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Seminars & Workshops
Seminars, workshops and conferences are beneficial at any stage of business development.
The BECN offers opportunities for entrepreneurs and business owners to improve their skills and learn business best-practices through a variety of educational formats.
Educational opportunities include several different formats; seminars, workshops, roundtable and networking opportunities, best practices, business panels, iPlan: Planning & Prioritizing workshop, and events delivered by experts in a variety of business topics, and for women entrepreneurs under the 'She Owns It' brand.
Upcoming events will be posted on this page and on the Business & Entrepreneurship Facebook page.
View educational videos posted to the BECN YouTube Channel. There are educational resources offering best practices and helpful tips. Including; business panels with local entrepreneurs, 6 individual short videos on various business topics (social media, photography enhancement, website and branding, finance, accounting, enhancing your digital presence).
Advanced Business Series:
Take your business to the next level with the Advanced Business Series!
This series offers a unique opportunity to ask questions, enhance your knowledge through expert-led mini-sessions and gain personalized insights with 15-minute one-on-one consultations. Limited spaces available, booked on a first come first served basis:
Date: Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Morning: Business Lawyer, Melanie Racine from Racine Law
Afternoon: Director of Finance, Tim McLaren from Part-Time CFO Services
- These professionals will guide your questions to help navigate key aspects of your business journey.
- Click below to pre-register your 15-minute time slot for each professional.
- Please come with your questions prepared as these will be introductory sessions.
- Please note, some questions may not be answered due to the nature.
- These sessions are informative and offered based on the capacity of the professionals ability to provide direction.
Biographies:
| Tim McLaren, Director of Finance |
Tim McLaren has over 16 years of financial management and operations leadership experience, working at a top tier consumer goods company. He is known for his expertise of navigating ERP systems, development of KPI’s, and driving strong financial results. Tim has extensive experience with financial transactions, processes and policies. As Controller for two Quaker Oats manufacturing sites, Tim was the strategic business partner for the Operations teams and supporting functions. He provided financial guidance and ownership for annual spending plans/budgets, decision support/analysis of financial opportunities and risks, monthly forecasting and reporting of site financials, financial lead for Collective Bargaining Agreements, and lead yearly reviews of financial controls. Tim also spent over 4 years as a Production Manager, leading a team of supervisors and support staff to run 6 production lines with direct accountability for 80 hourly associates. His team had ownership for Safety, Quality, Cost and Fulfillment. Tim McLaren is a past board member with the Kawartha Haliburton Children’s Aid Society, in which he led for two years as Chair of the Board. In his spare time, Tim enjoys camping with his family, canoeing, and kayaking.
Education
Volunteer/Community Involvement
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| Melanie Racine, Owner |
| Melanie has focused her practice on Wills, Estates, Real Estate & Business Law. Melanie was born and raised in Port Hope. After completing her Honours Bachelor of Arts at Waterloo University in Military History, she travelled extensively and was accepted to the University of Cardiff, Wales where she completed her Bachelor of Laws. After returning to Canada she settled in Port Hope where she is happily raising her two daughters. She is excited to be on the main street of Port Hope and welcomes you to Racine Law! |
Please advance to "March 5" when selecting the calendar option in the link below.
Click to pre-register
She Owns It: Interactive 2 Topic Workshop
We are continuing the momentum.
Get inspired, feel empowered and grow your network at the She Owns It Women's Entrepreneurship Workshop 2025. This high-level, interactive, hands-on business growth workshop will educate, motivate, and promote collaboration and networking. Join us for a fun, interactive morning with like-minded women.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Doors Open at 9:30 a.m.
Welcome & introductions to begin at 10:00 a.m.
(Programming is 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.)
Location Sponsor Host: Lakehurst Estate, 128 Durham Street, Cobourg.
Ticket cost: $35 + HST (includes workshops and light lunch only).
You may bring in your own refreshments.
Deadline to register: Monday, March 24 (or while tickets last).
| Join Katie Dempsey of Brand Ambition Creative Agency: Growing Your Brand on Social in 2025. |
| Bring your mobile devices! This hands on workshop will show you how to elevate your brand and get ahead of the algorithm. If you feel like your social media growth has plateaued, this will help you break free and get back to meeting new customers, growing community, and generating leads. With a special focus on reels and collaborative content, these how to's will make you confident and competent with the camera, no matter your current comfort level. Katie is the owner and director of marketing at Brand Ambition. This full service marketing agency is 9 years old, building more than 1200 brands, and helping small business owners break out of old habits, and discover the opportunities of online marketing. |
| Join Carey McMaster of Traicon: Practical Financial & Operational Management |
| Target Audience: Small business owners, entrepreneurs, and managers seeking to improve their financial and operational practices. Objective: Equip participants with practical knowledge and tools to manage their finances, streamline operations, and position their business for growth. Overview: Practical financial and operational management, including effective bookkeeping, is vital for the success and sustainability of small businesses. Bookkeeping serves as the foundation for financial management, providing an accurate record of income, expenses, and cash flow, which are critical for making informed business decisions. Proper financial management ensures business owners can maintain stability, plan for growth, and navigate challenges like tax preparation and funding applications. Efficient operational management streamlines day-to-day processes, reduces inefficiencies, and creates a scalable foundation for growth. By prioritizing practical financial practices, operational efficiency, and accurate bookkeeping, small business owners can build resilient businesses that thrive in a competitive market. Agenda
Workshop Outcomes By the end of this session, participants will:
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Click to Register for She Owns It Workshop
Business Series: Interactive Workshops for Entrepreneurs
We are excited to announce the launch of a dynamic 4-part Business Series, created to empower local entrepreneurs and business owners with the tools, strategies, and insights needed to scale up, boost skills, and continue thriving in today’s evolving market.
This FREE workshop series is proudly offered in partnership by: Business & Entrepreneurship Centre Northumberland (BECN), Municipality of Port Hope, and the Port Hope Chamber of Commerce. Together, we’re committed to fostering entrepreneurship, supporting small business growth, and strengthening the local economy by providing accessible training, valuable resources, and direct connections to industry experts.
Whether you're a start-up looking to solidify your business plan, an established business owner seeking new marketing strategies, or simply eager to future-proof your operations with cutting-edge tools like AI, this series offers something for every entrepreneur in Northumberland County.
Each workshop is designed to be interactive and hands-on, focusing on actionable strategies that you can immediately apply to your business. Plus, these sessions offer fantastic networking opportunities, allowing you to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs, industry experts, and community partners.
| Thursday, March 20: Business Planning Workshop |
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Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025 Join Julie Savard, Business Advisor, for a FREE online workshop discussing how to write a successful business plan. Writing your first business plan is a major step in putting your small business on the map. Most importantly, it helps articulate the concepts that inspired you to start your business as well as evaluate potential hurdles like competition, risk analysis, and funding issues. |
| Thursday, April 10: Marketing Adaptation vs. Marketing Standardization |
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Date: Thursday, April 10, 2025. Join Karen McDonald-Hurley of Opportunity Group, to work through Market Adaptation or Market Standardization? In this interactive workshop, you will learn the difference between market adaptation and market standardization and decide which strategy is right for you. Learn the factors and trends that influence both strategies using examples from large multi-nationals and small rural one-person-owned businesses. Discover the best ways to incorporate adaptation or standardization in your business and take away the beginning of a marketing strategy consistent with each. What You’ll Learn:
Why Attend?
Who Should Attend?
What to Bring:
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| Wednesday, May 14: Future-Proofing, A.I. for Small Business |
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Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025. Join Sofie Andreou of 123 Digital Power for an engaging and interactive 2-hour workshop, "Future-Proofing: AI for Small Business," designed specifically for small business owners. This hands-on session will empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to harness the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform and future-proof your business. Workshop Highlights:
By the end of this workshop, you'll leave with a solid understanding of AI, practical strategies to integrate AI into your business operations, and the confidence to safely embrace AI a key component of your business's future success. Don't miss this opportunity to future-proof your business with the power of AI. Register now and take the first step towards transforming your small business. |
| Wednesday, June 11: Video Marketing Basics to Grow Your Business |
| Date: Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Where: Municipality of Port Hope, Canton Location. 5325 Cty Rd 10, Port Hope. Join Sofie Andreou of 123 Digital Power for an engaging and interactive 2-hour workshop, "Video Marketing Basics to Grow Your Business," designed specifically for small business owners. This hands-on session will empower you with the essential knowledge and tools you need to leverage digital video marketing to enhance your brand and drive business growth. Workshop Highlights:
By the end of this workshop, you'll leave with a solid understanding of video marketing basics, practical strategies to create and share compelling video content, and the confidence to use video marketing as a powerful tool to grow your business. |