“Lunch and Learn” with entrepreneurs at the Genesis Centre

 

The St. Clair College Genesis Entrepreneurship Centre’s monthly “Lunch and Learn” workshops are fun and interactive panel discussions for the public.

“These luncheons are our most popular workshop and its my favourite,” said Cathy Mombourquette, the moderator and a business advisor at the Genesis Centre.

Mombourquette’s standard list of questions included: Why did you start your own business? What was your biggest struggle? What was your biggest success in the business and what advice would you give to entrepreneurs when they are starting out?

For Walt Emery, the owner of the Cool Bus, it was a business by accident. A former St. Clair automotive student in the Ford Motor Company program who used an old bus to travel for hockey tournaments, Emery and his teammates seemed to do more drinking instead of playing hockey. Then through networking with the hockey people and the Ford people, Emery’s party bus flourished with tailgating, sporting events and barbeques.

“It’s basically a limousine, an Animal House on wheels,” said Emery who said he finds it tough to manage the Cool Bus while simultaneously working at Ford.

Which leads to Mombourquette’s next question, “What was your biggest struggle?”

For Ryan Larocque, who has two business partners at the three Anchor Coffee Houses in Windsor, it can get complicated when communicating with them. But Larocque said he thinks a partnership is great because each other’s strengths and weaknesses balance out.

“A business relationship is like a romantic relationship,” said Larocque, a former University of Windsor business school student who is pursuing a degree in psychology while helping his partners.

It is working for Larocque because he said his partners have goals and values which complement each other.

Mombourquette continues her questioning, “What is your biggest success in the business?”

For Leo Cardelli, sole proprietor of Cardelli Media, it was landing his first major client. Two years ago, Cardelli was studying architecture at St Clair and came to the Genesis Centre with an idea of starting his own photography and videography business. A three month, six month and nine month business plan was drafted. He handed out business cards and followed up by contacting clients. Finally, a personal relationship was created.

“That was my big moment working with someone in New York,” said Cardelli, who now has his own studio and works part-time at Henry’s Camera Shop to help cover expenses.

And one final question from Mombourquette: “Advice for anyone when starting out?”

“If I could redo it, I would bootstrap a lot more,” said Nicole Howson, owner of AIM Social Media Marketing which develops strategies for business clients. “I spent a lot of money on unnecessary things,” said Howson. Howson started her business by taking a social media class while still in school. That was six years ago. It was not until year three when Howson decided to visit the Windsor Small Business Centre for advice. 

Howson said she would have liked to have had the assistance of the Genesis Centre earlier.

The next “Lunch and Learn” workshop takes place on Friday, March 27 from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.