Tag: maroondah business week

2008 Maroondah Business Breakfast with David Parkin

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The annual Maroondah Business Week breakfast is one of the premiere events of the week, with this year’s event including premiership-winning footballer and coach David Parkin as the keynote speaker.

David spoke about his experience with teams, drawing on his time within the AFL and the need for genuine appraisals and performance reviews to ensure success. Teams need to move in the same direction and while individual members should utilise their key strengths they need to ensure that they work collectively for the benefit of the team.

David cited three key statements to evaluate someone’s contribution including:

  • Can I still make a difference?
  • Do I still have a passion to make a difference?
  • Am I still respected by those that I serve?

In evaluating David’s comments I couldn’t help but think of council and the current divisions which are preventing the municipality from reaching its full potential. While people like myself and Jo-anne have the passion, desire and respect to ensure that we are making a difference, it is unfortunate that the gang of four are preoccupied by their egos, rather than community outcomes.

A total of eleven candidates have nominated for the Mullum Ward and it is clear that a number of these candidates are standing due to a desire by some of the other councillors to oust Jo-anne and myself.

While some of the other councillors appear concerned by the new ward structure, Jo-anne and I are working as a team in our bid to be re-elected. Over the past three years Jo-anne has been incredibly supportive and I strongly believe that a united team is exactly what Maroondah needs to ensure a sustainable, accessible and accountable future.

2008 Eastland Women in Business Lunch with Sigrid Thornton

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Maroondah Business Week is an annual event designed to assist Maroondah based businesses through providing information and networking opportunities.

The women in business lunch returned in 2008 with actress Sigrid Thornton who spoke about her experiences in acting, business and community work. Sigrid spoke about the need to remain focused while maintaining a sense of balance to ensure that other priorities are not compromised.

With the lunch coinciding with Pink Ribbon Day, Sigrid discussed her involvement in The Great Walk to Beijing on behalf of the Olivia Newton-John Foundation, as well as other charitable causes including her advocacy work to strengthen the Australian arts.

Alex with guest speaker Sigrid Thornton at the 2008 Eastland Women in Business Lunch

Maroondah Business Week continues until Friday the 31st of October for further information please visit www.bizmaroondah.com.au

Maroondah Business Week 2008 – Sustain and Grow your Business

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Maroondah Business Week will run from from October 27-31 with the theme of Grow and Sustain Your Business.

Highlights include presentations from Sigrid Thornton at the Eastland Women in Business Lunch to be held on Monday the 27th of October, David Parkin at the NAB Business Breakfast on Wednesday the 29th of October and Jen Harwood who is returning to hold a business networking event.

Topics include access to finance, getting started in small business, time management skills and developing a web presence. An information session will also be held on transforming walkers into shoppers, an important topic given the effects that rising petrol prices have had in encouraging sustainable transport, such as walking.

Business Week concludes with the QIC Cocktail Function on Friday the 31st of October, which will welcome new businesses and celebrate businesses that have been operating for more than 30 years within Maroondah.

For more information on Maroondah Business Week please visit www.bizmaroondah.com.au

Continuing the Maroondah Business Expansion and Retention Program

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This afternoon I accompanied Maroondah’s Economic Development team to interview another business as part of the Business Expansion and Retention Program.

The program aims to gather qualitative data into current business conditions and to determine ways in which Maroondah can further assist the business community. While it would appear that businesses are quite optimistic about the future there is some concern given the uncertain economic climate.

Common themes include issues relating to the differing regulations across state boundaries and the need to further streamline and harmonise state legislation. Likewise there is a need for consistency with local government requirements.

A report compiling the information gathered through this program will be released as part of Maroondah Business Week in October.

For more information on the programs available for businesses please visit www.bizmaroondah.com.au.

2007 Maroondah Business Week Awards

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Maroondah Business Week has concluded for 2007 with the presentation of the Business Week Awards. The Maroondah Business Week Awards provide the opportunity to recognise Maroondah based businesses that have excelled over the past twelve months.

A total of 21 businesses were nominated for this year’s Business Week awards and all nominees should be congratulated for their success. A number of categories are provided to acknowledge outstanding businesses within Maroondah and the winners for 2007 were as follows:

  • Best New Business – Pinnacle Cycles
  • Best Micro Business – Eclipse Gymnastics
  • Best Small Business – Four Seasons Gutter Protection
  • Best Medium or Large Business – ANCA Pty Ltd
  • Best Franchise Business – Ringwood East Community Bendigo Bank
  • Mayoral Community Business Award – Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (ECASA)
  • Women in Business Award – Jenny Newman (Century21 Unlimited)
  • Excellence in Innovation Award – ANCA Pty Ltd
  • Best Overall Maroondah Business – Ringwood East Community Bendigo Bank

The awards evening has marked the conclusion of Maroondah Business Week for 2007 and I would like to congratulate all nominees for their success over the past year.

2007 Maroondah Business Week Breakfast with Dean Jones

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Maroondah Business Week provides the opportunity to showcase the range of businesses that exist within Maroondah and includes a range of workshops and events to assist businesses in their growth and development.

Today’s business breakfast included Dean Jones, Victorian Cricketer and commentator, who spoke about the importance of team building and decisive leadership. Dean spoke about his experiences in building and supporting teams during his cricket career and afterwards as a director of an events management company.

Dean stressed the importance of teams being open with their colleagues to ensure that goals are shared and cohesiveness in achieving these objectives. It was also mentioned that time should be provided to celebrate achievements and to recognise the contributions that teams have made when success occurs. Leadership is also required to set the required course, to maintain rapport within a team and to act decisively when required.

A number of events are planned throughout the reminder of Maroondah Business Week and for details please visit www.bizmaroondah.com.au.

Maroondah Business Week – 2006 Business Excellence Awards

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Maroondah Business Week came to a close tonight with a cocktail function to announce the Maroondah Business Excellence Awards. The business excellence awards provide a way of recognising Maroondah’s many successful businesses particularly those that are innovative and supportive of the local community.

A total of 29 nominees were entered with eight being presented an award. The categories and the respective award recipients included:

  • Best Micro Business (LOTE Marketing)
  • Best Small-Medium Business (New Water)
  • Best Large Business (MEGT)
  • Best Franchise (The Cheesecake Shop)
  • Excellence in Innovation (Internet Vision Technologies)
  • Women in Business (Bank of Queensland)
  • Best Maroondah Business (MEGT)
  • Mayoral Encouragement Award (Compleat Angler)

The Business Excellence Awards allow Maroondah to showcase the many successful businesses that operate within the municipality. For details on Maroondah Business Week and the Business Excellence Awards please visit www.bizmaroondah.com.au.

Maroondah Business Week – HomeBiz Business Panel

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As part of Maroondah Business Week, Maroondah HomeBiz a non-profit organisation representing home based businesses, presented a panel of successful home based businesses to highlight the themes that are crucial to the success of small and medium businesses.

The panel consisted of four very different home businesses however several key themes emerged including the need for ample preparation, patience and the identification of key target markets. Through such events, Maroondah HomeBiz provides a supportive and informative environment for people both considering and undertaking a home based businesses and is in itself an essential network organisation for such businesses.

Maroondah Business Week, aided by groups such as Maroondah HomeBiz has provided a wealth of information for all types of businesses.

Maroondah Business Week Networking Function – Hosted by Robyn Henderson

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This evening Maroondah Business Week continued with a networking function hosted by networking specialist Robyn Henderson. Robyn explained the strength and necessity in building comprehensive business networks to develop business relationships and drive sales. Networking is expected to account for more than 87 per cent sales making networking a necessary skill for businesses in expanding customer bases and ultimately sales and Robyn provided advice on how to maximise the potential for networking.
Robyn’s networking evening is part of Maroondah’s weeklong business week, for further details please visit the BizMaroondah website www.bizmaroondah.com.au.

Maroondah Business Week Breakfast – Hosted by Kevin Sheedy

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The Maroondah City Council Week continued this morning with Kevin Sheedy hosting the NAB Business Breakfast. Kevin spoke of the need for innovation within business and highlighted some of the partnerships that have been created through innovation between the AFL and the various clubs.

Maroondah’s Business Breakfast is part of the week long Maroondah Business Week. For further details please visit www.bizmaroondah.com.au.