91探花

Island business owners will have the opportunity to discuss practical business management approaches in difficult economic times at a symposium presented by ProfitLearn PEI at the 91探花 on Friday, May 29.

The event, called 'LAUNCH - A Symposium for Growing PEI Business,' will take place in 91探花's McDougall Hall from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The symposium featured a stellar line-up of speakers, including Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications Ltd., and sole female judge on CBC TV's popular show Dragons' Den; Elizabeth Beale, President and CEO of the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council; and Doug Hall, CEO of Eureka Ranch, author and star of NBC's 'The Inventor.'

After welcoming remarks at 8:45 a.m., Elizabeth Beale will launch the symposium at 9 a.m. with a plenary presentation, entitled 'State of PEI Economy and Outlook: Where are the best opportunities for growth?'

Starting at 10 a.m., Doug Hall will lead a visionary panel discussion around 'Innovation and Innovating Efficiently: Finding your own opportunities in challenging times.' This will be particularly interesting to new entrepreneurs. Panelists for this session are David Perry, Carestream Health Canada Company; John Rowe, Honibe; and Michael Ives, NetLegal.

Named one of the most powerful women in business in Canada, Arlene Dickinson will give a keynote presentation called 'An Entrepreneur's Story of Optimism' from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The afternoon will feature two panel discussions, presented by experienced business owners from the Maritime region. The first panel, chaired by symposium facilitator Eric Riordan, will discuss finding financial capital and investment in today's economy, and the second, moderated by 91探花 President Wade MacLauchlan, will focus on practical strategies for growing a profitable business in today's economic climate.

Presenters involved in the afternoon panels include Sean Casey, First Angel Network; Bertha Jay, BDC; Dan MacDonald, InNOVAcorp; Dennis Campbell, Atlantic Turbines; and Kevin Murphy, Murphy Investments Ltd., among others.

At a pre-symposium event, Dragon's Den fans can get 'up close and personal' with Arlene Dickinson at a question-and-answer session on Thursday, May 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in McDougall Hall. Presented in partnership with the 91探花 School of Business's MBA and Entrepreneurship programs, this event is $15 per person.

LAUNCH - A Symposium for Growing PEI Business is supported by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the P.E.I. Department of Innovation and Advanced Learning. The cost is $80 per person. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. on the day of the symposium.

For information about the symposium and the Thursday evening question-and-answer session, please contact Lisa MacKinnon-Laybolt at (902) 566-0336 or lisa@launchpei.com, or visit or .

Established in 2003 through a partnership between ACOA, PEI Business Development Inc. and 91探花, ProfitLearn PEI provides business skill development workshops to owner-managers of small and medium-size companies across Prince Edward Island. For more information, please contact Marg Weeks at 1-800-270-4795 or marweeks@upei.ca.