Island entrepreneurs and business people invited to register for Connect Atlantic Forum

CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – April 3, 2012 – All PEI entrepreneurs and business people are invited to attend the Connect Atlantic Forum, April 18-19 in Dieppe, N.B., to familiarize themselves with new technologies and business approaches that could very well help them improve their bottom lines.

“All the workshops, keynote speeches, round tables and discussions that will be presented during the forum have been conceived to optimize the output and competitiveness of participants’ businesses,” explains coordinator Francis Thériault. “So, in the medium and long terms, businesses that use the information offered during the forum should become more efficient and accomplish more, thereby become more profitable.”

Gary Doucette, executive director of RDÉE PEI (the provincial francophone economic development council), says participation in this event will definitely provide many benefits. “You will certainly get an amazing return on your investment of time and funds, specifically at the level of the training you’ll receive and of the tools that will be presented to you,” he promises. “We therefore encourage all business people from PEI to register as soon as possible.”

The forum is being coordinated by RDÉE PEI and is being organized in collaboration with the three other Atlantic Canadian RDÉEs as well as with the project leader, the Université Sainte-Anne of Nova Scotia. This major event will be held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel (in the Crystal Palace complex) in Dieppe.

PROGRAM

Bearing the theme “Ignite the Knowledge”, the Connect Atlantic Forum offers a wide array of options to satisfy all business needs.

A wine-and-cheese reception will be held to kick things off on the evening of April 18. An opening ceremony and a banquet will follow with keynote speaker Richard Fahey, first vice-president of strategic development from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. He will speak about SMEs’ technological toolbox, which he says will provide opportunities for growth.

The next morning’s breakfast speaker will be Jay Nicholson, associate vice-president of personal credit sales at TD Bank Canada. He’ll address the theme “The global economy and its challenges for SMEs”.

During a morning plenary session, André Wilson from AcadieMédia and Patrick Lacroix from T4G will share ways they’ve used to overcome productivity challenges. Participants will then get to attend one of five workshops or panels on the themes of cloud computing, social media strategies, commercializing business ideas, lean start-ups and human resources. Some of the sessions will be offered in French and others in English. All will be hosted by Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs.

To wrap up the morning, Francis Thériault will present a quick overview of a number of handy technological applications.

LUNCHEON SPEAKER

As the luncheon keynote speaker, France Noreau, vice-president of technologies for the Mouvement Desjardins, will address the theme “The World Is Changing… How About You?”

A second series of workshops will be offered in the afternoon, again hosted by Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs. Themes will be: simple web tools that have a huge impact, social media strategies (advanced level), managing change and lean start-ups (advanced level). Again, some will be offered in English, others in French.

Wrapping up the afternoon will be an interesting plenary session named “The Dragon’s Lair, Atlantic Style”. In a format similar to the one seen on the TV show “Dragon’s Den”, five entrepreneurs will present their business ideas before a panel of experts who will provide practical feedback to improve their ideas and their presentations.

REGISTRATION

The registration fee for the entire forum, including meals, conferences and workshops, is only $150 per person. Students are eligible for a special rate. To register or to obtain more detailed information, interested parties must visit the website www.connectatlantic.com. Everyone who registers becomes eligible to win an iPad or a laptop computer.

Those wishing to reserve a hotel room at the Ramada can get a special conference rate if they mention that they are participating in the Connect Atlantic Forum. Of course, a limited number of rooms are available, so reservations should be made as soon as possible. The two first Island entrepreneurs to register to attend the forum will receive a free night’s stay for the evening of April 18.

-30-

PHOTO: Keynote speakers, from left, France Noreau, Jay Nicholson and Richard Fahey.

For more information:

Francis Thériault
Coordinator
Connect Atlantic Forum
(902) 370-7333