Women in Business Annual Conference and Awards Dinner – May 3, 4 in Baddeck

The 2012 Women in Business Conference and Awards Dinner will take place at the Inverary Inn, Baddeck, on May 3-4, featuring guest speakers, panel presentations, a Trade Show and the always popular gala dinner with Bette MacDonald as emcee. The awards will be presented in eight categories Thursday evening, May 3, at the MacAulay Conference Centre of the Inverary Inn. Following the dinner, entertainment will be provided by Decota McNamara during a social evening at the Thistle Pub.

Arts and Culture Achievement nominees: Janet Dawson, The Bobbin Tree; Morning Star Pinto, Reloved Design; Wendy Burns Morrison, Burnsmor Studio

Business Woman of the Year nominees: Amy Baker, Natural Smiles; Kim Boudreau, Kreative Design; Marion Stone, Glad Tidings Christmas Shoppe; Michelle Aucoin, LearnAbility Cape Breton; Norma Boudreau, C.H. Boudreau Funeral Home; Tracie Breski, Tracie’s Salon and Spa; Wendy Burns Morrison, Burnsmor Studio

Continuity Award nominees: Alma Head, Alma’s Family Hair Salon; Anita Starr Dicks, Wiggles and Giggles Daycare/Preschool; Louise MacKenzie, MacKenzie’s Country Store; Michelle Aucoin, Learn Ability; Nicole Cammaert, Green Lotus Yoga and Wellness; Norma Boudreau, C. H. Boudreau Funeral Home; Susan Matheson, Bean There Café; Tanya Howley, Pharmacist/Owner, North Sydney Shoppers Drug Mart; Tracey Boutilier, VIBE Creative Group

Cultural Diversity Award nominees: Lindsay Katherine Kim, Oka Maki Sushi; Rosie Basque, Slicks Hair Salon and Boutique

Export Achievement Award nominees: Joanne Schmidt, Galloping Cows Fine Foods; Lori Kennedy, Louisbourg Seafoods

Impact Award nominees: Angie MacDonald Fraser, Island Martial Arts Centre; Carol Beaton, Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design; Michele Bianchini, Cambridge Suites

Newcomers Award: Vineeta Sharma, Eastern Holistic Yoga

Start-Up Business Award nominees: Amy Baker, Natural Smiles; Deborah Lush, Cape Breton Glass; Jackie Young, Jackie’s Tours; Kim Boudreau, Kreative Designs; Kimberly Kilback, Purple Mango; Meghan Finney, La Quaintrelle; Nooshin Parvizi, Shiraz Market

The Conference really gets underway Friday morning at breakfast with Tiffany Welch, VP of Futurestate IT speaking about “cloud technology” which enables business to be done from any location (Sponsored by Scotiabank Branches in Cape Breton), followed by a Round Table discussion of opportunities and challenges facing Cape Breton businesses led by Deputy Minister of Labour and Advanced Education Sandra McKenzie. Guest Speaker for Friday’s luncheon is Susan Murray, Founder and CEO of SAMCI Consulting of Toronto and Ottawa. Her company promotes its services as “bridging the communications and understanding gap between the public and private sectors”. The afternoon continues with a Trade show (Sponsored by Coastal Business CBDC), and Panel Presentations on topics such as Bringing Business Here; Educating for the Future; Sources of Financing; Exporting. Panel facilitators include Joella Foulds, Celtic Colours International Festival; Mary Jane Morrison, Small Business Development Centre CBU; Monica McCarthy, East Coast Credit Union; Lori Kennedy, Louisbourg Seafoods.

This is the third year that the CBU Small Business Development Centre has co-ordinated the conference. It was hosted for several years prior to that by the Cape Breton Partnership.