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Karen Minty, a new member of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce through her Forty Hours business, is offering individuals the opportunity to build an effective introductory tool that she says will help set them on the right path.

Her upcoming “Elevator Pitch” seminar is one of the latest examples of how Minty is helping make a difference in the community.

The event takes place on Thursday, Nov. 30 at the offices of EXIT Realty (1323 Michigan Ave., Sarnia). The cost is $45 for the 9 a.m. to noon seminar.

To register, email Minty.

Forty Hours is Minty’s umbrella business that she says is about helping individuals and organizations create positive change in the way they present themselves.

“Together, we’ll dig deep to uncover that ‘superpower’ of yours,” said Minty. “We’ll help you to embrace that difference, push it to the forefront, and weave your story in a way that empowers you. Properly told, your story will resonate with people and draw them in as potential clients or investors.”

The “Elevator Pitch” is often can be a first step in that process.

Minty offers workshops, speaking engagements, and individual appointments as a way to help individuals present their message in a clear, concise, and engaging way.

Three new members have come on board recently at the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce.

We are extending a warm welcome to Bricks 4 Kidz, which uses Lego products to provide a fun, hands-on learning and building experience focused on the increasingly important STEM model (short for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Critical thinking for kids is part of what makes Bricks 4 Kidz so popular.

Bricks 4 Kidz is located at 1030 Confederation St, Unit 8A. Owners Stephen Devlin and Celyn Marsh would love to hear from you. They can be contacted at (519) 381-5856.

Another new member is Young Drivers of Canada, locally operated by Alexa and Alex Pape. Previously Alex had worked with great success at Young Drivers in Ottawa. Then a year ago, the couple decided to relocate to the area to be closer to their extended family. “The risk and uncertainty of starting our own business have been so worth it,” said Alexa. “We have truly enjoyed serving Sarnia and area and plan to continue to do so for years to come.”

The third new member is Karen Minty and her fortyhours business. Minty is a professional communicator/facilitator who is featured elsewhere in this newsletter.

We warmly welcome these “newcomers” to the Chamber family!

When the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board was first created, it was firmly focused on training, says Shauna Carr, now its executive director.

“It was even in our name,” says Carr, who runs the small office (there are just two full-time and one part-time staff) that is celebrating 20 years of service. “Some people still refer to us as the Training Board.”

It was those two decades ago that the organization was put in place as part of a joint initiative by the provincial and federal governments, originally to look what training would be required.

“It was an initiative that would bring a local perspective,” says Carr. “The idea being that the local community knew better what was going to be required.”

A decade ago, the current name was adopted and today the SLWDB is funded solely by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development.

“We haven’t had federal funding for several years,” notes Carr, who also serves as co-chair of Workforce Planning West, comprising the nine boards in the western region as part of Workforce Planning Ontario.

Under the current umbrella of services, the SLWDB has doubled down on its goal of better understanding what the local labour market plan for the Sarnia Lambton community should be, basing those projections on a combination of census data an “employer one” survey that is done every January.

“We help employers look to the future and encourage them to look at issues that are going to impact their business,” says Carr.

One of those is the reality that more people are retiring but most companies, the vast majority being small businesses, aren’t necessarily planning for how they will adapt.

“The extremely forward-thinking businesses have been doing that,” says Carr. “But smaller firms don’t necessarily have those resources to do the planning that is necessary.”

Carr is doing what she can to fill the gap, working with a volunteer board of directors made up of representatives of business, labour, education and the community.

“We’re basically a research agency that helps inform what the supply and demand is from a workforce standpoint,” she notes.

Making connections between job seekers and employers is part of that task.

“A lot of it is related to the skills gap,” says Carr. “And what skills are needed in big cities like Toronto aren’t necessarily the same as in Sarnia-Lambton.”

One possible surprise to some may be that there is a shortage of engineers in our area.

“I would never have thought that,” says Carr. “But it’s talking to local employers that revealed that key insight.”

Other realities like the need to bring on more apprentices to keep renewing a skilled workforce are also part of what the SLWDB sees on its radar.

“The key thing is that we’re always available to present what we’ve learned about the local labour market,” says Carr, who points to the organization as being a source of information on grants being sought. “If we have it, we’ll provide it, but if we don’t we’ll get you to that person or explain why the data isn’t collected. That’s why we’re here.”

Shauna Carr can be reached by email. Her phone number is (519) 332-0000.

Next year’s “Famous 5” speaker series has announced its roster for 2018, with special pricing available until Dec. 31, 2017.

The name refers to a group of five courageous women, known as the Famous Five, who stepped forward to challenge laws and convention by insisting that women were indeed “persons.”

The Enbridge Famous 5 Speaker Series combines tribute with inspiration as it profiles extraordinary women.

The events take place at the Holiday Inn in Point Edward and run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Early bird pricing information and booking can be found HERE.

The four events on the featured guest list for 2018 are:

Thursday, February 1, 2018: Emm Gryner; Singer/Songwriter

Thursday, April 12, 2018: Elizabeth Manley, Olympic Figure Skater & World Silver Medalist

Thursday, June 7, 2018: Gina Wilson, Deputy Minister, Status of Women, Canada

September 27, 2018: Barbara Stegemann, from CBC Dragon’s Den

Vendors looking for a seasonal opportunity to reach out to members of the Sarnia Lambton Chamber of Commerce will want to consider a spot at the “Yule Shop and Mingle” Business After 5 event that will take place Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 at the Dante Club.

A limited number of spots are available for vendors looking to participate. The event is also open to the general public, although admission is restricted to those age 19 and older.

The event will run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Interested? Please reach out to Ana Dailey by email or phone (519) 336-2400.