The Networking Ninja will be contributing to the Metro Blenz News Squad during the 2010 Winter Olympics. This innovative way of centralizing the efforts of local bloggers here in Vancouver is spearheaded by independent chain Blenz Coffee and Metro Vancouver News. Updates on twitter will be under #MBNS, so please follow @CeciliaLu and @Kiwano for all the latest happenings. Highlights from our posts will also be displayed on the Metro Vancouver Newspaper’s online website and in their daily print edition.

Here’s Cecilia’s specific ‘mission statement’: “As a Networking Ninja, I will sneak around focusing on sustainability initiatives and the effects of the Olympics on small businesses.” Care to help a Ninja out? Get in touch on twitter or leave a comment below!

About The Metro Blenz News Squad:
The Metro Blenz News Squad (MBNS) is a made up of a group of people from all walks of life and backgrounds that want to share their experiences using various forms of digital media. Some will blog, other will take photos and still other will shoot some video and post it all to one site. Any time the content is used on any platform, the authors will be acknowledged (in the papers and online, or in store in the case of Blenz Coffee).

Metro Newspaper Vancouver:
Metro will then take the various forms of digital content and post it to their website. Also, selective content may find its way into their daily print edition.

Blenz Coffee:
Blenz will be the home to the News Squad during the project. And, like Metro, Blenz will keep their customers current by posting updated in real time on their in-store Digital Network. Check out the Blenz Network at http://bit.ly/aJJVgZ

Social Media Co-Operation:
Many of the companies and individuals involved will also be connecting with their readers and followers providing updates about other members of the team. This cross-promotion program will provide additional reach for all participating members of the Squad.

The Networking Ninja of Kiwano Marketing will be live-tweeting at the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs Gala on Monday, January 18, 2010. This anticipated and well-attended event celebrates the FWE’s mission of mentoring and educating women entrepreneurs. Can’t make it to the event? Not to worry, I’ll be sharing all of the night’s key happenings and takeaways using hashtag #fwegala.

FWE’s 2010 sold-out Gala focuses on celebrating and recognizing the people who invest in entrepreneurs.

The keynote speaker panel includes high profile investors and entrepreneurs from the popular shows Dragons’ Den and Fortune Hunters:

• Arlene Dickinson, CEO of Venture Communications and Star of CBC’s Dragons’ Den
• Dianne Buckner, Host of Dragons’ Den and Former Host of Venture, on CBC Television
• Michael Hyatt, CEO and Co-Founder of BlueCat Networks

It’s great to see local non-profits taking brave new steps and effectively getting their message out with the help of social media. As Kiwano is made up of two women entrepreneurs, we are proud to support the FWE in their first foray into the exciting world of live-tweeting!

Feel free to join in on the conversation tomorrow night by tweeting using #fwegala or by following @FWEBC on twitter.

Kiwano’s Marketing Wizard and the Networking Ninja will be exhibiting at the ESN tradeshow next Monday, November 30th. Drop by and connect with Vancouver’s top small business owners!

The Entrepreneurial Success Network is expecting over 400 small and medium business owners to attend the trade show. Most attendees are based in Metro Vancouver.

Free admission with registration at info(at)esnorg(dot)org.

Join us on this amazing tradeshow:

Monday, November 30, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm
Pacific Palisades Hotel
1277 Robson St, Vancouver

About ESN:
Entrepreneurial Success (ES) is a Vancouver-based organization offering one-on-one business coaching services to start-up companies in Vancouver and across Canada. In the fall of 2003, ES was renamed to Entrepreneurial Success Network (ESN), expanding its operations to now offering an array of services to include monthly networking events and annual trade fairs.

Kiwano’s launch party is less than 3 days away! Join us at the Stanley Park Ecology Pavilion on Nov. 17 and meet Vancouver’s top green leaders, connect with local bloggers and get a chance to win eco-friendly prizes!

Our great prizes include:

- Stanley Park Ecology Society gift package, including free Discovery Walks and membership
- YUM Gourmet Skincare Travel Kits from ZOLD Eco-Sales Agency
- Freshly roasted package from Ethical Bean Coffee
- Brunch for two at De Dutch Pannekoek House
- Eco-friendly laptop bag, made out of recycled water bottles, from Mark It Alternatives

If you haven’t had the chance to do so, get your free ticket to Kiwano’s launch party. Quickly, before they’re all gone!

Kiwano Marketing Launch Party

Stanley Park Pavilion – Salmonberry Room (2nd floor)
Stanley Park, by the bus loop
Tuesday, November 17, 7 – 9:30pm
Map and directions

We will be celebrating our launch jointly with Urban Eden Design, a small business also based in Vancouver. Urban Eden designs and builds organic and sustainable outdoor spaces and gardens.

How is Our Party Sustainable?

Every aspect of this event has been carefully planned:

- All prizes are fair-trade and sustainably sound
- The Stanley Park Ecology Society actively contributes to a sustainable economy and protects the natural environment by providing educational programs
- The food provided is sourced from local, organic farms
- Our sponsors are green, ethical small businesses
- The location is next to a bus stop and there are several bike routes available from downtown
- All carbon emissions will be offset by Carbon Fund, supporting a renewable energy project

Join us celebrating our success and meet some of Vancouver’s best and brightest green leaders.

This next week is shaping up to be a busy time for Kiwano. Join us at the following events – we look forward to meeting you in person!

Kiwano Marketing Launch Party

We can’t believe it’s been almost 6 months since we launched Kiwano Marketing! Our informal networking party will feature green prizes, presentations and a raffle benefiting the Stanley Park Ecology Society. Send an email to either sofia@kiwano.ca or cecilia@kiwano.ca if you’re interested in joining us.

YWiB 2009 – Beyond Pink

Drop by our booth on this unique conference & tradeshow organized by Young Women in Business.

November 13 & 14, from 8:00am to 9:30pm
The Hyatt Regency
655 Burrard St
Vancouver, BC

Third Tuesday

Third Tuesday connects social media enthusiasts. Explore new developments in social media and online community building on this monthly networking event.

November 16 at 6:00pm
Location TBD

Vancouver Grassroots Business Association

Come to the Vancouver Grassroots Business Association event and meet people with vision, people with values, people who are passionate about what they do and how they do it, and the impact they’re making on their community and the world at large.

November 16 at 7:00pm
Flack Block
163 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC

InnoVasion

The 2009 InnoVasion exhibition focuses on inspiring entrepreneurs, where entrepreneurship equals the commercialization of ideas.

November 18, from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre
200-999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC

Power Plant

PowerPlant is a monthly green gathering for green leaders.

November 25 at 5:30pm
The Four Seasons Hotel
791 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC

CEP

Connect with ecopreneurs at this month’s Connecting Environmental Professionals (CEP) event.

November 25 at 7:00pm
UBC Robson Square
800 Robson St
Vancouver, BC

We hope to see you there!

Last week, I guest blogged for Granville Magazine on networking event Power Plant. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at this defining event for Vancouver green leaders; it’s packed with the perfect mix of energy, ideas, and casualness. And we’re all about the casualness.

This event was packed with connections, and Kiwano certainly made a big one with B2CP, as we’ve previously announced.

Next was Kevin Washbrook, founder and organizer of Bridge To A Cool Planet, an initiative aimed at bringing together the people of Vancouver to call for “real action on climate change” at the climate talks in Copenhagen in December. Kevin and I spoke afterwards about his passion to bring awareness about climate change through the International Day of Climate Action, on October 24, by gathering as many people as possible on the Cambie Bridge. “If you do one thing this year [for climate change], come to the bridge… This is not a protest,” Kevin stressed, “It’s a celebration!”

Read the entire guest post at Granville Online.

We also scooped an awesome photographer for our upcoming event in November. Jonathan Evans Photography has graciously agreed to cover Kiwano’s Launch Party (more details soon!) and you can see some of the photos he took from Power Plant here.

As the Networking Ninja of Kiwano Marketing, I look forward to attending and blogging about more of these events in the near future.

The SOHO-SME Business Conference & Expo is almost here – and we will be there. Join us at Vancouver’s conference for businesses on the grow.

The SOHO-SME Business Conference & Expo focuses on getting what small businesses want, so that you, as an SMB owner, can plan your roadmap, execute your strategy and enjoy your success. This year’s schedule includes strategy seminars, keynote presentations, exhibits and displays and great networking opportunities during the breakfast, lunch and “Celebrate Success” networking reception.

SOHO-SME Business Conference & Expo
October 8, 8:30am – 6:15pm
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
900 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC

What is SOHO-SME?
The SOHO-SME Business Conference & Expo focuses on delivering a very unique event experience to support the success and growth of medium size businesses in Canada. In its 13th year, SOHO-SME is recognized as the #1 Business-to-Business Conference & Tradeshow program. We look forward to your participation as a Sponsor, Exhibitor and/or Attendee!