Erin Blaskie is a born entrepreneur, yoga enthusiast and passionate fashionista. Erin Blaskie started her first company at the age of 21.  After launching BSETC, a professional outsourcing team, she joined forces with some of the top Internet Marketers to support, build, grow and sell some amazing companies.  To date, Erin and her team have serviced over 300 entrepreneurs in countless countries around the world.

Five years and a few more businesses later, Erin has put her hands on every style of business out there.  Always one to figure out how things on the Internet work, she has made it her livelihood to experiment with the latest technologies, ideas and to even create concepts that didn’t exist before.

As a multi-faceted entrepreneur, Erin has been featured in three print books; honoured as Office Arrow’s 2008 Runner-Up Business Woman of the Year; interviewed by countless gurus and media personalities; featured in major news outlets such as ABC and CBC; and asked to speak at both national and international events.


Date & Time: Tuesday February 16, 2010, 7:00pm
Venue: Lago Restaurant at Dows Lake Pavilion
Topic: An Entrepreneurial Mom Shares Her Journey of Success
Speaker: Shari Westman of Comfort Keepers

Shari Westman knows success. Shari won the 2008 Greater Nepean Chamber of Commerce, Businesswoman of the Year Award, grew her business from a staff of zero to over 90 people in 5 years. How did she do it? What did she learn along the way? How can you copy her success? Come to our February meeting and learn the secrets from Shari, over wine and appetizers, all while networking with other dynamic Entrepreneurial Moms, just like you!

About Shari Westman
Shari Westman owns and operates the local office of Comfort Keepers, a growing business that provides one to one care and support to help individuals remain more independent at home. She is the 2008 recipient of the Greater Nepean Chamber of Commerce, Businesswoman of the Year award.

Shari had a successful career working in a Human Resources capacity within the high tech sector. After the birth of her second daughter, she realized that she wanted to pursue a strong desire to operate her own company, connect with her community and be a positive role-model to her daughters. Comfort Keepers is very much a Human Resources organization, making use of her expertise in hiring and retaining people and building strong teams.

Now almost 5 years after opening Comfort Keepers, Shari’s company employs roughly 90 individuals. Comfort Keepers support seniors at home, in retirement homes and long-term care facilities throughout the Ottawa.

Shari lives in Kanata and balances her company with life at home as hockey mom, with her husband, their two daughters.

Date: Tuesday March 30, 2010, 7:00pm
Topic: Build Your Business Series: Get Spicy + Savvy About Your Marketing and Design  
Speakers: Bronwyn Hammel and Carrie Irvine of Cinnamon Toast New Media and Blackbird Communications 
Venue: Lago Bar-Grill-View Restaurant - Dows Lake Pavilion- Map

About Bronwyn Hammel and Carrie Irvine
The girls at Cinnamon Toast New Media and Blackbird Communications have teamed up to create Spicy + Savvy - marketing and design packages that help put your company in the spotlight!

Why Spicy? Because Bronwyn Hammell, Cinnamon Toast New Media, will spice up your brand so that it never looked so delicious! With a degree in Fine Arts from Ryerson University, she has an imaginative, fresh approach that will bring your company's vision to life through creative design.

Why Savvy? Because Carrie Irvine, Blackbird Communications, has over 20 years of experience in marketing. As Marketing Director at two of Ottawa's premier shopping destinations, she has developed campaigns with big ideas, fresh insight and bold results. As the creator and owner of a retail destination, she knows how to put your business on the map.

Together, the girls plan and dream BIGGER and BETTER by combining their experience, talent and creativity to provide marketing that inspires action and makes you stand out. With two perspectives and skill sets, they have created SIMPLE, EASY and AFFORDABLE ways for you to stay in eTouch with your clients. Spicy + Savvy Motto: "If you're dreaming alone, you're not dreaming big enough!"

Date: Tuesday April 13, 2010, 6:30pm
Topic: Love Your Body Series: Yoga for Entrepreneurial Moms - Tools for Recharging and Finding Balance for High-Performing Women
Speaker: Donna Davis of  Movement to Health
Venue: Joan of Arc School  - Map - free parking!

Bring your yoga pants to this exciting and relaxing session!  Donna Davis, the premier Yoga guru in Ottawa and Host of Yoga for Runners on Rogers TV, will discuss her path to success in the health movement. Afterwards she will lead us through an hour long yoga class – reminding us that to be successful we need to take care of all aspects of our life. Love your body and your business at the same time. Join other women who share the same fundamental beliefs as you - to create a work – family balance. We will save plenty of time for networking as well! 

About Donna Davis

Movement to Health is my dream come true. In 1999 with my passion for healthy living and for inspiring others to embrace the many benefits of an active and healthy lifestyle, I set out to start a movement that would educate, inspire and enrich the lives of others through fitness and health.

It began with a few running classes, which grew and grew and grew, and then expanded to include my signature classes Yoga for Runners,  Powerful Woman Yoga Boot Camp, 12-day Whole-Foods Cleanse and Nutrition & Lifestyle Counseling.  My dream has evolved into a thriving venture, with the recent opening of the Movement to Health Centre and the premiere of my very own TV series “Yoga for Runners”.

I am proud to be a vegan athlete, competing in races from 5km to marathon, and hope my commitment to non-violence through a plant-based diet inspires many people to adopt the same path. My loves, passions and healthy obsessions include my wonderful family, running, yoga, creating gourmet vegan meals for friends and family, devouring cookbooks, and relaxing on the dock at the cottage with a great glass of wine.

Movement to Health is here to offer you a place from which to begin your very own movement towards health and fitness. Follow your heart, find your inner strength and choose how you want to move. All you have to do is start-start your own movement and you’ll be joining ours.

Namaste, Donna

Donna holds a 200-hour certification in Hatha Yoga and has also completed various training in Ashtanga and Power Yoga, with industry pioneers Beryl Bender-Birch, David Swenson and Brian Kest. She is a Certified Sports Nutrition Consultant, Nationally Certified Group Fitness Trainer, Advanced Resist-A-Ball C.O.R.E. Instructor, TV Host,  marathon runner and coach. Donna is also a Lululemon Ambassador, New Balance sponsored athlete, and a former nominee for the Y-Women Of Distinction Awards for Active Living.

Huge thanks to our Venue Sponsor Joan of Arc Academy!

 

 

Date: Wednesday May 12, 2010, 7:00pm
Topic: Entrepreneurial Mom Britt Pegan Shares Her Inspirational Journey - A Nurture Your Spirit Event
Speaker: Britt Pegan, the Entrepreneurial Mom behind Milkface Nursingwear
Venue: The Milkface Store - 1167 Bank Street

About Britt Pegan

Britt Pegan, a stay at home mom, founded Milkface Nursingwear in 2002. Over time the business grew from an e-commerce website, to an at-home basement boutique, to a single brick and mortar store, to a 2nd store, and now to a brand offering franchise support. Milkface has become the single most recognized brand in Canadian nursingwear.

Milkface Nursingwear is a place where new moms can get the latest in fashionable nursingwear, the widest selection of nursing bras and an unmatched selection of baby carriers. The staff who you'll meet there are all experienced moms who have had the same experiences and challenges that new moms face. Twins, homebirth, ceasarian, VBAC, drugless deliveries and more. Additionally, many are members and leaders of La Leche League Canada, volunteering to aid those who need advice and support from other moms who've been there. A Milkface store is an accepting, non-judgmental environment where new moms can feel comfortable to breastfeed publicly, share their birth story and their opinions on child rearing. Each store has a designated area called the "milkspace" which is used as a breastfeeding lounge as well as an area for drop-ins, clinics, seminars and co-operative marketing opportunities. The milkspace is offered for free to anyone who can bring a benefit to milkface customers.

When not running the business, Britt can be found at home with her husband, whom she works with, and her three children. Britt also offers her time as a volunteer Leader to La Leche League Canada, leading monthly meetings and taking phone days to counsel new moms experiencing challenges with breastfeeding. Britt also lends her time to baby wearing advocacy - another issue she has great passion for. Britt has found a satisfying balance in her life and she's eager to share her story with you.


Join us for this special event and experience Britt's concept as we enjoy our evening at her Bank Street store. What could be more inspiring than seeing firsthand how a fellow Entrepreneurial Mom developed her vision from concept to fruition in her highly successful store? Learn how her idea grew and developed into a family run business, enjoy a fun evening, and leave motivated to make your dream a reality!

 

Topic: A No-Speaker Night of Pure Networking & Socialization!
Venue: SOCIAL Restaurant & Lounge, 537 Sussex Drive

*Beginning June 3, 2010 a new registration option opens up! Members can bring a Non-Member friend for half price!*

Come out and join us for this night of networking and socialization in the upscale restaurant Social located in the Ottawa Market.  Grab a drink and some food and get to know your fellow EMO members.  What a great way to wind down the season!

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Check our EM Ottawa's fantastic and generous sponsors!



See Anna Epp's blog about the EM Ottawa launch!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Contact EM Ottawa Co-Director Janet McCausland (click to email)
Contact EM Ottawa Co-Director Carolyn Mehdi (click to email)