Symposium puts spotlight on Norfolk businesses
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Some of the county’s brightest business minds will take centre stage as part of the Norfolk’s upcoming Economic Development Symposium in Port Dover.
The list of local speakers includes Christine Dainard (Buzz Tours), Mike Fredericks (Annex Business Media), Michelle Kloepfer (Titan Trailers) and Nick Kokkoros (Barrel Pizza).
In its early years, the symposium mostly featured out-of-towners, but that has changed in recent years.
“There’s a lot to be learned from ourselves in the sense that there are entrepreneurs and small business people and larger businesses in the community that have a lot of intelligence, a lot of experience and we should be learning from (them),” said Clark Hoskin, the county’s director of tourism and economic development. “As opposed to in the beginning bringing in government folks from Toronto to talk down to us, this is the third or fourth year we have four local speakers representing local businesses. They’re going to bring a great perspective. They’ll have some takeaway learning and topics for people to absorb.”
In 13 years since the first gathering, Hoskin has seen several bonds formed with so many entrepreneurs and dealmakers under one roof. “I know hundreds of people across the county and I know what they do and how they do their business, but what I keep forgetting is, a lot of them don’t know each other,” he explained. “This is one day of the year when they can take a few hours off from their usual challenges, meet someone new and maybe start a new business or a partnership together.”
The theme for the Feb. 7 event is Norfolk: No Boundaries. The keynote speaker is American Brian Williams, a fourth-degree black belt. Williams is a self-described “kindness ninja” who preaches resilience, respect, and good deeds.
“We’re always looking for someone who’s got high energy and a positive message,” said Hoskin. “What we’ve found is, the audience at the symposium responds well to someone who is giving them kind of a kick in the pants and is saying ‘your future is in your own hands, you need to work together, you need to collaborate and stay positive’.”
As is the case annually, the county will announce its Entrepreneur of the Year, Young Entrepreneur of the Year and Travel Writer Award winner. New to the proceedings will be a Made in Norfolk showcase – a display of products manufactured or processed within the county. Hoskin and his team did an “aggressive” tour of area businesses this fall where the idea came to life.
“We realized the width, breadth, and depth of the things that are manufactured and processed here,” he said. “I’m confident we’re going to have a couple dozen products there that people may not know are made in this area, so it’s very exciting as far as I’m concerned.”
Lunch will feature Norfolk County fare and drinks. The cost per ticket is $60. Registration is available online at norfolktourism.ca/symposium. Questions can be directed to 519-426-9494 or tourism@norfolkcounty.ca.
jrobinson@postmedia.com
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