apboardoftrade.com

China 2012 Info Session

Wed, 16 May 2012 09:30:41 PST

China 2012 Info Session - June 12th

Who?: Anyone who has ever wanted to see China.
What?: No obligation China 2012 Info Session
When?: June 12th from 5:00-7:00 pm.
Where?: APBOT Boardroom 3-144 Old Kingston Rd, Ajax.
How?: Simply RSVP by calling the APBOT office at 905 686 0883 or email us.

The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade is giving you the chance to see China in luxury at an unbeatable price this October. The cost for your twelve day China tour is only $2199 for Board Members.

2012 Business Links Golf Tournament

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:55:20 PST

Business Links Golf Tournament

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Lakeridge Links Golf Club

Click to register online: May 24 Golf

June 6 O'Dette Presentation

Fri, 11 May 2012 16:57:23 PST

Luncheon Presentation
with
Allan O’Dette
President & CEO, Ontario Chamber of Commerce

Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Deer Creek Golf Clubs
11:30 - 1:30 p.m.

Click to register online: June 6 luncheon

Event Sponsors:

June 7 Lunch & Learn

Thu, 10 May 2012 15:20:52 PST

Lunch & Learn

"The Keys to Unlocking the Value in Your Business"

June 7, 2012
11:30am - 1:00pm
Click here to register online: June 7 L&L

June 12 Networking Breakfast

Wed, 09 May 2012 16:04:12 PST

Networking Breakfast at…

Cora's Breakfast & Lunch

Tuesday, April 10, 2012
7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

Click here to register online: June 12

Event Sponsor:

Safari After 5

Wed, 09 May 2012 11:47:22 PST

Networkers Mix it Up at Safari

Kirk Paty of series sponsor R & G Auto Centre and Kim Murray from event sponsor Manpower share a word.

There was a great turn out for our ‘Networking After 5’ event at Safari Bar and Grill in Ajax last night. Networkers were divided into small groups where each person got one minute to present themselves and their business to the group. After everyone had spoken, the groups were mixed up and the process began anew. By the end of the night each networker had spoken three times, each time to a different group of people. Lots of business cards were exchanged and the reaction to this format was quite positive. Networkers also enjoyed very tasty snacks courtesy of Safari. The event sponsor for last night’s event was Manpower and the series sponsors for Networking After 5 are Ajax Rotary Club, The Callery Group, Johnson Inc., and R&G Auto Centre.

McHappy Day 2012

Wed, 02 May 2012 13:23:25 PST

APBOT President Lends a McHappy Hand

L to R: Robyn and Bradley Jacobson,McDonald's Ajax franchise owners; Harry Yetman from APBOT Annual Title Sponsor First Durham Insurance and Financial; 2012 APBOT President Gary Strange, also from First Durham; Sue Bolton, Marketing Manager, Greg DeMan from the Ajax Fire Department and Sandra Causey, McHappy Day Coordinator.

APBOT 2012 President Gary Strange paid a visit to McDonald's on Bayly Street in Ajax today to lend a hand with the restaurant's McHappy Day charitable initiative. This is the 19th annual McHappy Day, a day when more than 1400 McDonald’s restaurants across Canada celebrate the company's best-known and longest-running fundraising event. Since its inception the event has raised nearly $35 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Canada and other local children's Charities.

As per tradition with this event, Bradley Jacobson, the local franchisee of 4 Ajax restaurants invited Mr. Strange and other civic and community leaders to join in the festivities. This year, in addition to the New Toronto Ronald McDonald House, support will go to Grandview Children's Foundation.

Plumberssupply.ca Level 1 Eco Business

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:31:02 PST

Plumberssupply.ca is an Eco Business

L to R: Lisa Mantia - Office Manager; Judy Gaw, Eco Environment Plus; 2012 APBOT President Gary Strange from First Durham Insurance and Financial; Gus Mantia - Owner/President; Tracy Chala, Town of Ajax; Viktor Zakojc - Assistant Manager; Anthony Mantia - Assistant Manager; Joseph Mantia - Vice President.

2012 APBOT President Gary Strange and representatives of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade's Eco Business Advisory Committee (EBAC) paid a visit to plumberssupply.ca's location in Ajax this morning to present them with their Level 1 Eco Business certificate. The Board of Trade's award winning Eco Business Program promotes green business practices and recognizes businesses that take steps to reduce their ecological footprint. Tracey Chala from the Town of Ajax was also on hand for the presentation. Chala sits on EBAC and also helped to develop the Eco Business checklist. Congratulations to Plumberssupply.ca for taking this important step. If you'd like to become an eco business, click here.

Benefits of Membership Orientation Event

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:04:03 PST

Benefits of Membership Orientation at Pickering Public Library

Bob Weese of B2B Sales Connections illustrates the point of the need for proper training by way of a visual metaphor. Samantha Brighton of ScotiaMcLeod plays along but was reluctant to fence without experience. Bob was discussing the Chamber eLearning Plan.

There was a strong turn out on Thursday, April 26th at the Pickering Public Library for our Benefits of Membership Orientation. Members and future members joined representatives from a number of the Board of Trade's Benefit Partners and learned how they can take advantage of services offered to APBOT members. The lunch was sponsored by Hardiman Mount & Associates and catered by Special Moments Catering.

April Manufacturers Seminar

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:32:01 PST

Demystifying Performance Management
Next Generation of Manufacturers Event a Success

The Panel. L to R: Stephen Parrott, Partner FOCUS Management; Lorelei Hepburn, President – Environmental Factor Inc.; and Dorin Radu, Corporate Managing Director – Nelson Industrial Inc.

On April 25th, the Ajax Pickering Board of Trade hosted their next installment in their 'Next Generation of Manufacturers' series. This time the focus was on performance management and the forum discussion had a top notch panel of experts including Dorin Radu of Nelson Industrial, Lorelei Helpburn of The Environmental Factor and Stephen Parrot of FOCUS Management. The breakfast event was facilitated by Bob Weese of B2B Sales and was made possible with the help of our partners at the Region of Durham, the Town of Ajax and the City of Pickering.

May 8 Networking After 5

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 11:47:50 PST

Networking After 5

at the Safari Bar & Grill, Ajax, L1S 6L3

Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

Thank you to our Event Sponsors:

2011 Ajax Volunteer Recognition Awards

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:56:23 PST

APBOT and Two Members Honoured at Ajax Volunteer Recognition Awards

On April 19, the Town of Ajax presented the 2011 Volunteer Recognition Awards to honour the achievements and contributions of dedicated community volunteers.

This year the Board of Trade took home an award as well as two of our Ajax based members. Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Members Margaret Campbell of the Pickering Village Ice Cream Shoppe and Cultural Expressions Gallery both received the Arts & Culture award. Chocolate Margaret was recognized for her leadership in coordinating the Pickering Village Jazz, Arts and Music festival. Cultural Expression Gallery was honoured for its "continued commitment to promote the rich cultural diversity of our community through events and public exhibitions."

The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade was presented with the Environment award for our leading efforts in promoting sustainable business practices to our membership though the Eco Business program.

Level III Eco Biz Launch

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:44:22 PST

APBOT Officially Launches Level III of
Eco Business Program

OPG and Monarch Kitchen and Bath Centre Achieve Level III

L to R: Mayor Dave Ryan of Pickering; 2012 APBOT President Gary Strange of First Durham Insurance and Financial, Ajax Town Councillor Joanne Dies; EBAC Chair Peter Forint of Wardell Professional Development; Judy Gaw of Eco Environment Plus; Sarah Overholt of Monarch Kitchen & Bath Centre; Don Terry of Ontario Power Generation; Chris Vale of CLH Designs; Tracy Chala of the Town of Ajax; Michelle Pearce of the City of Pickering; Andrew Ross of Green Diamond Industries; Peter Bashaw, representing Pickering/Scarborough East MP, Corneliu Chisu and, Phil Bingham of The Green Window Company.

AJAX, April 23, 2012 – The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade (APBOT) officially launched Level III of their Eco Business Program at the APBOT Offices today at 1:30 pm. The release of the Level III Checklist marks the third and final step in the Board's Award Winning Eco Business Program. Companies that have completed Levels I and II of the program are eligible to submit their Level III checklist and certificates are granted to companies that achieve compliance with 80% or higher on the checklist.

Eco-Business Program

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 09:38:13 PST

Be an Eco-Business

The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade is proud to offer this free program to our members. Your company can be an Eco Business and an Eco-Certificate.

The program is divided into three levels. All you have to do to get started is dowload the Level 1 checklist and get started. Any member of our Eco Business Advisory Committee would be happy to help you through the process so email us if you have any questions.

Click here to download the Level I checklist.

Click here to download the Level II checklist.

Click here to download the Level III checklist.

20 Minute Makeover April 2012

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 17:00:35 PST

20 Minute Makeover at Lynn Heights Park

L to R: Judy Gaw of Eco Environment Plus, Phil Bingham of the Green Window Company, EBEC Chair Peter Forint of Wardell Professional Development, 2012 APBOT Chair Gary Strange of First Durham Insurance and Financial, Lynn Winterstein of the City of Pickering and Iris Nicolaison of APBOT. Front: Molly.

On Friday April 20th, members of The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade's Eco Business Advisory Committee along with some council members met at Lynn Heights Park in Pickering as part of that City's 20 Minute Makeover. The APBOT crew made short work of the litter found in the park that the Board of Trade adopted in 2009.

Toronto Zoo is an Eco Business

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:25:56 PST

The Toronto Zoo is an Eco Business

L to R: Peter Simpson – Business Development Officer; Martin Sisler – Supervisor, Safety & Security; Peter Vasilopoulos – Supervisor, Purchasing & Supply; Melissa Filice – Student Researcher, Reproductive Programs & Research; Christine Gilman – Research Assistant, Reproductive Programs & Research; Nia Gibson – Education for Sustainable Development Coordinator; Andrew Ross, Green Diamond Industries; Peter Forint, Wardell Professional Development and EBAC Chair; Robyn Pimm – MSc candidate, Reproductive Programs & Research; Dyann Powley – Assistant to the Executive Director of Conservation, Education & Wildlife; Chris Dutton – Veterinarian; Dawn Mihailovic – Wildlife Health Technician.

It should not come as a surprise that the Toronto Zoo is an Eco Business. The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Member has been actively engaged in environmental work on several fronts with their Phone Apes recycling program, their Eco Executives program and more. Most recently, however, the Zoo completed their Level I Eco Business Checklist. Members of APBOT’s Eco Business Advisory Committee paid a visit to the zoo to present employees with their Level 1 certificate.

2011 GR Survey Results Released

Wed, 18 Apr 2012 09:16:02 PST

Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade Releases Results of Annual Government Relations Survey

AJAX, April 18, 2012 – The Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade (APBOT) is pleased to officially release the results of their 2011 Annual Government Relations Survey. The survey had an excellent response rate and the results clearly provided the Ajax-Pickering Board of trade with a renewed mandate to continue to advocate on issues. Specifically, respondents prioritized the completion of 407 to 115/35, the need for improved broadband access, support employers in retraining existing employees, the reduction of theft and vandalism and improved public transportation.

The majority of responses were consistent among employers of all sizes. We did note, however that two issues were amplified for employers with over 100 employees: Improved public transportation and the reduction of theft and vandalism.

BEA 2012 Call for Nominations

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 15:27:27 PST

April Networking Breakfast

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 17:43:01 PST

Ajax Council Chambers Provides Perfect Setting for Breakfast Networking

Ajax Council Chambers provided a great setting for April's Breakfast Networking Event.

Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade members assembled at the Ajax Council Chambers for this month's Networking Breakfast event. Food was provided by Sher's 5 Star Catering and the series is sponsored by ServiceMaster of Durham and Durham Community Foundation.

April Lunch and Learn

Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:40:40 PST

April Lunch & Learn a Success

Scott Korney of Gryphon Systems facilitated the Lunch & Learn.

On April 5th, members of the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade attended a Lunch & Learn entitled “ Is It Finally Time To Buy a New Computer?". The session, which was was presented by Scott Korney of Gryphon Systems, helped attendees:

Identify the critical components of their existing PC
Understand which computer upgrades make sense
Understand tools that can help with cleaning up and optimizing a PC
Determine if upgrading or replacing is the best option.

Rene St. Aubin from Making the Phone Ring shared his opinion on the Lunch & Learn with this testimonial.