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About FutureBiz Penticton
FutureBiz Penticton is the signature annual event of the City of Penticton’s Economic Development Department. This annual economic forum delivers relevant data and information to empower our businesses to be locally and globally competitive. It’s an opportunity for the local business community to hear from expert speakers and consider emerging trends to inform and inspire future business plans, all while strengthening local connections. |
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2019 Event information
FutureBiz - When Disaster Hits: Preparing for the Unexpected in Your Business Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2019, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Penticton Trade & Convention Centre Tickets: $60 early bird, $75 regular (lunch included) www.futurebizpenticton.com #futurebizpenticton #pentictonbusiness |
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News Release Archive |
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Canadian Red Cross is coming to Penticton to prepare businesses for any disaster
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., November 25 - It’s not a question of whether a natural disaster will happen in the South Okanagan – but a question of when. So says the Canadian Red Cross, which will provide tips to business leaders at FutureBiz Penticton on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
The non-profit organization aims to raise awareness of disaster risks and help businesses prepare for any crisis. Two Red Cross representatives will cap off FutureBiz business forum with a tabletop disaster simulation designed to test attendees’ skills to see how they would react in a real-world situation.
“Here in B.C., flooding and fires are regular events and the risks are increasing. We have to start thinking of disasters as something that are going to happen and be prepared to take concrete steps to mitigate the impacts,” said Liam Devine, an Emergency Management Coordinator with the Red Cross, who oversees more than 100 disaster responders in the B.C. Interior.
“People see the Red Cross as helping people in need. We do support individuals, families and whole communities during an emergency. However, disaster prevention and mitigation are the future of emergency management, and the Red Cross is committed to helping people be ready,” Devine added. He’ll be joined in Penticton by Carla Taylor, International Operations Advisor at the Red Cross, who works with staff and volunteers around the world to prepare for likely crises. This often includes risk assessments, training and organizational reviews.
“Planning is important, but the real learning happens when people are given a space to actively apply their knowledge to potential situations they may face in the future,” said Taylor.
FutureBiz is organized by the City of Penticton’s Economic Development department with the goal of empowering businesses to be locally and globally competitive. Last year’s inaugural event was hugely successful, with 175 participants.
“Data breaches, ransomware attacks, property crime and natural hazards – it can all feel a bit overwhelming for business owners to figure out where to start. At FutureBiz, you’ll gain access to some tried-and-true templates and tools that you can put into effect right away,” said event organizer Jennifer Vincent of Penticton’s Economic Development department. “This forum is an opportunity to come together and focus. Being caught unprepared may make the difference between business interruption and business disaster.”
This year’s event includes a host of expert speakers hailing from throughout North America. This includes keynote Abigail Cabunoc Mayes of the Mozilla Foundation, Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and Deputy Fire Chief Chris Forster of the Penticton Fire Department, Allison Markin of communications consultancy All She Wrote, Garland Sharratt, an information security architect and consultant, Greg Perkins of Liahona Security, and Nicole Clark of Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen. Get your tickets at futurebizpenticton.com.
Global tech leaders and live simulations set to take the stage at FutureBiz Penticton
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Nov. 7, 2019 – Global technology leader the Mozilla Foundation will take the stage at FutureBiz Penticton business forum on Dec. 4, kicking off a high-calibre event featuring expert speakers, workshops and a Canadian Red Cross simulation finale.
This destination event is open to all business leaders, innovators, thinkers and entrepreneurs who seek insights for a changing world. Brought to you by the City of Penticton’s Economic Development department, this year’s program will help businesses plan for the unexpected. It will include hands-on sessions, live demonstrations, emergency preparedness planning and an exhibition hall marketplace.
FutureBiz speakers, announced today, include:
“Businesses that plan ahead and build resilience will have a greater ability to weather any storm,” said Andrew Kemp, Economic Development Specialist at the City of Penticton. “FutureBiz is a proactive effort to bring the business community together for some pre-planning and thoughtful assessment of risk, ensuring they remain competitive – no matter what comes their way.”
“In our digital society, the internet has unlocked technologies and insights that power our businesses,” said Abigail Cabunoc Mayes, the Working Open Practice Lead at the Mozilla Foundation. “At the same time, we’ve seen mass data breaches, social media weaponized, and the manipulation of online news and ads. In this talk, we’ll look at findings from Mozilla’s open source Internet Health Report and look at how applying open source principles can dramatically increase a business’s reach and impact.”
FutureBiz Penticton 2019 sponsors include BC Business magazine, Accelerate Okanagan, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen. The City of Penticton is also excited to partner with the Canadian Red Cross to offer the disaster simulation exercise.
Brea Lake, CEO of Accelerate Okanagan, says: "We have supported over 220 entrepreneurs throughout the Okanagan and if there is one thing we’ve learned, it’s that the entrepreneurial journey is far from predictable. We find success lies in strong mentorship, community support, and a strategy that considers the worst-case scenario. We're excited to support this event to help address challenges that entrepreneurs may face during their business journey."
Reserve your spot
FutureBiz will take place Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Penticton Trade & Convention Centre. Exhibitor opportunities are also available. Reserve your spot at www.futurebizpenticton.com.
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Nov. 7, 2019 – Global technology leader the Mozilla Foundation will take the stage at FutureBiz Penticton business forum on Dec. 4, kicking off a high-calibre event featuring expert speakers, workshops and a Canadian Red Cross simulation finale.
This destination event is open to all business leaders, innovators, thinkers and entrepreneurs who seek insights for a changing world. Brought to you by the City of Penticton’s Economic Development department, this year’s program will help businesses plan for the unexpected. It will include hands-on sessions, live demonstrations, emergency preparedness planning and an exhibition hall marketplace.
FutureBiz speakers, announced today, include:
- Keynote speaker Abigail Cabunoc Mayes of the Mozilla Foundation, the non-profit behind the Firefox browser, will speak about the health of the internet and how open practices are used in business today.
- Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and Deputy Fire Chief Chris Forster of the Penticton Fire Department will discuss pre- and post-emergency planning and give a live demonstration.
- Allison Markin, owner of communications consultancy All She Wrote, will help you construct a plan to communicate effectively in a crisis, therefore protecting brand reputation.
- Garland Sharratt, an information security architect and consultant, will speak about how you can secure and protect your business and its information from cybersecurity and privacy threats.
- Greg Perkins of Liahona Security will provide tips involving crime prevention and security for your property and assets.
- Nicole Clark of Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen will present a Business Continuation Planning workshop.
- Capping off the day, test your newfound skills to react appropriate during a disaster simulation presented by Carla Taylor and Liam Devine of the Canadian Red Cross.
“Businesses that plan ahead and build resilience will have a greater ability to weather any storm,” said Andrew Kemp, Economic Development Specialist at the City of Penticton. “FutureBiz is a proactive effort to bring the business community together for some pre-planning and thoughtful assessment of risk, ensuring they remain competitive – no matter what comes their way.”
“In our digital society, the internet has unlocked technologies and insights that power our businesses,” said Abigail Cabunoc Mayes, the Working Open Practice Lead at the Mozilla Foundation. “At the same time, we’ve seen mass data breaches, social media weaponized, and the manipulation of online news and ads. In this talk, we’ll look at findings from Mozilla’s open source Internet Health Report and look at how applying open source principles can dramatically increase a business’s reach and impact.”
FutureBiz Penticton 2019 sponsors include BC Business magazine, Accelerate Okanagan, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) and Community Futures Okanagan Similkameen. The City of Penticton is also excited to partner with the Canadian Red Cross to offer the disaster simulation exercise.
Brea Lake, CEO of Accelerate Okanagan, says: "We have supported over 220 entrepreneurs throughout the Okanagan and if there is one thing we’ve learned, it’s that the entrepreneurial journey is far from predictable. We find success lies in strong mentorship, community support, and a strategy that considers the worst-case scenario. We're excited to support this event to help address challenges that entrepreneurs may face during their business journey."
Reserve your spot
FutureBiz will take place Wednesday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Penticton Trade & Convention Centre. Exhibitor opportunities are also available. Reserve your spot at www.futurebizpenticton.com.
Prepare for the unexpected at the 2019 FutureBiz Penticton business forum
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Oct. 15, 2019 – Ticket sales are now open for the 2019 FutureBiz Penticton business forum, returning Wednesday, Dec. 4 following last year’s sold-out inaugural event.
FutureBiz Penticton is an opportunity for the local business community to hear from expert speakers and consider emerging trends to inform and inspire future business plans, all while strengthening local connections. This year’s theme is “When Disaster Hits: Preparing for the Unexpected in Your Business.”
The forum, organized by the City of Penticton’s Economic Development department, will give business leaders the tools to identify risks and implement mitigation and response strategies. They’ll also learn how to react swiftly in the case of disaster, minimizing downtime.
“When disaster hits, there isn’t time to plan. Swift and immediate action will determine whether your business weathers the storm or suffers ongoing business interruption and brand damage,” said event organizer Jennifer Vincent, who works in Economic Development with the City of Penticton. “We want to help businesses develop robust preparedness plans to ensure they can remain in control in a crisis and be resilient to whatever comes their way.”
Topics covered will include:
As in real life, attendees can expect the unexpected. The day will involve presentations, workshops, “quick talks” by subject matter experts, an exhibition hall marketplace and networking opportunities.
Last year’s event featured a tight agenda of presenters, keeping the 175 attendees in their seats as they heard about the local economy, future technologies, disruptive ideas, U.S. tariffs, economic forecasts, and demographic insight. They painted a clear picture of some of the challenges and opportunities that will be facing Penticton in the future.
Reserve your spot today and join local business leaders, thinkers, entrepreneurs, developers and consultants for an inspiring afternoon considering how to prepare your FutureBiz for the unexpected.
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Oct. 15, 2019 – Ticket sales are now open for the 2019 FutureBiz Penticton business forum, returning Wednesday, Dec. 4 following last year’s sold-out inaugural event.
FutureBiz Penticton is an opportunity for the local business community to hear from expert speakers and consider emerging trends to inform and inspire future business plans, all while strengthening local connections. This year’s theme is “When Disaster Hits: Preparing for the Unexpected in Your Business.”
The forum, organized by the City of Penticton’s Economic Development department, will give business leaders the tools to identify risks and implement mitigation and response strategies. They’ll also learn how to react swiftly in the case of disaster, minimizing downtime.
“When disaster hits, there isn’t time to plan. Swift and immediate action will determine whether your business weathers the storm or suffers ongoing business interruption and brand damage,” said event organizer Jennifer Vincent, who works in Economic Development with the City of Penticton. “We want to help businesses develop robust preparedness plans to ensure they can remain in control in a crisis and be resilient to whatever comes their way.”
Topics covered will include:
- creating a business continuity plan
- cyber security and data stewardship
- natural disaster and community emergencies
- securing property and assets against theft
- crisis communication response and outreach
- loss of key personnel
As in real life, attendees can expect the unexpected. The day will involve presentations, workshops, “quick talks” by subject matter experts, an exhibition hall marketplace and networking opportunities.
Last year’s event featured a tight agenda of presenters, keeping the 175 attendees in their seats as they heard about the local economy, future technologies, disruptive ideas, U.S. tariffs, economic forecasts, and demographic insight. They painted a clear picture of some of the challenges and opportunities that will be facing Penticton in the future.
Reserve your spot today and join local business leaders, thinkers, entrepreneurs, developers and consultants for an inspiring afternoon considering how to prepare your FutureBiz for the unexpected.
2018 FutureBiz
FutureBiz Wrap Up Report
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Nov. 13, 2018 –The first ever FutureBiz Penticton was a sellout event on November 8th at Lakeside Resort. A tight agenda of presenters kept 175 attendees in their seats as they heard about the local economy, future technologies, disruptive ideas, US tariffs, economic forecasts, and demographic insight. The combination of experts painted a clear picture of some of the challenges and opportunities that will be facing Penticton in the next year – right up to 30 years from now.
The Economic Development Department hosted this event as part of their Business Retention & Expansion initiatives, with the intention that a comprehensive learning day, paired with some networking, would provide a springboard for creative strategic thinking for local businesses.
While most attendees were representing local organizations, there were guests from as far as Edmonton, Nanaimo, and Vancouver as well as a good showing from up and down the Okanagan Valley.
The day started with a lunch and headed straight into the presentations. It wrapped up with a workshop to assist in developing action steps coming out of the day, followed by a networking social, sponsored by BDC.
Announced during the day were two upcoming workshops for businesses:
A summary video of FutureBiz Penticton is available here
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Nov. 13, 2018 –The first ever FutureBiz Penticton was a sellout event on November 8th at Lakeside Resort. A tight agenda of presenters kept 175 attendees in their seats as they heard about the local economy, future technologies, disruptive ideas, US tariffs, economic forecasts, and demographic insight. The combination of experts painted a clear picture of some of the challenges and opportunities that will be facing Penticton in the next year – right up to 30 years from now.
The Economic Development Department hosted this event as part of their Business Retention & Expansion initiatives, with the intention that a comprehensive learning day, paired with some networking, would provide a springboard for creative strategic thinking for local businesses.
While most attendees were representing local organizations, there were guests from as far as Edmonton, Nanaimo, and Vancouver as well as a good showing from up and down the Okanagan Valley.
The day started with a lunch and headed straight into the presentations. It wrapped up with a workshop to assist in developing action steps coming out of the day, followed by a networking social, sponsored by BDC.
Announced during the day were two upcoming workshops for businesses:
- On November 29th, 2018 BDC is hosting a free 3-hour workshop called “B Corp 101: Measure What Matters”. Details are available here.
- On March 6, 2019, Nikos Theodosakis will lead a full day strategic planning workshop called “Thinking Like a Film Director”. Special registration price of $150 open to the first 10 registrants. Details and registration available here.
A summary video of FutureBiz Penticton is available here
Sellout expected for the first ever ‘FutureBiz Penticton’!
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Nov. 2, 2018 – Curious about the future of business, what changes owners and investors could expect to see, or how opportunities and challenges may transform how we work today? FutureBiz Penticton, the City’s first-ever half-day economic outlook forum, is set to kick-off November 8 with a wide range of topics discussing subjects like artificial intelligence, Blockchain, US tariffs, housing and real estate, and local economic insights.
Registration is quickly filling with attendees from up and down the Okanagan Valley, with only 45 seats remaining. Tickets can be purchased online at www.futurebizpenticton.com and must be bought in advance. Those with active City of Penticton business licenses can snap up a ticket for $35 while others will pay $50. Ticket price includes lunch, the forum and social event.
Held at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, the event includes lunch accompanied by a local economic overview with Jonathan Baynes, CEO of the Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation, as well as City of Penticton Development Services staff, Anthony Haddad and Jennifer Vincent. Invited speakers include:
By way of moving learning into action, the event will be hosted by Leadership Coaching specialist, Crystal Henrickson of Talent Collective. As she moves through the agenda, Henrickson will provide a framework for attendees to reflect on what they are hearing and apply it to their own circumstances. “It’s a fresh way of presenting conference-style information. We’re hoping that through this approach, attendees will walk away with some actionable steps, not just lunch-table conversations” says Vincent.
The event wraps up with a meet and greet sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada.
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Nov. 2, 2018 – Curious about the future of business, what changes owners and investors could expect to see, or how opportunities and challenges may transform how we work today? FutureBiz Penticton, the City’s first-ever half-day economic outlook forum, is set to kick-off November 8 with a wide range of topics discussing subjects like artificial intelligence, Blockchain, US tariffs, housing and real estate, and local economic insights.
Registration is quickly filling with attendees from up and down the Okanagan Valley, with only 45 seats remaining. Tickets can be purchased online at www.futurebizpenticton.com and must be bought in advance. Those with active City of Penticton business licenses can snap up a ticket for $35 while others will pay $50. Ticket price includes lunch, the forum and social event.
Held at the Penticton Lakeside Resort, the event includes lunch accompanied by a local economic overview with Jonathan Baynes, CEO of the Penticton Indian Band Development Corporation, as well as City of Penticton Development Services staff, Anthony Haddad and Jennifer Vincent. Invited speakers include:
- Pierre Cleroux, Chief Economist with the Business Development Bank of Canada will be speaking on topics ranging from challenges related to labour shortages, to trade relationships with the United States. He will pose the question “Should Canadian businesses be optimistic or pessimistic regarding the current economic situation?” Cleroux will provide insights into how Canadian businesses could navigate the economy to position themselves for growth.
- Nikolas Badminton is a well-known keynote speaker whose expertise lies in looking at the future. A presenter who has spoken to audiences at some of the world’s largest companies, he will be at FutureBiz to share his insights on how exponential technologies that enable big data analytics, automation through artificial intelligence, better citizen engagement, smarter city management, the sharing economy, and self-driving transportation are changing the world.
- Looking more regionally, Andrew Ramlo, Vice President of Market Intelligence at Rennie Group will share his data and knowledge on the landscape of economic and demographic factors that have shaped the City of Penticton and its region, and what they mean for the future of the City.
By way of moving learning into action, the event will be hosted by Leadership Coaching specialist, Crystal Henrickson of Talent Collective. As she moves through the agenda, Henrickson will provide a framework for attendees to reflect on what they are hearing and apply it to their own circumstances. “It’s a fresh way of presenting conference-style information. We’re hoping that through this approach, attendees will walk away with some actionable steps, not just lunch-table conversations” says Vincent.
The event wraps up with a meet and greet sponsored by the Business Development Bank of Canada.
Reserve your spot for FutureBiz Penticton Economic Outlook Forum Nov. 8, Lakeside Resort, Penticton
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Sept. 12, 2018 – In today’s global business landscape, the pace of change is accelerating fast. An inaugural business summit – FutureBiz Penticton – will address emerging trends to give Okanagan businesses the insights they need to drive growth throughout 2019 and beyond.
The brainchild of the City’s Economic Development team, FutureBiz offers an innovative opportunity for the Penticton business community to hear from an expert panel and look further out on the horizon to consider emerging trends and opportunities, while strengthening local connections. All are welcome to attend the half-day event, however registrants with active Penticton business licenses will be able to access early bird prices of just $25 for the event.
“We are offering an opportunity for the business community to gain regional and international inspiration, insights and connection without having to leave town,” said Anthony Haddad, Penticton’s Director of Development Services. “Many larger communities host forums such as these, and it is our belief that Penticton deserves the same kind of access to expert market intelligence. Our community is in the midst of an exciting phase of growth and investment and this event will fuel dialogue and connections among the business community and help provide a macro-economic perspective on local issues.”
Topics covered include issues involving housing and real estate, U.S. tariffs, projected economic activity and emerging disruptive technologies. Speakers include:
FutureBiz Penticton is one of several new initiatives launched by the Economic Development Department in 2018 as part of the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, which was informed by the business community who prioritized facilitating access to current and local data as well as improving communication with businesses. It follows the recent launch on the online data portal pentictonbiztoolkit.com which offers easy access to local economic data for businesses to make decisions to start, invest and grow in Penticton.
NEWS RELEASE
PENTICTON, B.C., Sept. 12, 2018 – In today’s global business landscape, the pace of change is accelerating fast. An inaugural business summit – FutureBiz Penticton – will address emerging trends to give Okanagan businesses the insights they need to drive growth throughout 2019 and beyond.
The brainchild of the City’s Economic Development team, FutureBiz offers an innovative opportunity for the Penticton business community to hear from an expert panel and look further out on the horizon to consider emerging trends and opportunities, while strengthening local connections. All are welcome to attend the half-day event, however registrants with active Penticton business licenses will be able to access early bird prices of just $25 for the event.
“We are offering an opportunity for the business community to gain regional and international inspiration, insights and connection without having to leave town,” said Anthony Haddad, Penticton’s Director of Development Services. “Many larger communities host forums such as these, and it is our belief that Penticton deserves the same kind of access to expert market intelligence. Our community is in the midst of an exciting phase of growth and investment and this event will fuel dialogue and connections among the business community and help provide a macro-economic perspective on local issues.”
Topics covered include issues involving housing and real estate, U.S. tariffs, projected economic activity and emerging disruptive technologies. Speakers include:
- Nikolas Badminton, renowned futurist speaker with expertise on exponential technologies
- Jonathan Baynes, CEO of the Penticton Indian Band Development Corp.
- Pierre Cléroux, VP of Research and Chief Economist, BDC
- Andrew Ramlo, VP of Intelligence, Rennie Group
- Anthony Haddad, Director of Development Services, City of Penticton
- Jennifer Vincent, Economic Development Specialist, City of Penticton
- And emcee & facilitator, Crystal Henrickson, Leadership Coach, Talent Collective
FutureBiz Penticton is one of several new initiatives launched by the Economic Development Department in 2018 as part of the 2018-2022 Strategic Plan, which was informed by the business community who prioritized facilitating access to current and local data as well as improving communication with businesses. It follows the recent launch on the online data portal pentictonbiztoolkit.com which offers easy access to local economic data for businesses to make decisions to start, invest and grow in Penticton.
