Don Jayasinghe – BIMART Accounting & Consulting Inc.

Teaching clients to understand their accounts

teaching you about your money

Don is from Sri Lanka but he received his higher education in software engineering in Leningrad, the former Soviet Union. Because his job as an accounting Instructor at the career college where he works didn’t bring him sufficient stability, Don started working as a freelance consultant in 2011. Besides running his home-based business and working as an instructor, Don volunteers as the Treasurer of the Sri Lankan Buddhist Society in Calgary. His desire to help new immigrants from every background fuels his community work.

Don’s business, BIMART Accounting & Consulting, offers bookkeeping and personal income tax services to small and medium businesses. In other words, Don trains new business owners for proper accounting maintenance. What he likes most, however, is teaching people how to use software packages effectively and efficiently, especially helping them explore at their own pace all the functionalities of MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access) and Accounting software packages.

Don pays particular attention to operating his business on principles. He works to build personal, true and authentic relationships with his clients. “Reasonable, moderate, fair and flexible” are Don’s business virtues to live by. This is why he targets his services to small business owners that he can meet in person. Don can work with his customers in English, Sinhala and Russian. The lessons – either one-to-one or for a class, are delivered in an office that Don set up in his home in Calgary or at the client’s location.

BIMART actually means “Creative Output of High Quality Service” in Sanskrit, and this is exactly what we wish Don with his new endeavor!

bimartcanada@gmail.com

403 966 1026

Muzaffar Sultan – Intercon Technologies Inc.

Customized software, call-centres and promotional products

Customized software

After studying computer science in Pakistan, Muzaffar moved to Canada where he completed several project management certifications. He then worked as a software engineer, consultant and project manager, designing, developing and installing information technology solutions in many different industry sectors including travel, banking, oil & gas, telecommunication, pharmaceutical and textile companies.

Enriched by the diverse experience he gained during these 14 years, Muzaffar chose to open his own business in 2007. Intercon Technologies offers mostly website development services to small and mid-sized companies in Western Canada. The websites can be either static or dynamic and include content management systems (CMS) as well as the website’s design. Muzaffar can create customized software and he develops and installs off-shore call-centres for his clients. As an added service, Muzaffar also creates promotional products for his clients.

Even when he was a child Muzaffar wanted to be in business and be as successful as his family business role models. The process of creating Intercon Technologies has been a business learning journey for Muzaffar and he realized that the years he worked as an employee required a different skill set. He says being a business owner pushes him every day to develop new thinking and ways of doing things.

To talk with Muzaffar about his services in English, Urdu or Punjabi contact:

403 399 1960

muzaffar.sultan@gmail.com

www.intercontechnologies.com

Abdul Ebrahim, Serial Entrepreneur

So many ideas, so little time!

So many ideas!

Abdul Ebrahim has been the owner of the construction company Arriva homes for more than a decade. Arriva Homes builds unique homes for communities around Calgary, Airdrie and Edmonton. Committed to excellence, Arriva Homes’ builders work together with the customer to creatively design and build the home of their dreams.

But given his entrepreneurial spirit, Abdul has decided to start a second business in food manufacturing. His future company will produce frozen ready-to-eat dishes focusing on specialty foods like halal and kosher and specialty diets for people with allergies.

Abdul is writing his business plan and has some cooks in mind that could provide him with recipes. He now needs a team of associates and shareholders to launch the idea. As if this weren’t already enough to keep him busy, Abdul also works as a real estate consultant for other construction and renovation companies. He supervises the construction sites and ensures proper standards and safety regulations.

Originally from Kenya, with his education in Germany and farm experience in Denmark, speaking Swahili, and five Indian dialects as well as English, Abdul is a model world citizen! The secret of Abdul’s successes seems to come from his continuous willingness to learn: since arriving in Canada, Abdul continues to take seminars at the University of Calgary to keep expanding his knowledge. Eventually Abdul would like to become a mentor for other serial entrepreneurs.

403 217 3593

info@arrivahomes.com

www.arrivahomes.com

Timona Jarha: Shaka Pay Mobile Money Transfer

Keeping Africans Connected

Shaka Pay Mobile Money Transfer

Africans in the Diaspora have a pent up need to send money efficiently to their loved ones back home. Timona lived in North America for over a decade and knows this only too well. The available services are your traditional Money Transfer Organizations and banks that charge exorbitant fees. Africa and particularly Kenya which is his home country is trail blazing with a new innovative way of sending money using the mobile phone. This innovation has now matured and a robust eco-system is emerging in Africa. Timona’s vision is to bridge the gap between North America and Africa using the mobile phone technology to transfer money.

To that end, Timona founded a company called Shaka Mobile Corporation and a subsidiary called Shaka Pay. Shaka Pay (www.shakapay.com) is a Mobile Financial Services company aiming to provide cross border Mobile Money Transfer, bill payment and airtime transfer conveniently from your handset. Timona made serious sacrifices to make his vision come alive – this ranged from using his savings, working for almost two years on sweat equity and working long hours. The company is currently launching its services in the United States to multiple corridors in Africa. At the core of Shaka Pay service is a mobile wallet that is surrounded by meaningful array of Value Added Services (VAS).

Timona credits his capacity to work through all the issues to his loving family. “My wife has been fully supportive of this idea”, he says. “It has really been hard, but we got through it and now things are happening pretty fast.” When asked what else has contributed to the actualization of the idea, he firmly asserts that finding an idea whose time is right, believing in it, sacrificing for it and finding the right team. The Shaka Pay team consists of a committed Management Team and Board of Directors. Having partners that believed in the vision from ideation to launch has been phenomenal.

Timona is grateful for being part of the IEMP program and believes that it is a worthwhile program that is making significant impact to new immigrants by opening opportunities for them to participate in contributing to the economy.

Check out Shaka Pay’s site!

www.shakapay.com

dtimona@shakapay.com

dtimona@gmail.com

Kasa Gebremeden – Kasa Proof Curtain Design

Perseverance pays off!

African curtain design

Kasa Gebremeden is a man of rare talents: he speaks 8 languages, he can run a manufacturing plant, and he can sew.

When coming from Ethiopia to South Africa 15 years ago, Kasa visited a store selling curtains of an incredible beauty. He wondered where they came from and wanted to become a clothes designer himself but had no idea how to do it. So he asked the South African seamster to give him a few lessons that he recorded.

A few months later, after having learned how to cut a fabric properly among other sewing tips, Kasa opened his own curtain factory. With 25 sewing machines and many employees, it soon became very successful.

Ten years later, in 2007, family obligations and hazards of life led Kasa to start everything again here in Canada. Unfortunately, his business idea was slowed down by a work accident followed by complex Canadian import law issues. But now that Kasa has established a Chinese supplier, received his first shipment and has set up a sewing table in his home, he is almost ready to start production.

Kasa Proof Curtain Design will be able to come to your house and create a plan for curtains whose length, size and design are perfectly adapted to each window. Colorful embroidered curtains for the kitchen, dining room, living room and bedroom, but also shower curtains and bed linen are all part of Kasa’s repertoire. Service fees include installation to ensure customer satisfaction. Kasa’s goal is to provide curtains that are beautiful, practical and easy to take down and wash when needed.

Reflecting on all the difficulties he had figuring out regulatory issues and finding a supplier, Kasa reflects that it is often easier to give up than to start up, but he is determined to become successful as a Canadian businessman. In the service of this goal, he is appreciative of the help that has been offered to him at all stages of his business journey: from the videos of his first South African mentor; to the Mennonite Centre for Newcomers Entrepreneur classes, to the Immigrant Entrepreneur Mentorship program with The Business Link. Kasa is most grateful to his IEMP mentor Brian Wilson, himself a successful manufacturing owner, who has become both a confidant and a friend.

780 441 1176

kasablanket@yahoo.ca

Mithun Dutt – iMithun.com

From conceptualization to realization

ERP systems

Mithun Dutt is originally from India. And like many Indians, is an expert in computers. After graduating with mathematics he studied computers and operations management in India. Idealism led him to start his career as a teacher in computers but realism made him shift his career to ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). He moved to the US to work in SAP; an ERP application, providing his  services to various companies in the US including  GM, Disney among others. In 1999 when companies started to cut down ERP budget for preparation of Y2K he decided to shift over to the “dot net” technologies.

Last year Mithun settled in Calgary decided to become his own boss, and created iMithun.com.

HIs location doesn’t really matter, because his clients can be anywhere in the world. iMithun.com develops business website applications for mid-size to large size companies. Based on the needs of his clients, he can create applications for the business processes followed by the company. “My business is about capturing, storing and manipulating data for businesses to automate work flows. This optimizes costs  and time ”. Mithun also helps his clients improve their online presence through social marketing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). He has developed  e-commerce systems for companies so they could accept payments  through the internet.

Passionate about his job and dedicated to his clients, Mithun is a firm believer in patience, concentration and organization. A quality final product takes time to achieve and Mithun often works long nights to get to the desired results. He says the best part of being his own boss is client appreciation, “Seeing the smile on their faces after experiencing  what my application can do for them. It  is very rewarding”.

Phone: 587 351 4308

Email: mithun@imithun.com

Website: www.imithun.com

Evelyn Kam – Eddie Chui Insurance Agency Inc.

Wise insurance and investment advice with Eddie Chui – Wisdom grows with time…

Evelyn Kam

In the late 1980s Evelyn Kam and her husband Eddie Chui made plans to immigrate to Canada to get away from Hong Kong’s instability. Their dream was realized when the family arrived in Calgary. In 1992, Eddie put his efforts into creating the Eddie Chui Insurance Agency and has not looked back since.

Opening an Insurance office is not for the faint of heart. Making sense of lease agreements, signage applications, and contracts from insurers was a daunting task. But the feeling of accomplishment when the doors of Eddie Chui Insurance Agency were opened in June 2009 made it well worth the effort. The company’s services include a wide range of insurance products including: home, auto, commercial, travel, life, health, dental, critical illness and pet. Eddie Chui Insurance also offers trustworthy advice for your investment needs – RRSP, TFSA and Non-Registered Accounts in the whole province of Alberta.

Since she has been living in Canada, Evelyn has gained experience working in many different sectors like HR, payroll, marketing and communication and in many different places such as a hospital, an airport, a sport clothes stores or a radio station. Now, as the general manager for the Insurance Agency, Evelyn is helping mostly with sales, accounting and administrative tasks and she is busy recruiting qualified employees. When Eddie’s business will be stable enough, Evelyn hopes to be able to dedicate her time to her own investment company – Cyclical Capital Asset Management.

Eddie and Evelyn live by the following values: Honesty, hard work, customer relations, passion and persistency. At Eddie’s, the Chinese tea pot is always hot and ready for your visit!

Location: Suite 101, 2003 14th St NW, Calgary

Phone: 403 547 7498

Email: ec@eddiechui.com

Webiste: www.eddiechui.com

 Monica Lomas Torres, 3D Rendering & Animation Group

“Show me and I’ll remember”

In Mexico, Monica had a stable job as an industrial designer, which she liked. Even so she made the decision to leave her family and her many friends and come to Canada. Why? Because Monica likes challenges and risks. When she first came to Canada, she made sure not to stay with only Spanish speakers friends; she improved her English and learned the Canadian cultural norms for work and business, which were in some aspects very different from Mexico. After 4 years she has now settled and adapted to the Canadian way of life, and has successfully set up her own company, so far she says this has been the best decision of her life.

In September 2011, Monica created her company, “3D Rendering and Animation Group”. The company says: The best way to sell a product or service is to let them sell themselves. ”Tell me and I’ll forget, but show me and I’ll remember”.

The company offers one of the most effective tools of marketing currently, its work creates an emotional response that text, conventional video and pictures can’t.

Using the latest tridimensional visual technology on 3D images and 3D animations, the company displays the versatility, functions and benefits of almost any type of product, process or service.

The clients are mainly companies which produce and sell tangible products, companies with complex processes that need to be communicated to their clients, as well as Real Estate and Construction.

An example of this would be a virtual tour inside or outside a building, traveling inside the apartment as if you were there, even before the building has not been built yet. This shows the way the construction will look once it is completed. That way the units can be sold even before the clients can actually see it physically.

Monica says; we show products and services in a way that they inspire, engage, inform, provoke and entertain. 3D images have a powerful impact on presentation of a company’s product, service or process; it clarifies concepts and functions that often are missed by potential clients and investors when those are communicated purely verbally or by using conventional video, pictures or drawings.

Not being able to explain efficiently real capabilities can result in serious and expensive losses. It takes down the time invested on developing a great design, great functions and innovation, even an expensive marketing campaign if the benefits and functions are not exposed clearly to the potential clients.

We utilize a wide group of 3D experts specialized in different areas, including: Architecture, Interior Design, Industrial Design, Virtual Staging, and 3D animated Logo’s for websites introductions.

3D Rendering & Animation Group offers a high realistic graphic quality. The services are divided mainly in two options and those depend of the client’s needs:  3D Still Images and 3D animations, both can give the final client a virtual simulation of a product or space.

Monica gives companies the tools to show what they have difficulty explaining to their clients because a picture is indeed worth a thousand words, we should say also that animated sequence is worth 30 pictures (or frames) per second!

Another example of 3D rendering application is for manufacturing companies that want to evaluate the products aesthetics and marketing acceptance prior to mass production.

Monica’s job requires not only creative but organizational skills. She has to think about the big picture, understand the product or process, become familiar with it and decide with the client which kind of material would be the best.

Since owning her own business, Monica has become even more of a manager than a designer; she deals with the sales and delegates designing work to other experts.

“There are no geographical boundaries, other than territorial licenses. This is the magic of my business”, she says.

Monica would like to highlight the usefulness of the IEMP support to her business development. “Having a business is not just a matter of selling something, it is a journey. I imagine it’s like having a baby. I really grew up during the past few months,” explains Monica with enthusiasm. Her experience has made Monica an ambassador and encourager for other small business owners. “Sometimes it is hard to break the prototype and the cultural patterns you grew up with. I had no entrepreneurs in my family, but I did it. You just have to jump in, it is worth it!”

To check out Monica’s designs or to contact her, see:

403 604 1184

mlomas@3d-ra-group.com

contact@3d-ra-group.com

www.3d-ra-group.com (Under renovation)

Propel your business to new heights with “On-call Business Organizer”

Darlene Harris-William is a strategic thinker. She has yet to encounter an organizational or business problem she cannot figure out. This skill set comes to Darlene through years of working as a planner and project manager for all levels of government in three countries. Her passion for organizing and planning led her to create the business, “On-call business organizer” to deliver a variety of business development services including project management and performance measurement, email and social media management builders.

Darlene’s 20 years experience developing and leading implementation of business plans and performance measurement frameworks can provide businesses with a level of expertise they would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. She is a graduate of Columbia University, New York, with a Masters degree in Economic Policy Development. Darlene also holds a graduate certificate in project management from University of Alberta and a certificate in Operations Leadership from Queens University.

During her career, Darlene has built accountability frameworks, developed units from scratch, led teams comprised of senior managers and professionals and developed leadership capacity for complex projects.

Hailing originally from Guyana, and having lived, worked and studied in multiple countries, Darlene has the international experience and technical expertise that can help companies move smoothly into the global market.

Under Darlene’s expert guidance and coaching, small, medium and large businesses can:

a)    streamline workflow processes,

b)   determine key monitoring points and data gathering strategies to increase birth to death product/service life cycle control,

c)    implement systems to capture organization-critical information efficiently,

d)   focus office management and

e)    effectively apply time-management strategies.

She has helped multiple organizations refine business plans and processes to better achieve their goals. Additionally, “On-call business organizer” can help individuals improve their presentation skills and write more effective reports.

To discuss ways to launch your business to new heights, contact Darlene Harris-Williams at:

www.oncallorganizer.weebly.com

oncall.organizer@gmail.com

780 504 1652