Small Business Week Seminars 2007

Two  seminars were presented during Small Business Week 2007. Participants heard about E-commerce trends and a growing market
in Thunder Bay.

A.  E-Commerce Trends & Issues 

Thursday, Oct. 18  - AM
Italian Cultural Centre, 132 S. Algoma Street
Presented by Kenneth Owen (see bio below)

Current e-commerce marketing trends and related issues facing small business were discussed. Trends in Internet promotions, operations, sales, and customer relations were reviewed and special attention was paid to developments in social networking tools such as Facebook, MySpace and others.

B.   Thunder Bay’s 

       Changing Aboriginal Population 

Thursday, October 18th - PM
Italian Cultural Centre, 132 S. Algoma Street
Coordinated by Beedaubin Resources (Alice Sabourin, Owner)

Speakers presented  key findings from the 2006 Urban Aboriginal Task Force report; profiled Aboriginal businesses in Thunder Bay and discussed and presented a checklist for Aboriginal customer service, based on discussions with local Aboriginal business owners and residents.

A great many thanks to the seminar sponsors:

Speaker Profiles 

Kenneth Owen

In 1992 Kenneth opened the regions first Internet business delivering internet e-mail and newsgroups via phone lines and satellite downlinks. As the Internet grew so did his business branching into web design and e-commerce. In 2004 Kenneth decided new challenges were needed. After selling his business, Kenneth returned to university for a graduate degree. Having written his Masters thesis on e-commerce and knowledge management. Kenneth now researches and writes on topics related to his area of study.

 Alice Sabourin

Born and raised in Northern Ontario, Alice Sabourin has the experience of being raised in two worlds. She has educated herself in the traditions, customs and values of her Ojibwa ancestors.  As an Aboriginal woman, mother, educator, researcher, Alice takes the holistic approach to community building, maximizing strengths and developing the leadership skills of the next generation.  Her personal center is performing art as a singer, writer and orator.