Persistence pays off for Prescott bros.
By Ronald Zajac, Brockville Recorder and Times Staff Writer
If you don't ask, you'll never get.
That's how Prescott brothers Jim and John Doris felt four years ago when they began putting together an economic development networking event for eastern Ontario and tried to get American business magnate Donald Trump as the guest speaker.
The pair, co-founders of the Eastern Ontario Economic Showcase, were told in 2005 that Trump was too busy to attend their event.
They didn't take that as a "no," and followed up every year since, until they were finally informed last December that Trump would attend next month's showcase, held in Ottawa.
The world-renowned real estate mogul is the biggest of three big names appearing at the showcase, which will be held at the Ottawa Civic Centre on Thursday, September 24.
Terry Matthews, founder of Mitel, and Brett Wilson, of CBC Television's Dragons' Den, will also be at the event. Other guests include Don Drummond, senior vice-president and chief economist at TD Bank Financial Group and Linda Duxbury, professor at the Sprott School of Business.
"We want to create a unique platform for communities to showcase their respective opportunities," Jim Doris said at a news conference Tuesday at city hall.
"There will be an inspirational element to the event," he added. "The other component is we really want to communicate real opportunities."
The Doris brothers, who were on hand to issue a challenge to local businesses and communities to get involved with the showcase, want each community to come up with its top three investment opportunities.
The showcase aims to highlight a vast region extending from Peterborough to Cornwall and including Ottawa, they said.
The event will include a trade show and an opportunity for participants to buy a spot at a "VIP" reception, or even a "platinum reception," giving them access to the high-profile guests, they added.
Jim Doris practises business law while John Doris runs Small Business Capital and Consulting. The pair hope to recover the six-digit costs of the event through ticket sales and trade show booth rentals. They also hope to make the showcase an annual event, moving from Ottawa to other communities.
"Networking locally isn't enough," said John Doris.
"There are too many people around us that could help us grow our business."
Trump will discuss the challenges of these trying economic times and some of his keys to success, the organizers said.
Brockville, Prescott, Edwardsburgh-Cardinal, North Grenville and the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville are among the local communities who have already put up the $1,750 to book a spot at the trade show, they said. People expected to attend include ambassadors or high commissioners from a number of countries around the world, they added.
Brockville Mayor David Henderson said he hopes other communities and businesses will get involved, given the exposure to the many visitors who will jump at the opportunity to see Trump.
The September event will take place at a time when many observers are predicting a recovery could begin, added Henderson.
"You're right at the time where we should be starting to climb out," he said.
Brockville and District Chamber of Commerce president Mary Jean McFall is encouraging the group's members to join in on a bus trip to the event. She also congratulated the Doris brothers for their initiative.
"If you don't dream, it doesn't happen," she said.
More information on the event is available online at www.easternontarioshowcase.com.
Article ID# 1686941