Services
Strategic Planning
We deliver evidence-based strategic plans through a combination of facilitated strategy sessions, interviews, systematic literature reviews, research, and data analysis. Our process includes:
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Reviewing your Mission and Vision statements
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Developing an economic and demographic community profile
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Identifying your target market and key competitors
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Conducting a research-based SWOT Analysis
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Developing goals and action items
You'll receive an implementation-ready strategic plan!
Keynotes
Looking for an engaging, informative and practical presentation for your next event? We deliver data-driven keynote presentations focused on economic development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and women in business.
All of our presentations are based on the latest research, customized for your audience, and can be delivered in-person or virtually.
Grant Writing
Use professional grant writing services to save time and increase your chance to successfully secure funding. We write well-researched, convincing grant applications and can help you find funding opportunities for your project.
Applied Research
Whether you have a defined research question or a complex economic issue you want to explore, we will deliver high quality research reports tailored for your needs.
We have experience leading research projects from start to finish and offer a range of customizable services including:
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Project scoping
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Literature reviews
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Surveys, interviews and focus groups
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Jurisdictional scans, case studies, and comparative analysis
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Statistical data analysis
Governance Training
Our training is designed to be practical and efficient and can be customized to meet the unique needs of your organization. A typical session covers:
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Roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors
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Best practices for committees
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Effective Board Meetings and decision making
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Essential governance policies and procedures
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Strategic planning and goal setting
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Financial oversight
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Legal and ethical considerations
Association Management
We’ll take the Board of Directors’ vision and make it a reality. We’re efficient, experienced and ready to serve your organization.
Meeting coordination, membership renewals, event planning, internal operational audits and improvement plans, policy and procedure development, research and advocacy support, budgeting and workplan creation – we do it all!
About
Deneen Belliveau
President & CEO
Throughout my adventurous career, I’ve gained national experience as a community builder, policy analyst and problem solver, most recently spending 8 years as the Executive Director of the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce. During this time, the organization experienced a 52% increase in membership, earned a solid reputation as the voice of Yellowknife business, received national recognition for our policy work and received Accreditation - one of the highest standards of Chamber excellence.
I bring a collaborative, organized and action-oriented approach to my work that results in success. I have experience planning large scale events like trade shows, galas, and business conferences; and organizing economic development programs like shop local campaigns, women in business initiatives and training for entrepreneurs. I’ve also had the opportunity to lead trips around the world, including taking 100 business leaders on a tour of China. I bring strong budgeting and financial management skills to my projects and have secured hundreds of thousands in grant funding through detailed applications.
In 2017, I received national recognition for my work and was awarded Executive of the Year (Chambers Under 500 Members) by the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada.
I’m an active volunteer and a proud policy nerd with a passion for economic development. I’ve tackled hundreds of policy issues in my roles as Chair of the Northern Caucus of Chambers of Commerce and Chair of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Territorial Policy Committee. I’ve also served a term as President of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada and acted as their representative on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. I know Chambers of Commerce!
In December 2021, I left my dream job to pursue entrepreneurship in my native Nova Scotia. I currently live in the forests of Chester Basin with my husband. I enjoy reading, baking and growing giant pumpkins.
Education
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Executive Master of Business Administration from Athabasca University (2018)
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Certificate of International Event & Wedding Planning from QC Career School (2013)
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Bachelor of Science from Mount Saint Vincent University (2012)
Awards
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Executive of the Year (Chambers Under 500 Members) from the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada (2017)
Matt Belliveau
Principal Researcher
For over 10 years I have been delivering high quality research and writing for clients in my career as a professional researcher, non-profit executive, and lawyer. I have extensive experience breaking down complex problems and developing actionable recommendations for decision makers across private and public sectors.
As a Lead Research Associate with the Conference Board of Canada I managed applied research projects including the Indigenous Ownership series focused on First Nations, Métis and Inuit community-owned natural resource developments. I also delivered speaking engagements for a diversity of organizations including Invest in Canada, the Institute of Public Administration of Canada, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, the Mining Association of Canada, University College of the North, and the NWT Chamber of Commerce.
As Executive Director of the Northwest Territories & Nunavut Construction Association (NNCA) I led policy research on procurement, prompt payment, and other industry issues –producing written submissions to territorial and federal governments and delivering presentations to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs, at the Yellowknife Small Business Week Conference, and the Yellowknife Geoscience Forum.
I have also conducted legal research on a range of issues while practicing law in Alberta, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, and numerous policy briefings on small business finance as a Policy Researcher with the Northwest Territories Business Development & Investment Corporation.
I am originally from Nova Scotia and returned in 2021 after spending the past eight years in Yellowknife. In my spare time I like to play hockey, read, and tend the giant pumpkin garden with my wife.
Education
Juris Doctor from Dalhousie University, Schulich School of Law (2012)
Bachelor of Science with Honours in Psychology from Acadia University (2009)
Publications
Indigenous Ownership: Strengthening Economic Autonomy (2023)
Indigenous Ownership: Best Practices for Major Project Success (2023)
Indigenous Ownership: Overcoming Obstacles and Forging Partnerships (2022)
NNCA Submission to the Government of the Northwest Territories' Procurement Review (2021)
NNCA Submission to the Senate of Canada on COVID-19 and Federal Emergency Response (2020)
NWT News/North Op-ed: Builders call for prompt payment law (2020)
Professional Development
Fundamentals of OCAP, First Nations Information Governance Centre (2023)
TCPS 2: CORE-2022 (Course on Research Ethics), Interagency Advisory Panel on Research Ethics (2023)