REMINDER: JUNE SUCCESS NIGHT!!!

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COMING UP EVERYONE!!!!!!!!

SUCCESS NIGHT
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 from 6:00-8:00 pm

Ever since we have been hosting networking events, we have been using the word ‘success’ as our description and to grab your attention. For our June 2012 Success Night, we are defining that very word.

Please join us as we welcome Kathryn Hotte of the Durham Home and Small Business Association, Hotte Training and EZparty. She will be speaking about how success in the corporate world translated into success in her own business and personal life. We will also be handing out three Impact Awards to very deserving entrepreneurs! Tom Mercer of Dignity Healthcare Inc., Joy Vogel-Lahti of Joy In Your Kitchen and Rhonda Melanson of Country Chic will all be present to receive their awards and share a little bit about how they got there.

When: Wednesday, June 6, 2012
6p.m. – 8p.m.
Where: Essential Communications
101 Dundas Street W., Suite 201
Whitby, ON
Guest Speaker: Kathryn Hotte, President – Durham Home & Small Business Association
Topic: Defining Success

Kathryn Hotte’s years of experience in developing and facilitating training programs combined with her 30+ years experience in working and training in the retail sector have helped her form Hotte Training. Kathryn is also the President of the Durham Home & Small Business Association, member of the Ajax/Pickering Board of Trade and a mentor for young entrepreneurs with the Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD).
Agenda
6:00 – 6:10     General networking
6:15 – 6:30     Presentations of Impact Awards and Speeches from Recipients
6:35 – 7:05     Kathryn Hotte – Defining Success
7:10 – 8:00     Formal networking


Please RSVP to Bev by return email or at 905-668-4141 if you plan on attending.  If you are bringing guests please let Bev know when you respond. You are welcome to show off your business cards and/or brochures on tables for all to see – your option!

Summer 2012 Impact Award Winner: Rhonda Melanson

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Impact Award – Rhonda Melanson (Grp. 38)

The retail world is not the easiest to make your mark in. Someone forgot to tell Rhonda Melanson that. As soon as she graduated from Group 38 she took off running and hasn’t looked back. For her remarkable start and constant successes, we are proud to award Rhonda the Summer 2012 Essential Communications Impact Award. 

In the beginning, Rhonda made a name for her business, Country Chic, by recycling, re-purposing and re-loving home furnishings that she found from flea markets and yard sales. That also wound up being challenging, as she had to continually find pieces to transform. Now she has her very own pickers who come to her on a weekly basis with furniture and vintage treasures for her to choose from. She also has made incredible affiliations with local business owners and the Clarington Board of Trade, helping nurture her passion. And equally as important for her business, Rhonda has figured out a way to use social media. Country Chic has turned into a unique destination shop thanks to repeat customers from all over Ontario and the United States. Things like Facebook, email and Trip Advisor have helped this happen.

In Rhonda’s own words, “If anyone told me before hand, the magnitude of changes my life was going to take after successfully graduating the Ontario Self Employment Benefit Program, I wouldn’t have been able to comprehend it. My business, Country Chic, has proven to be a dream come true. I am now in that small percentage of the population that ‘loves’ my job. I don’t even know how I can call it a job. I wake up every morning excited about the next furniture transformation I am going undertake. I have transformed my farmhouse into a beautiful showroom of recycled, re-loved and repurposed romantic home furnishings and I have the luxury of working from my home. Without the OSEB program, I absolutely would not have been able to create Country Chic and for that, I am grateful.”

To reach Rhonda and Country Chic, call 905.697.0021 or visit her website at www.country-chic.ca

Fearless Networking

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Join Us for

  YOU can overcome networking fears and turn terrified into terrific!

With over 35 years experience selling both product and service industries, Michele will discuss her passionate working insights to overcome commonly shared networking fears. Start building your confidence in her interactive workshop with everyday straightforward fundamental tips and strategies.

You will learn:

  • The BEST places to network  
  • The POWER of a name tag
  • Your first and only impression  
  • What your handshake really says about you
  • What to do with all those business cards

When: June 14th, 2012; 8:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Where:  Literacy Network of Durham Region – 850 King Street West, Suite 20, Oshawa, ON L1J 8N5
Cost:  $30.00 – includes continental breakfast

Please register before June 12th at: http://www.eventbrite.ca/event/3518476859

For more information contact Linda Bermingham: specialprojects@drltb.com
Call: 905-666-3620 OR
Toll Free: 1-800-483-4845

This event is jointly sponsored by the Durham Region Local Training Board and the Literacy Network of Durham Region

Spring 2012 Impact Award Winner: Joy Vogel-Lahti

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ImageImpact Award – Joy Vogel-Lahti (Grp. 37)

Joy Vogel-Lahti is the recipient of the Spring 2012 Essential Communications Impact Award and once you read just some of what this Group 37 grad has accomplished, you’ll wonder what took us so long to recognize her.

The OSEB Program helped bring a “real life” aspect to the learning/start up process to Joy’s business and it created and allowed her to be involved in a creative, positive forum on an everyday basis with likeminded entrepreneurs. That initial training as well as the business plan generated and on-going coaching was invaluable … and Joy In Your Kitchen was born. JIYK provides healthy, homemade food, fully cooked and delivered frozen as well as a line of Signature Bottled Sauces. Whenever possible, food is locally sourced and coupled with Joy’s sunny personality, this has made her a sought after vendor. Joy has taken part in countless festivals and fundraisers – Mamas & Chicks Show, Mom2Mom Sales and the Oshawa Peony Festival to name a few. Recently JIYK was asked and has joined the Board of Directors for the new Downtown Oshawa Farmer’s Market, as a vendor representative. Joy will also be a featured local chef at the Spring Food & Wine Festival (2012).  

How did Joy manage all this? Admittedly the first year had rocky moments but by forming strong community relationships, creating her brand and highlighting the “gold” of utilizing and cross promotion of other compatible business she learned you can be your own best friend, a friend of the community and of course help to support the local economy. Her online presence is also amazing. Maybe this is why she has countless unsolicited testimonials and a near 95% customer retention after their first purchase. Next up? Joy has added kids birthday Cooking Parties to her menu of services and is getting glowing reviews! 

Congratulations, Joy. We always look forward to seeing you and reading your tweets!

To reach Joy and Joy In Your Kitchen, visit her website at http://mealsfromjoyskitchen.com Also be sure to sign up to receive JIYK newsletter: http://goo.gl/ZNQWJ  for kitchen tips, recipes, guest posts, news, specials and appearances!

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Winter 2011/2012 Impact Award Winner: Tom Mercer

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Impact Award – Tom Mercer (Grp. 36)

Some of the businesses that have gone through our doors take off and soar high. Many of the businesses that do this have leaders who not only excel in sales but they have charisma. That describes Tom Mercer perfectly. He and his constant smile have taken his company, Dignity Healthcare Inc., and made it into something to be very proud of. He is our Winter 2011/2012 Essential Communications Impact Award winner.

After jokes of music, beer and the accordion (does he really play?), Tom became serious and told us of his fifteen-year career as a salesperson and how quite suddenly it was over as was his marriage. He needed help in starting a second career. The idea for Dignity Healthcare Inc. was already there. A strong believer in changing culture wherever he can, Tom would take his sales expertise and become a supplier of healthcare products (specializing in Incontinence Products), sold directly to Seniors living at Retirement Homes. Tom attended the pre-module workshops, decided the business training is what was missing and didn’t look back. Once in the Essential Communications classroom, he says the workshops filled in all the gray areas he needed to make his business vision clear. It must have worked. Dignity Healthcare Inc. started off by going in to those Retirement Homes but with Tom’s genuine personality, he quickly became successful. He takes the time to know his customers and restore self-confidence. And what started off as merely a product-based business has evolved into services for Dignity Healthcare Inc. as well.

Tom said he is huge on Essential Communications and he means it. He is always present to offer any kind of help that he can. He has already sat in on Marketing Panels and when needed, will be back. Giving other entrepreneurs feedback is important to him. Without that same kind of feedback, Dignity Healthcare Inc. wouldn’t be where it is today.

Thank you, Tom. We appreciate all you do for our office and for the community.

To reach Tom and Dignity Healthcare Inc., call him at 416-918-1180.

Service Broadcasts: Tutorwiz and Prrrfect Pet Food

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From Don Reist, Group 18

SUMMER COMPUTER DAY CAMP
Tutorwiz is holding summer computer camps, for all children, ages 6 to 14, especially those with LD, ADHD and Asperger’s.

OSEBer’s and others they refer get a $10 discount. Cost: $240.00 + HST ($31.20)

Details:
Camps held throughout the summer at Creative Math & Music in Pickering . Campers learn to use computer programs including: Inspiration/Smart Ideas, WordQ, Kurzweil 3000, WORD, Audacity and POWERPOINT. They create computer games and learn to operate a computer by voice.

Camps are educational and FUN!!

Activities include:
Designing/creating business cards, brochures, newsletters etc. Designing/creating computer games, with Gamemaker Pro Designing/creating an animated POWERPOINT presentation including sound and videos
Movies and a Movie Review Creating music on a computer
Website design Creating a Jeopardy style game
Editing sound files Keyboarding
Information at: www.tutorwiz.com – 905-683-6341

From Kim Rhyndress, Group 39

‘Grand Opening’ Sign Available For Rent

The charge is $50.00 for the rental and when it gets returned you will get $25.00 back.
The sign is 2 feet high by 10 feet long and is vinyl (yellow-gold on purple) so it stands out.
If you are interested, please contact:

Kim Rhyndress
Prrrfect Pet Food
Phone 905 240 4334