V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:39 PM Page 22 22 | Atlantic Business Magazine | September/October 2010 V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:40 PM Page 23 COVERCOVER STORY STORY DREAM WEAVER THE FIRST-EVER ATLANTIC DREAM FESTIVAL is nothing anyone on Canada’s East Coast has seen before: A star-studded, high-octane event (involving such international luminaries as Sir Richard Branson and former New Brunswick premier and Canadian ambassador to the United States Frank McKenna) celebrating the hidden entrepreneur in all of us. And you won’t believe who’s behind the curtain, pulling the strings. By Alec Bruce Brad LeBlanc, co-owner and chief entrepreneurial officer, The Momentum Group. Except where otherwise stated, cover story photos by David Corkum, corkumphoto.com Online extras: atlanticbusinessmagazine.com | 23 V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:40 PM Page 24 He speaks deliberately, almost professorially – every syllable a soft the scope and scale of which Atlantic sell of his burgeoning salience – about the Canada has never before witnessed. “Think risks he’s been willing to take, the challenges of it like a giant happening not just for he’s been willing to embrace, on his long, entrepreneurs, but for the entrepreneurially arduous road to entrepreneurial wisdom. minded,” he says. “Think of it like an No, it has not been easy, Brad LeBlanc, co- occasion to remind p eople that anything owner of Dieppe, New Brunswick-based really is possible if you work hard and are Momentum Group, says sonorously. But persistent. Think of it like a place for people that’s just fine, because in the end it’s all about of all ages and from every walk of life to the dreaming. It’s all about the self-confidence discover their hidden potential and unleash every hard knock purchases for posterity. the fire within.” “You know,” he says, cocking his head to the Think of it any way you like. But know side, jutting his chin just so, on this rainy this: The inaugural Atlantic Dream Festival morning in late June, “I’ve lived a life that’s (scheduled for October 28-31 at the certainly been outside the box. And I must say Moncton Coliseum) is on track to host I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. At my age, I hundreds of exhibitors, from banks to begin to realize how important it is to stay universities to custom home builders to young at heart, especially when you’re no technology manufacturers, and as many as longer a kid.” 15,000 ticket-paying members of the public At his age? Young at heart? No longer a eager to understand the stuff that dreams kid? But Brad, I protest, you’re only 21. are, quite literally, made of. And if they “Yeah, I know,” he giggles. “Pretty cool, eh?” don’t learn their lessons on the convention floor, they’ll have another opportunity elsewhere, thanks to a remarkable line-up of world-class speakers, which includes: former New Brunswick Premier and Canadian Ambassador to the United States Frank McKenna; Kevin O’Leary, entrepreneur, venture capitalist, host of CBC’s “O’Leary Excha nge”, and judge on that network’s “Dragon Den”; Canadian summer and winter Olympian Clara Hughes; Farley Flex, music promoter and former “Canadian Idol” judge; and Stuart McLean, host of CBC Radio’s “The Vinyl Café”. Rounding out the list is author and inspirational speaker Martin LaTulippe; Ron Buist, former marketing director for Tim Hortons; and Richard St. John, author of The eight traits successful people have in common. Still, as if this were not enough firepower to impress the madding crowd, LeBlanc and his compatriots at Momentum Group scored their signature coup by persuading British industrialist, billionaire and humanitarian Sir Richard Branson to headline the entire event. “I wanted Richard for what he stands for, which is fearlessness and ingenuity,” he says. “By participating, he’s lending an enormous amount of credibility to the Festival; he’s building up our brand. And that’s crucially important, Brad LeBlanc, a 21-year-old Moncton native and That’s certainly one word for it. Another especially when you consider that this is a veteran entrepreneur, is the visionary behind the might be: Astonishing. Having created his big, fat first for our region.” Atlantic Dream Festival. first business at the startlingly tender age of Yeah, no kidding. But as interesting as the 11 (a disc jockey service for private parties content and personalities associated with and functions), he is embarking on a project this home-grown, East Coast “ideas” Continued page 30 24 | Atlantic Business Magazine | September/October 2010 V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:40 PM Page 25 In Moncton, we dream big. We dream of new businesses for access to those major transportation arteries serving starting up, setting up and growing up. We also dream of the Atlantic region. locations for those businesses. With the new Moncton Industrial Park West, our Introducing MMoncton Industrial Park West, MMoncton’s drdreamseams are becbecomingcoming a reality with the first lotsts being newest locationn for making your business dreamsms come true. accessible as earlyarly as Fall, 2010. While work is continuing, interested partpartiesties can begin to secure their lott within this Moncton InduIndustrialustrial Park West is an industriall park with a new developmedevelopmentent now. difference. It iss an industrial park that places a high value on respect for the environment. It is an indusindustrialstrial park Moncton InduIndustrialstrial Park West, your dreams and our strategically lolocatedocated for access to all parts of ththehe city and dreams, it’s sooneroner that you think! o n c t o n 4 b u s i n e s w . m s . c o w w m MONCTONMONCTON INDUSTRIALINDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTDEVELOPPMENT 655655 Main Main Street, Street, MonctonMoncton NBNB E1CE1C 1E81E8 Tel:857-0700Tel: 857-0700 email:email: [email protected]@nb.aibn.com V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:40 PM Page 26 (Thursday, June 24 - Moncton, NB): The Momentum Group prepares to officially launch the Atlantic Dream Festival, an ambitious event which could make or break the fledgling company. Top, moving clockwise (l-r): CEO Brad LeBlanc reviewing agenda with Michelle Alcorn (consultant), and Philip Calvert (The Momentum Group co-owner and sales guru); Philip Calvert loading his car with supplies; generating street buzz; Regina Swift (The Momentum Group’s tradeshow queen) conduct ing final pre-launch check; unidentified young astronauts suiting up for their mission. 26 | Atlantic Business Magazine | September/October 2010 V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:40 PM Page 27 SMALL BUSINESS WEEK® OCTOBER 17-23, 2010 POWER UP YOUR BUSINESS INVEST. INNOVATE. GROW. Take part in activities organized in your region! www.bdc.ca/sbw | 1 888 INFO BDC NATIONAL SPONSORS V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:40 PM Page 28 Launch sequence initiated: The Momentum Group announced its plans to a packed house at Moncton’s Capitol Theatre. Top left, moving clockwise (l-r): CEO Brad LeBlanc unloading sound equipment; Brian Fisher (audio/visual specialist with The Momentum Group) reviewing last minute details with Brad LeBlanc and an unidentified technician from the Capitol Theatre; Carolyn Collier (The Momentum Group’s administrative genie) preparing refresh- ments; Philip Calvert (The Momentum Group co- owner and sales guru) lending a hand with equip- ment set-up; approximately 200 people attended the Festival announcement; Brad LeBlanc (centre) being congratulated on his success by Walter Melanson (director of Partnerships, PropertyGuys.com), Martin Latulippe (bestselling author, professional speaker and chief transformational officer with The Momentum Group), David Hawkins (entrepreneur and Advisory Board chair, The Atlantic Dream Fest ival) and Moncton Mayor George LeBlanc; Martin Latulippe at the podium; a triumphant Brad LeBlanc. 28 | Atlantic Business Magazine | September/October 2010 V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:40 PM Page 29 Be happier making money here. Among all the great reasons to be in New Brunswick, KPMG 2010 conrms we have the lowest business costs in Atlantic Canada. By 2012, we will have the lowest general corporate income tax rate in North America. But that’s not all. Small- and medium-sized businesses will benet from our new Small Business Loan Guarantee Program. Visit www.NewBrunswick.ca or contact our team directly at 1800-665-1800 to learn more about our protable business climate. Be more protable. Be in New Brunswick. V21N5 2010:V20N3 2009 8/17/10 2:40 PM Page 30 conference are, a more intriguing question imagine, I get fired up a lot.” hovers in the increasingly rarefied Moncton ‘Twas ever thus for the Riverview, New air: How did a motley crew of youthful Brunswick native, an only child who once nobodies from Podunkville, No-Place-You- quipped, “It’s a good thing I don’t have any Care-About, Canada, manage to pull off brothers or sisters, because I’d have them all such an astounding feat of entrepreneurial working for me.” As it is, LeBlanc has savoir-faire? known only one task-master in his brief life, and that one – the one in his mirror – is quite enough. “To be completely honest,” he says, “I think I’m pretty persistent.” Certainly, he was persistent enough to “Yaaa... hahaha... heehaw... launch Bradz DJ Service as a pre-pubescent That’s a really good one.” Tall, ginger- grade-schooler. “I was 11 years old when haired, and artfully scruffy, LeBlanc is the father of one of my friends asked me to laughing now like... well, like a 21-year-old set up my karaoke machine and do a little frat boy, which, of course, he is not.