2011/2012

ANNUAL REPORT

A BC Innovation Council partnership.

Clockwise (L-R): John Jackson, KC Dyer, Cori Barraclough, Brian

Conrad, Larry Sparks, Jordan Eliason, Tracey Buckley, Hans Plechinger

2011 / 2012 Board of

Directors and Executive

Our Board and Executive are a talented, dynamic and diverse group, whose breadth and depth of experience guide the strategic direction of our organization.

Their stories are inspiring and their passion is motivating.

They meet as a Board, or as committee members 8 times per year. In addition, in keeping with good governance practices and out of a desire for KRIC to remain forward-thinking, they meet for an annual Strategic Planning Retreat each fall.

They are always happy to talk tech, and love meeting with local entrepreneurs. When you see them out and about, we hope you’ll stop them and say hi.

Board of Directors

Jordan Eliason (Chair) Data Network Designer

Hans Plechinger (Vice-Chair) Entrepreneur

Cori Barraclough Principal, Aqua-Tex Scientific Consulting Ltd.

Tracey Buckley Market Development Manager, Kryos Systems

Brian Conrad Transitions Coordinator, College of the Rockies and School District 5 KC Dyer I.T. Manager, Kootenay Employment Services John Jackson Retired Entrepreneur, Business Mentor with CETAC, and Councillor, Town of Golden

Management and Staff Larry Sparks Executive Director

Sheelagh England Program and Administrative Coordinator

Tara Penner Communications

2011-12 Partners, Sponsors and Supporters

Message from the Chair KRIC has developed deeper roots throughout the geographic service area in this our fifth year of operation. With a base foundation, it was time to expand relationships and presence in the North and South in order to provide the economic development support to fledging entrepreneurs in the Valleys of the East Kootenay and Columbia areas. It is through this support that the new “knowledge economy” will continue to grow in our region, fostering the science, technology and innovation sectors.

As Board Chair, I am well pleased with the outstanding local representation of KRIC by our staff and Board Members. It is truly through their hard work and diligence that our organization is able to overcome year over year when challenges come our way. Thank you to those who are close to us for their continued support and understanding of the great work which KRIC’s Mission and Values represent.

~ Jordan Eliason, Board Chair

Message from the Executive Director

Last year I suggested we’d be getting our tech on. Something about taking the reigns of a going concern… well that concern has turned out to be quite an animal indeed, and that’s been super-helpful in getting people talking about KRIC.

I know they are talking because our phones are ringing and that pleasant little chime that rings with each new email sounds like morse code here at HQ. Turns out that the entrepreneurial culture is alive and KRIC’n here in the East Kootenays, and we're stoked that more of you have been finding out about us and taking advantage of the resources and energy we have to offer.

We’re part of some great stuff in your community, regionally, and all the way up to being part of the Provincial strategy for economic diversification. We’re bringing resources and knowledge from all over, straight back to you. We are like most East Kootenay residents: a bit unconventional. Some of our best work is done on the chair lift, at the put-in, and on the bike trails. We know why you've chosen to have your business based here, and we get it. We share your vision for success that's measured not just quantitatively but also qualitatively. This kind of success takes more effort and tenacity, but it gives a lot more in return.

We're taking your feedback, ideas, and the cultural reality of entrepreneurs who choose to make it happen here, into the think tank, and we're developing programs and supports tailored to you and your innovative business ideas.

We're terribly grateful, and even a bit overwhelmed with the encouragement and support we are seeing from our clients, partners, supporters and funders. We're all ears if you have ideas, comments or criticisms.

Our success is your success, and this is an opportunity best approached together.

It’s been a dizzying ride so far, and our Board and Staff are just getting fired up. There’s a lot of energy here, and more going in everyday. I’d invite you to bring yours as well, because once we get the doors blown off this thing, we’re really going to light it up yO!

Larry Sparks, Executive Director

It was quite a year Although a busy one for the team at KRIC, and we dove into it with energy and optimism. We opened an office in Golden B.C., and made a big, bright (orange) statement with a feature wall and a new approach to our communications.

Little did we realize that the full scope of the past year’s activities would grow to include participation in more than fifteen separate projects, events and initiatives. We’ve been busy, and we’ve loved it. You may have even heard us talking about it.

2011-12 also marks Larry and Tara’s first full year as KRICsters, and in March we welcomed Sheelagh England as KRIC’s Project and Administrative Coordinator. Sheelagh replaced Joanne Sweeting, who spent much of the year in KRIC’s whirlwind, before leaving us for Tourism Golden (sniff).

Thanks to a hectic schedule that wrapped up this fiscal, Larry, Tara and Sheelagh have had an opportunity to meet many of the region’s talented entrepreneurs, as well as many of the economic development practitioners as many of the economic development types working to try and create a resilient science and technology-focused economy in the East Kootenay.

So join us for a little navel gazing and trip down memory lane as we celebrate the year that was.

Business Coaching This year we continued our Business Coaching Program, and provided free business coaching services to 18 science and technology-focused East Kootenay entrepreneurs. With some new promotional material and an engagement strategy, we were able to increase participation in the

program this year by nearly 30%.

Our experienced coaches, Andre Labine, Laurie Dalzell and Schaun Goodeve, are providing meaningful support to regional entrepreneurs; from those just developing their idea to established business owners looking for support in particular areas.

As Luke Nichols, owner of Purcell IT, explained:

“My coach helped me put a plan in place to launch my new technology business and grow my share of the market. She kept me accountable and supported my growth with check-ins every couple of months.”

Celebrating the Successes

Every month we highlight some of the many examples of innovative East Kootenay entrepreneurs, and celebrate other science and technology-related events and achievements.

Among the successes we’ve highlighted this year is an app for freelancers that’s been getting some very public attention, a product that can mitigate the disastrous effects of oil spills, and a treasure trove of trilobites shared with thousands of students over the Summer. We’ve published a success story every month since September of 2010, and the well is far from dry!

On the subject of successes, Creston’s Global Endeavors, the creators of Can-Gel, were finalists in this year’s BCIC New Ventures competition. This prestigious competition gives regional entrepreneurs an opportunity to take advantage of resources at a very high level. We’re proud to call Global Endeavors a KRIC client and congratulate them on this significant achievement!

Economic Development Roadshow Don’t throw yourself out there without a plan!

In the fall of 2011, we partnered with Community Futures East Kootenay, the Rural Development Institute, Basin Business Advisors and Invest Kootenay for an economic development roadshow that took us to three Basin communities in a whirlwind three day extravaganza. While the schedule was exhausting, Don’t Throw Yourself Out There was very successful, with more than 70 people attending in Kimberley, Fernie and Golden over the three days.

The free event included a presentation from Invest Kootenay, followed by the keynote from Dr. Terri MacDonald of the Rural Development Institute on the importance of an exit strategy.

As the first event that brought KRIC’s new(ish) staff together with colleagues at Community Futures, Invest Kootenay and the Rural Development Institute, the roadshow not only gave us the opportunity to meet many of the region’s small business owners and economic development practitioners, it laid the groundwork for other successful collaborations.

Introducing: MATS

Here at KRIC, there are a few truths that we hold to be self-evident: that manufacturing and technology are keystone sectors in our region’s job creation strategy, and that there is a concerning lack of acronyms currently being used in the Columbia Basin.

Kidding about that last part, but we’d still like to introduce you to one more: MATS.

Manufacturing and Technology Sector Initiative (MATS) is a two- year Columbia Basin Trust initiative supporting economic diversification and development in the Columbia Basin, with a focus on the manufacturing and technology sectors. Delivered in partnership by Kootenay Association of Science and Technology (KAST) and Kootenay Rockies Innovation Council (KRIC), MATS focuses on the development, retention and expansion of Basin manufacturing and technology businesses.

MATS kicked off in the Fall of 2011 and the first public events were Techtopia, held in Kimberley on February 27, and the Commercialization Bootcamp held in Cranbrook on March 14. Other keystone activities include a Business Retention and Expansion initiative (currently underway), two conferences (one in the West this fall, and one in the East in 2013), a virtual incubator, workshops and networking events, and the launch of KRIC’s Leaders and Entrepreneurs in Action (LEAP), a new 6-month program helping business owners jump to the next level of business growth and success.

Techtopia Techtopia was an event for the creative minds of the Digital Media and Information Technology communities. It was held in Kimberley on February 27, 2012, simultaneously in both the East and West Kootenays.

Through the unique Open Space format, several key themes emerged, and KRIC is now continuing to engage with those in the tech community, including some upcoming networking events and professional development opportunities.

Commercialization Bootcamp We were thrilled with the turnout at this year’s Commercialization Bootcamp, an all-day workshop with presentations on the Commercialization Roadmap, conducting market research, intellectual property, patents, copyrights and trademarks, as well as an overview of some of the government programs available to support entrepreneurs.

Of the day’s highlights was the story of Table Tree Juice. Gary and Susan Snow’s experience in

commercializing their product was of particular interest to the attendees, and for us, underscored the importance of sharing the stories.

The event was as a resounding success and provided a great opportunity for us to meet entrepreneurs who travelled from around the East Kootenay (including several from Creston!) to be there.

Supporting Others… Our role also includes supporting other great events and projects. Over the past year we’ve played a key role in promoting, coordinating, and supporting (financially and otherwise) several fantastic events.

Kootenay iTech Trade Show and Luncheon | May 25, 2011 | Cranbrook

KRIC was proud to be a sponsor of the first iTech event along with Kootenay Business magazine, KAST and CBT in this event for leaders, developers, and digital players in innovation technology. It was a well-attended networking event which we also attended on May 25, 2012, and look forward to attending again in 2013.

The Art of Social Media | February 11, 2012 | Invermere

We were approached by the College of the Rockies in Invermere about the possibility of a workshop focused on effective small business use of social media. The workshop was delivered by The Seed of Nelson who provided attendees with new social media tools and strategies to help their business.

East Kootenay Regional Science Fair | February 22-23, 2012 | Cranbrook

KRIC continued to support the annual East Kootenay Regional Science Fair this year with a contribution to hire COTR students to help with coordination and outreach. We attended both days and were incredibly impressed with the complexity of the projects!

Loving science as we do, we found this event to be a lot of fun. Our favourite moments included one student who chose his experiment “to prove his mom wrong”, but in the end, he begrudgingly admitted that “it turns out [his] mom was right”. I guess maybe Mom’s do know best?

Photo courtesy of Ian Cobb / e-KNOW

Kimberley Green Building Conference | March 2-3, 2012 | Kimberley

KRIC was pleased to once again join this year’s organizing committee for the only major conference on green and sustainable building between Vancouver and Calgary (go East Kootenays!).

As Conference Organizer Erna Jensen-Shill commented, “the one surprising thing I kept hearing was, there is nothing else like this. Maybe in Vancouver, but in mainland B.C. and Alberta, the Kimberley conference stands out”, and we couldn’t agree more. We’re proud to have been a part of its success.

B.C. Schools Math Contest | March, 2012

KRIC was a sponsor of this math contest, for students Grades 8 – 12. Savannah Wruzer from Parkland Middle School in Cranbrook was the winner of the contest, and a new iPod.

Genome BC: Changing Climates, Changing Forests | March 8, 2012 | Cranbrook

KRIC continued its relationship with Genome BC through coordination and promotional support for this presentation which brought a high-level expert to the region for a free public presentation on the impact of genomics in our community with respect to forests and climate change.

Building a Positive and Effective Network for our Clients Throughout the year, KRIC is very pleased to have been invited and able to attend two events which brought regional economic development agencies together to align efforts, find opportunities for collaboration, and identify best practices for those working on creating resilient, healthy local economies in the Kootenays.

This year we were able to attend both the Community Futures-organized Community Economic Development Forum in Christina Lake in June of 2011, and the CBT-organized Economic Development Practitioners Workshop at St. Eugene Resort and Casino in Cranbrook on February 22 and 23, 2012.

Finding Exciting Opportunities

CETAC’s Entrepreneur to CEO Workshop

Sometimes a little reconnaissance needs to be done on behalf of our clients, and the Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement Corporation (CETAC)’s Entrepreneur to CEO workshop was one of those situations.

The workshop is, in a word, AMAZING. The information provided would be of immense value for any entrepreneur, and it is something that we are proud to be able to make available to regional entrepreneurs in our next fiscal.

SHAD Valley

KRIC was able to award Mike Boyle, a student from Mount Baker Secondary school in Cranbrook, a $2000 scholarship to attend Shad Valley, Canada’s premier program for igniting an entrepreneurial and innovative spark in Canada’s youth. It is a four week summer enrichment program for grades 10, 11 or 12 with workshops and lectures that focus on the sciences, engineering, technology and entrepreneurship.

To sum it up It’s been quite the year for KRIC. We feel like we’ve covered a lot of ground this year; had a lot of great conversations; made some exciting connections; and hopefully left a bit of a KRIC-shaped mark on the East Kootenay ec dev scene. We’re looking forward to another great year. Until then, keep on KRIC’n.

Foundation Statements Mission: Fostering a vibrant, diverse and resilient economy in the East Kootenays through science and technology.

Vision: A recognized and valued resource, contributing to the prosperity and quality of life in the EK communities.

Guiding Principles Knowledge

Results

Integrity

Collaboration

Objectives and Strategies Enhance sustainability

Deliver on BCIC contract and other funding and contribution agreements

Seek other funding sources that are aligned with organizational goals

Create succession plans

Increase focus on the development of entrepreneurs and start-up companies

Connect them to coaching and mentoring Help them access training and development Continue to act as a catalyst for innovation

Facilitate networking and targeted introductions Support efforts to increase the awareness of the importance of science and technology, especially

among students of any age Become better known

Earn respect and trust of entrepreneurs and community leaders Publicize success stories

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