🌟 Rise and shine, Lynchburg region! 🌟

Get ready to kickstart your day with a burst of inspiration at our much-awaited quarterly Business at Breakfast!

Join us on on September 18th as we bring together the Lynchburg region business community for a morning of connection, collaboration, and celebration at the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur, a thriving professional, or a fresh face in the business scene, this event is your golden ticket to a dynamic networking experience like no other!
 

Join us and members of the Canadian Embassy for an insightful look at the region's nuclear and energy sector! Hear from these leaders regarding their insights on our region's nuclear and energy competitiveness. We are excited to host Andrea Clements, Minister-Counsellor, Senior Trade Commissioner and Jonathan Jasmin-Benoit, Counsellor and Trade Commissioner.   
 

• According to The Canadian-Nuclear 2021 Factbook nuclear in Canada generated more than $6 billion in revenues per year.
• Virginia exports $3.5 billion in goods to Canada annually
• Virginia imports $2.8 billion in goods from Canada annually
• Virginia generates nuclear that is 95% carbon free energy
• Virginia has and estimate 100,000 jobs that is tied directly to the nuclear sector

Resources on the state of the relationship between Canada and Virginia
and specifically VA district 5:

• State Trade Fact Sheet - Canada Virginia
• State Trade Fact Sheet - Canada - VA District 5
• Richmond Times Dispatch OpEd- Sorry lovers, Virginia is for Canada, too

Canada's Nuclear technology is used extensively in medicine and industry. In Canada, over 1.3 million diagnostic scans and thousands of radiation therapy treatments are performed annually. It is among the safest and most strictly regulated industries in the world.

About Andrea Clements
Andrea joined the Canadian Embassy in August 2022 as head of the Commercial Policy and International Business Development (CPIBD) team. She oversees a diverse team of trade & FDI promotion, defense trade policy, Science & Technology, and Space Affairs officers, counsellors and leaders. Andrea joined the Canadian Foreign Service and has been with the Global Affairs Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service for over 22 years. Her leadership and insight to trade and international business development are invaluable. From 2019 to 2022 she was Director, High Intensity Services Division at Headquarters where she worked on developing programming for high growth, high potential Canadian companies. Prior to that, Andrea was Director, Aerospace, Automotive, Defense and ICT Practices Division. Andrea has served at the Canada Embassies in Japan and South Korea and the Canadian Consulate in Fukuoka, Japan. In addition to English and French, she speaks fluent Japanese. She obtained her BA at Bowling Green State University, Ohio and then went on to earn her Masters degree at Carleton University, Ottawa in Political Science and International Affairs.



About Jonathan Jasmin-Benoit
Jonathan Jasmin-Benoit is Counsellor and Trade Commissioner (Digital Industries, IP and E-Commerce) at the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. He leads a team that helps Canadian companies do business in the United States in sectors related to information communication technologies (ICT), life sciences, e-commerce, professional services and consumer products. Prior to joining the Embassy, Jonathan was the Deputy Director of a sector team within Global Affairs Canada (GAC - Canada’s Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development). The team served as back-office sales support to trade promotion officers around the world and in Canada; helping Canadian ICT companies do business abroad.  In over 14 years at GAC, Jonathan has held various roles in Trade Policy and Trade Promotion, in addition to working in executive offices. Jonathan led on various files to help the Trade Commissioner Service, within GAC, better leverage data to improve service delivery to its clients. Jonathan holds a Master of Science in International Studies from Université de Montréal, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication, Politics and Society from UQAM.
 

Why Should YOU Attend Business At Breakfast?

🤝 Connect with the Best: Rub shoulders with like-minded professionals and forge valuable connections that could be the key to unlocking your next big opportunity. Business at Breakfast is not just a meal; it's a feast of possibilities!

🌐 Welcome New Faces: Be among the first to welcome the newest members to our vibrant business community! We'll be introducing fresh talents and companies that have recently joined the Lynchburg Regional Business Alliance. Let's show them the warmth of our Lynchburg hospitality!

🎤 Special Guests, Special Insights: Brace yourselves for a dose of inspiration! Our lineup of special guests will share their insights, strategies, and success stories. Be prepared to be motivated, enlightened, and equipped with tools to take your business to new heights. 

🚀 Unveiling Exciting Updates: What's a breakfast without a few surprises? We'll be unveiling exciting updates, initiatives, and opportunities that are bound to make your business radar ping with excitement. Stay tuned!

🥞 Delicious Breakfast Spread: Of course, would it really be an Alliance event without a scrumptious breakfast spread? Indulge in a delightful assortment of breakfast treats, from hearty classics to trendy bites. Energize your day the Lynchburg way!

This is not just another networking event; it's a celebration of the Lynchburg region's thriving business spirit. So, set your alarms, mark your calendars, and join us for a morning of connections, insights, and delicious bites at Business at Breakfast! Let's make this quarter's gathering the best one yet.

Don't miss out on the most important meal of the business day! RSVP now to secure your spot and let's make the Lynchburg region's business scene soar.
 

Thank you to our Chairman's Circle Investors!