Member Portal

You can email the amount to WMI@BioNB.org with the security question “What is my invoice number?” Or you can call Wendy at 506.444.2444 with credit card info.

It is $15 per transaction and $100 per quarterly report. They invoice peer group members and process bills from venues, catering and speakers (assume 3 bills per meeting). For a group of 14 meeting 4 times a year for 24 hours it is 14+12 transaction = $420 + 400 for reports = $820. They take care of the HST filing etc. There is a one-time set-up fee at the start of the relationship that is $100.

It’s a $20,000 program cost for the year. That is split between the member and 2 sponsors that I find for each member. That leaves a $10,000 out of pocket for the entrepreneurs, and since 2011, ACOA has reimbursed everyone half of that…thus netting down to $5000. The entire $10,000 paid by the member is for speakers and facilitation which is often a question asked by funding organizations who provide grants to members.

The demographics of our members is really wide (below). The common trait is a self-awareness that they need/want help COMBINED with past experiences that make them a valuable asset to the other group members.

• Age 25-65 … midpoint 40 +/-5years
• Revenue: $0 VC backed – $100M … midpoint $5M +/- $2M
• Employees: 1 – 1000 … midpoint 50 +/- 20
• Company age: 3 months – 80 years … midpoint 8 +/- 2 years
• Education: grade 10 – Ph. D.
• Sector: everything … cartoons to caviar, trucking to tech…

ELP is for the owners of a business while the typical member of SEP works with (or for) the owner. ECHO is for the next generation leaders in a family business, regardless if the have shares (yet) or who to whom they report.

While some people are eligible for all 3, 80% of the questions are about helping people decide if they are ELP or SEP candidates. If the business is a partnership, then any partner can apply for either program.  The discussions in an ELP session revolve more around shaping the vision & strategy, making large business decisions and weighing options that boil down to “judgment calls”. SEP conversations relate more to growing personal capabilities to prioritize, execute and optimize through a team.

While there is overlap, most people can read the following descriptions and align with one personality more that the other:

• ELP members crave opportunities for growth. They often feel alone, operate with gut instinct and are passionate and curious to share fresh ideas with like-minded entrepreneurs in a dynamic environment. They are both “itchy” and scared to expand past what they do today.
• SEP members want to supplement their existing knowledge and experience. They tend to be pragmatic leaders who focus on improving the operation through systems, communication and accountability. They want to make good decisions to improve the stability of the company.