News Releases

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA--(Marketwired - May 16, 2013) - Twenty-four of Atlantic Canada's most promising leaders in business have been selected to participate in the third instalment of the 4Front Atlantic Conference in Halifax, on May 30^th. The chosen applicants represent leaders in the region who are between the ages of 20 and 40 and who are aspiring to, or are engaged in doing business globally.

"We were very impressed with the quality of the applicants for the Emerging Leaders program again this year," said Carolyn Booth, Senior Vice President, Atlantic Provinces Division, BMO Bank of Montreal. "These are young people who are invested in this region, and committed to being a part of Atlantic Canada's success moving forward."

A panel of business leaders reviewed the submissions and have selected the following participants:

• Marc Almon, Story Engine Pictures
• Craig Brown, Interview Rocket Ltd
• Gorba Bhandari, GB Techsulting
• Joelle MacPhee, Ooka Island Inc.
• Jordon O'Hearn, Brickworks Interlocking Design
• Kaitlyn Touesnard, Saint Mary's University
• Melissa MacMaster, Centre for Entrepreneurship Education and Development
• Michael Brown, Green Gutter Solutions
• Sara Ehrhardt, Office of the Premier of Nova Scotia
• Tom Gilgan, G2 Research Ltd.
• Ryan Cameron, sageCrowd Inc.
• Stephen Jones, Resolution Optics Inc
• Emilie de Rossenroll, Nova Scotia Association of Regional Development Authorities
• Erica Fraser, Dalhousie University
• André-Philippe Caissie, Université de Moncton
• Stephane Sogne, SkySquirrel Technologies Inc.
• Matthew Sheriko, Camp Triumph
• Chris Yonke, International Options & Trade
• Jenelle Sobey, Program Manager, Pond Deshpande Centre and Wallace McCain Institute
• Caitlin Ulrich, Saint Mary's University
• Nick MacGregor, MacGregor's Group of Companies
• Peter Bragg, Eastlink
• Shea Kewin, Spring Loaded Technology
• Robyn Cook, MedMira Inc.

Representing all four Atlantic provinces, Joelle MacPhee, André-Philippe Caissie, Stephane Sogne and Jenelle Sobey have additionally been selected to participate in the conference as speakers. These young leaders will be contributing to a panel discussion, moderated by Karen Oldfield, President and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority.

"Passion, motivation, innovation, creativity and knowledge do not show up on any business or region's balance sheet, but are our key assets," said Bernie Miller, Managing Partner at McInnes Cooper. "The next generation of leaders will be key in executing strategies to help Atlantic Canada prosper with these assets."

In taking part of the Emerging Leaders program, participants will have the opportunity to network with the region's business and academic thought leaders, as well as establish connections with their peers from across Atlantic Canada.

On May 24, a white paper, entitled Issues, Recommendations and an Action Plan, will be released for comment by Atlantic Canadians. The white paper contains preliminary ideas that were developed by five working groups that were established after the 2012 conference to develop action items aimed at leveraging Atlantic Canada's competitive advantages, developing new markets, and enhancing the value of the products and services that regional companies sell abroad.

While the conference is full, there are opportunities to join the conversation through live-stream at www.4frontatlantic.com, or by following Twitter.com/4Front Atlantic.

About the 4Front Atlantic Conference

The 2013 4Front Atlantic Conference will bring together over 200 Atlantic Canadian business and academic thought leaders for the third instalment of a critical undertaking to help Atlantic Canada businesses succeed in a changing global economy.

Building on the two previous conferences, the region's top business leaders will be invited to take concrete actions to leverage our competitive advantage, develop new markets, and enhance the value of the products and services that Atlantic Canadian companies sell abroad.

The 4Front Atlantic Conference, hosted by BMO Financial Group and McInnes Cooper, will feature world-renown speakers, including His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada and Dominic Barton, Worldwide Managing Director, McKinsey & Company.