April 5, 2010

FOR immediate release 

 Betty Penny Scholarship Award!

In conjunction with Durham Home & Small Business Association

Durham Region –The Durham Home and Small Business Association (DHSBA) invites all 2010 Grade 12 graduating students who are entering the 2010-fall entrepreneurship program at college or university to submit their name for an opportunity to be selected for the 2010 Betty Penny, Young Entrepreneur Scholarship Award.   A select panel of judges will choose a winner and the winning student will be notified by Canada Post mail or by email.  This Award will be presented at DHSBA Annual General Meeting on Wednesday June 2^nd, 2010 at Class Act Dinner Theatre. 

Betty Penny is the Founder of the Durham Home & Small Business Association.  An entrepreneur at heart, Ms. Penny is known for her work in assisting young entrepreneurs and small business owners in the community to achieve their desired goal.  A Philanthropist, Ms. Penny in 1994 started her own business in her home and today owns and operates Penny Inc. group of companies in Port Perry, Ontario.  Ms.Penny recognized the need for a formal organization to support the needs of entrepreneurs & home based businesses hence DHSBA was founded. 

DHSBA is a not-for-profit organization that challenges the Entrepreneur & Small Business Owner to be the best by offering monthly networking events, workshops & special programs to help their members stay tuned to the business environment.

DHSBA is where Entrepreneurs go to succeed.

 Information can be found at www.dhsba.com or by email at info@dhsba.com

You can give back to your business community, inspire others …and yourself. And, all you need to spend is a little of your time.

Business mentoring  – offering  the next generation of entrepreneurs the benefit of your expertise and experience is an honoured tradition in the business community world-wide. Opportunities to be a business mentor in Durham abound.

Think back to your own beginnings in business. Chances are you had one or more mentors who helped you leap the inevitable hurdles, avoid the pitfalls and bridge the gaps in knowledge, skills and experience that are part of becoming a successful business professional and entrepreneur. This summer, you can pay it forward by playing a part in creating Durham’s business leaders of the future.

Just 5 hours of your time makes a lifetime of difference.

Summer Company is an innovative program sponsored by the government of Ontario and coordinated in the Durham region by the BACD Business Advisory Centre Durham. Designed to inspire young people, ages 15-29, to consider entrepreneurship as a career option, the program provides awards up to $3000 to help cover the costs of business start-up and training to provide the knowledge, skills and practical hands-on experience they need to succeed. 

Mentoring is a vital part of the Summer Company program. Contributing a minimum of 5 hours over the summer months of May through August, Summer Company volunteer mentors provide advice, guidance and support to youth staring their first business. 

It makes all the difference. To a person, the student entrepreneurs cite the help of their mentor as the most important factor in the success of their venture.  

As a mentor, you gain, too.

Guiding and coaching a young entrepreneur is a rewarding experience for the mentor, too. Summer Company mentors report that they get great satisfaction in supporting the success of a young entrepreneur. Mentors also benefit from the education and development they receive from BACD as coaches and from connections they make with other mentors and the broader business community through the association with BA CD and the Summer Company program. 

Don’t think you’re ready to advise anyone? Think again.

Years of experience aren’t the determining factor in being an effective mentor.  Business acumen and strong communication are.  A mentor’s role is definitely to give advice and guidance  but listening to understand  concerns, then asking questions to help your protégé think through the issue to a solution is also important  to being an effective mentor .

If you would like to learn more about being a Summer Company volunteer Mentor , contact  Wenda Abel, 905-668-4949 X 226 for more information .

Do you have a hot new invention or the next million-dollar idea? Think you have the money-making chops to  take on the savviest business tycoons in the country? Then Dragons’ Den wants to hear from you!

The DRAGONS’ DEN production team will be in Oshawa scouting for Season Six of the hit series on CBC Television. The show gives aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a panel of wealthy Canadian moguls for the chance to earn real cash and real investment – from Dragons’ own pockets!

Open audtiions are taking place on March 18th, 2010 from 11am – 6pm at the Greater Oshawa Chamber of Commerce, 44 Richmond St. W., Unit 100.

No experience is necessary – just be ready to pitch your business in under five minutes. If you can convince producers you’re ready for the limelight, you can be invited to face the Dragons when the upcoming season is filmed in Toronto.

As an extra incentive this year – entrepreneurs with an eco-friendly business, invention or idea could qualify for a $100,000 Greenvention prize from Sun Chips.

Please apply online and bring your completed application form to the auditions. More details can be found on the show’s website at cbc.ca/dragonsden.

Dragon’s Den airs on CBC Television at 8pm Wednesday nights. Full episodes and web extras can be viewed on the Dragons’ Den website.

Paul Dobbs, Santa, Gary Round

Cher Leveille with Santa

Santa made a surprise appearance at DHSBA’s December Networking Extravaganza. With donations from DHSBA members and proceeds from the silent auction, Santa and Gary Round, DHSBA President donated $310 to Paul Dobbs from John Howard Society. During the evening Paul explained how John Howard Society put funds to good use in employment and counselling programs to help people in need get back on their feet. Thanks to all who participated in this wonderful event.

■ Annual General Meeting (AGM)
■ Betty Penny Scholarship Award
■ Business of the Year Award
■ Marketing
■ Strategic Planning
■ Trade Show

If you are interested in helping out, please contact DHSBA’s President or any member of the Board.