Made in Alberta Conference and Awards Celebration

Calling all Alberta Makers! Join us at the annual Made in Alberta Conference to take your locally made product further.

Grow your Alberta business with insights shared by other entrepreneurs and experts at this one day, in-person conference, specifically for Alberta makers and producers interested in growing their business. Whether you're making food, drinks, homewares, fashion or any unique product, you'll learn how to better understand your clients, scale your business and share your local story. 

Learn local, grow local, think global.

What to expect:

• Presentations and panels on how to start your wholesale journey, and enter the world of global exporting.
• One-on-one speed consulting sessions with B2B and Management consultants.
• Moderated discussions with founders of co-working spaces, chocolate shops and coffee houses on the benefits of a physical space.
• Industry networking opportunities and roundtable discussions.
• Workshops on social media branding, how to pitch to local media.
• Presentations on decolonizing your business practices.
• A Product Photobooth: Get free, professional, product photography shots to spruce up your marketing!
• And more!

Following the conference, join us for a cocktail hour and awards ceremony to celebrate the winners of the fourth annual Made in Alberta Awards. 

Schedule
 *Subject to change. Check back as this page continues to be updated!

8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Doors Open and Registration
Check-in at the registration desk to the left of the Main library doors.
Pick up hot coffee and pastries on your way to the Performance Hall.

NOTE: The Library will not allow any conference attendees to enter the library between 8:45 and 9 a.m.
Please arrive before 8:45 or after 9.

 

9:15 a.m. Opening Remarks — Performance Hall
Welcome remarks by Avenue.

 

9:30 a.m. Choose your session:

1A) The Do's and Don'ts of Brick-and-Mortars — Performance Hall
In a time where e-commerce and digital storefronts rule, some businesses might wonder what the new rules of retail stores are. Join Anne Sellmer, founder, cōchu chocolatier, Mike Wenzlawe, vice-president and co-founder, Calgary Heritage Roasting Company and Jamie Parker, president and co-founder, Calgary Heritage Roasting Company as they dish on the pros and cons and do's and don'ts of opening brick-and-mortars and how their products have found success with physical, retail stores. This discussion will be moderated by Avenue editor-in-chief Shelley Arnusch with an audience Q&A to follow.

1B) What to Think About If You Want VC (Venture Capital) Funding — BMO Room
It can be easy to pigeonhole the idea of venture capital funding as reserved exclusively for tech companies. In fact, private financing is all about investing in the potential and perceived success of any businesses or products, but more importantly, the people behind them. In this presentation by Daniel Monzon, CEO, CATAPULT STARTUPS, learn what venture capital funding is (and isn’t), why you should consider seeking it for your product-based business and how to find it right here in Alberta.

 

10:30 a.m. Choose your session:

2A) The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Going Global — Performance Hall
Learn about the highs and lows of getting into export from local businesses just like yours that are succeeding at growing into new markets! Join Zak Briggs, director of public affairs, Goodlawyer, Troy Finnigan, CEO, ROK, Aimee Bartesko, founder, Skin N.V.; co-founder, Emberhurst and Matt Sando, sales manager, Jori Logistics, in this panel moderated by Shona Reilly, Senior Trade Manager, Calgary Economic Development.

2B) 1-on-1 Speed Consults with Moni, B2B Business Development Consultant — BMO Room
*Pre-registration required*
Get free advice during a 15-minute business development strategy session with Moni Kupczak Ainslie, B2B Business Development Consultant and founder, Koopslie Consulting. Limited availability. Please email Tsering Asha, tleba@redpointmedia.ca to register.

Product Photo booth! — Room 014
Bring your art, crafts, jewelry, handmade goods, food, beverages and more for free professional, product photos.
From 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

 

11:30 a.m. Lunch and Industry Roundtables
Head to the Performance Hall to grab your lunch and then mix and mingle with other attendees from your industry at the industry roundtables in the Performance Hall, Room 013 and BMO Room. Enjoy your lunch while networking with local business owners from across Alberta. Share tips and tricks and form relationships with other like minded entrepreneurs.

Product Photo booth! — Room 014
Bring your art, crafts, jewelry, handmade goods, food, beverages and more for free professional, product photos.
From 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

 

1:00 p.m. Choose your session:

3A) Wholesale Masterclass: Get Your Locally Made Product Ready for Wholesale — Performance Hall
Do you want to sell your products to stores or get more wholesale orders from your existing accounts? Learn what you need to have ready to start selling your products to stores, the steps to take on your wholesale journey before you approach buyers, how to collect more orders and reorders, maintain your wholesale accounts, and grow your business with ease, in this presentation by Moni Kupczak Ainslie, founder, Koopslie Consulting, that is back by popular demand!

3B) 1-on-1 Speed Consults with Daniel Monzon — BMO Room *Pre-registration required*
*Pre-registration required*
Get free advice during a 15-minute business development strategy session with Daniel Monzon, CEO, CATAPULT STARTUPS. Limited availability. Please email Tsering Asha, tleba@redpointmedia.ca to register.

Product Photo booth! — Room 014
Bring your art, crafts, jewelry, handmade goods, food, beverages and more for free professional, product photos.
From 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

 

1:55 p.m. Choose your session:

4A) How Can Coworking Spaces Work for You? — Performance Hall
Coworking has come a long way from solitary “hot-desks” and dial-up internet geared towards freelancers or remote workers. Join Andrew Obrecht, co-founder, Culinary Coworking, Jesse Brown, general manager, ShedPoint Ventures; vice-president Innovation & Technology, Durum Capital and Jordan Tetreau, co-founder, TradeSpace to explore how coworking has evolved and can be a great solution for smaller-based businesses. This panel will be moderated: by Käthe Lemon, president, RedPoint Media Group.

4B) Build Your Brand 101: How to Brand and Pitch Your Product Online and to the Media — BMO Room
Establishing the voice of your brand or product can feel like a colossal undertaking. But once you’ve aligned your goals and your voice it can be even easier for you to make media, whether online or traditional, work for you. Join Avenue’s managing editor Dominique Lamberton and social media and digital marketing consultant Dakota Kidby, principal and owner of Social Centric Inc., for this discussion and workshop on preparing a media kit, the basics and trends in content creation, scheduling and growth and of course, when and how to outsource all of those tasks! This discussion will be moderated by Tsering Asha, Avenue’s Special Projects Editor.

Product Photo booth! — Room 014
Bring your art, crafts, jewelry, handmade goods, food, beverages and more for free professional, product photos.
From 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

 

 

2:55 p.m. Choose your session:

5A) How to Have Success at Local Art Markets — Performance Hall
Watch as Nichole Windblad, owner, director and producer of Art Market, demonstrates the top tips for artisans who want to have resounding success at local art markets. In this updated presentation that includes a segment on “thinking outside the box” as an artist, Nichole will bring a selection of actual handmade products, arts and crafts that are currently some of the most innovative and unique art pieces to have come through Art Market, on display for the audience q&a.

5B) Risky Business: Managing Through Uncertainty with connectFirst Credit Union — BMO Room
Learn the ins-and-outs of risk management and how to weather the storms of business uncertainty in this presentation by Ed Straw, executive vice president, commercial and agriculture, connectFirst Credit Union.

3:55 p.m. Choose your session:

Session 6A) Decolonizing Your Business: Moving Towards Reconciliation and Decolonization with pipikwan pêhtâkwan —Performance Hall
Discover what decolonization means and how to think about incorporating decolonial practices in your business in this presentation by pipikwan pêhtâkwan founder, Shani Gwin and director of engagement, Elliott Young.

Session 6B) Forecast Your Financial Future with MNP: An Introduction to Making Your Financial Statements Work for You —BMO Room 
In this discussion with MNP's Jory Soubiran management consultant and business advisor and Lauren Carlos, CPA CA, get ready to dive into the nuts and bolts of truly understanding the power of your financial statements to make more efficient and profitable decisions now and in the future. Gain an appreciation for financial forecasting, balance sheets and cash flow statements before touching on the key trends and challenges SMEs face today. Exploring how reporting, forecasting and benchmarking are vital tools to the success of your business.

5:00 p.m. Cocktail Reception and Networking Hour
Cap-off the conference with a cocktail reception and networking hour on the mezzanine of the Performance Hall before the 2022 Awards Ceremony.

 

6:30 p.m. Made in Alberta Awards Ceremony
Avenue is very proud to honour the winners of the 2022 Made in Alberta Awards at this in-person trophy ceremony and presentation. Join us and representatives of the Made in Alberta Awards sponsors as we highlight all of the amazing, Alberta makers and products from this year’s competition as well as the Overall Grand Prize winner who will receive a $5,000 cash award.