CBAR – a Student’s Perspective

1. CBAR – a Student’s Perspective Vicknesh Ramachandran Leanne Sidorkewicz

2. Overview • CBAR Vision • CBAR Milestones • Benefits to the Community • CBAR Winter 2007 team • Overview of our projects in the community • Learning experiences

3. CBAR Vision • The vision of CBAR is to create the setting that sees the potential of community organizations and the academic world (Odette school of Business) work together to find ways to complement each other and find synergies to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the regional economy.

4. CBAR Milestones • Summer 2006 • Inaugural class • City of Windsor project • Fall 2006 • Expansion of City of Windsor project • CBAR’s website (www.cbarwindsor.com) • Various external projects

5. CBAR Milestones • Winter 2007 • Marketing material (logo, letterheads etc) • Legal framework • Move to 360 Sunset Ave • ENVY Award • CBAR Open House May 3rd 2007

6. Benefits to the community • Allow current businesses to acquire data that will assist them in diversifying and expanding • providing businesses with information regarding the regional market or emerging opportunities.

7. Benefits to the community • Create a resource which immigrant entrepreneurs • Create economic opportunities for the community as a whole.

8. CBAR Winter 2007 Team • Professor – Dr. Schlosser • 12 students • 8 undergraduate students (3rd / 4th year business) • 4 MBA students • Mentors • Odette Business School Professors • Former CBAR students • University Legal group

9. Establishing the CBAR Organization • The students had the opportunity to work on the initial stages of developing the CBAR organization • Students worked on projects in the following areas: Legal • Developing the documents required to incorporate the CBAR as a non-profit entity • Create standard service contracts and confidentiality contracts for client projects

10. Establishing the CBAR Organization Technology Infrastructure • CBAR website further development • Implementation of internal collaboration software Marketing • Develop a marketing plan • CBAR logo, business cards, brochures, video, photos • Planned CBAR Open House • Community partnership meetings

11. Establishing the CBAR Organization Recruitment • Student recruitment plan to attract motivated students to CBAR Financial • Developing a project, timeline, budget and costing model • Future students will continue to work on projects to support the CBAR organization

12. Our Projects in the Community • Creation of the Entrepreneur and new Venture of the Year (ENVY) award • Supporting high growth business opportunities • Creation of a marketing plan for a local restaurant • Tax strategy for a marina

13. Our Projects in the Community • Business plan for a new global high tech venture • Feasibility study for a new museum • Compensation survey for a church • Market research for a local theatre company

14. Learning Experiences • We have gained experiences beyond the classroom… • The process involved in setting up an organization (CBAR) • Fluid work environment • Communication with clients

15. Learning Experiences • Gathering information • financial information in a “shoe box” • Providing services pro bono and how this may impact client’s motivation • Consulting ethics • providing recommendations that may not match the client’s request • Providing a recommendation to a client that is different than they anticipated i.e. project feasibility

16. Learning Experiences • Students are able to apply their academic studies in a “real” business environment • We all have felt a sense of accomplishment by working together to provide value to the small business community in the Windsor area