News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 14, 2012) - GroYourBiz, an organization formed to foster and support women entrepreneurs and business owners through peer-to-peer advisory groups, opened its new Toronto chapter today at an event sponsored by BMO Bank of Montreal.

"As the founding and leading Partner in Development for GroYourBiz, BMO's commercial banking team in the GTA region is very pleased to be a partner with GroYourBiz," said Laura Charlton, Vice President, Commercial Lending Products, Integration and Risk, BMO Bank of Montreal. "We see great value in supporting women-led enterprises. Time and again, we have witnessed a positive impact on women business owners in the chapters that have already been established through the sharing and receiving of highly beneficial legal, accounting, financial and marketing advice."

GroYourBiz, which currently has chapters in Vancouver, Victoria, Burnaby, Surrey, Kamloops and Abbotsford, B.C., is designed for women entrepreneurs who want to take their business to the next level. Each chapter consists of a peer to peer advisory group of 15 to 20 women who meet monthly to draw upon the skills, expertise, inspiration and energy of like-minded entrepreneurs and offer practical solutions to attract customers and address expansion needs.

Sessions also include advice from top business experts and analysts from an alliance of leading businesses such as BMO Bank of Montreal, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin, TELUS and MNP LLP - all working together to foster and support these small-medium enterprises (SMEs).

"You have already built a business. It has survived, perhaps even thrived, but now you're wondering what to do next. GroYourBiz was developed to assist women entrepreneurs in small to medium enterprises who want to take their business to the next level," said Barbara Mowat, President of GroYourBiz, a division of Impact Communications Ltd.

With an increasing number of women entrepreneurs who want to grow their business, Mowat felt that it was time to expand to a major centre like Toronto. Heading up Toronto and Eastern Canada chapter is Marg Hachey. Ms. Hachey was previously the owner of Duocom Canada Inc. She founded the company in 1980 and grew it to $52 million in eight short years. Its success earned it recognition as one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Private Companies. Chatelaine and Profit magazine recognized as ranking in the top 10 of the Top 100 Women business owners in Canada.

"I'm pleased to see the birth of a chapter of GroYourBiz in Toronto," said Ms. Hachey. "I want women entrepreneurs and business owners to be able to have high quality business planning meetings in their own region, as well as have the ability to connect with other successful business owners across Toronto and other areas of the country."

GroYourBiz.com provides a strategic alliance with Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) - the world-wide premier membership organization for over 1400 women presidents and CEOs of privately held, multimillion dollar companies.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $542 billion as at July 31, 2012, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.

GroYourBiz Member Testimonials:

"I just want to say thank you for a very powerful feedback session for me. I am still reflecting on the thoughts and words of wisdom at the table. Perhaps more importantly, I am still reveling in the amazing positivity, generous support and warm enthusiasm that was generated in the room. It is a highly motivating - and very underrated factor - in navigating the path of success." Leanne McDonald, President/Owner, Oooli Beverages Inc.; GroYourBiz member, Burnaby Chapter, www.oooli.com

"Thank you GroYourBiz members for your support on my business challenge. Through your questions, comments and suggestions I was able to gain a new perspective. Your experience, expertise and insight have helped me to clarify next steps in terms of developing a training team." Lynn Robinson, The Robinson Group Training & Consulting Corp.; GroYourBiz member, Surrey Chapter, www.therobinsongroup.ca

"I met Barbara Mowat for the first time when I joined the WPO. Barbara Mowat exceeded my expectations in the role of facilitator; she skillfully directed our group to focus on learning and growing professionally, with the intention of each one of us achieving the goals we had set for our businesses. It has also been an extremely delightful association." Marla Kott, CEO, Imprint Plus; GroYourBiz Advisory Board Member, and WPO Vancouver Chapter I Member, www.imprintplus.com