

    Roundtable participants will explore and develop an inventory of issues
that entrepreneurs need to understand and master in order to succeed. Issues
will range from understanding and gaining access to capital markets, to
developing leadership potential in themselves and others, to effective
networking.
    Derek Oland, Chair of Wallace McCain Institute for Business Leadership,
explained that the Roundable will kickoff the first-year of the Institute's
2008 programming. "I'm looking forward to listening closely to these
entrepreneurs; to learning about what keeps them awake at night as well as the
opportunities they see for new business growth in New Brunswick. I expect
we'll emerge with a better understanding of the issues that matter and we'll
work from those to design our first-year curriculum at the Wallace McCain
Institute."
    The Roundtable on Entrepreneurship will be sponsored by Aliant and will
take place in St. Andrews at the Fairmont Algonquin on February 22nd and 23rd.

    Leading entrepreneurs include:

    Jake Arsenault
    Inversa, Fredericton

    Fred Bullock
    Mariner Partners, Saint John

    David Campbell
    Shift Central, Moncton

    Lori-Ann Cyr
    Diversis, Saint-Basile

    Donald French
    Université de Moncton

    Jill Green
    Green Imaging Technologies, Inc., Fredericton

    Karl Greenlaw
    Brovada Technologies, Saint John

    Kara Hachey
    Go-Go Gymnastics, Fredericton

    Ronald Losier
    St-Isidore Asphalt Ltd., St-Isidore

    Tom McFarlane
    Sticks and Stones Fabricating Inc., St. Stephen

    Chris Nadeau
    Evolving Solutions, Saint John

    Chris Newton
    Radian6, Fredericton

    Joe Palmer
    The Safety Group, Hartland

    Derek Riedle
    Revolution Strategy, Saint John

    David Roberts
    Assistant Deputy Minister, Educational Services, Province of New
    Brunswick

    Elisabeth Rybak
    TrustMe, Moncton

    Mario Thériault
    Shift Central, Moncton

    Dale Vandenborre
    Isomni Solutions, Fredericton

    About the New Brunswick Business Council

    The New Brunswick Business Council is comprised of the heads of nineteen
of the Province's Leading enterprises. They came together two years ago to
work toward helping to ensure a more prosperous and stable future for New
Brunswick. Entrepreneurship is one of four building blocks the Council has
identified as being key to building a stronger and more confident New
Brunswick.

    Wesley Armour, Armour Transportation
    Ed Barrett, Barrett Corporation
    Normand Caissie, Imperial Manufacturing Group
    Dick Carpenter, Heritage Developments
    Andrea Feunekes, Remsoft
    Yvon Fontaine, Université de Moncton
    David Ganong, Ganong Bros. Ltd.
    David Hay, NB Power
    Bernard Imbeault, Pizza Delight Corporation
    James Irving Jr., J.D. Irving Limited
    Denis Losier, Assumption Life
    Allison D. McCain, McCain Foods Ltd.
    John McLaughlin, University of N.B.
    Derek Oland, Moosehead Breweries
    Gerry Pond, Mariner Partners Inc.
    Jean-Claude Savoie, Groupe Savoie Inc.
    Kelly Shotbolt, Flakeboard Company Limited
    Robbie Tozer, Atcon Group Inc.
    Stephen Wetmore, Aliant Regional Communications
    Michael Wilson, Atlantic Industries Ltd.

    About the Wallace McCain Institute

    The focus of the Wallace McCain Institute is to support the next
generation of senior business leaders in the province to meet the complex
challenges facing New Brunswick. The program will be a catalyst for shifting
the business culture of the province and advancing the values of
entrepreneurship and innovation. The development and deepening of
relationships and networks are fundamental to how the Institute will deliver
on its mandate.
    Programs will range in depth - from a very intensive cohort program where
high potential leaders will interact in a series of experiences, to one-off
workshops and lectures on themes relevant to New Brunswick business issues.
    The program will use innovative pedagogy to convene people, share best
practices, assist in the application of learning, and inspire change. The
activity of the institute will be province wide with a physical presence at
Beaverbrook House in Saint John.


    Management Committee:
    ---------------------

    Derek Oland            Executive Chairman, Moosehead Breweries Ltd
    Barry Bisson           President, Shad Valley
    Jane Fritz             VP, Academic, University of New Brunswick
    Gilles LePage          Past CEO of the Mouvement des Caisses Populaires
                           Acadiennes

    Fellows:
    --------

    John McLaughlin        President, University of New Brunswick
    Gerry Pond             Chairman, Mariner Partners
    Francis McGuire        Director, CEO and President, Major Drilling Group
                           International
    Rob Austin             Professor, Harvard Business School
    Kevin Malone           Former Clerk of the Executive Committee and
                           Secretary to Cabinet, Province of New Brunswick

For further information: Wallace McCain Institute: Nancy Mathis,
Executive Director, (506) 721-3820, nancy.mathis@wallacemccaininstitute.com;
New Brunswick Business Council: Don Dennison, Executive Director, (506)
444-8919, dennison@nbbc-cenb.ca