News

A virtual roundtable discussing opportunities, challenges, and successes for Indigenous women entrepreneurs in Prince Edward Island!Ashley Richard, National indigenous Outreach and Partnership Development Lead for Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub is hosting a series of virtual roundtable discussion events for Indigenous Women entrepreneurs and those organizations supporting them.

At this Zoom roundtable, Indigenous women will have the opportunity to share their experiences as an entrepreneur, what needs they have as business owners, any challenges faced, and in light of recent events, will have the opportunity to share how COVID-19 has affected them. The purpose of this roundtable is to assist WEKH in creating a comprehensive needs analysis on Indigenous women entrepreneurs.

Registration for this event is through Eventbrite at this link: https://bit.ly/3fEAjjX

Register to attend the Roundtable HERE.

PEIBWA COVID-19 Operational Update:

Beginning on Monday, June 1st the Rural Women's Business Centre will be open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, operating with strict protocols regarding sanitization and social distancing.  If you'd like to learn more about the Centre, its programs and services, please contact Manager Shelley Jessop, at shelley@peibwa.org or 902-213-7902.  

PEIBWA staff will also begin to be available in the Charlottetown office on a rotating basis operating with strict protocols regarding sanitization and social distancing. We invite you to call us first at 902-892-6040 before stopping by.

PEIBWA Special General Meeting

Monday, June 8, 2020 online via Zoom 10:00 am - 11:00 am

May 25, 2020 Dear Members, You may recall that due to inclement weather, we were forced to reschedule the 2020 PEIBWA Annual General Meeting from Thursday, February 27th to Friday, February 28th.  Although the meeting went ahead on that date, we did not have quorum (a minimum of 20 current members eligible to vote).  The result of this is that a number of important matters required by PEIBWA's by-laws could not be verified that day. In order to address and complete those outstanding matters, we are holding a Special General Meeting online (via Zoom) on Monday, June 8, 2020 from 10:00 am - 11:00 am.  It is essential that a minimum of 20 current members eligible to vote join us for that hour to ensure a quorum.   We hope you can join us for this important event which will give you an opportunity to learn more about our plans for the year ahead and to cast your vote on important proposed Resolutions intended to improve the governance of the organization. Pre-registration for the meeting is required at this link.  Once you have registered, you will receive Zoom login information for the meeting. We hope you will be able to join us on June 8th and I invite you to contact me should you have any questions. Margaret Magner Executive Director Prince Edward Island Business Women's Association margaret@peibwa.org (902) 892-6040 www.peibwa.org

The PEI Business Women's Association 2020 Symposium is the premier event for women in business in PEI. Due to the ongoing public health restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Symposium has been rescheduled to Tuesday, October 6 at the Florence Simmons Hall, located on the Charlottetown campus of Holland College

This one-day annual event attracts a full spectrum of women in business from across the Island including start-up entrepreneurs, established business owners, mid-career business professionals, urban and rural entrepreneurs, newcomers launching their businesses, and students.

We are currently seeking proposals for Symposium keynote speakers and workshop leaders.

Please complete the online form at this link to submit your proposal. 

Deadline for submissions is Friday, May 15, 2020. 

Lucky Bee Homestead is a small farm in Murray Harbour North owned and operated by Sabine & Michael Schoenknecht.  They manufacture authentic German food like mustard, low sugar jam, glazed almonds, as well as bread and soups.

Michael and Sabine bought their “little piece of heaven” in early spring 2013 when they moved to the Island.  They both grew up in families where the tradition was to grow and preserve food for winter. They were making jams, pickles, sauerkraut and canned all vegetables coming from their garden. “There is nothing better than to open a glass of jam or veggies in the middle of winter - bringing the summer back into the house!” Sabine explains: “I didn't really like my job as a cashier and I wanted to provide some healthy food for the people.” They started on a part-time basis 3 years ago but have been operating it on a full-time basis for the past 2 years.

“We use as many natural or organic ingredients in our products as possible, we treat our animals and our land with respect, and being sustainable and green is our top priority.”

Cooking was always a big part of Sabine’s life. She is a trained chef and hospitality specialist who worked in many different high-end restaurants, hotels and cruise ships. She also a degree as a hotel & restaurant business economist. Michael joined her passion and is now the creative part of their little enterprise.

Covid-19 has affected the business in a big way. “Our main work is to travel to different shows and promote our mustard off Island - people need to try the difference to pay the higher price for it. So not be able to do that, it is difficult to promote that side of business and sell the product. We are starting again making bread, soups and other comfort food to gain revenue and maybe not be forced to use any government help. This situation taught me again, I was a big believer in that before, that we have to focus on buy local and not be dependent on foreign companies. Everybody should have a little garden to provide them self with some food - or know how to cook and bake.”

They sold soup during the first year of business, and recently reintroduced them to their product line. The business has shifted more focus towards social media. It already had an online shop established prior to COVID-19 pandemic, so it was more of a matter of adjusting to offer more items for delivery locally and re-introducing items that they used to sell as a means of increasing revenues. The business has seen a significant increase in local sales and the local community has been very supportive They are offering delivery for orders over $30 from Summerside to Montague. Delivery will be on Saturdays. 

When asked what their biggest challenges related to the pandemic have been Sabine said “The health regulations (which are necessary), the pricing of the products, getting into stores on and off the Island. Hard work and education - networking.”

And when asked about successes she shared “Within a year we managed to get into 20 shops off-Island and several on the Island which are mostly seasonal. We’ve been in the news last year in Nova Scotia, and we were featured in several magazines like Saltscapes and Salty. Success is also the smile on the face of people who try our mustard and other products.”

Lucky Bee Homestead

Sabine & Michael Schoenknecht

luckybeehomestead.com

luckybeehomestead@yahoo.com

902.326.9017

PEI Business Women’s Association

Business Development and Membership Officer

PEI Business Women’s Association is seeking a professional and qualified team player as its Business Development and Membership Officer. The Officer will design and coordinate a comprehensive business advisory program to better serve our PEIBWA members across the Island. The Officer will also build and strengthen PEIBWA membership in a variety of sectors including women in trades, technology, and STEM fields; students; newcomers; indigenous women, women with disabilities; and women in rural areas.

Reporting to the Executive Director, these are the responsibilities of this position:

1. Assess PEIBWA’s membership base and develop a membership growth plan.
2. Identify and respond to the business needs of PEIBWA members and grow membership.
3. Attend meetings, events and workshops to network with members and potential members -- including the PEIBWA annual Symposium, the PEIBWA AGM, workshops and networking mixers – and then follow up with prospective members.
4. Develop and promote a series of member benefits with consistent marketing and branding.
5. Promote better communication with members using the Wild Apricot customer relationship management system.
6. Design and implement a Business Development Advisory Program to identify the challenges of business ownership and management, and deliver customized solutions.
7. Coordinate and deliver Business Advisory services to PEIBWA members across the Island related to business planning, financial management, sales and revenue growth, marketing, exporting, and other business functions.
8. Collect and document business growth metrics and client notes from each participant for ongoing follow-up and client success tracking,
9. Manage an effective, robust and accountable database system.
10. Some travel throughout the province at times and extended hours of work will be required.
11. Other duties as required by the Executive Director.

Formal Education and Experience:

1. Degree in business administration or a relevant field of study from a recognized university. An MBA degree is an asset.
2. At least 3 years of increasingly more responsible experience managing a business.
3. Experience in entrepreneurship counselling.
4. Experience in managing resources.
5. Knowledge of the challenges experienced by women business owners and professionals, including those in underserved groups.
6. Familiarity with the Wild Apricot customer relationship management system is preferred.
7. Work in a self-directed environment, take initiative, and represent the organization professionally.
8. Get along with supervisors and co-workers, respect the leadership of the organization, work harmoniously as part of a team, and deal effectively with situations that involve attitudes, opinions and feelings of others.
9. Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; essential computer skills for word processing, maintaining client records, preparing presentations, and producing handout materials.
10. Bilingualism (an asset).

This position will be based in the Charlottetown office, but will coordinate the program across the province. The Officer will be expected to travel throughout the province at times and extended hours of work may be required. Other duties may be assigned by the Executive Director.

Qualified applicants should forward an electronic resume and cover letter to Margaret Magner, Executive Director, PEI Business Women’s Association  HERE. For more information, send an ​email in confidence to margaret@peibwa.org with “Business Development and Membership Officer” in the subject line.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 2020.  

Thank you to all that apply; however, only those that are selected for an interview will be contacted.

Your PEIBWA team is continuing to work on your behalf while the COVID-19 pandemic continues.  We are meeting electronically each morning, sharing information, and brainstorming new ways to better serve you.

Our physical office spaces continue to be closed, but we are eager to connect with you by telephone or online. Please contact us at office@peibwa.org or 902-892-6040 to leave a voicemail message which will be returned promptly. You can reach Shelley Jessop, Manager of our Rural Women's Business Centre at shelley@peibwa.org or on her cell at 902-213-7902.

We encourage you to stay in touch with our upcoming news and events through our social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn) and our weekly e-newsletter which you may subscribe to at this link. 

Megalee Carpentry and Renovations

Jennifer Luce has worked in the construction industry for many years as an apprentice carpenter and is now a Red Seal carpenter. Jennifer Pellerin has a Bachelor’s in Business Administration and has worked in both sales and management roles. In 2019, inspired by other women who are in business for themselves, they decided to take the leap and start their own company - and Megalee Carpentry and Renovations was born!

 
”We aspire to be role models for other women, especially ones looking to enter the trades or other male-dominated industries,” says Pellerin. Taking that first leap of faith into starting our own business was scary. Having a lot of people behind us and supporting us as mentors, customers, or as cheerleaders have been instrumental in our successes.”
 
In 2019 Jennifer and Jennifer were awarded the “Brewing for Better Balance Fund” sponsored by PEIBWA member Samuels Coffee House in Summerside. They received $2000  they used to purchase power tools and for which they are “forever grateful” to the fund’s contributors. In return, they plan to help support the fund in the coming years.
 
Megalee does a variety of construction and renovation work. Their services include (but are not limited to) renovations, new builds, decks, door replacements, window replacements, sheds, outdoor furniture (tables/chairs/planters), soffit/facia repair, and siding.
 
“When doing renovations, especially on older homes, there are usually a few surprises," explains Pellerin. "However, after running into them time and time again, they are no longer unexpected, and we are well prepared to tackle them!”
 
“As an all-women crew we try to set ourselves apart by giving people a different experience than what they are used to. Some customers have expressed they feel more comfortable having women working in their home. Other customers have said they feel that their needs and worries are being heard. We have many customers who are single women who don’t have anyone “handy” in their lives. We have customers who are men, who may be handy but just want the job done and don’t want to waste their weekends doing it themselves. We want to help people, not judge them," says Luce. 
 
Megalee has enjoyed what the partners call an “excellent” first year in operation, and they credit their success to their “awesome customers and contacts within the industry.”  They have been gearing up for the busy Spring season, but impact of the COVID1-19 has resulted in’s a very unpredictable time for the young company.

"We were hoping to have a head start this year compared to last year when we started in April, so it’s not quite going as we had hoped," Pellerin says. "We are currently finishing up a siding job on a new build. We are fortunate to have a project where there are no other people on site at the moment so we can continue to work for now. However, we have had to put our upcoming projects on hold and are no longer making house calls to meet with customers about their projects. We are still taking phone calls and email requests for estimates. We are making a list of first come first serve so we can go to them as soon as we have the all-clear!"
 
Megalee Carpentry and Renovations
Jennifer Luce and Jennifer Pellerin
1-902-303-2884
megaleecarpentry@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Megaleecarpentry

The PEI Business Women’s Association would like to thank Lori Robinson of Eric C. Robinson Inc. for her generous support of PEIBWA’s Rural Women’s Business Centre and rural women in PEI. Thanks to Robinson’s sponsorship, we are able to offer a private office space at our Centre in Central Bedeque for free from January 1 to March 31, 2020.

The private office space will be available to be booked in two to three hour time slots, from Monday to Friday, between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm. It can accommodate up to six people comfortably.

“This new space is a wonderful addition to the programs and services being offered at PEIBWA’s Rural Women’s Business Centre,” says Shelley Jessop, manager of the Centre. “We are very grateful for Lori Robinon’s generosity.”

Individuals or groups interested in booking the space should contact Shelley Jessop at shelley@peibwa.org or 902-887-3171.