Black to Business
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The Periodical of the Black Business Initiative SUMMIT SUMMARY Also in this Issue • Cassandra Dorrington takes the Chair Coach • Howard Shearer Carter Talks Business Average Is • Preston Businesses Not Enough take awards Fall 2006 ◆ Number 34 “A dynamic and vibrant Black presence within the Nova Scotia Business Community.” Black to Business 1 Fall 2006 In this Issue Message from the Board of Directors Cassandra Dorrington, Chair, Black Business Initiative Message from the Board 1 Message from the Chief Executive Officer 2 I will benefit from the work of those who have come before me, who Cover Story 3 Coach Carter- Average is Not Enough have worked to strengthen this orga- Paul Adams Paul nization, to see it flourish and thrive Coach Carter calls it 5 – Hector Jacques, Gordon Tynes, Vale & Associates 6 Barbara Manning, Mike Wyse, Human Resource Management Garnet Wright, and countless other & Consulting Inc. Board members and individuals Howard Shearer 7 from business and the community. President of Hitachi Canada What they have done for the BBI is Dean Anderson 8 Dean’s Consulting Services what we continue to work so hard to do for our clients, those entrepre- Mayann Francis 9 neurs who need that extra push and Installed as Lieutenant-Governor et me begin by recog- the tools to get to the next level. SUMMIT SUMMARY 13 nizing the hard work Annual General Meeting Dinner of my immediate pre- “Indeed, I am extremely and Dance Gala L decessor, Garnet Wright, as Business is Jammin’ – Youth Summit pleased to be the Boat Cruise Chair of the Black Business newest chair of the BBI Golf Tournament Initiative Board of Directors. BBI, an organization Trailblazers 15 Although he had the pressing that has a record of 2006 Summit Award Winners obligation of managing his fiscal accountability Howard Shearer 17 own growing enterprise, he and does what it says Taking a Hard Look never failed in his volunteer it’s going to do.” Will 2 Win - Will Nijoku 18 responsibilities to the Black Business Initiative (BBI). We For the last five years, I’ve had People & Businesses on the Move 19 thank him and look forward the opportunity to be part of that CULTURE BEAT 22 to his continued support on process, both from the board of George Elliott Clarke the executive in the role as directors point of view and person- BBI 2006 Training Schedule 23 ally in my own business, Vale and Past-Chair. Associates. So I know first hand how BBI Stats 23 vital this organization’s work is and New BBI Staff 23 Indeed, I am extremely pleased to how far and wide its reach can be. be the newest chair of the BBI, an Business is Jammin’ 24 organization that has a record of Now in our eleventh year of opera- Summer Youth Coordinators fiscal accountability and does what tion, my term in the role of chair Racism has no place at work 25 it says it’s going to do. I have been will no doubt shape the future direc- associated with a number of orga- tion of the organization. Over the nizations in the past and never Regional Reports past few years our Board has been have I seen the thrust for account- building the policies and structures Business is Jammin’ 8 ability as in the case of the BBI. to get us to the future. The planning Southern & Training 9 And it’s that kind of integrity and is now over and, as I begin my term, Northern 10 commitment that makes me proud. continued on page 10> Business Development 25 Black to Business is the official periodical of 1575 Brunswick Street, The Black Business Initiative and is published quarterly - Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 2G1 spring, summer, fall, and winter. Its goal is to support the Phone: 902-426-2224 Fax: 902-426-6530 BBI as it fosters a dynamic and vibrant Black presence Toll Free: 1-800-668-1010 within the Nova Scotia Business Community. E-Mail: [email protected] Web Site: www.bbi.ns.ca For Advertising Information, Rates, Submitting Published by: the Black Business Initiative Stories, Notices or Community Events, Editor in Chief: Rustum Southwell or for More Information, Design & Layout: Design North call: 902-426-2224 Production by: Mirabliss Media Productions Cover Photograph: contributed Mailed under Canada Post Publications Mail The Black Business Initiative Sales Agreement no. 1599402 Cover inset photograhs by Paul Adams Black to Business 2 Fall 2006 Message from the Board of Directors Message From The Chief Executive Officer Cassandra Dorrington, Chair, Black Business Initiative S. I. Rustum Southwell election on June 13, and congratu- careers. As we march on with our lated Percy Paris on becoming the mandate, we do so with the comfort third elected Black member of the of knowing that no one of us is as Peter Marsman Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia. strong as ALL of us. I remain proud of the professional staff we have Adams goes on to say, “The bar recruited over the years. has been raised higher than ever for Black achievement. And it’s We have forged effective relation- important to remember that Blacks ships and true partnerships with the themselves have done the raising. public and private sectors. Support It is clear that we of African descent from the business sector – as seen in will never again be as we were sponsorship of our events by major before.” Considering his history in corporations like Global TV, Aliant, s I compile this re- this province, it is not such a stretch O’Regans, GenieKnows, Progress, to believe him. and so many others – is one accom- port, I reflect on yet plishment. However, agencies like another summer at As I was out of the office on leave the Greater Halifax Partnership, A for several months, it was especially Nova Scotia Business Incorporated, the BBI. In June we celebrated gratifying to see that the staff works Blue Water Business Development, our tenth anniversary, and effectively as a team. What BBI is the Office of African Nova Scotian today is the sum total of the work of Affairs, and others provide the plat- although the weather did not many people over the past decade. form to make us better at what we completely cooperate with all There are the board members who do. have given freely of their time and of our plans, it was otherwise expertise to contribute to the Black Public policy drives corporate direc- a very successful summer. community and a dedicated, pro- tion and by extension private behav- fessional staff that has performed iour, so we are clearly pleased with above the expectations set for them. the continued support of both levels In fact, Wayne Adams captured the Everyone who has participated in of government. It is important that essence of the summer and the Fifth this initiative is responsible for its we remain entrepreneurial and not Summit in the July 4, 2006, edition successes. purely administrative and continue of his weekly column in the Daily to develop a progressive relationship News in a commentary entitled It is important to continue the mis- with governments. On the provincial “Mind-boggling progress.” Adams, sion by retaining and recruiting side we will continue to work closely the first Black member of the provin- good people to our board and staff. with Premier Rodney MacDonald cial legislature and a former cabinet Garnet Wright has completed his and Minister Richard Hurlburt in the minister, was also instrumental in tenure as the Chair and will now sit Office of Economic Development, the creation of the Black Business on the executive as Past-Chair and and federally, we look forward to Initiative Task-Force that designed Cassandra Dorrington begins her a strong relationship with Minister the Black Business Initiative business term at the head of the organiza- Peter Mackay and the Atlantic model in 1995. tion. As I offer a warm welcome to Canada Opportunities Agency. Cassandra and prepare to give her Speaking of his feeling of pride at all my support, I also thank Garnet Six years ago when we started the this year’s summit, Adams said, and commend him for a job well business summits, we did so with the “This has been a mountain-top continued on page 10> done on behalf of the Black business awareness that we represented small week in the Black experience, with community. companies in a small market. Our Mayann Francis, and now this!” position was that we have the entre- He later adds: “I applaud Prime We also congratulate Jill Provoe, preneurs, the people, concepts and Minister Stephen Harper on his who has taken up a new position products to also supply a national appointment of the stellar and noble with the Nova Scotia Community and worldwide market. Mayann Francis as the Queen’s College. We will miss her at the representative in Nova Scotia.” This training department, along with The best example of excellence we was not all, he also commended the Kyndra Taylor and Luke Jefferies had was Hector Jacques of Jacques five Black candidates who stood for who have also moved on to other continued on page 10> Luke Jefferies is a former BBI by: Luke Jefferies, regional business development as told to Chad Lucas manager who was assigned to host Coach Ken Carter dur- Photography: Paul Adams ing his time in Halifax as the keynote speaker for the Black Business Initiative summit. This is Luke’s personal insights of his time with the popular entrepre- neur and motivational speaker, whose story was told in the 2005 Paramount Pictures film Coach Carter, starring Samuel L.