Back to BIA Mentorship Program
Background
Given the COVID-19 Pandemic impact on small business, this initiative is spearheaded by the Heart of Orléans BIA who are focused and dedicated in the success of our BIA district. As we start to action the Province’s phased-in approach of re-opening the Heart of Orléans, owners and staff of small businesses may feel they require a little professional guidance and support to rebuild.
As BIA businesses start coming back to work, we would like to offer them the opportunity to mentor with an expert. We have invited some well respected, local mentors that have been identified as advisors with insights and experience that would greatly benefit the businesses in the Heart of Orléans BIA in the following areas:
- Finance
- Networking
- Marketing
- Strategic Planning
- Technology
- Communications
- Sales
- Business Coach
How Does it Work?
Each mentor has graciously offered a complimentary ½ hour consultation to interested businesses to respond to questions, offer advice and/or share resources.
Should a business wish to pursue further mentorship and/or coaching, you would work out your own arrangements with the mentor.
- Review the Possible Goals and Things to Think About sections of this document.
- Determine your businesses’ own objectives.
- Review the BIOs of each Mentor in the Available BIA Mentor section of this document.
- Once you have selected a mentor that makes the most sense for your business, please reach out to them directly and advise them that you are contacting them because they are part of the BIA Mentorship program.
Possible Goals to Achieve With Your Mentor
- Gain more visibility and exposure
- Run your business more efficiently and effectively
- Build your skills and capabilities for the future
- Identify other people who are key decision-makers and whose influence can help you be more successful
- Identify contacts within your business or field who can broaden your industry perspective
- Have someone who supports you emotionally by listening to your frustrations, fears, successes, etc.
- Have someone who will advise you and provide feedback
- Have someone who can serve in the role of a sounding board for challenging decisions, issues, etc.
- Become more engaged and respected in a professional business
- Grow and have a greater impact on the community outside your business.
Things to Think About Before Contacting Your Mentor
- What do you hope to learn from this relationship?
- What are your goals for this relationship?
- How can you and your mentor best work together?
- What does the mentor need from you as the mentee and vice versa?
- How will you know when the mentoring relationship is working?
- How do you want to schedule meetings and communicate with one another?
- How will the meeting time(s) be arranged?
Planning Template to Help You Plan Your Approach
- Introduce yourself (If you do not already know this person, identify yourself and who may be serving as a “bridge” to your potential mentor.
- E.g. My name is Joe Johnson from Restaurant ABC. The Heart of Orléans BIA suggested I give you a call as you have the type of experience I am hoping to acquire.
- Describe what you want
- E.g. I want to build more relationships within my industry. I believe this will better enable me to serve my clients and help me as I progress in my business. I am seeking a mentor who can assist me in developing in this area.
- Describe how you think the individual can help you
- E.g. You are known for your contacts and expertise in the industry so I thought you would be able to provide some guidance on how I can build a better network.
- Ask if they are willing to consider being your mentor
- E.g. Would you be willing to explore this opportunity with me further?
Available BIA Mentors
Catherine Fair
Catherine Priestman, CD, MBA
Catherine Priestman loves what she does and leads her team to uncover potential, inspire creativity, instill trust and develop solutions. She is the President and CEO of CP Business Solutions Inc., a marketing agency she incorporated 8 years ago, following a time as a sole proprietor and an exciting career in the Air Force, that took her all over the world.
Catherine continues to travel extensively and delivers services to her clients around the globe. She is driven by a tireless pursuit for creative results and is always looking for a fresh challenge.
Catherine is the very essence of the colour orange that brands her business and permeates her personal and professional life. Creative, confident and slightly off-the-wall, Catherine has the personality and the heart to carry off and lay claim to such a vibrant shade.
In the almost 10 years that she has lived in Orleans, Ontario, Catherine has made personal and professional connections, getting involved as an active member of the community and was recognized with the 2018 Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award at the Orleans Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Excellence Awards.
Catherine has only two speeds: whirlwind and asleep.
“For some, selling right now may feel desperate, wrong, or uncomfortable but selling is imperative for the economy to recover. How do you market in this environment, though? We can talk about how to position your company so you can continue to sell, without damaging your image. In fact, you can enhance your image – corporate social responsibility and effective messaging are Key! If you’d like to discuss marketing and image strategy for the current climate and what you can do to be ready to move forward when the economy starts to open, book a call. I’d be happy to talk with you, listen to your goals and share ideas.”
Jarrod Goldsmith
Jarrod Goldsmith is a Canadian small business community builder and is the embodiment of the small business spirit. He is one of Ottawa’s best known entrepreneurs and founded eSAX (The Entrepreneur Social Advantage Experience); Ottawa’s largest entrepreneur networking community for small business, Sax Appeal (Canada’s Premier Saxophone Ensemble), Sax Appeal Productions (an agency for all live music needs), eXclusive eXperience and hosts both Ask the Fedora (a YouTube video series on entrepreneur networking) and the eSAX Podcast series.
Janet Gray, B.A., B. Admin., CFP®, EPC, CPCA
Fee-only, Advice-only Financial Planner/Money Coach/Educator/Speaker
613.834.6639 www.moneycoachescanada.ca
For 20 years, Janet has been a Certified Financial Planner® with specialized knowledge in both business and retirement issues making her a go-to-expert for national and local media outlets such as CBC, CTV, Global, The Globe and Mail, MoneySense.ca and The Canadian Money Saver magazine.
In 2009 she founded the Ottawa chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) which is now 10,000 local members strong. Her work as Chapter Chair to 2016 brought her in front of Senate and Commons committees and into conversations with many sector and community leaders. Janet is equally passionate about serving the needs of small business owners and entrepreneurs in her community.
Janet presently sits on the Heart of Orléans BIA Marketing Team and has been a member (and Board Director) of the Orleans Chamber of Commerce (now Ottawa Board of Trade) since 2001, twice winning the distinction of Financial Services Person of the Year. She has participated in many business development events, including “Dragon’s Den” style pitch opportunities for entrepreneurs to receive input on their concepts and business plans and she regularly acts as a mentor to new entrepreneurs. As an advocate of financial literacy, Janet has participated several times as a volunteer with Junior Achievement and speaks often to audiences on the topic of improving the financial knowledge base of all Canadians.
Lionel Renaud
Directeur développement de marché des entreprises/ Manager, development Commercial and Business Banking