December 2008

The Wisdom of the Dragons

Our Business Person of the Year profile in this month’s issue got me watching Dragons' Den. Understand that I hate reality TV. I consider it women’s answer to spectator sports, a great waste of time with little discernable personal or social benefit. But I found myself watching “the den” even after our Brett Wilson feature was put to bed >

WEB EXCLUSIVE: 6 Questions With Bob Brawn

The Winners’ Circle One-on-Ones are monthly web-exclusive Q&As that bring readers more on the stories behind some of the achievements published in the Winners’ Circle section of Alberta Venture magazine. Each month Alberta Venture salutes those individuals and companies which have been singled out for recognition of their accomplishments >

Best & Worst of 2008

Rebel With a Cause

Let Him Eat Cake

Bob Beeson: president and co-founder, the Cheesecake Cafe >

The Race to the Gulf

Oilsands producers don’t just need more pipeline capacity to crude oil markets; they want it to the right markets. The prize: access to North America’s refining hotbed in Texas and Louisiana. Trouble is, it’s not easy getting there from here >

Wealth, Incorporated

Best & Worst of 2008

Marketing Masquerades as Charity

Question: Where do you draw the line between altruism and advertising? >

Culture Shock Outtakes

Curb Appeal: Downtown Debate Club

A century ago, the Camrose Canadian Club was the toniest time-killer in town. While billiard tables took up the main floor, an upstairs reading room offered international periodicals as fodder for heated discussions >

The Gas Bankers

What if you could hoard natural gas when it’s plentiful and cheap, and sell it onto the market when it’s harder to come by? How a new merchant industry was born in Alberta >

In for the Long Haul

Brent Moore is “officially unemployable.” He wouldn’t have it any other way >

What's Luck Got to Do With It?

Well, luck may help you get a seat on a board of directors. But there’s a lot more to it – part art, part science and a lot of hard work. Highlights from the fourth annual Women on Board Corporate Governance Symposium >

Five Trends To Watch

1. Biofuel buildup. Oil may have come down from its dizzy peak, but there are still at least a dozen biofuel plants going up in Alberta’s agpatch that will help Canada meet its ethanol-blended fuel mandate and lessen dependence on fossil fuels. >

Engaging the Community Spirit

Brian Boulanger, senior vice-president of ARC Financial Corporation >

Second Strings

With the faltering United States economy commanding most of Alberta’s attention, it’s easy to forget the 190 or so other potential trading partners in the world (and not just China and Japan) >

Timing Oil’s Turnaround

A proven prognosticator’s take on when to re-enter the market without getting cut >

Protectionism in a New Guise

On Dec. 10 a special holiday market will be set up at the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association in Calgary. There, citizens can sell and buy goods in return for “Calgary Dollars,” a faux currency only redeemable from other participants. In the same spirit, and with the endorsement of Mayor Stephen Mandel, the independent retailers’ association Keep Edmonton Original declared November “shop local first” month in the capital city, encouraging citizens to patronize locally owned businesses rather than chains >

Lifeblood of an Economy

As oil and gas sources run down in one area and well up in another, North America’s pipeline network continues to evolve >

Santa’s Many Helpers

It all began with in-mall gift wrapping, but now you can outsource any Christmas chore >

The Harder They Fall

Think you’re safe in that corner office? Executives are being ejected from corporate headquarters more frequently than ever. And it takes more than a hefty severance to bounce back from being fired >

An Elephant Barges In

You can’t help but marvel at what an extraordinary year it has been >

Get Over Your Layover

Many airlines are reducing the number of flights they offer, which means fewer non-stop routes. If you’re travelling to a smaller city, flying on your credit card’s points or operating on a travel budget as tight as Iceland’s credit market, chances are you’ll have a layover. Relax: not all airports are bus terminals. Choose carefully, and you may be able to conduct as much business inside the airport as out of it >

Self-Made City

Destination: Airdrie >

Step Up

A slowdown can be the best time to grow, says this Calgary manufacturer >

How to Win the Game

The sales master cashes out and escapes to Bora Bora >

Lightning Strikes Twice

After two aircraft accidents five months apart left A.D. Williams Engineering bereft of its founder, president, business strategist and two CFOs, new president Naseem Bashir leads the firm forward >