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Managing Editor: Rod Jerred Phone: 9 0 5 -3 3 7 -5 5 5 9 Fax: 9 0 5 -3 3 7 -5 5 6 7 e-mail: rjerred@haltonsearch.com Company leaders exchange wisdom Networking event a success By Melanie Cummings SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER A room full o f 200 high-growth company leaders and a provincial Tory politician whose party's popularity is wan ing is a prime yenue to circulate a resume. The joke made by parliamentary assistant Al MacDonald went over big at last week's kick-off dinner to the ninth annual Wisdom Exchange conference. The representative from the Ministry of Enterprise, Opportunity and Innovation used the podium to plug his government's business-friendly I track record. He credited the party with creating 1.1 million new jobs during its eight-year tenure and an economy that is growing at a faster rate than the whole country's. "If Ontario were a stand alone nation, it would be the second richest behind the U.S.A.." said MacDonald. Those contributing to the province's economic success were among * the participants registered at the two-day conference held at the Oakville Conference Centre. The event proved to be a boon to the suffering local tourist trades still reeling from business lost to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. According to Frank Vismeg. managing director of the Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites, all its meeting rooms were booked solid and ; two other conferences were scheduled as a result of the positive impres sion Oakville made on the business leaders. The by-invitation-only networking event gathered chief executive officers and presidents of firms with 20-500 employees who showed a minimum 50 per cent growth rate in their gross sales over three years, and have a global head office in Ontario. While the MPP from North Bay "There is no better way used his guest spot to plug his party among the economy's movers and to align the interests of shakers, keynote speaker and management than to Entrepreneur of the Year at the provin cial and national level Jay Hennick have a significant interrupted his presentation to pitch his amount of money on company First Service. the table from both The diversified company manages 2.000 residential and commercial prop sides." erties in the U.S., has an electronic · Jay Hennick security service division and also has ownership in 1.500 related franchises such as California Closets, College Pro Painters. Green Lawn Care. Nutrilawn, Chem Lawn and Certa Pro Painters. "We want to hear from other service business looking for either grow tli capital or strategic support," said Hennick. Hennick is a big believer in Plato's philosophy that a wise man sur rounds himself with those better than he. "Our success is truly a team effort." said Hennick of his fast grow ing diversified service company, which posted SI.2 billion (US) in sys- · tem wide sales last year. I *i He is a huge proponent of the decentralized business model. In a nut- * * shell day-to-day business decisions are left to frontline managers who are also shareholders in the enterprise. "There is no better way to align the interests of management than to have a significant amount of money on the table from both sides."said Hennick. For example, when First Service picked up College Pro Painters in 1989 the renovation company had S6 million in revenue and S600.000 in cash flow available. This year College Pro lists a whopping $90 mil lion in revenue and S 18 million cash flow. Attracting equally wise employees by continuing to provide new and better career opportunities for them, as well as partnerships, is a surefire path to future business success, added Hennick. His guiding principles are: sweat the details, use common sense, focus on the basics and simplify business solutions. "The buck will always stop with the business leader. If a decision is wrong, it's the leader's mistake, no one else's. Chantal Ayotte · Special to the Oakville Beaver A W ELL-HEELED EVENT: TV personalities Shirley Solomon and Dini Petty, top rifjht. were am ong the celebrities putting th e ir best foot for ward at the recent 10th an niversary celebrations of The Foot Shoppe. The anniversary also gave ow ner Ron W hite, pictured with Solomon and Petty, an o pportunity to showcase his new location at 162 Lakeshore Rd. E. "W ith ju st two m onths u n d er o u r belts here in this co rn er loca tion, we have alread y seen a significant increase in o u r traffic," W hite said. Although we are going to miss o u r old neighbours, we are happy to be on the sunny side of the street." E n tertain m en t at the anniversary event included th e ja z z band T he Lesters. Above is Tory Cassis and right is Gordon Webster. The Foot Shoppe, which has four retail locations in the GTA, offers com fortable but stylish footwear. Appleby College community gives Kerr Street a lift The Appleby College community is giving Kerr Street a facelift. As part of the ASCENT program, a group of 120 Grade 9 students, parents and employees will add colour and life to the planters on the street, and design and create silk-screen Hags to adorn its lampposts. The work started May 29 and is expected to wrap up June 13. Over the three weeks, Westwood, Trafalgar and Normandy Parks will be cleaned up and rejuvenated. Cooper Construction is donating the construction of an accessible path in Westwood Park. Participants in Appleby's ASCENT program w ill lie lunching at restau rants along Kerr Street to encourage patronage and raise awareness. ASCENT stands for Arts. Service. Cumulative Evaluation, and a Northward Bound Trip - the four major components of the program. The three-week program runs in the spring term, replacing the last week of classes and traditional examination dates. The planter project and silk-screen flags represent the service and arts portions. Appleby College is hosting the Taste of Kerr Street Picnic on Thursday. June 19. in Westwood Park from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. to cel ebrate the transformation and Outreach Team's efforts. Residents are inv ited to enjoy a barbecue for $5 and walk along Kerr Street for free samples from various stores and restau rants. "The partnership between Appleby and the local business community to beautify the landscape will assist in bringing more eco nomic stability to the area and act as a cata lyst to launch Kerr Street into becoming the place to live, work and visit in Oakville." said Paula Schutz, director of outreach pro grams. In addition, ""students learn about problem solving, and appreciate the value of teamwork while giving back to the commu nity." Appleby College is an independent school for 600 young men and women in Grades 7 to 12. Founded in 1911, Appleby offers a quality education to both boarding and day students. The curriculum offers extensive academics, arts, athletics and com munity service programs. PARTNERS IN JOIN US! CALL fo r SUCCESS TORONTO STAR ATHENA U w j # v - v - / v_71: v_v_y WHEELS CRUISE For the United Wa\y Sunday. June 8. 2003. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Toronto Star Press Centre (Weston Road & the 407) · | Admission is FREE (Entry Fee for Manufacturers and Suppliers - S50) This Charity Event will also feature food, raffles, automotive merchandise, parts swaps, and music by the Soul Setters! So mark the date In your Calendar for a day In Car Heaven? For General information, call 90S-8S0-65&9 or e-mail uwayvpc@thestar.ca For Entiy information, call Dick Wright at (90 5 )3 0 2 -8 4 5 0 SOONSOWD «V N O M IN A T OAKVILLE ATHEN O A K V IL L SPONSOR PROFILE C elebrating the p o ten tia l o f a ll w o m en as valued m em bers and leaders o f the c o m m u n ity , and re c o g n m n g those w h o su p p ort them . ATHENA O akville e nters i f s seventh year. W ith o u t sponsorship, th is w o u ld not bo possible. ATHENA O a kville recognizes th a t a huge p a rt o f A T H E N A 'fi success is due to the g e n e ro s ity o f sponsors. T h is ad is an ongoing series p a y in g trib u te to o u r sponsors and in th e ir o w n w ords th e y tell us w h y th e y feel in vo lve m e n t w ith ATHENA is im p o rta n t. The ATHENA Award program celebrates the potential of all women as valued members and leaders of the community and recognizes those who support them. The ATHENA Award honours individuals who strive toward the highest levels of professional accomplishment ... women and men who excel in their chosen field, have devoted time and energy to their community in a meaningful way. and who also open paths so that others may follow. THE CRITERIA Athena recipients must meet each of the three specific criteria. They must: · Assist women in reaching their full leadership potential. · Demonstrate excellence, creativity and initiative in their business or profession. · Provide valuable service by devoting time and energy to improve the quality of life for others in the community. C ogeco is proud to be a sponsor ot the A T H E N A Awards Program . As a sponsor, we have the pleasure o f being able to m eet and introduce the nom inees for the A T H E N A Award to the co m m unity through television. It is truly inspiring to be in the com pany o f such caring individuals. Each has a story to tell, often o t courage and dedication. Each in their ow n way, has contributed greatly to the com m unity, and each has im pacted the lives o f w om en through their m entoring and support. We teel honoured to have this o p p o rtu n ity to illustrate "leadership from the heart." W h e e ls J9 L 200 i F.mpUwM United Way Campaign COME O U T AND MEET FORMER CANADIAN HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING CHAMPION G EO R G E CHUVALO r For information on ATHENA call Diana Saule/ 905-339-0092 Deadline to nominate: June 30,2003 Nomination forms available at: Edith G wynne-Keane v (K C O G IEr^ IR O V A L B A N K 1F I N A N C I A L G R O U P tt» C O G E TM Nomination tofms will be posted on wvvw oakvillebeaver.com