Bridges to Better Business is an annual event that targets entrepreneurs and business professionals in the Sault Ste. Marie & Algoma Region. This year's event is taking place on Wednesday, October 22nd at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront.
Hosted by the Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship each year during BDC's Small Business Week, this event brings together businesses in various stages of development for an open exchange of ideas, advice and feedback. This year's theme is The economic revolution is here – get your business ready.
The Top 2 businesses for this year’s Pitch Competition, Kasdan Co. and True North Honey Company, will have the opportunity to share their business idea with the audience and the judging panel. The audience will then get to vote for their favourite business idea and the winner will receive a Grand Prize valued at up to $15,000. We're also proud to introduce Jay Kiew as our Keynote Speaker and Erica Hogan as our MC this year!
Agenda
5:00 - 6:00 - Tradeshow & Networking
6:00 - 7:00 - Welcome & Dinner
7 :00 - 7:30 - Top 2 Pitch-Off
7:30 - 8:15 - Keynote Speaker, Jay Kiew
8:15 - 8:30 - Winner & Closing
Tickets are $50 + HST/each or $375 + HST for a table of 8. A cash bar will be available. If you wish to be invoiced for payment by cheque, please contact Jessica Greco at: j.greco@cityssm.on.ca. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door.
Keynote Speaker: Jay Kiew
Innovation and Change Navigation Strategist
Jay Kiew is the world’s leading expert on change fluency and a renowned keynote speaker with more than 13 years of strategy and human capital experience. He has created more than $2B of impact for 400+ executives by designing, developing, and delivering organizational transformation, but his story extends far beyond the professional arena. Kiew is a half-blind cancer survivor, whose life is a testament to resilience in the face of adversity. His remarkable blend of professional expertise and personal resilience equips leaders to hack through the thick of change and disruption.
Kiew spent his corporate career working at Deloitte, TELUS, and ADP, where he led mission-critical strategic transformations. This included a $150-million primary care health policy reform, $13-million tech transformations, doubling app users from 1 to 2 million, and scaling 15 product lines to $35 million in 12 months.
At the age of 19, Kiew became the world's youngest Distinguished Toastmaster. He has since been featured in the Financial Times, Globe and Mail, Financial Post, Ivey Business Journal, Change Leadership, and more. He also sits on the Project Management Institute’s Board of Directors for the Canadian West Coast Chapter.
Kiew holds an MBA from the Ivey Business School and is a Prosci-certified PMP and Insights psychometric practitioner.
MC: Erica Hogan
Author, Entrepreneur, Coach, Charity Founder & Keynote Speaker
Erica Hogan is an Amazon best-selling author, entrepreneur, coach, charity founder, keynote speaker, and advocate whose life reflects resilience, purpose, and service. Based in Sault Ste. Marie, she is also a living liver donor, a defining act of courage that continutes to inspire her work.
She has built businesses including Hogan’s Homestead and Balanced Success Coaching, written two best-selling books, and founded The Piper Project, a charity inspired by her own journey through pregnancy and infancy loss. As a keynote and guest speaker, Erica brings a powerful mix of authenticity and expertise to inspire audiences with stories of resilience, leadership, and balance.
Her journey illustrates that true success is not about perfection, but about rising through challenges, giving selflessly, and creating a life of impact, joy, and meaning.
And the winner is...
Kasdan Co.! Kasdan Co. is owned by Kassandra Yun and Dan O'Brien and they believe in the art of crafting the perfect donut. Nestled in the heart of Sault Ste. Marie, their shop offers a warm and inviting atmosphere where every treat is made with love and the finest locally-sourced ingredients. Their passion for quality and creativity shines through in every bite, whether you're indulging in our unique donut flavors or savoring a perfectly brewed espresso. Kasdan Co. is dedicated to delivering exceptional service and creating memorable experiences for every customers!
We would also like to congratulate Dawn Lalonde of True North Honey Company on delivering an amazing pitch and winning this year's runner-up prize. True North Honey Company is a proud small batch honey producer of 100% Pure Unpasteurized Ontario No.1 Honey. Being a small batch honey producer allows them to showcase the vast array of natural flavour profiles unique to the north. Their honey can be found throughout the Sudbury and Algoma Districts.
A special thank you to this year's sponsors:
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And thank you to our organizing partners:
Interested in supporting this year's event? Reach out to Jessica at j.greco@cityssm.on.ca.