Local Leaders, a New Summer Networking Event

Launching and growing a business takes a lot of hard work, a solid business plan and a strong community. Which is why in April, May, June and July 2015, Small Business BC is opening its doors to help you learn from successful business owners and discover the tools and resources paramount to achieving long-term success.

These four new events, will take place at Small Business BC the first Thursday of each month, starting Thursday, April 2, 2015. The Local Leaders series has been created to empower the leaders of tomorrow by hearing the inspiring stories of today’s leaders.

Your Thought Leaders

At each event a top CEO and business leader in the community will share their story to success, what they have learned and most importantly invite you to ask your burning questions.

Vikram Vij, Founder and Co-owner of Vij’s Restaurant, Rangoli, My Shanti, Vij’s at Home, Vij’s Railway Express and CBC Dragon

Topic: Achieving Success Despite Adversity: The Trials and Tribulations of Entrepreneurship

Vikram will share how he developed his business around a personal mission, how he overcame the challenges and obstacles on his road to success, how to create awareness of your product and then how to keep those customers.

Entrepreneurship was embedded in Vikram at an early age, with all of his family in India being self-employed. So it was only natural that when he came to Canada in 1989, following a few years in the hospitality industry, that he open his first restaurant Vij’s in Vancouver.

Twenty years later the restaurant and celebrity business mogul, still owns that same restaurant, as well as its sister restaurant Rangoli, Surrey counterpart My Shanti, food cart Vij’s Railway Express and packaged food line Vij’s at Home. Not to mention becoming the newest firey investor, on CBC’s Dragons’ Den.

Event Date: Thursday, April 2, 2015
Buy Tickets at: sbbc.co/LocalLeaderVij

Brian Scudamore, Founder and CEO of 1-800-GOT-JUNK, You Move Me and WOW 1 DAY Painting

Topic: HR, Leadership and Growth Strategies for Driving Bottom Line Results

Brian will share how to build your culture around the right people and selecting the right tools to attract, select and retain your employees. .

Brian started his business in Vancouver, Canada at the age of 18, and later went on to franchise 1-800-GOT-JUNK? as a way to expand operations. Today, 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has 1000 trucks on the road throughout some 180 locations in Canada, the United States, and Australia.

Brian has received wide recognition in the media and business community. 1-800-GOT-JUNK? has celebrated appearances on the highly-acclaimed Undercover Boss Canada, Dr. Oz, Dr. Phil, CNN, ABC Nightline, the Today Show, The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos, and the View. His story has been told in Fortune Magazine, Business Week, New York Times, Huffington Post, and Wall Street Journal, to name a few.

In 2007, Brian was honored to have been named the International Franchise Association’s Entrepreneur of the Year. Other accolades include Fortune Small Business’ Best Bosses Award, Globe & Mail’s Top 40 under 40, and a three-time winner of a prestigious “Best Company To Work For” award.

Event Date: Thursday, May 7, 2015
Buy Tickets at: sbbc.co/LocalLeaderScudamore

Andrew Shepherd, Founder of Vancouver Island Salt Co.

Topic: Turning a Simple, Local Concept into a Serious Business

Andrew will share how to develop a unique product and develop a business plan to break into retail. He will describe how he grew his local business to a global operation, through listening to his customers for new opportunities and product development.

Vancouver Island Salt Co, is Canada’s first, best and greenest sea salt harvestry. A true BC success story started by Chef Andrew Shepherd in 2009, VISC’s world class unrefined sea salt products are now in distribution across the country and have recently found their way into international markets. Raised in Halifax, Andrew studied Culinary Arts at George Brown College in Toronto, before gaining his Chef’s credentials from The City and Guilds Trade Institute of London, England. After a decade in the kitchen highlighted by an award-winning run with Sage in Feilding, New Zealand, Andrew turned his attention to developing gourmet retail products.

During this time, a casual conversation (turned bet for a case of beer) found Andrew at the beach harvesting sea salt. Five years later with nods as one of Western Canada’s Top Forty Foodies Under 40 (2012, Western Living Magazine), One of Canada’s Top 20 Food Artisans (2013 Ace Artisan Incubator), and the 2014 winner of the national TELUS/Globe and Mail Small Business Challenge, Andrew is poised to put Canada on the global sea salt map.

Event Date: Thursday, June 4, 2015
Buy Tickets at: sbbc.co/LocalLeaderShepherd

Tina Lee, CEO of T&T Supermarket Inc.

Topic: Succession Planning: Staying Connected with the Family Business

The busy mum of two knows and business mogul knows a thing or two about balancing family and business. Tina will share her transition story when taking the reigns of Canada’s largest Asian supermarket chain from her mother Cindy, sharing how she holds true to the family values while driving the business forward.

Prior to taking the role as CEO at T&T Supermarket Inc, Tina was a strategy and operations consultant at Deloitte Consulting LLP. She completed her Masters in Business Administration from The Anderson School of Business at University of Los Angeles, and her Honours in Business Administration from The Richard Ivey School of Business at University of Western Ontario.

Event Date: Thursday, July 16, 2015

Buy Tickets at: sbbc.co/LocalLeaderLee

Register Today

Please see the events listings for more information about the event.

Space is limited, so register early to avoid disappointment.

We look forward to seeing you there.