Experts to speak at Rural Business Summit

Community Futures Peterborough and Peterborough and the Kawarthas Economic Development will host a list of business experts to speak at the first Rural Business Summit as part of

Small Business Week later this month.

The free event for entrepreneurs, business leaders and those with big aspirations take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Baxter Creek Golf Club in Fraserville on Oct. 16 and Burleigh Falls Inn in Selwyn Township during the same time frame on Oct. 17.

There will be a keynote presentation each day, as well as a panel discussion on succession planning with local experts, Darrell Wade of Farm Life Financial, Matthew Savino of Savino HR Professionals and Nicole Truman of Fox Law.

The Oct. 16 morning keynote speaker will be Danielle Rocheleau of Laridae Consulting with a presentation on Building Opportunities in Rural Communities.

The Oct. 17 morning keynote speaker will be Erin Bury, named Marketing Magazine’s Top 30 Under 30, who will deliver a presentation on The Blank Slate Effect: How to Use an Entrepreneurial Mindset to Win in Business.

The event will also include two roundtable discussions on challenges and opportunities for rural businesses, organizers stated in a release.

The organizations, now both based at the Venture North building on George Street, partnered to offer training after local municipalities sought ways to better engage businesses, Community Futures executive director Gail Moorehouse told county council Wednesday.

She told councillors she expects the summit to become an annual event. More than 20 participants had registered as of Wednesday and organizers expect about 70 to take part at each location, she added.

NOTES: Marketing expert Gregg McLachlan had been scheduled as a keynote speaker but can no longer participate due to unforeseen circumstances, organizers stated.… Visit www.ruralbizsummit-fraserville.eventbrite.ca and www.ruralbizsummitburleigh.eventbrite.ca for more information or to register by next Wednesday.