Director hired for executive programs.

Northern Ontario Business is pleased to announce that Carol Deguire has been hired as director, executive programs division of Northern Ontario. Business Ltd., effective Aug. 6, 2002.

Carol will be responsible for the planning, management, operations and execution of various events and awards initiatives under the executive programs division, including the prestigious Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA) and the Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards.

Carol comes to NOB from the Fondation du College Boreal, the fundraising arm of College Boreal. As executive director of the foundation, she ensured its financial viability and was responsible for fundraising, establishing new programs and marketing the foundation's many initiatives. She also co-owns Dan's Brakes and Auto Sales, a Sudbury-based business and is the past vice-president of communications for the Sudbury Business and Professional Women's Club. She currently sits on the BPW bursary committee.

Carol is a graduate of the business administration marketing program at College Boreal. She also taught fundraising, marketing and public relations at the college.

Northern Ontario Business is Northern Ontario's only regional business publication. It has been in operation for 23 years and covers the regional business news from the Winnipeg border to the Muskokas.

Its new Web site, www.northernontariobusiness.com, is the most comprehensive business portal in the North. Its e-newsletters, such as the weekly Around the North newsletter, connects the region like no other media.

NOB also publishes the Ultimate Business Reference Tool (UBRT) and other feature publications.

The Northern Ontario Business Awards (NOBA) was launched 16 years ago to celebrate the success of the region's business leaders, and to encourage economic growth and diversity through the successful examples of the NOBA winners. With a volunteer executive committee comprised of business leaders from the region, NOBA continues to be one of Canada's premier business awards events, attracting between 500 to 750 delegates annually to a celebratory dinner and an accompanying conference and trade show. This year's NOBA celebrations will be held in North Bay on Oct. 10.

The Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards program was launched five years ago with a special publication to seek out, profile and honour women who have contributed to economic wealth and growth in the region, and to honour women who have made a difference in their communities. In 2000, IW was expanded to include a full-fledged awards program with celebratory luncheons held in one northeastern Ontario city and one northwestern Ontario city annually. The IW Awards attract roughly 500 delegates annually. The program also boasts its own interactive Web site www.influentialwomen.ca. The IW program is unique in Canada, with its many components, and continues to be an inspiration for similar programs.