Entrepreneurship starts here: Dryden conference set for October.

Entrepreneurs with big ideas in northwestern Ontario can get a motivational boost this fall at an upcoming conference in Dryden.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The second annual FI:RE conference (Fueling Innovation: Reigniting Entrepreneurship) is underway Oct. 2 and 3 at the Dryden Regional Training and Cultural Centre. The organizers have nabbed four speakers to help shepherd existing and would-be entrepreneurs through two days of workshops.

Leading off the first day is former editor and publisher of Profit magazine Rick Spence, now a Toronto writer and marketing guru specializing in helping entrepreneurs grow their business. He's followed by networking expert Donna Messer.

David Prentice, one of Canada's leading sales and marketing professionals, speaks on the second day along with fashion model scout Ben Barry, CEO of Ben Barry Agency, based in Toronto.

Event coordinator Calista Livingston has seats for 150 attendees that she hopes to pull in through a summer promotional campaign across the region and, hopefully, from the U.S. border in the International Falls, Minnesota area.

This year's agenda features a two-track program for potential entrepreneurs with new business ideas, and another for those already established and looking to grow.

There's panel discussions on financing, idea generation, hiring people, writing a business plan, e-business, marketing and manufacturing.

Consultant Rick Mandryk, who's working on business opportunities for Thunder Bay's Oil Sands Consortium initiative, will also be in attendance.

Early bird registration is $100 until Aug. 15 and $124 afterwards. Space will be set aside for exhibitor booths.

"The ongoing job losses with our forestry sector has so many people moving out. We don't want people to leave," says Livingston. With plenty of local skilled labour around in the mechanical, instrumentation and electrical trades, she's hoping some expert know-how will help motivate them to stay close to home and start up their own businesses.

One success story to emerge out of last year's conference is Jordon Railian, one of the owners of the Riverview Lodge in Dryden, who's made great strides in spinning off the restaurant's house salad dressing into a new business.

"Based on the success last year it would be foolish not to do it this year and we hope one day it will become a bigger and better annual event," says Livingston.

The event is being hosted by the North-western Training and Adjustment Board in Dryden.

www.fire2008.ca

BY IAN ROSS Northern Ontario Business