Cybele NegrisOn June 18, 2007, I attended the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs 2007 E-Series Program Graduation. Premier Gordon Campbell, Rick Thorpe (Minister of Small Business & Revenue) and the Who’s Who of the local business community were in attendance to support and congratulate 13 women entrepreneurs who completed months of extensive training.
Congratulations to the 2007 E-Series Graduates:
Tina Barkley, Babylicious
Annabel Clarke MacKay, Paperqueen Fine Stationery
Michelle Gibson, Par-T-Perfect
Rachel Greenfeld, Campoverde Social Club
Ruth Mason, Mason Design Group
Alice Mathieson, Life & Times Productions
Traci Myles, TM Events
Joyce Ozier, WOW! Windows Display & Design
Emily Psimoulis, ThinkBox National Marketing
Lisa Shaskin, Cheyenne Express Couriers
Michelle Teasdale, Hummingbird Translations
Kelly Wagner, Prospects Influential
Anne Walsh, Annie Mac Design
The FWE BC is a not for profit organization founded in 2002 by Christina Anthony, Financial Advisor at Odlum Brown, with a mission to mentor and educate women entrepreneurs. FWE does a phenomenal job, I participated in the 2003 E-Series Program so I can say first hand they offer women entrepreneurs access to the business industry’s top CEO’s, Venture Capitalists, and experts in every field from marketing to legal to help us grow our companies.
Past E-Series instructors included Darren Entwisle (CEO of Telus), Don Mattrick (Former CEO of Electronic Arts and now advisor for Microsoft), Dave Mowat (CEO of Vancity), Julia Levy (founder/former CEO of QLT), Karen Flavelle (President of Purdy’s Chocolates) and many more. These industry heavyweights give up their valuable time and energy to help new entrepreneurs succeed. You can’t buy education like this, it’s almost like an instant MBA but your teachers are people who have done it all already, and you’re learning firsthand, not from a textbook. Check out the FWE website (www.fwe.ca) and take a look at their board of directors, honorary council members, sponsors and you’ll see an impressive list of people and companies who help make this organization so amazingly successful.
Premier Gordon Campbell has supported FWE since its inaugural dinner which I attended back in 2002, and he has spoken at every E-series graduation event since. Whatever your politics may be, you cannot deny the fact this government doesn’t just talk the talk when in comes to supporting small business and creating an environment for economic success in BC.
Minister Thorpe (“it’s Rick” I can hear him telling me as he does with anyone he meets) runs the Small Business Roundtable where he goes out into the community and listens to small business owners to hear first hand what the government can do to remove the barriers that prevent small business from being as successful as they can be. I was fortunate to have participated in one of these Roundtable sessions in 2006 (photo) and was thrilled to see a number of the requests we submitted or supported were actually implemented in the 2007 Budget:
- Extension of remittance date from 15th of each month. Remittance date extended to 23rd of each month.
- Record Retention Period Reduced from 7 years to 5 years.
- SRED program extended from 2009 to 2014.
- Enhanced dividend tax credit of 12% on the grossed up amount.
The full list of all changes that resulted from the Roundtable recommendations are available at http://www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/pstreview/ListOfChanges.htm
When I told Premier Campbell this feedback, he was happy to hear it and encouraged us to continue offering ideas and opinions on how the government can do more to remove barriers for small business. It’s gratifying to know this government is getting it right.
The Small Business Roundtable has also identified skills development and training as a key issue. To offer your feedback to the BC Government on removing barriers for small business or on skills development check out the Small Business Roundtable website or email RoundtableSecretariat@gov.bc.ca