Connecting people. Empowering business. The Burlington Chamber of Commerce
From left left to to right: right: Megan Megan Cheema, Cheema, Alexandra Alexandra Manthorpe, Manthorpe, Owen Owen Duguid, Duguid, From Orie Niedzviecki, Niedzviecki, Paul Paul D. D. Stunt, Stunt, Robert Robert Krizman, Krizman, Brian Kenneth W. Watts, Brian J. Hanna, Orie J. Hanna, Tanya A. Leedale, Tanya G. A. Sheridan, Leedale, Jarvis G. Sheridan, Harold R.Gangbar, Watson, Larry Gangbar, Jarvis Harold R. Watson, Larry S. James S. McAskill, James McAskill, Robert A. Watson, Chantel Goldsmith, Maggie Scull, John Inglis Robert A. Watson, Chantel Goldsmith, Maggie Scull, John Inglis
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Mayor’s State of the City Address Learn what the Mayor’s priorities are for Burlington. P4
Social Media Corner Tips on using Facebook Groups to increase traffic and engagement. P12
Letter from the Chair Why is our Chair concerned about the Ontario business community? P5
P8
Economic Forecast Hear what two experts had to say about our economy, globally and locally. P6 What Do I Really Receive by Networking? A long-time Burlington Chamber member gives his perspective on the value of networking. P7 What is a Chamber Ambassador? Here’s a great way to help new members grow their businesses. P7 Young Professional Network Under 40? Looking for a way to connect? This is for you! P7
Business Before 9 Begin your day by making new connections. P8
Member Profiles Congratulations to Endress & Hauser Ltd. and Halton Autolease for 25 years of Chamber membership. P13
P11 P14 Business After 5 Networking really works! P14
A Conversation with MP Karina Gould Learn about Burlington’s new MP and how she will approach the job. P11
On the cover Photo courtesy of: City of Burlington Editors: Keith Hoey, President and CEO, Burlington Chamber of Commerce & Barbara French, Committee Coordinator, Burlington Chamber of Commerce
Membership Milestones We’re celebrating milestones for 18 companies. P16 Who will win the prestigious Business Excellence Awards this year? You can be there when the winners are announced! P18 For advertising inquiries contact: Leah Flippance, Publisher of The Review Call: 289-684-2482 Or email leah@flipsidemediagroup.com A publication of:
Contributing Writers: Jennifer Boyko, David Holness, Warren Leppik, Glenda Lloyd, Bruce Nicholson, Elaine Slatter, Brian Weatherdon Graphic Designer: Ashley Giannice Photographers: Christine Fraser, Dave Gruggen, Maude Leger
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Mayor Goldring Delivers His Sixth Address
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n February 28 Mayor Rick Goldring delivered his sixth State of the City Address. The event, hosted by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce, saw a sold out crowd of well over 400 people pack the Burlington Convention Center. The huge crowd was undoubtedly due to the great interest people had in hearing about the city’s newly crafted strategic plan. The mayor started by thanking the event sponsors Bell, Scotia Bank, the Realtors Association of Hamilton-Burlington, and the Center for Skills Development and Training, noting that these organizations have been long-time partners for this event. Goldring’s presentation focused on the four key directions outlined in the city’s new strategic plan: A City That Grows, A City That Moves, A Healthy and Greener City, and An Engaging City. “A City That Grows is one where Burlington is a magnet for talent, good jobs and economic opportunity while having achieved intensification in balanced, targeted population growth for youth, families, newcomers and seniors,” explained the mayor. He believes that economic development is the key to a vibrant, prosperous Burlington-whether five or 25 years into the future. The city is also working through its Official Plan and recognizing that, with over 88 per cent of employment land already in use, and a large portion of this development more than 50 years old, the city needs policies to support redevelopment of these employment areas. The province of Ontario is recognized as one of the best places to start a business. Burlington is not, however, having the success we need growing these businesses. Data show
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that 75 per cent of new jobs come from new businesses, primarily between year two and year seven of operations. The mayor described intensification as another key aspect of the future of the city. The factors influencing intensification: Burlington is built out (there is little room left for traditional greenfield suburban type development); 150,000 people move to the greater Golden horseshoe area every year; the places to grow document defines how we should accommodate this growth; and planning estimates show the Burlington population at 186,000 by 2031 (Burlington is close to 186,000 people now). A City That Moves is where people and goods move through the city more efficiently and safely. A City That Moves offers a variety of convenient, affordable and green forms of transportation that align with regional travel patterns. This is a city that features walkability within new and transitioning neighbourhoods, as well as in our downtown. “We are investing $300 million over the next 10 years on our roads,” reported Goldring. “This includes such projects as road reconstruction, resurfacing and intersection widening. However, moving forward, we are shifting our focus on moving people through more sustainable modes of travel that do not rely exclusively on the automobile.” A Healthy and Greener City is one in which the City of Burlington is a leader in the stewardship of the environment while encouraging healthy lifestyles. “In this area, I believe we are ahead of other municipalities with our Community Energy Plan, as well as our vast array of parks, recreation facilities and programming.” According to the respondents of the city’s
online survey about the draft Strategic Plan, a Healthy and Greener City was ranked as the most important of the four key directions. Our health is one of our greatest assets. Moving on to the final pillar of the strategy plan, Goldring stated, “In a city that engages, community members are engaged, empowered, welcomed and well-served by their city. Culture and community activities thrive, creating a positive sense of place, inclusivity and community. Our vision of an engaged city builds on the foundation we have laid since our Engagement Charter was approved by City Council in 2013. We created and launched the Get Involved webpage for all things citizen engagement on the city’s new website. This includes our online platforms – Let’s Talk Burlington and Insight Burlington, Get Involved calendar and volunteer opportunities.” The mayor concluded by outlining the important role arts and culture play in a vibrant community. “Thanks to city investment and the dedication of leaders, boards, staff, and members of the arts and culture community, I believe we are starting to fully realize the tremendous assets we have right here in our city.” “What do we want Burlington to be in twenty-five years? We want to be a city that grows, a city that moves, a healthy and greener city and a city that engages. Let’s work together to make our great city even greater.” The complete transcript of the mayors address can be found on the city of Burlington website. Quincy Abercrombie
Letter from the Chair of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce
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elcome to the first Review edition of 2016. As the door closes on 2015, it is appropriate to reflect back on the year that was. I must confess to an above-average level of concern for the Ontario business community. My concern stems from the actions of the Ontario government. The escalating cost of electricity in Ontario has contributed to the devastation of the manufacturing sector. The current government has adopted an “all–in” renewable energy philosophy resulting in the highest electricity rates ever experienced in Ontario and one of the highest in North America. Our Ontario auditor general has been extremely critical in the audits of Hydro One. The 2015 sale of 15% of Hydro One has initiated the plan to sell a total of 60% for the purpose of generating revenues. The sell-off will remove Hydro One from the scrutiny of the auditor general as Hydro One. Couple this loss of over-sight with the Ontario government’s refusal to provide guarantees over future rate increases and electricity costs continue to be a serious issue to business and residents alike. Your Burlington Chamber has been the driving force behind getting the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) involved
in this issue. On the heels of the past provincial election promise, the government has pushed forward with the Ontario Retirement Pension Plan (ORPP). While the government has addressed – to some degree – the concerns expressed about plan comparability, many of the concerns expressed by business and the Chambers of Commerce over the ensuing cost to employers and the impact on a fragile Ontario economy have fallen upon deaf ears at Queen’s Park. The under-utilization by the majority of Ontarians of current retirement savings vehicles such as RRSP’s and TFSA’s has not been satisfactorily addressed. In May 2015, the Ontario Ministry of Labour released their “Changing Workplaces Review Consultation Paper” outlining proposed labour legislation reform. The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) responded by urging the government to consider the economic impacts by providing informed and evidence-based counter-balance to the Paper’s recommendations. Also during 2015, Premier Wynne announced the introduction of a cap and trade system. Let’s be clear, it is called a system but it is, in fact, a new tax. A tax that our government estimates will generate $1.6 billion to
March 2018 from the business community. Cap and Trade will increase the cost of doing business in Ontario. Despite requests from the OCC, Wynne’s government has yet to provide assurances or details on how this tax revenue will be reinvested into the economy. I apologize for this “doom and gloom” summary to start off a new year but these are very serious times for Ontario. Our massive accumulated deficit has a negative impact on the value of the Canadian dollar. Ontario is the economic engine of our fine country. Our province is governed by a party that has not shown a sincere regard for its financial well-being. There has never been a greater need for strong local Chambers of Commerce to represent their business constituents and work with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce to message their concerns to the decision-makers in Queen’s Park. Bruce Nicholson, Chair, Board of Directors, Burlington Chamber of Commerce
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Economic Forecast with a Burlington Focus
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he Chamber hosted its annual Economic Forecast Breakfast on November 3. What makes this economic forecast different is, it features a local analysis along with a national economist. Burlington Chamber of Commerce Chair, Bruce Nicholson, warmly welcomed two special guests, Scotia Bank’s Chief Economist Warren Jestin and MoneySense “Best Cities in Canada” Author Mark Brown, as the keynote speakers. Warren Jestin’s key message was one of guarded optimism for Ontario. He spoke about the dramatic change the country’s landscape has gone through in recent times and commented that, in light of Alberta’s decline due to dropping oil prices, he believes Ontario and British Columbia will now lead the growth. He also stated that the key to dealing with these changing times is resilience, which is something we Canadians do well. On a global front, Jestin stated that Brazil and Russia, two of the BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) are experiencing recessions, while India is doing well. China, however, is a question mark as its previous rapid growth is slowing. This, he said, can affect the prices of commodities as China is currently the biggest market in the world for those materials Mr. Jestin said he believes the United States is the bright shining star for invest-
ments and that their consumers are back in the game because of the pent up demand in that country. An example he gave was the auto sector, which is producing much more than 3-4 years ago. He also remarked that U.S. unemployment has slowed down and there’s an ongoing restructuring of how retail services are being delivered worldwide. He commented that there is a low risk for interest rates to increase and the future growth in Ontario will be for small/medium sized businesses that specialize in providing unique, non-energy related services on a global scale. While Mr. Jestin’s observations were more focused on a provincial, national, and global level, Mark Brown spoke on a more local level about the factors taken into consideration for his annual MoneySense Best Cities publication in determining what makes a city a great place to live. Utilizing Environics Analytics for the majority of data, 209 cities were evaluated for the most recent publication. Criteria reviewed included demographics, taxation, wealth/ affordability, commute, crime, weather, and other factors such as health care, airport access and culture. Mr. Brown gave a snap shot on the statistics that resulted in Burlington being named the best mid-size city and third overall city in Canada:
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• Population – 186,241 • Growth – 3.7% (2010 – 2014) • Unemployment – estimate of 4.3% • Average household income - $85,434 • Average price of housing - $557,003 • Property taxes – 2.7% • New car purchases 22.4% (which includes 2.9% luxury cars) • 3.6 % of residents walk to work, 0.6% cycle, 8.8% take transit • Home owners – 78.9% • Average property rental - $1,199 He noted at the conclusion of his presentation that determining the best and worst places to live in Canada rests on data and the decisions are completely unbiased. He also commented that the cities named as the worst places to live in Canada are generally not too happy to receive this news. Following these two Keynote Addresses, attendees of this event were left with much hopefulness for the country, province and city we call home. It’s now our job to play our part in helping to make sure we continue to keep Burlington as one of the best locations on earth to live in. By Glenda Lloyd, Cogeco Connexions
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What Do I Really Receive by Networking?
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hen I joined the Chamber about 16 years ago, like you, I wanted to build my business. Networking was about meeting people and serving them as clients. But that’s not the whole truth because something totally different happened along the way. Yes, I gained some wonderful clients. More importantly, as a relative newcomer to Burlington, I gained a “community” which accepted me fully and allowed a deeper level of friendship and trust. And yet there is more! By my 5th year as a member my conscious purpose in networking changed entirely to introducing others to one another. I still enjoyed meeting new people and kindling friendships, but now I focussed on meeting at least five new people at each event whom I could introduce to each other …to support their businesses! Imagine the impact for a “Guest” or “New Member” or someone who feels shy: can we approach networking as OUR OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE OTHERS to the people they need to meet? In 2015 the Chamber led me to a few people I’m serving as certified financial planner and retirement coach. We also enjoyed this year’s Chamber trip to Peru which sharpens our awareness of each other’s service. BB9 and BA5 networking events, mayor’s lunches and other celebrations have brought us heart-to-heart and shoulder-to-shoulder. We’ve shared ideas, innovations, challenges and opportunities which enlarge our community and expand potential for your business and mine. So stick with it. Find where you want to be more involved. 20% of success is showing up. 80% is patience to listen, kindness to connect, persistence to share, with the Golden Rule of networking: “Givers Get”. So bring a friend, invite a colleague, introduce people to each other ...and watch how life, business, and community continue to expand and reward all of us. By Brian Weatherdon, Sovereign Wealth
What is a Chamber Ambassador?
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t is a well-known fact that any organization is only as strong as its members. The Burlington Chamber of Commerce is a tremendous example of that saying, and the Ambassador program is a key part of building and maintaining that strength. Developed by the Membership Committee, the Ambassador program is designed to assist new Members and Guests at the networking events put on by the Chamber. The role of an Ambassador at Business Before 9 and Business After 5 events is to circulate and enthusiastically connect with new Members. Ambassadors make new Members feel welcome and comfortable during, what for some, can be an uncomfortable experience, particularly their first time. By introducing new Members to others in the room, Ambassadors facilitate new conversations and networking opportunities. They also help new Members and Guests to see the benefits and viability of the Burlington Chamber of Commerce as a resource to grow their own businesses. Becoming an Ambassador is easy-simply contact David Holness, the Ambassador Team Coordinator (david.holness@expresspros.com) or Chris Fraser at the Chamber (chris@burlingtonchamber.com). After a brief orientation, Ambassadors will have the tools they need to represent the Chamber at networking events that occur every month. You don’t need to be an expert in all things related to the Chamber! The most important attribute you can bring to this role is an enthusiasm and a willingness to help new Members. The next time you are at a Chamber networking event, look for the people with the white Ambassador ribbons, and ask them how you can help keep the Chamber’s membership strong and growing! By David Holness, Express Employment Professionals
Young Professional Network
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he coming year is going to be a busy time for The Burlington Chamber of Commerce Young Professional Network (YPN). Over the summer the SHiFT committee amalgamated with the YPN creating a stronger more focused committee. With this amalgamation, the committee has doubled in size which means more ideas, more networking and more events that will be held throughout the year. The Burlington YPN is a networking group for Chamber members and their colleagues
under the age of 40. The group exists to help young professionals and Chamber members build business relationships by networking with others in the community and to support local charities through group volunteer opportunities. The types of activities you can expect to see from this group throughout the year are: a mentorship program focusing on skill building for entrepreneurs and professionals, roundtable discussions focusing on building specific educational and professional skills, and networking events that provide attendees
an opportunity to mingle with other young professionals in the community to help build their pipelines and increase networks. The YPN will also host an interactive Speaker Series for ALL Chamber members to attend. If you are interested in more information about the Young Professionals Network, please contact Andrew Henry at andrew@ andrewhenry.ca By Jennifer Boyko, our forte
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BUSINESS BEFORE 9 These events give business people opportunities to network and make business contacts. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a perfect fit for those who want to get an early start to their business schedules. Recent Business Before 9 events include: October Business Before 9 hosted by Business Development Bank of Canada November Business Before 9 hosted by Burlington Central Library December Business Before 9 hosted by Canadian Christian Tours and Crossroads Centre
Kevin Plumb, Willis Yacobucci
1573 Chris Pickett, Gil Garbus
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Marybeth Edge, Saurin Patel
Maude Leger, Tree Ryde, Elizabeth Plouffe
Doug, Martie, Anne, Bruce, Willis
2015 Doug Campbell, Elaine Slatter, Bruce Nicholson
Rhona Turner, Bruce Nicholson, Maureen Barry
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A Conversation with MP
KARINA GOULD
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arina Gould is Burlington’s newest Member of Parliament; she has also been named the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development et la Francophonie. She is a lifelong Burlington resident but how much do you really know about her and her plans, now that she is our representative in the House of Commons? Recently we asked Karina a few question to find out what she’s really like. What has surprised you most about the job of being Burlington’s MP? First, thank you to the Burlington Chamber of Commerce for inviting me to participate in this month’s Chamber Review magazine. I have had the tremendous pleasure to build a relationship over the past year with the Chamber and I look forward to strengthening this bond and continuing to engage with the leaders and members as Burlington’s Member of Parliament over the coming months and years. I’ve been surprised most by how many amazing, bright and talented people live in this community that fly under the radar every single day. I am truly privileged to be privy and have the delight to discover the wealth and diversity of knowledge, experience and innovation in Burlington. It’s energizing to work with the people of Burlington to try and find solutions for the issues they raise and face. I sought this position because I sincerely believe I can work with and for this community and help to make a positive difference in the lives of the people of Burlington. I have been warmed by the incredible reception I have been given and I am greatly looking forward to serving in this honourable position. As Burlington’s Member of Parliament what are you going to focus on for your constituents? I ran on a campaign of being a strong voice for my constituents in Ottawa and that is exactly what I intend to do as the Member of Parliament for Burlington. I am committed to listening to everyone’s point of view and developing an evidenced-based and thoughtful approach. We may not see eye to eye all the time, but I am open to all ideas and not afraid to change my position if there is adequate evidence to do so. Importantly, I am whole-heartedly committed to public service. From the day I was elected I hit the ground running meeting with constituents, businesses and local leaders. I got my office open as quickly as possible and rolled up my sleeves. I have amazing staff both in Burlington and in Ottawa who are eager to help Burlington residents and organizations with their federal issues. In many ways, an MP’s office is a gateway to the government. My staff and I are quickly learning the ropes and available to assist both individuals and organizations access the federal services they need. You can contact my office at any time by calling 905-639-5757 or emailing karina. gould.c1@parl.gc.ca.
Please finish this sentence. “The City of Burlington needs its MP to . . . ” …be thinking about the future. After I was sworn in as a Member of Parliament back in November, I had a conversation with a very wise constituent. They said to me, “I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and it seems to me that a Member of Parliament, while on the one hand is a champion of their community, must also be a steward of our country – their aim should be to leave Canada better off than when they entered public life.” The notion of stewardship has become one of my guiding principles. As Members of Parliament we are tasked to make decisions to govern our country. We have a duty to work to ensure these decisions have positive impacts across society and into the future. This is no easy task and therefore I take this responsibility with great weight. I am just one voice in Parliament, but that’s what Parliament is made up of: voices. What is the biggest challenge the country is facing right now? I believe that Canada’s biggest challenge is how to navigate successfully in the globalized 21st century. The 21st century is turning out to be a time of great change: economic, environmental, demographic and social. We are at a crossroads where we need to recognize and understand these changes and develop a plan for how we adapt and mitigate to provide prosperity and sustainability for future generations of Canadians. None of these challenges will be addressed on their own; we need holistic solutions to move forward together. What are you planning to do about it? Consult my constituents. One tool I found extremely useful leading up to the campaign was to hold roundtables on different subjects in the community. This is a practice I intend to continue moving forward. As I mentioned earlier, there is a wealth of knowledge and experiences in Burlington and there are likely some really good ideas to not only deal with some of the issues mentioned above but also to find new ways to propel our country forward. Don’t be surprised if I ask for your opinion. What do you want us to know about you that we don’t know already? I’m a history buff. I love learning about the past - it can be an incredible guide for the future.
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How To Use Facebook Groups To Increase Traffic And Engagement
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any articles about Facebook discuss how to increase engagement, traffic and sales via a business Page. Most business owners struggle with maintaining an active and engaged presence via their Page; not to mention the obvious issue of decreased reach due to the so-called filtered feed problem, but there is one tool that most business owners have not discovered: Facebook groups. Groups are intended as a way to discuss shared interests and encourage conversation and engagement among members. People join groups to have interesting discussions on specific problems or topics. Your group welcomes any conversation and discussion around your niche or industry. You are the moderator. For this reason, groups can be an extremely powerful way to connect with your audience and drive traffic to your site. Here are 5 strategies you can use to make the most of groups for business. 1) Form a group around an interest (not your business) Tip: do not put your business name in PDF/X-1a:2003 the title but use relevant key words.
• A paint store could start a group where members can discuss color trends or ask for advice on decorating. • An SEO expert could create a group where business owners discuss the latest trends in SEO or can come to troubleshoot SEO issues • A yoga studio could create a group centered on relaxation techniques and reducing stress. 2) Promote a free offer While the purpose of your group will primarily be to generate discussion among your target market, there is a way you can offer value to your members while also driving traffic and building your list: promote a free offer via a pinned post. Facebook groups allow admins to pin a post to the top of the group to maximize its visibility. This is similar to a sticky post on a blog. It stays at the top of the feed until unpinned. Your free offer might be a resource guide, a webinar etc. 3) Test and curate content Groups are also a great way to find other people’s content that resonates with your audience. Keep an eye on which types of posts or images do well in the group,
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and then share these on your Page and repurpose for email campaigns and your website blogs. 4. Create a group centered around an event The next time you offer a webinar or training series, consider creating a group for your participants. It can be a place for members to interact with each other pre and post-event, and can even function as a bonus feature included in the event fee (“Join today and receive free access to our Facebook group”). 5. Use for stellar customer service Tip: in this case you can use your Company Name Having a dedicated group for customer service queries can help you provide more responsive customer care, and can offload some of the strain from your Page. Promote your group to your fans, subscribers and website visitors as a way to receive more personalized help and support. This dedicates a space for their care and inquiries and doesn’t get lost in the feed of your company Page. By Elaine Slatter, XL Consulting Group
MEMBER PROFILES ENDRESS + HAUSER LTD.
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ndress + Hauser Canada started business in 1990. The parent company in Switzerland was founded in 1953. In the early days there were two locations, an office in Quebec and the Head Office in Burlington. Over the years Endress + Hauser has expanded their business to all regions of Canada, including two offices in Alberta, one in Calgary and one in Edmonton. They also employ representatives in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Atlantic Canada. In 1990 Endress + Hauser had 11 employees in Burlington and 5 in Montreal. They now have over 150 employees working across Canada, with 84 in Burlington. Richard Lewandowski, General Manager says “Endress + Hauser is a family owned company that is committed to serving our customers and helping them be successful. The secret to our success is the people in our company who are customer oriented, competent, reliable and friendly. They understand our customers’ businesses and how our measurement and automation products, solutions and services can help customers run their processes efficiently, reliably, safely and reduce costs. Most of our employees have been with the company more than 5 years.” He continues by saying: “our vision is to continue developing our company and our employees to generate outstanding value for our customers, foster a responsible attitude towards the community and our environment, while ensuring business success.” The Head Office location in Burlington is conveniently located between Toronto and the US border, with access to two airports. Most of the products sold in Canada are manufactured by sister companies in the USA. Being close to the border is a great benefit. The location also allows Endress + Hauser to attract employees from Western Toronto to Hamilton. “Burlington is a good home for our head office and our employees”, Richard adds. The company is passionate about their customers. Customers always have priority. Putting the needs of their customers first is an important focus. Their guiding principal is first serve, then earn business. Endress + Hauser makes donations of process measurement equipment to educational institutions in the region such as Mohawk College and McMaster University. They have also made donations to similar institutions in other parts of the province as well as in BC, Alberta and Quebec. The company strongly believes in helping educate and develop the next generation on the very latest measurement technologies and equipment. They also sponsor local children’s sport teams in soccer, hockey and baseball and charities such as Cancer Research (Walk for Life), Movember, Canadian Food Bank and the Good Shepherd. Congratulations to Endress +Hauser on your 25 year membership in the Burlington Chamber and being such a valued contributor to the community.
HALTON AUTOLEASE
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n business since 1988, Halton Autolease celebrates 25 years with the Burlington Chamber of Commerce this year. Their many years in business stem from their ability to find markets that were underserviced by the leasing industry. Doing things that the banks wouldn’t do, and that large leasing companies wouldn’t do, they have grown to have a national presence as a result. According to Peter Bellm, Vice President at Halton Autolease “The secret of our success is people that we hire to do the job. People skills are paramount. But when you’re selling a financial product you need to have the prudence as well as the people skills. It’s a little bit different. You get the right people, and it runs well“. People combined with two hands-on owners, and good management, they can make case by case decisions on doing good business that other people just aren’t doing. According to Peter, “Burlington is a great, stable place to do business. It has a good standard of living and is a good place to be. Being attached to the Chamber, I think it speaks to our stability and who we are and just gives us credibility. You don’t go messing with that because you want to save money on a membership. Marketing consistency is key. It takes a long time to build a brand and loyalty and you have to stick with things that keep you visible and the Burlington Chamber is one of a combination of tactics that helps us do that.” By Warren Leppik, Cognition Productions
By Elaine Slatter, XL Consulting Group
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BUSINESS AFTER 5
Our monthly Business After 5 events are considered to be some of the best networking opportunities in the country. A variety of generous hosts and a welcoming crowd are what make them so special. Recent Business After 5 events include: October Business After 5 was the Small Business Week Tradeshow November Business After 5 hosted by Source Office Furniture December Business After 5 hosted by Hynek Financial Group and Holiday Inn Burlington
Karena Durnell, Dan Holstein
Joanne Grindley , Reg Titian
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Jenny Wilkins, Marybeth Edge
Karen Dougherty, Tom Sutherland, Carol Thomas
Dan Hynek, Doug Hynek, Cara Winfield, Steve Faveri
Janice DeSilva-Pearcey, Jason Stoner, Denika Bertoli
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MEMBERSHIP MILESTONES The Burlington Chamber of Commerce was established in 1947. Since that time we have seen membership grow to its current level of 1,000 companies. Many of our members have been with us a very long time. The list presented here shows those companies that have achieved a significant Chamber milestone between October and December last year.
35 YEARS City Automotive CSN
Bayshore Home Health GRAPHIC i.d.
20 YEARS
Home Alone Petsitters Inc. / The House Healers Division Neo Paradigm Solutions P & A Plastics Inc.
Costco
Within Range Golf Centres Inc.
Domino’s Pizza
15 YEARS
25 YEARS
exp.
Endress + Hauser Canada Ltd.
Geraldo’s at La Salle ParkBanquet & Conference Centre
Halton Autolease Inc.
TURNERound Enterprises
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10 YEARS
5 YEARS CIMA Canada Inc. Coldwell Banker Commercial Integrity Real Estate La Fiora Floral Studio PF Software Services
RIGHT AWAY
2016
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