BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE: A TRAINING SERIES AIMED AT SUPPORTING NOVA SCOTIAN BUSINESSES

Supported by the Department of Labour and Advanced Education

The Halifax Chamber of Commerce is launching a training program to be executed throughout Nova Scotia, to support businesses as we all learn how to navigate and do business during COVID-19 and a new way of life. Businesses need support and expertise as they pivot and attempt to stay in business and grow through this pandemic situation. The Halifax Chamber has surveyed and spoken to members and have identified the necessary critical areas of support.  

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OVERVIEW:

Building for the Future is a 6-part training series on what members need to know now to survive and thrive throughout a pandemic and into recovery. This training series will feature 2 hour sessions 3 days a week for 2 weeks, for a total of 12 hours of training. Businesses will be better prepared to navigate through how the pandemic affected their business and what they can do in response and identify their customers and modify their sales tactics.

Before registering, please note:

• This training series is for MEMBERS ONLY (if you are interested in becoming a member of the Chamber please contact Barbi Holland at barbi@halifaxchamber.com)
• Only 20 spots available for member companies, with a maximum of 5 employees per company. 
• Please review the session schedule below to ensure you are available to participate in all of the sessions.

Any questions regarding this training series, please contact Kayla Lynch at kayla@halifaxchamber.com
 

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SESSIONS & SCHEDULE:

WEEK ONE:

MONDAY OCTOBER 19 FROM 8:30 AM-10:30 AM
Identifying your Customers
The world changed overnight and now businesses are scrambling to adapt. Are you clear about what customers to focus on and what buyers need from you today? If not, this workshop is for you. Hosted by Katelyn Bourgoin, The Right Fit is an interactive online training program for growth-hungry teams. Participants will learn how to identify their most profitable customers and figure out what triggers them to buy. You’ll walk away with an actionable customer persona to help guide your strategy and align your team. 

WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 21 FROM 8:30AM-10:30AM
Surviving COVID-19 Financially
Dennis Amirault with Symplicity Organizational Designs, will be leading this session to discuss the current funding and programs available to small businesses. An in-depth look at programs from all levels of government and what is required to access them. Also, during this session, we will examine cash flow impact and best practices to survive through this pandemic through planning and resource allocation. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 FROM 8:30AM-10:30AM
E-Commerce and Online Sales
Rob Gorham with Niche Workplace Education, will teach participants how to utilize online platforms such as Spotify and learn strategies, custom implementations and transformative growth. This will also cover POS, wholesale channels and expert advice on e-commerce strategies.

WEEK TWO:

MONDAY OCTOBER 26 FROM 8:30AM-10:30AM
Leading Remotely and Keeping Employees Engaged
Jamie O’Neill, with Uprise Consulting, will host this session to discuss best practices of leading remotely.  Since 70% of an individual’s engagement is driven by their manager, it’s crucial that as leaders, we strive to engage all employees, from all distances. In this class we examine the main challenges of leading remotely and the 13 tips to help managers engage at a higher level.
 
WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 28 FROM 8:30AM-10:30AM
Leading through a Crisis 
When faced with a crisis, leaders are forced to think and behave in ways that feel unfamiliar. Whether it’s a technological, financial, natural, or a health crisis, crises demand that leaders step up. During a crisis, a leader’s goal is to reduce loss and keep things operating as normal as possible. This session, delivered by Jamie O’Neill of Uprise Consulting, is designed to provide leaders with the tools they need to best manage during trying and difficult times.

FRIDAY OCTOBER 30 FROM 8:30AM-10:30AM
Modifying Your Sales Strategy
Curtis Hamilton, Director of Training at Sandler Training Maritimes, will guide you through creating or modifying your existing sales strategy and learn how to engage with current customers and prospects. This session will look at how to organize your week to be productive and efficient at setting up phone calls, meetings and being prepared, confident and trust-worthy in delivering your companies value proposition.
 

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PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS:

• The program must be taken on a computer, laptop, or tablet, no phones.

• Participants must have an Internet connection, hardwired preferred vs wi-fi, high speed no dial up.

• Headset or earbuds and must have a webcam. If no webcam, in-laptop video participation is a requirement.

• Participants must display video; required to ensure the connection to the instructor and other participants.

• A quiet place to focus is required, free of distractions.

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ABOUT THE TRAINERS:

Jamie O-Neill, Uprise Consulting

Jamie O'Neill is an experienced Human Capital Strategist with over 20 years of organizational, business consultancy and training experience.  She is an energetic self-starter with excellent team development and leadership skills.  A graduate of the Business Administration Degree from Acadia University and Leadership Management Graduate Degree from Royal Roads University, Jamie has the unique ability to provide innovative and insightful solutions for leaders within organizations, connecting ideas and actions in order to deliver measurable results.  Jamie thrives on helping her clients accomplish their goals and get things done in challenging climates.
 
Jamie O'Neill served as Partner with Bluteau DeVenney for 10 years before starting Uprise Consulting.  In the early years, Jamie worked as a private consultant, aiding new businesses kickstart their business and put them on the path to success.  The key strength Jamie possesses is her ability to connect with the audience in a fun and motivating way.  She thrives on providing innovative and creative insights with the steps you need to reach your goals. 
 
Jamie is committed to building strong relationships and she is passionate about helping her community.  She currently serves on the Halifax Chamber Board of Directors as well as being a board member with Shelter Nova Scotia. 
 

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Katelyn Bourgoin, Trigger Technique

 

Katelyn Bourgoin is a 4X founder turned growth strategist and trainer. She understands the challenges business leaders face because she’s been there herself.
 
With operational experience spanning the marketing, tech, and hospitality sectors, Katelyn has been named as an influential entrepreneur by Forbes magazine and featured in Inc., HuffPost, Bustle, CBC, CTV, Global TV and more. Katelyn is recognized as one of the "top 20 wonder women of SaaS marketing and growth” by SaaStock. Katelyn’ s past clients include high-growth tech startups, SMBs, business support organizations, and Fortune 500 companies like Target and Holiday Inn. She has delivered in-person and online training through many business support organizations including NSBI, Digital Nova Scotia, Volta, Genesis, Propel ICT, Venn Innovation, CBDC and more.

Today Katelyn helps frustrated marketers, founders and salespeople to focus on what really matters—their customers. After all, whoever gets closer to the customer wins.

 

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Curtis Hamilton, Sandler Training Maritimes

Curtis is the Director of Training at Sandler. He has been in the corporate training and development world for over 15 years, and has made a name for himself by helping businesses ranked on the Entrepreneur Franchise Top 500 list; ground-level start-ups in the Halifax area and helping executives capitalize on growth/scalability through a sound sales process.
 
Prior to joining the team, Curtis successfully ran Nimbly Training and Consulting, a business-consulting firm located in Halifax. He's spent much of his career with companies such as; TD Bank, MLSE (Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, Canwest Global and Goodlife Fitness.
He is considered a training and development specialist and a high-performance coach, with multiple training programs, built, facilitated and deployed. He is an engaging presenter having facilitated hundreds of employee training sessions and workshops ranging from high impact sales training, manager development workshops, 1-on-1 coaching sessions, and crucial accountability training. Having worked for some of Canada's largest companies he is well versed in leadership and sales principles as well as corporate culture excellence.

Curtis has also done some work with Futurpreneur Canada in 2018 where he was a small business coach and strategist in Atlantic Canada. He supported entrepreneurs with operational strategy, sales processes, employee engagement, and training methods.

He is an avid Stand-up Paddleboard enthusiast who loves the ocean and nature. He resides in Lawrencetown, NS with his wife Ashley and his dog Louie.
 

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 Rob Gorham, Niche Workplace Education

Rob is an adult workplace educator and operates his own company Niche Workplace Education. Rob has spent more than 35 years working in digital and mass media.
 
After a 25-year journalism career in both print and broadcast, working as a journalist, editor and bureau chief for The Halifax Herald, and as a freelance broadcaster with CBC Radio, Rob helped co-found Eclipse Media Inc. in 2007.
 
As a partner with Eclipse Media, a digital marketing agency, Rob worked for more than a decade helping hundreds of clients with their digital marketing and e-commerce needs.
In 2018, Rob became a senior consultant to Eclipse Media on e-commerce and digital marketing and took on a more active role in teaching.
 
Rob’s other experience includes studying media and brand advertising through the University of Waterloo and teaching media relations. Rob is an avid researcher of emerging technologies and digital media trends. He is a strong believer in professional development and has taken various courses in communications, coaching, project management and social media.
 
Rob lives in Bedford and is married with four adult children.

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Dennis Amirault, CFO, Symplicity Organizational Designs

Dennis brings 20 years of financial leadership experience including 8 years’ experience with a National accounting firm, 4 years experience with a publicly traded company, and 8 years’ experience helping small to medium sized entrepreneurial companies organize their financial functions and improve their financial positions.
 
Dennis also has a background in taxation having completed the CPA’s In-Depth tax courses I, II and III as well as the Corporate Reorganizations Course.
 
Dennis is a graduate of Dalhousie University.

 

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