Mmmm-maple syrup!
Hogan’s Homestead Products won a business pitch competition that was recently hosted by the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation. The St. Joseph Island-based firm manufactures a signature brand of specialty-flavoured maple syrup.
Company owners Erica and Spencer Hogan took home the contest’s $10,000-valued grand prize.
The runners up, Brent Rouble and Gillian Gordon from IPI Creations, received the second-place prize valued at $5,000.
The entrepreneurs battled it out in a pitch off, which was scored by audience voting and an expert panel of judges. These two firms earned their way to the finals following a competitive process involving 18 submissions from Sault area business owners.
The pitch off took place during Bridges to Better Business, an annual learning and networking forum hosted by the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation and its Millworks – Centre for Entrepreneurship staff. This year’s event also featured a keynote presentation from Mandy Gilbert, who has been recognized as a United Nations Global Accelerator and ranked as one of Canada’s Top Female Entrepreneurs on Canadian Business’ Profit 500 list and Chatelaine’s W100 list.
Bridges to Better Business 2019 and the pitch off was supported by the following organizing partners and prize sponsors: TD Bank Group, Starter Company, Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC), BDO Canada, Laidlaw Paciocco Dumanski Spadafora & Johnson LLP, Century 21 Choice Realty, Community First (a division of YNCU), Community Development Corporation of Sault Ste. Marie & Area, KPMG, Wishart Law Firm, and Quattro Hotel & Conference Centre.
PHOTO: At Bridges to Better Business 2019 are (L to R) SSMEDC Executive Director Dan Hollingsworth, pitch off runners-up Brent Rouble and Gillian Gordon from IPI Creations, contest winners Erica and Spencer Hogan from Hogan’s Homestead Products, SSMEDC Economic Development Officer Jessica Maione, and SSMEDC Millworks Manager Harleen Puaar Shukla.
