Entrepreneurs Roundtable

A unique feature of the Ottawa Small Business Forum is the Entrepreneurs Roundtable. This interactive and dynamic panel discussion will feature four successful local entrepreneurs, who will share their success stories, highlight the challenges, risks, and rewards they have encountered, and offer some personal strategies and best practices.

Featured Guests:

Jeff Hunt
Owner/Governor, Ottawa 67's Hockey Club

In 1998 Jeff became the owner of the Ottawa 67’s Hockey Club. Jeff’s primary goal was to double attendance. He sold out the home opener, which was the largest crowd ever to watch the 67’s play in Ottawa. Attendance for his first season was up 120%.

In May of 1999 the Ottawa 67's were privileged to host the Memorial Cup, the premiere event in Major Junior Hockey. Jeff set out to make this tournament, the most successful to date. The event was sold out four days after the 67’s were awarded the tournament and broke the previous Memorial Cup record to become the highest attended Memorial Cup in its 81year history. Now Jeff’s turned his attention to the World Jr. Hockey Tournament which will be held in Ottawa December of 2008 to January 2009.

In the spring of 1999 Jeff’s was awarded the Ontario Hockey League Executive of the Year Award. This was followed by the Canadian Hockey League Executive of the Year Award in June of 1999

While his first year in the league was impressive, Jeff was not content to let things be and has continued to increase the season ticket holder base as well as the average attendance, year after year setting both OHL and CHL attendance records. Since owning the team, Jeff has brought the attendance from 2,200 to 9,386.

Irene Martin
President, Retire-At-Home Services Inc.

Irene Martin began her career as a nurse 35 years ago. In 1994 she founded Retire-At-Home Services with the vision that seniors dealing with health-related crises deserve to have viable service options that help them remain independent and safe at home for as long as they choose. Incorporating her hands-on nursing experience with her passion for business, Retire-At-Home now offers a full range of services from housekeeping to nursing care and has helped thousands of seniors maintain the lifestyle they choose.

Her philosophy of respect for the individual and a “total well-being” approach to client care are the guiding principles that drive her and the company everyday and she has proven successfully that caring and business can go hand in hand. Employing more than 160 people, Retire-At-Home has grown without losing its touch on personalized service.

Passionate about the well-being of the community she lives in, Irene volunteers many hours promoting the health benefits of laughter. She is the founder and promoter of Laughter Day celebrated annually in Ottawa on June 21st.
Irene is the recipient of Ottawa’s 2005 Businesswoman of the Year (Entrepreneur category). In addition, Retire-At-Home Services is the proud recipient of the Better Business Bureau 2006 Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.

In the next phase of development, Retire-At-Home is positioning itself for expansion in other Canadian markets beginning in 2007.

Julie Tubman
President, Tubman Funeral Homes and Cremation

Julie Tubman, a professional and community leader, is committed to the health of our community. Julie has helped and supported thousands of families cope with the pain of loss and has given countless hours contributing her leadership skills. Julie is President and owner of Tubman Funeral Homes, she is also the current Chair of Roger’s House, and First Vice Chair of the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Licensed as a funeral director in 1979, she succeeded her father Joe Tubman as President of Tubman Funeral Homes after his death in 1987. After purchasing the family business she continued to build by developing with her husband (Ron Bidgood) a crematory, and two additional funeral homes in Gatineau and Quebec. This past October she expanded her operations by a third by purchasing funeral homes in Almonte and Carleton Place. She is responsible for the strategic planning and the operations of eight funeral home chapels and a crematory in Ontario and Quebec. Ms. Tubman was awarded the highest honour as a business person in the city of Ottawa this past November, being chosen as the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the Year for 2006. Ms. Tubman is also the 2002 winner of the Nepean-Kanata Chamber of Commerce Businesswoman of the year. Compassion, dedication and the drive to make a positive difference to the families of our community are the tenets of Julie’s life.

Domenic Santaguida
President, Vittoria Trattoria

Domenic opened his first restaurant, a small deli in the Glebe, in 1991 and has subsequently expanded to now operate popular ByWard Market and Riverside Drive locations. He feels his greatest success has been growing his business from just a small take out location into two respectable and well-loved restaurants in the City of Ottawa, as well as a thriving catering firm, employing over 75 people.