MacEwan University – Aboriginal Business in Alberta: Opportunities, Challenges and Aspirations

Join us on October 23 as we aim to provide a better understanding of the dynamics of aboriginal business in Alberta. Topics for discussion will include:

• Challenges facing aboriginal business owners, including (and not limited to) financing and economic downturns
• Creating and discovering opportunities for aboriginal businesses, and identifying the associated risks
• Opportunities for aboriginal businesses and business people available within the community, and
• Capitalizing and improving on current business strengths, capabilities, and assets, to compete in markets locally, nationally, and internationally.

Aboriginal business leaders

We are very pleased to welcome the following aboriginal business leaders. There will be networking opportunities as well for you to meet our guests and speakers.

• Catherine Twinn, QC, Trustee Sawridge Trusts
• Claire Clark, Founder & Former CEO, Aboriginal Women’s Professional Association
• Dave Tuccaro, President, Tuccaro Group
• Diane Brickner, Former CEO, Peace Hills Insurance
• Gary Bosgoed, President & CEO, Bosgoed Project Consultants Ltd.
• J. P. Gladu, President and CEO, Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business
• Kara Flynn, Vice President, Government and Public Affairs, Syncrude
• Dr. Marie Delorme, CEO, The Imagination Group of Companies
• Mike Ivy, General Manager, Apeetogosan Metis Development Inc. & Pinnacle Business Services
• Randy Moore, Vice-President, Strategic Development & Aboriginal Relations, Bee-Clean Building Maintenance
• Rye & Shyra Barberstock, Okwaho Network
• Tammy Chardland-McLaughlin, VP Operations, Primco Dene Group

Also, Max Skudra from the CCAB will be sharing the results from their 2015 survey, which includes data on business performance (revenues, profits etc.) motivations to pursue business, business financing, and government support from 1100 aboriginal businesses from across Canada!

Max and Dr. Fernando Angulo (MacEwan University) will then discuss their research initiative on the critical factors in the growth and internationalization of aboriginal business in Alberta and Canada.

Event Schedule

7:45 – 8:30 a.m.     Registration, breakfast, networking
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.     Elder’s blessing and welcome remarks
9:00 – 10:30 a.m.   Keynote: Doug Golosky, Entrepreneur – Expanding Business
9:30 – 11 a.m.        Panel Session 1/ Q&A:

Topic: Challenges and Opportunities for Aboriginal Business in Alberta

Moderator: Max Skudra, CCAB

10:30 – 11:30 a.m.   Research Findings

Presented by: Max Skudra, Senior Manager Research, CCAB, and Dr. Fernando Angulo, Business faculty, MacEwan University

11:30 – 12:30 p.m.     Lunch – sponsored by Syncrude

12:30 – 2:o0 p.m.       Panel Session 2/ Q&A

Topic: National and International opportunities for aboriginal businesses: From Alberta, to Canada, to the world.

Moderator: Karen Mackenzie, Macintosh Consulting

2:00 – 3:00 p.m.     Wrap-up & networking

Register through Eventbrite

Event Details

Date	Fri, Oct 23 2015
Start Time	7:30 a.m.
End Time	3:00 p.m.
Location	PCL Hall Alberta College
Faculty/Department	Aboriginal Education Center, School of Business
Event Type	Conference/Seminar
Contact Person	Rory O’Neill
Contact Phone	780-633-3785
Contact Email	ONeillR2@macewan.ca

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