The "2004 Innovation Summit" was held May 6-8 at
Mountain Gap Inn. Hosted by the WVDA, it brought people from all sectors of
the rural economy together to explore ways to foster the growth of an
innovative community, one that welcomes diversity and uniqueness, nurtures
creativity and the arts, takes risks and invests in ideas, fosters life-long
learning and scientific exploration, and sets its own terms for
participating in the global economy.
One of the highlights of the event was the 'Innovation Leader of the Year
Award', which was given to a dynamic young entrepreneur from Meteghan named
Marc Robichaud. The award itself was an innovative piece of custom-made art
by local metal sculptor Brad Hall, who has accepted the challenge of coming
up with an original design for the award every year.
At 28, Marc Robichaud is manager and fifth generation owner of a busy
construction supply company by day, and a programmer, inventor and highly
successful entrepreneur by night. In what began as an initiative to develop
a user-friendly way to price building materials for his own company, U.J.
Robichaud Building Supplies, Marc created a unique software that caught the
attention of national companies such as TIMBR Mart, and local companies such
as A.W. Allens. His 'Estimator One Software' is quickly having an impact in
the building material stores from coast to coast.
Marc's latest product release is called 'Timbrplans', and is a support tool
in use in as many as 640 TIMBR Mart stores across Canada. Timbrplans allows
dealers to quickly and accurately price home options for their customers,
while keeping control over costs and margins. The software is endorsed and
supported by many of the top industry suppliers, such as Weyerhaueser,
Goodfellow, Kaycan, and EMCO BP.
Marc customized the software to these companies' needs and licensed the
product to them, while keeping all the intellectual property copyrights for
his company. This was very smart, in that it enables him to negotiate now
with other major players in the construction industry nationally and
internationally. Marc may be working from his home in the Village of
Meteghan, but he is thinking big. And why not? He is a fantastic role model
for anyone who wonders what can be accomplished in a rural community by
someone with innovative ideas and an entrepreneurial drive. For Marc, the
sky is the limit.
Marc graduated from Acadia University in 1997 with a degree in Business
Administration, and is entirely self taught in computer programming. He
received the Medal for the Highest GPA in the faculty of Professional
Studies and the Medal for the Highest GPA of the Business School.
The Western Valley Development Authority hosted the 2004 Innovation Summit
to celebrate local innovation and creativity, and to explore concepts of
innovation as a key drivers of the rural economy.
John Jung, Chair of a New York City-based, international think-tank called
the 'Intelligent Communities Forum', gave the keynote address. Jung looked
at seven communities around the globe that have been named to this year's
list of the top 'Intelligent Communities' in the world. The Annapolis and
Digby region is one of those seven, standing shoulder to shoulder with
communities in Japan, Taiwan, Scotland, Australia, England, and the U.S.
Jung noted that despite the region's small size, the innovations that are
underway in the Western Valley are world class. The top seven communities
will be showcased at an international conference next month in New York
City, where the winning Intelligent Community will be revealed.
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