BusinessonnectionsIssue 4Volume 2October 2011

ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA Connect w i t h Bus iness . Connect w i t h L i fe .

COMPANY PROFILE

S. Burnett & Associates - A Small Business Success StoryLocal entrepreneur Steve Burnett has a great deal to be proudof. As the owner of a growing firm, S. Burnett & AssociatesLimited, Steve and his staff provide a variety of engineering andmanagement services, including community planning, buildingservices, water supply, treatment and distribution, sewage treat-ment, collection and disposal, land development, environmentalservices, and watershed management. Like many new businesses,S. Burnett & Associates began as a home-based venture in June2009 and within one year, had expanded to professional officespace in Orangeville. Today, the busy firm employs 14 individuals,including 10 professional engineering staff, and shows no signsof slowing down.

S. Burnett & Associates Limited provides an excellent example ofsmall business success in the local community. The firm hasworked to develop a team of talented and experienced projectmanagers with a mandate to complete projects on time and onbudget. The key to success for this growing firm, says Steve,has been the ability to incorporate a client-first focus while combining technical expertise and customer service to obtainultimate solutions for the customer. As a firm that provides services to municipal, First Nation, private and developmentclients, the business has quickly earned a reputation for deliveringquality civil engineering and consulting services.The decision to expand his operation in Orangeville was an easyone for Steve. “In addition to the central location and close proximity to Toronto Pearson International Airport, the community’swork and life amenities were attractive. Orangeville provides agreat environment in which to live and raise a family and to devel-op the working relationships that are important to our business.” The “out of the box” thinking that enables S. Burnett &Associates Limited to provide innovative and unique solutionsalong with the firm’s customer-focused approach to business represent important qualities for success for any small businessowner. To learn more about S. Burnett & Associates, visit thecompany’s website at www.sbaengineering.com.

October is “Small BusinessMonth in Orangeville”Councillor Gail Campbell proclaimedOctober as “Small Business Month inthe Town of Orangeville” in recognitionof the impact that small business hason our economy. Responsible for a significant amount of private sectoremployment across the province, shethanks all of the local business members for helping to ensure that ourcommunity remains competitive andstrong. A number of business-relatedworkshops and events are scheduledto help celebrate the determination,commitment and contributions madeby all of the businesses in our commu-nity and the details can all be found here. Local entrepreneur and EDC Vice-Chair Bob Long (left),Councillor Gail Campbell, Manager of Economic Development Nancy Huether and SBECCoordinator Ruth Phillips celebrate Small Business Month in Orangeville.

CSteve Burnett (far left) with S. Burnett & Associates staff

Terry Straker to Share AffordableMarketing SecretsSuccessful entrepreneur, author and marketing specialistTerry Straker will be the keynote speaker at the Orangeville &Area Small Business Enterprise Centre’s ninth annual Bridgesto Better Business conference on Wednesday, November 9.This year’s event will focus on affordable, creative and practicalmarketing ideas that help to ensure business success. Each day, consumers are bombarded with hundreds of marketing messages which leave them tuned out and turnedoff, so implementing specific and targeted marketing ideas iscrucial to the success of any business. Mr. Straker will discusswhat it takes to capture consumer attention and turn skepticsinto lifelong customers. He’ll share the tips, tricks and techniques required to sell your products and services andprovide step-by-step instructions on how to make the most ofyour marketing budget.The half-day conference will also feature an opportunity to network and share information during lunch and then participate in an interactive, large group marketing session where Mr. Straker will provide guidance, advice and solutions to help improve your bottom line.Participants are encouraged to bring their marketing materials, challenges and questions. The Orangeville & Area Small Business Enterprise Centre has teamed up with the Ministry ofEconomic Development and Trade to deliver this low-cost event in order to recognize and celebrate the success of entrepreneurs in our community and to provide information and advicethat can help them succeed. Pre-registration for the Bridges to Better Business event is required. The $25 fee includes theaffordable marketing seminar, refreshments and lunch, the interactive group session, and networking opportunities. What’s more, the first 50 people to register will receive a free copyof Mr. Straker’s new book - Unzipped Marketing ($25 value). For more information on this eventand to register, visit www.orangevillebusiness.ca/events, call the Orangeville & Area SBECoffice at 519-941-0440 Ext 2286, or email sbec@orangeville.ca.

ORANGEVILLEBUSINESS.CA 87 Broadway, Orangeville, Ontario L9W 1K1 Phone: 519-941-0440 Toll Free: 1-866-941-0440Fax: 519-941-9033 E-mail: info@orangevillebusiness.ca

Businesses Must Meet AccessibilityRequirements by Year EndSince passing the Accessibility for Ontarianswith Disabilities Act, 2005, Ontario has begun tocreate and implement province-wide, mandatoryaccessibility standards in five key areas ofeveryday life. These standards are designed tohelp create inclusion for everyone in Ontario,regardless of their abilities. The AccessibilityStandard for Customer Service came into effectin 2008. It requires all organizations in Ontarioto make their customer service accessible andto train their staff on how to provide accessibleservice. Public sector organizations in Ontarioare already complying with the standard. By January 1, 2012, private sector and non-profit organizations will need to meet the samerequirements. The Accessibility Standard forCustomer Service applies to all businesses that provide goods or services eitherdirectly to the public or to other organizations in Ontario and that have one or moreemployees. This includes consultants, manufacturers and wholesalers as well asother businesses and professional services. What a business owner needs to do in order to comply with the Act depends onthe number of employees in the business. However, all business owners arerequired to train their staff on accessible customer service and regardless of size, all businesses with employees in Ontario must create and put in place an accessibility plan that:• Considers a person’s disability when communicating with them• Allows assistive devices in the workplace, such as wheelchairs, walkers and

oxygen tanks• Allows service animals• Welcomes support persons• Lets customers know when accessible services aren’t available• Invites customers to provide feedbackBusinesses with more than 20 employees have additional requirements that mustbe complied with.To assist employers to meet the Accessibility Standard for Customer Service, theMinistry of Community and Social Services has created a number of user-friendlytools, including a template for the development of an accessibility plan as well asdetailed training resources, tips and tools to help employers understand what theyneed to do and how to do it.To learn more about what will be required to meet the Accessibility Standard forCustomer Service by the January 1, 2012 deadline, employers are encouraged tovisit the provincial website www.ontario.ca/accesson and follow the links thatapply to them.

IN THE NEWSIntroduction to HST • October 5, 9 a.m.A representative from Canada Revenue Agency will present information on the HST(Harmonized Sales Tax) for small and medium-sized businesses and will clarify yourresponsibilities for collecting and remitting the tax, explain tax credits and overpay-ments and answer any questions you may have. Free.

Social Media Boot Camp, Part 1 • October 19, 9 a.m.This workshop will help you to harness the power of social media and learn howto develop content that is engaging and sincere. The workshop will provide anintroduction to popular social media tools, provide information on creating a winning social media strategy, tips and techniques for implementing a social mediapresence and much, much more. Cost - $15.

Economic Outlook Breakfast • October 20, 7:45 a.m.Featuring a keynote address by Derek Burleton, Vice President and Deputy ChiefEconomist for TD Bank Group, this event will provide an opportunity to network withlocal businesses while getting the latest updates on the economy. Cost - $15.

Business and the Law: The Essentials • October 26, 6:30 p.m.Featuring speakers from Carters Professional Corporation, this two-part sessionwill focus on two very relevant business topics: the legal duties of directors andofficers of business corporations and the protection of personal assets from liability. Free.

Bridges to Better Business: Focus on Marketing • November 9,9 a.m.With a focus on marketing, successful entrepreneur, author and marketing expertTerry Straker will share free and low-cost marketing ideas that work. Participantswill learn about the tips, tricks and techniques required to sell their products andservices. Following lunch, Mr. Straker will provide an interactive group marketingsession and provide guidance, advice and solutions to help improve your bottomline. Participants are encouraged to bring their marketing materials, challengesand questions. Cost - $25.

Developing a Business Plan • November 23, 9 a.m.One of the most important tools any business has is its business plan. A well-writtenbusiness plan provides a “plan of action” which outlines your business goals andhow you are going to achieve them. Participants will receive a comprehensiveoverview of the components of a successful business plan and learn more aboutwriting their business plan in this informative seminar. Cost - $10.

Visit www.orangevillebusiness.ca/events to register online for any ofthese events.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Economic Outlook BreakfastThe Town of Orangeville and TD Canada Trust willpartner to host another Orangeville EconomicOutlook Breakfast on Thursday, October 20. Thispopular annual event is part of the Town’s celebration of Small Business Month in Orangevilleand will feature a networking breakfast andkeynote address by Derek Burleton, Vice-President and Deputy Chief Economist, TD BankGroup. The breakfast will be held at Best WesternPLUS Orangeville starting at 7:45 a.m. and is agreat way to kick off the business day while getting the latest updates on the economy. To register for this event, visit www.orangevillebusiness.ca orcall 519-941-0440 Ext 2286 by October 14.

GDACC Home & Lifestyle Show Coming UpBe sure to visit the Town of Orangeville booth at the upcoming Chamber ofCommerce Home & Lifestyle Show to find out all about upcoming events, programs and happenings within Orangeville. The event will be held at theOrangeville Agriculture Fairgrounds and runs Friday, September 30 (5 - 9 p.m.),Saturday, October 1 (10 a.m. - 5 p.m.), and Sunday, October 2 (10 a.m. - 4 p.m.).

Orangeville Industrial Directory Now AvailableAn annual update of the Town’s Industrial Directory was completed over thesummer and is now available to the public. The directory can be viewed onlineby visiting www.orangevillebusiness.ca or by visiting the office to pick upa copy.

THINGS TO KNOW

Northwest Corner C Line and Centennial Rd.More than six acres of shovel-ready industrial land available for sale. Located atthe northwest corner of Centennial Road and C Line, the land is close to theOrangeville bypass and can gain access to a rail spur of the Orangeville-Brampton Railway. The land is zoned M-1 for general industrial uses. The lot sizeis 2.523 ha (6.234 ac) and can be severed into two or three smaller parcels.The current asking price for the landis $215,000.00 per acre. Interestedbuyers should contact NancyHuether, Manager of EconomicDevelopment, Town of Orangeville at519-941-0440 Ext 2270 or byemail at edo@orangeville.ca.

REAL ESTATE - FEATURED LISTING