The Women’s Executive Network honours 100 women who are 2011′s top achiever’s – and leaders – in Canada’s private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Among them this year are two members of the BCIC-New Ventures family.
Connie Linder was recognized in the Trailblazers and Trendsetters category and Cybele Negris was acknowledged in the Champions category.
Linder co-founded Vancouver-based Polymer Research Technologies Ltd. which won the top prize at the BCIC-New Ventures Competition for 2011. Negris is the President of Webnames.ca – a sponsor of the BCIC-New Ventures Competition.
Here are their write-ups from today’s Financial Post.
Connie Linder: Insight Creative Communications
Connie Linder is an entrepreneur, business strategist and creative communications professional who has focused on innovative start-ups and sustainability issues for much of her career. She established consulting firm Insight Creative Communications in 1999 and recently began creating her own start-up businesses. For example, Linder co-founded Vancouver-based Polymer Research Technologies Ltd., a company specializing in the chemical recycling of polyurethanes that recently won the top prize at the BCIC-New Ventures Competition for 2011. She’s also launching a web-based search engine/directory designed to make sustainable products, services and information more widely accessible. A noted speaker, Linder recently delivered the keynote address at the University of British Columbia’s Ignite Conference. She’s also active in the community, having served as chair of the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, and she also developed an African Education Initiative associated with Rotary International. In 2008, Linder was recognized as a leader in sustainability by UBC.
Cybele Negris: Co-founder and president, Webnames.ca
Cybele Negris helped start Webnames.ca, Canada’s original .ca registrar, offering services such as domain extensions, domain portfolio management, domain privacy, web hosting, Web Builder, e-mail, SSL certificates and a range of other online solutions. After its 2009 acquisition of Ripe B2B Inc., Webnames.ca started to provide software and systems development services and has also launched a Search Engine Optimization Consultation service and a WordPress Web Development Program integrated with social media called Essentials. Negris is the vice-chair of Small Business BC’s board and also serves on the boards of the Small Business Roundtable of British Columbia and the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs.