The Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society (OVES) & Kelowna Scotiabank proudly present the June Townhall Meeting.
Topic: Risk Mitigation Strategies for Entrepreneurs
Date: Tuesday, June 29th, 2010 Location: Ramada Hotel Kelowna, 2170 Harvey Ave
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- Do you have a few spare million in the bank that you could afford to pay out a claim against you?
- Does your business generate enough revenue to carry on if you are "out of action" due to illness or injury? How will your business bills be paid? What about your personal ones?
- Is your intellectual property secure?
- How about your relationship with your partner? Is it secure? Can it ever be?
- Is your computer system secure … data backed up? What would happen if your computer system was stolen or hacked?
- Do you have a security plan in place?
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- Are you prepared to talk to your banker about how "their" money will be protected?
- What are the risks involved with leveraging to finance your business venture?
- Do you really need a lawyer or can you handle everything yourself?
- Have you registered your trademark?
These questions and many more will be answered by our panel of entrepreneurial experts. They will represent the insurance, security, legal & banking fields.
Our format will be a little different for this Townhall Meeting. Each of our panellists will deliver a 5 to 7 minute presentation from their field of expertise. We will then break off into smaller groups, each led by one of the panellists. You as the audience will be able to go to any or all of the groups and ask specific questions to our experts.
Our panellists:
David Knapp representing Banking:
With a career spanning 20 years, David Knapp has worked in the financial services industry for the last 10 years specializing in personal & small business banking. A Graduate of the School of Business at Okanagan College, David also completed the Professional Financial Planning Course, and Mortgage Brokerage Course. Currently, David is the Business Development Manager for the Okanagan District with CIBC.
David is passionate about assisting people achieve their personal and business goals. "It starts by getting in front of the right person, who has the right level of experience and accreditation. Then it's about a financial partnership with someone who understands your business and your unique needs, and who furthermore shares your passion for success."
A former Toastmaster and lifetime devotee of the organization, David represented the Okanagan & Kootenays at the Provincial "Table Topics" or Impromptu Speaking Competition in 2007, and served as Area Governor 2008-2009.
In his spare time, David is a drummer and vocalist, loves biking, hiking and golf and enjoying all the Okanagan has to offer. David and his wife have a three-year old daughter.
Brian Lyall representing Insurance:
Brian was born in Edmonton, attended school in Penticton, Kamloops and UVIC.
He pursued skiing as an instructor in B.C., Quebec & in Chilean resorts for 9 seasons. Brian has worked in the retail, wholesale and resort facets of the ski industry in Sales and/or Marketing for 20 years with Olin Skis, Salomon Ski Equipment, Marmot Basin and Panorama.
He's also worked with Calgary Copier and Century 21 Realty in Calgary.
His toughest assignment was a summer in the early 80's where his job was to tour BC and Alberta lakes with a van and a trailer of Sailboards to support the company's dealer network with Demo Days. The sport didn't catch on in a mass way, but it was a fun summer!
In 2001, Brian started in Financial Services with Clarica, moving to Kelowna in 2003. Clarica merged with Sun Life in 2001 which has been an opportunity to experience the management of change in a large organization with local roots. He is currently the Sales Manager at Sun Life Financial in Kelowna.
Brian's volunteer work includes:
- Co-founder Wings Over The Rockies Bird Festival, Windermere Valley, BC
- KLO Middle School, Kelowna Secondary School, Central Okanagan Parent Advisory Council SD 23
- Committee parent
- Member Canadian Association of Retired Persons, Okanagan Chapter
- Volunteer Advocis, Thompson Okanagan, Board of Directors, program Development
- Okanagan Valley Entrepreneurs Society
- Member Kelowna International Marathon, Apple Triathlon, Participant: Penticton Half Marathon, Campus to Campus Half Marathon, Kelowna International Marathon and likes to dabble in skiing, curling, running, cycling, golf, cooking & music.
Michael Gautron representing Security:
Michael Gautron is a licensed Security Consultant, with experience in security investigations, loss prevention, security management and operations. From the Greater Vancouver Region to the Okanagan Valley, Michael serves fifteen years in the industry, from Military Private to Loss Prevention Officer.
A member of ASIS International, Michael dedicates himself to the future realization of a safer community through continuous education in safety and security, increasing public and client awareness. He is respected for his ethics, integrity and passion in the industry and aims for the achievement of a network of public law enforcement and private security that is mutually supportive.
With his wife and business partner, Michael owns and manages Vector Security Corp. in Kelowna, offering security consulting services in B.C. for the protection of life and property.
Tony Edwards representing Legal:
Tony is a registered Canadian and U.S. patent & trade-mark agent and intellectual property lawyer that guides his clients systematically and successfully through the protection process from idea to registration, licensing or sale, and to enforcement of the appropriate protection.
Tony has a Bachelor of Law degree, is a member of the B.C. Law Society and a member of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada. He is a registered professional engineer with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics. Tony is a past director and presently a member of the Okanagan Science and Technology Council, is a member of the Okanagan Valley Entrepreneur Society, and sits on the Board of Directors of the Okanagan Research and Innovation Centre.
Tony Edwards of Horsepower Intellectual Property Law practices exclusively in intellectual property law representing clients from Kelowna, the Okanagan Valley and throughout British Columbia, Alberta and the United States.
Moderator: Rae Stonehouse OVES Society - Vice Chair of Education
Rae is a Registered Nurse/Entrepreneur who has worked in the healthcare field for over thirty years. Very active within the Toastmasters organization Rae has taken on increasingly challenging leadership roles and is currently involved in developing entrepreneurial educational and mentoring programs. His passion is helping others to succeed. His business, Live For Excellence Productions, provides meeting, seminar, workshop & event planning for the Okanagan Valley. Rae Stonehouse Speaker Services provides emcee services and speech coaching in the Okanagan Valley.
Our Featured Entrepreneur of the Month:
Alexandra Krieger of Inside Out Leadership Development Group
What will it take for you to create the results you want in your life and business?
Learn how to do it different™ at our personal and professional leadership development programs.
In our interactive workshops you will gain clarity on your desired outcomes and discover what may be standing in your way of further success.
You will create a roadmap to take your leadership to the next level and claim your brilliance as a leader.
Contact Alexandra at Inside Out Leadership Development Group for more information at 250-763-5556 or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Website: www.insideoutcanada.ca