Nevin Buconjic will remain as immediate past president as the board works to fill the position
StartUP Sault Ste. Marie founder and president, Nevin Buconjic, announced that he was stepping down during a recent celebration marking the volunteer organization’s 10th anniversary.
“We would like to thank Nevin for his dedication and vision as a community leader and builder, taking StartUP Sault from an idea to where it is today and impacting so many entrepreneurs along the way,” says Brent Rouble, vice president, in a news release.
Buconjic will remain as immediate past president and assist with the transition as the board of directors works to fill the position of president.
Full text of the news release follows:
StartUP Sault Ste. Marie is celebrating 10 years of supporting entrepreneurs, community building and strengthening of our local entrepreneurial ecosystem. Together with our community partners and fellow entrepreneurs we are making a difference.
StartUP Sault Ste. Marie’s mission is to connect local entrepreneurs with the tools, community and support they need to be successful. We accomplish this by hosting regular events and meetups, and directing new entrepreneurs to the small business resources that exist in the community.
Since its beginnings in late 2013, as a grass-roots movement, we have connected with thousands of entrepreneurs, students and business owners in the community through more than 100 networking and learning events. We have facilitated mentorship groups and even hosted a major provincial startup awards event.
StartUP Sault is completely volunteer driven and run by a volunteer board of directors. We are grateful for the many sponsorships and partnerships we have built to carry on this great work without government funding.
Teaming up with local organizations such as Northern Credit Union has allowed StartUP Sault to host impactful events such as our Startup Talks series, featuring successful local entrepreneurs such as Jeff Elgie, CEO of Village Media; Chris Cooper, CEO of Two Brain Business; Jason Katzenback, co-founder of Amazing.com; and Marnie Stone, owner of Stone’s Office Supply.
“StartUP Sault is about connecting entrepreneurs with resources and with each other. We have built a supportive community for local entrepreneurs and individuals exploring entrepreneurship. We have been successful by regularly hosting low-pressure events, meetups and learning opportunities. We want to encourage more entrepreneurship in our community and break down barriers to getting started,” says Nevin Buconjic, founder and president.
Some of the accomplishments over the last 10 years include:
• Hosting more than 100 events, including Startup Drinks, bootcamps, book clubs, pitch contests and more
• Connecting and impacting over 2,000 entrepreneurs
• Growing our annual Women’s Success Luncheon from 60 to over 150 attendees over five years
• Being recognized in 2017 with the Startup Canada Entrepreneur Promotion Award for advancing the environment and culture of entrepreneurship in Canada
• Hosting the 2018 Startup Canada Awards featuring Ontario’s top entrepreneurs
• Creating a support network through our Startup Café Mentorship Circle
• Collaborating with 50 startup communities across the country
• Supporting and leading numerous Startup Canada initiatives and programs over the years
The 10th anniversary was recently celebrated at a private event with the StartUP Sault board of directors, partners, and volunteers. At the event, Nevin Buconjic, announced he was stepping down from the president’s role and the board would be looking to fill the position in the coming weeks. He will remain as immediate past president and assist with the transition.
“We would like to thank Nevin for his dedication and vision as a community leader and builder, taking StartUP Sault from an idea to where it is today and impacting so many entrepreneurs along the way,” stated Brent Rouble, vice president, StartUP Sault.
To see what StartUP Sault Ste. Marie is all about and what we have accomplished over the last decade, please check out this short anniversary video wrap-up here.
