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About BizLaunch
BizLaunch Believes. We believe you should be your own boss. We believe entrepreneurship creates a better life for you and your family. We believe your business will generate wealth, health and happiness. We believe your business can change the world. BizLaunch believes success comes from knowledge and experience, and we want to share ours with you.
BizLaunch co-founders Andrew Patricio and Roger Pierce came together in 2003 to begin sharing their “been there, done that” knowledge and experience gleaned from launching 22 small businesses. They formed the company to pursue one simple mission: To help new entrepreneurs succeed through education and training. Now Canada’s largest small business training company, BizLaunch has advised over 20,000 new entrepreneurs worldwide, employs a growing number of head office staff and works with over 40 regional BizLaunch Small Business Trainers located in cities across the country.
With help available for anyone who is thinking about starting a business, recently launched one, or looking to grow, the company works exclusively with new small business owners in business for less than five years. Thanks to corporate partners such as STAPLES, Bell, Microsoft, Bell Aliant, Scotiabank, Visa, FedEx, Cisco, Industry Canada and others, BizLaunch advice is dispensed for free through 90-minute “how-to” seminars, webinars, educational articles, entrepreneur success stories, business tools, blogs, Facebook, Twitter, manuals, guidebooks, the website, one to one telephone coaching, media appearances, videos and podcasts.
BizLaunch Co-founders
Andrew Patricio

Co-founder ANDREW PATRICIO has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience. He is an international small business expert, trainer, coach, conference speaker, seminar leader and author of the best-seller Up & Running – A Guide to Running Your Own Business. He has started eleven small businesses of his own, and has trained and coached over 10,000 entrepreneurs in Canada, Russia, Portugal, Sweden, Korea, Northern Ireland, Holland, Namibia and South Africa – including three winners of “Business Woman of the Year”.

He manages the company’s 40 Small Business Trainers across the country, oversees company operations and personally trains hundreds of entrepreneurs a week through his popular seminars and webinars. "I wake up each morning eager to advise small business owners," he says. "Entrepreneurs are the greatest people in the world so it’s very rewarding to help them and to be around them every day."

Roger Pierce
Co-founder ROGER PIERCE is passionate about helping entrepreneurs. "A small business owner has the best job in the world," he says. "You can set your own hours, work at what you love to do, and change lives – all while making as much money as you want."

Roger has launched eleven small businesses of his own and personally experienced what he calls "the good, the bad & the ugly" sides of entrepreneurship. "Whenever I speak to entrepreneurs, I do my best to share my own story so they may learn from my triumphs and mistakes," he comments. With an education and background in marketing and sales, Roger steers the company's marketing strategy and serves BizLaunch's corporate partners. A fan of the written word, Roger is also the Entrepreneurship Columnist for The Toronto Sun.

Sample User
BizLaunch Trainers
Nadia Baboo

Image and personal branding expert, seasoned coach, speaker and writer, Nadia takes her clients from invisible to outstanding by helping them to hone their communication skills, presentation and enhance their personal appearance.

With over 15 years experience in the beauty industry and a strong training and public relations background, she knows the importance of your image for both your personal and professional life. Nadia has led motivating workshops for companies in the private, public & not-for-profit sectors.

She has appeared on Rogers Television’s Daytime, CityTV's Breakfast Television and CBC's The Gill Deacon Show. She also runs Fairview’s Personal Style Program, exclusive to Fairview Mall in Toronto.

Steven Beal

Steve consults with business owners who want to buy, sell, value or improve their business.

Steve has over 15 years of experience working in strategic management positions at RBC and being a business owner – which started as a teenager when he was running a printing and mail order business. He has been a speaker at many seminars including those for local business service centers.

Gina Bell

Gina Bell is President and CEO of Gina Bell Inc, a company devoted to teaching passionate entrepreneurs how to embrace their 'multipreneurial' spirit - while having fun and achieving fame and fortune doing what they love to do! Gina is also co-Founder of Networking Masters International and creator of the Joint Venture Mavens Partner and Prosper Network to name but a few of her current projects.

Monique Brennan

Monique is the owner of HRExpress Inc., a company that aims to make Human Resources easy to apply to any workplace.

Having worked in the area of Human Resources for almost 20 years, Monique has seen HR from all sides: from within the walls of Large International Companies in Management, and Executive Level roles and as a Consultant working alongside Business Owners who wear all of the hats in their small or mid-size company.

She loves training and has lead many similar training workshops in the Moncton area.

Roger Deveau
Roger is an entrepreneur with a background in finance. He has spent years learning how to communicate effectively and is passionate about building relationships with people.

Roger is the founder of Ethos Business Concepts, a business that teaches entrepreneurs how to comfortably and effectively network and build word of mouth advertising for their business.

Michelle Devlin
An accomplished speaker, consultant and workshop leader Michelle supports her clients as they develop effective communication skills. In turn, they become better speakers, presenters and orators. These skills lead her clients to greater success in their professional and personal lives.

Fifteen years of public speaking, sales and marketing experience have helped her understand the nuances of client relationships and the role effective business communication plays in corporate success.

Michelle’s enthusiasm and energy, combined with her experience and skill, lend to dynamic seminars that create a setting that is most conducive to learning.

She is professionally affiliated with both Toastmasters International and the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers.
Randall Edge
Randall Edge has a solid knowledge of the financial management industry, having been involved in it for over 20 years, in addition to having recently earned his Executive MBA from the University of Regina. His passion for business, continued learning and the ability to impart his extensive knowledge to others is what drives him.

As well as his many professional accomplishments and accolades, when Randall is not working he can be found performing marriage ceremonies in his hometown of Regina, having been appointed as a Marriage Commissioner by Saskatchewan Justice!

Gary Evans
Gary Evans entrepreneurial experience spans over two decades. Reputed for a love of ideas and a flair for leadership, he has established a compelling mix of creative and innovative best of breed business practices and models, including Conscious Enterprise. He has experience in: quality management ISO 9001, HR outsourcing, technology and the hospitality industry yielded multi-million dollar results.

He is currently an investor in three companies and President of DemGen Inc., a unique business model with a mission to “grow companies”.

Cathy Favre
Cathy Favre is the Project Manager for the Newfoundland and Labrador Angel Network (NLAN). NLAN connects Newfoundland and Labrador entrepreneurs with local angel investors who provide the capital and mentorship needed for high growth companies to succeed.

Equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Mathematics, Cathy has built a progressive career and is extensively involved in the community on a professional and personal level. Cathy has over 15 years experience in business with extensive experience in the technology, eLearning and training sectors.

Before joining NLAN, Cathy held a number of senior executive positions for a number of companies in Canada and the US providing products and services globally to clients such as Microsoft Corporation (Global Headquarters, Redmond, Washington) and the World Bank (Global Headquarters, Washington, DC).

Bryan Freeman

Bryan Freeman is co-founder of HitGrab Inc. He partnered with Joel Auge, another former BizLaunch student, to bring the company to the position it is in today. HitGrab is an award winning social gaming company with around 20 full time employees.

Bryan has had experience working in Churches and with Youth that presented many opportunities to speak. Kids are a tough crowd so it is important to grab their attention right away.

“At some stage your dreams and aspirations for your business get tested and you lose heart. Pushing through those times and believing in myself and me team has been my biggest challenge", says Freeman. Bryan has been a BizLaunch trainer for over 2 years.

Marvin Garellek
A “Lifetime Entrepreneur”, Marvin launched and ran a marketing and communications agency for 9 years serving a range of clients in the skate, hotel, lighting and technology sectors which he went on to sell to a multinational ad agency.

In 1992 Marvin founded Internet Capital Bulletin Board Inc. (ICBB), and developed Plan A™ Business PlanWorks software - A consulting system that delivers successful business, marketing and sales strategies that best fit customer profiles. The system has been rated Success Magazine’s Editors’ 7 time choice.

Marvin also serves on Citibank’s Panel of Experts, as a Gerson Lehrman Group Council Member and a public speaker for Youth Employment Services (YES) in Montreal.

Ron Gordon
Ron Gordon is the owner of The Byland Group, Gemini Training Solutions and Planet K9 Academy. He is a professional speaker, educator, and writer as well as an advisor and consultant to several entrepreneurship programs.

Having been an entrepreneur for over 23 years, Ron has a natural aptitude and love for learning, training and sharing knowledge. Ron has built many successful businesses and brings his many years of business experience together with his passion for helping people succeed.

He has helped hundreds of businesses and entrepreneurs become more successful. As a result, he has helped his clients reach their true potential and realize their business visions and dreams.

Nancy-Beth Guptil
An experienced motivational trainer and speaker specialising in Entrepreneurship, small business and personal development, she has been an entrepreneur since she was 18.

She provides business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the right tools, training, inspiration and professional guidance to help both launch and grow their businesses.

Nancy loves helping people to reach their goals by motivating and inspiring them to become all they can be.

Debi Hartlen-MacDonald
Debi Hartlen MacDonald, founded New Life Business Solutions. She focuses on helping clients develop focused and strategic plans in the areas of sales and marketing, resulting in working smarter – not harder. Through her affiliations with other professionals she assists clients in developing traditional and non-traditional marketing tools and resources to get their product/service to market…from business cards to social media strategies.

Her approach of “THINK IT-PLAN IT-DO IT” helps her clients achieve results. She shares her passion through workshops and training for small business owners and corporate sales teams. She has been presenting BizLaunch Seminars since September 2008.

Linda Lord
Linda Lord, Coach and Indepreneur, has been a successful professional practitioner for 11 years. Beginning her business as an independent contractor with SkillPath Seminars, Linda provided high quality public and on-site training across Canada and the United States. Wanting to work closer to home, Linda continued her independent contract work with St Clair College Corporate Training Department and returned to school in pursuit of her coach training. She graduated from the Coach University Coach Training Program in December 2001.

Linda has provided both group and individual coaching for Career Employees, Self-Employed Professionals, and Professional Practitioners in the areas of professional performance, soft skill development and applied personality theory to advance interpersonal effectiveness. She has provided facilitation and workshops to businesses and not for profit organizations focusing on strategic direction, goal setting, and action planning.

Linda is member in good standing with CoachVille and the International Coach Federation. She is a member of 24-7 Coaching, Canada Coaches, and the International Association of Coaches. Linda is also a Certified Retirement Options Coach.

John Marshall
Results Driven – Personal & Business Growth Specialists is led by John Marshall who began his career with Procter & Gamble. He has extensive business experience in Canada, the US and Internationally.

He trains and coaches entrepreneurs, self-employed professionals and business owners so they can achieve greater business results - The results they deserve. Results Driven trains one-to-one for individuals like you, or in small groups.

All the training, coaching and programs are focused on one goal – getting you better results. The results you deserve. That’s why the company is called – Results Driven.

Fairlie Mc Phee
Fairlie MacPhee has an MBA and a CMA and has many years of experience in business and management. She has held various positions as a Controller, an Auditor, an Accountant, and more recently as a Business Owner. She has worked in both large and small organizations where she was able to improve both processes and procedures to make organizations more effective. She has added value to by teaching employees new skills which allow them to operate more effectively within their organizations.

Fairlie has a rich history of experiences which help her to solve problems and understand the needs of her clients. She draws on her experience and education when training others or working with clients.

Andrew Patricio
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Co-founder ANDREW PATRICIO has over 20 years of entrepreneurial experience. He is an international small business expert, trainer, coach, conference speaker, seminar leader and author of the best-seller Up & Running – A Guide to Running Your Own Business. He has started eleven small businesses of his own, and has trained and coached over 10,000 entrepreneurs in Canada, Russia, Portugal, Sweden, Korea, Northern Ireland, Holland, Namibia and South Africa – including three winners of “Business Woman of the Year”.

He manages the company’s 40 Small Business Trainers across the country, oversees company operations and personally trains hundreds of entrepreneurs a week through his popular seminars and webinars. "I wake up each morning eager to advise small business owners," he says. "Entrepreneurs are the greatest people in the world so it’s very rewarding to help them and to be around them every day."

Roger Pierce
Co-founder ROGER PIERCE is passionate about helping entrepreneurs. "A small business owner has the best job in the world," he says. "You can set your own hours, work at what you love to do, and change lives – all while making as much money as you want."

Roger has launched eleven small businesses of his own and personally experienced what he calls "the good, the bad & the ugly" sides of entrepreneurship. "Whenever I speak to entrepreneurs, I do my best to share my own story so they may learn from my triumphs and mistakes," he comments. With an education and background in marketing and sales, Roger steers the company's marketing strategy and serves BizLaunch's corporate partners. A fan of the written word, Roger is also the Entrepreneurship Columnist for The Toronto Sun.

Susan Robichaud
After many years of working in the corporate world, Susan left to begin her journey of entrepreneurship and founded Axion Marketing, where she offers business consulting and delivers highly interactive presentations and workshops. In her spare time she is a facilitator for numerous community events. Susan will inform, inspire and motivate you toward planning, marketing and growing your business.
Randy Ruggles
Randy Ruggles is a Copywriter and Marketing Consultant. He helps small-to medium-sized businesses grow by 20% in 90 days - GUARANTEED - without spending money on traditional mass-media advertising.

As a Marketing Consultant, he has worked with such companies as McDonald's,Burger King, Pizza Hut, Zeller's, Canadian Tire, Domino's Pizza and dozens of local businesses.

He is the author of "Fail Your Way to SUCCESS!" and "How to Start Your Own Home-Based Coupon Book Business." He is also the creator, executive producer and star of the "North Bay Apprentice" reality show patterned after the NBC hit show The Apprentice featuring Donald Trump.

His book "Fail Your Way to SUCCESS!" (which includes a Foreword written by BizLaunch CEO Andrew Patricio) has been hailed as "a must-read," "highly recommended," and "brilliant" by successful small business owners.

Anne Stone
After getting a degree in Animal Science from the University of Guelph and a Masters in business from St. Mary's University in Halifax, N.S. Anne Stone landed in the big city of Toronto and began working for Kodak Canada in marketing.

After incubating the idea of starting her own business, Women in a home Office, Anne decided to do something about it. She placed an ad in the local paper for Women in a Home Office and the rest is history.

She ran the first chapter for three years part-time before leaping to full-time in 2003. Today, Women in a Home Office has over 1000 subscribers and eight chapters across Canada. The organization consists of monthly meetings, workshops and telemeetings.

Anne has been interviewed many times by the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, Canadian Living Magazine and TV, CBC Radio, Global's MoneyWise, Business Edge, CFRN to name just a few.
Dianna Thorne
Dianna Thorne, Targeted Accounting’s President, is a Chartered Accountant with more than 15 years of accounting, financial and business management experience. She is an expert in the areas of budgeting, business plans, process redesign, QuickBooks software, and company start-up.

Dianna is also an accomplished public speaker and presents BizLaunch’ How to Pay Less Tax seminar. She is the author of several articles featured in CA Magazine, enewsletter Girlphyte, and ProConnection Newsletter. Dianna’s company provides day to day bookkeeping, business plan preparation and accounting consulting for entrepreneurial companies.

Stephen Tobin
Stephen currently works with the Centre for Entrepreneurship Education & Development, where he manages a rehabilitative and entrepreneurial development program for local youth and remains an active member of his community. Stephen serves as Chapter President for JCI Cape Breton, one of Canada’s premier business leadership organizations.

Stephen is also a Council Member for the Sydney Area Chamber of Commerce a director for Whitney Pier Youth Club and a board member forNovaKnowledge, a provincial think tank organization dedicated to the development of a flourishing, sustainable knowledge based economy in Nova Scotia.

Stephen is passionate about creating opportunities for youth and also actively volunteers with organizations such as the Big Brothers & Big Sistersmentoring program.

Kevin Toney
Kevin Toney has been an entrepreneur since the early 1990’s, with a B.A and certificates in Small Business Development, Small business Management he is a highly motivated speaker and trainer. He is an instructor at the YMCA and the YWCA in the Self-employment program and as a result has developed a passion for small business marketing.

Kevin is a volunteer High School volleyball coach and combines his passion for coaching with his love for small business marketing, into a business that helps small business owners struggling to improve their marketing and increase their sales.

Through Primetime Promotions, where he coaches small business owners and sales professionals on how to find and attract customers, using tested, proven and affordable marketing strategies.

Penny Tremblay
Penny is the president of the Tremblay Leadership Center, which offers professional development and leadership training, seminars, and coaching services to assist organizations and individuals achieve their goals. Penny educates and motivates individuals by speaking at venues locally throughout Canada and the United States.

With her involvement in the North Bay and Area Toastmasters club since 2003 Penny has attained Advanced Communicator Gold and Competent Leader designations.

Penny’s “Leadership Tips” are circulated electronically, and in many newspapers, magazines and journals, both locally and internationally.

In 2007, Penny was published as co-author of You’re My Hero’ with Chicken Soup for the Soul pioneer, Barry Spilchuk. Through the continued sales of the book, women and children’s charities benefit.

Jacqui Walsh
As assistant Professor of Business at Sir Wilfred Grenfell College Memorial University of Newfoundland Corner Brook, Jacqui has had many years experience teaching entrepreneurship to aspiring young professionals. Her focus on business has helped charter the course for many potential and new small business owners in Newfoundland.
Renee Warren
Renée Warren is an enthusiastic and creative thinker and entrepreneur. Her first job, at the age of 17, took her into the restaurant management business where she learned the tools of the trade. Entrepreneurship to her at that age was difficult, yet very rewarding. On top of managing a restaurant she also designed jewellery for her collection at Mijoux, a business that is still in production today. Out of university she travelled to Australia, Fiji, Mexico, and Los Angeles. There she discovered and fell in love with culture, art, and ethnic foods. (A slight sushi fetish developed). Upon her return to Canada after a year long absence, she returned to school for Marketing Management. Her short stint as Manager for a small co-working company showed her the passion and enthusiasm Canada has for entrepreneurship. She was soon recruited by BizLaunch to help preserve the nation’s passion for small business success.
Become a BizLaunch Corporate Sponsor
BizLaunch can help connect your corporation to small business owners. Drawn to our how-to advice, entrepreneurs trust BizLaunch and are therefore more receptive to your message. If you are marketing to small business owners, we can supply:
  • BizLaunch Seminars. Our flagship product is our live 90-minute seminars, available in dozens of topics. We handle all aspects of a seminar program including marketing, publicity, registration, confirmation, presentation, equipment, data collection and reporting.
  • Webinars. Sixty-minute webinars attract small business owners and easily connect to your company.
  • How-to Articles. Draw entrepreneurs to your small business website, blog or newsletter with our custom-written how-to articles.
  • Small Business Success Stories. Let us write about your small business customers using your products or services, to post on your website or newsletter.
  • BizTools. We supply hundreds of useful little tools that small business owners love to download, such as a Cash Flow Forecast Template, blank Business Plan or Startup Budget Calculator.
  • How-to Guides. Ask us to create a how-to guide to distribute to your small business customers or prospects.
  • Social media marketing. We are leaders in using social media to reach small business owners. Ask what we can do for your company.
  • BizCoaching. Keep your customers close by offering our one-to-one mentorship service to them.
  • Up & Running BizLaunch Program. Over 2000 entrepreneurs worldwide have taken our comprehensive 30-hour training program, which can be offered through your company.
  • BizCoaching Videos. Put a BizLaunch Small Business Expert on your website or blog with a three-minute coaching video. Use one of our existing videos, or work with us to create your own.
  • Small Business Speakers. BizLaunch Experts are available to speak at any conference, trade show, networking session, media event or product launch.
  • Corporate Training. Help your team to learn how to market to small business owners in one of our customized training sessions.
  • And more. Ask how we can help advance your small business marketing plans!
For additional information, please contact co-founder Roger Pierce at 416-581-8880 or roger@bizlaunch.ca
BizLaunch Media Inc.
268 Adelaide St. West
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 1X6
1-866-302-0996
416-581-8880
416-581-0019 (fax)
BizLaunch Media Room
Canada’s largest small business training company, BizLaunch has trained over 20,000 small business owners across the country and around the world.
Our two company Founders and 40 Small Business Trainers are experienced entrepreneurs who have collectively launched over 100 ventures. We live and breathe entrepreneurship. As our name implies, we know what it takes to start and run a small business and want to share that expertise with you.
If you’re a journalist, blogger or member of the media, BizLaunch can help you by quickly supplying:
  • Commentary as Small Business Experts or Startup Experts on any news item
  • Industry statistics, research, entrepreneurship trends & predictions
  • Prepared articles on any small business topic
  • Access to thousands of small business owners across three categories – thinking about starting up, recently launched or growing a small business
  • Insights into how entrepreneurs think, why they start-up, and the challenges they face
  • Access to major corporations serving small business owners
  • ‘Top Ten’ lists, bullet points, examples, anecdotes, short tips and speaking points on anything to do with small business.
For immediate response to your media inquiry, please contact Marc Hill (marc@bizlaunch.ca, tel. 705-791-3242) or contact Renee Warren (renee@bizlaunch.ca, 416-581-8880) anytime.
If you’re an entrepreneur, you’ll find advice, information and inspiration within the stories, articles, news and media releases available here.
Press Releases
April 28 2010: 52 Percent of Small Business owners unprepared for HST
October 8 2009: Are Small Business Owners Wasting Time Online?
September 24 2008: Building a Community and an Apparel Line
April 10 2007: Dressed for Success: Bridal shop donates proceeds to help children with cancer
Media Coverage
June 3 2010: EI changes draw cheers and jeers
June 3 2010: How to work from the cottage – successfully
January 7 2010: Social media failing some business owners
November 18 2009: Seminars teach businesses how to use social networks
November 3 2009: Free Business Seminar – Truro Magazine
November 2 2009: Stand out from the Crowd
September 28 2009: The appeal? Not taking a haircut
July 9 2009: Strategy to Win Back Business
April 16 2009: Facebooking During Work
April 3 2009: Management Education: Go Big or Go Under
Contact BizLaunch
Address:
BizLaunch Media Inc.
268 Adelaide St. West
Toronto, Ontario
Canada
M5H 1X6
Information:
416-581-8880 Phone
866-302-0996 Toll-free
416-581-0019 Fax
Need a conference or seminar room? Ask us!
Roger Pierce | VP Marketing | roger@bizlaunch.ca
Andrew Patricio | VP Training | andrew@bizlaunch.ca
Inquiries | info@bizlaunch.ca
Registrations | register@bizlaunch.ca
268 Adelaide St. West, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5H 1X6
Directions by TTC:
Exit West side of St. Andrew subway station on the University Line. Walk two blocks West to John Street, one block North to Adelaide. We’re near the NE corner on Adelaide.
Directions by Car:
DVP southbound to Gardiner. Exit Spadina. North to Adelaide, East to John. Parking is available on the corner of Adelaide and John Streets.
Join BizLaunch
There's no business like small business. Want to help new entrepreneurs? We're looking for:
  • Small business trainers
  • Guest speakers
  • Salespeople
  • Administrator
  • Marketers
  • Web Developers
Please send your resume in confidence to info@bizlaunch.ca