Bridges to Better Business 2025 a Resounding Success, Offering Clear Pathways to Growth

On Wednesday, October 22nd, the Cornwall & Area Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre, was thrilled to welcome a  local entrepreneurs and business leaders to the Ramada by Wyndham for our annual Bridges to Better Business summit.

This year's theme was "Pathways to Growth". The morning was packed with practical strategies, invaluable networking, and expert insights designed to help our local businesses thrive.

The day kicked off with a dynamic keynote address from Andrew Patricio, the award-winning founder of BizLaunch. In his "Pathways to Growth" talk, Andrew shared his straightforward, practical approach to scaling a business. He challenged attendees to start with a clear 5-year vision and break it down into specific, measurable SMART goals for the year and every 90 days. His message was that successful owners are "intentional, persistent, and committed", focusing on streamlining processes to reduce stress and "work smarter, not harder". Click here to view Andrew's presentation.

Following the inspiring keynote, attendees chose from three expert-led workshops, each providing a roadmap for a different stage of the business journey:

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• START Strong: Cristian Urroz of Urroz Brand Studio presented the "Roadmap to Building Your Brand". He demystified branding, defining it as the "perception" you create through consistent storytelling. Attendees left with a 5-step roadmap (Groundwork, Identity, Presence, Micro Moments, and Review & Refine) to build a brand that is clear, consistent, and memorable.

• GROW Strategically: François Bruyère, Commercial Account Manager at Desjardins, delivered "Buying for Growth: Mastering the Business Acquisition Journey". He provided invaluable guidance for entrepreneurs looking to expand, covering how to identify the right target, when to engage a lender, how to structure a successful deal, and what common pitfalls to avoid.
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• STREAMLINE Operations: Nel-Kevin Junior Dubois of Lifet Media wowed the crowd with "Automating Engagement: From First Contact to Client in Minutes". He demonstrated how AI-powered automation can save businesses an average of 125 hours per year and increase revenue by 25%. His live demo proved how responding to an inquiry within five minutes makes you 100 times more likely to close a new client.

An event of this caliber is a true community effort, and we are incredibly grateful for our partners and sponsors.

A huge thank you to our event partners, the Cornwall SDG Business Enterprise Centre. Their collaboration and dedication are essential to this event's success, and we specifically want to recognize the hard work of Mireille Lemire and Ana Porporo.

We also extend our deepest gratitude to our generous sponsors:

• Desjardins, our official Breakfast Sponsor
• Ramada by Wyndham Cornwall, our gracious host venue
• Cornwall City Press
• Wing House Cornwall
• Aero Concept Systems

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Finally, thank you to all the entrepreneurs who attended. Your energy and commitment to growth are what make the Cornwall & Area business community so strong. We look forward to seeing you implement these new strategies and achieve new pathways to success.

In The News:

https://www.standard-freeholder.com/news/andrew-patricio-bridges-to-better-business-cornwall

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