A desire to want to help couples navigate through the legal ups and downs of life spurred Jeff Mann into developing a career as a mediator.

An American by birth, for a number of years he practised his profession in Maine before he and his wife decided they wanted to move to Kingston and start a new life. That meant restarting his career as a mediator north of the Canada/USA border, and it meant getting help to get the business going.

Mann Mediation opened for business a little less than a year ago.

The role of a mediator, especially in family law, is becoming more important and more in demand, and folks like Mann are needed in greater numbers.

“What I do is mostly family matter mediation. This has to do with everything from divorce to separation to pre-nuptial agreements to modification of custody orders – all those are areas that I work in,” he said.

“Mediation can save parties a lot of time and money. They can go to the mediator and work out all of the issues, or at least most of them, and I would help them negotiate their way through that. Then once there’s an agreement, I would draft a memorandum of understanding that they would take back to their lawyers.”

Genevieve Zizzo knows all about the structure of the human body, how its intricate network of bones, muscles, and organs are supposed to function, and how to help fix it when it isn’t working as it should.

As a registered massage therapist studying for her qualifications as an osteopath, Zizzo has worked hard to become an expert in her chosen field.

But when she moved to Kingston and decided to open her own clinic, as smart and talented as she was, Zizzo knew that she was not an expert on the intricate ways of business.

So in the process of launching Full Circle Health Network on Brock Street in the summer of 2010, Zizzo approached the Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) Entrepreneur Centre for advice and practical support.
Now, thanks to support she received, Zizzo is well on her way to mastering the art of business, as well as she has mastered the art of healing.

When glass smiths work, it is more like magic than art. They can take a fragile material and manipulate it with heat and air to transform it into something beautiful. The process itself is ancient and has been practiced for centuries, but glass artists can also tease out contemporary works of beauty. Glass-blowing is nothing short of amazing to watch – and this is exactly what Mariel Waddell invites guests of the Kingston Glass Studio & Gallery to do.

Ms. Waddell is originally from Trinidad and came to Canada as an international student to study art. She attended Sheridan College, where she realized that she loved the challenge and rewards of hands-on, three-dimensional work. She entered the Crafts and Designs Program as a Ceramics major and used an elective to try glass-blowing. It was fortunate that she did; she fell in love with the medium, its flexibility, and its possibility. She changed majors and jumped into glass-blowing, where she has been happily creating works of art ever since.

Next time you celebrate your anniversary, you could do it with the same old chocolates and flowers – or you could give the gift of indulgence. Juicy ripe strawberries, sweet tangy pineapple, plump grapes, chocolate-dipped fruit… if this entices your taste buds, stop in and see Pam Morey at Blossoms. A proud Canadian company, Blossoms offers gorgeous, unforgettable gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, holidays, sympathies, weddings, and more.

After working in daycare and staying home with her own children for 20, Pam decided it was time to try something different. But what? She knew she wanted to start her own business, but wasn’t sure what it should be. Flowers? Gifts? Owning a Blossoms franchise would allow Pam to have her own business and offer a unique product for the Kingston area.

With help from KEDCO, Pam opened the doors of Blossoms in November 2010. She found that orders came in steadily during the year, but they poured in during holidays. Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and other occasions brought in customers who wanted to get something a little different and more than a little special.

Does your furniture have a personality? When you lean close to its surface, can you see the skill and expertise that has gone into its construction? Or do you see a mass-produced, machine-pressed composite of inferior woods? The Mennonites, who were among Ontario’s earliest settlers, believed in making furniture that would be used – and enjoyed – for generations. Ryan Smith, owner of Generations Canadian Mennonite Furniture, continues the tradition of excellence, offering the Kingston area outstanding quality and value.

No one who compares Mennonite furniture with the inexpensive pieces you find at big box stores can help but be impressed by its quality, solidity, and durability. Ryan Smith is no exception; the design, the style, the craftsmanship, and the flexibility captured his interest and planted the seed for Generations Canadian Mennonite Furniture.

Ryan knew that, beyond our homes and vehicles, furniture is the biggest purchase most of us make. When you are willing to shop around for the best quality, you may spend a little more at first, but this furniture, he says, is “worth its weight in gold.” The craftsmanship, versatility, durability, and custom finishing make it an investment that you will enjoy for generations.

In September 2009, Ryan opened his first store in Brockville, Ontario but soon found that most of his customers were coming in from the Kingston area. It made more sense for him to come to them; he found a facility in Kingston that not only offered more space but location, location, location. The new store was close to new home construction and new subdivisions. In the next five to ten years, the population will grow by some 11,000 to 12,000 new homes – and what better purchase for a new home than high quality furniture?

Ryan makes it a point to be involved in every aspect of his business, from sales to building to delivery. He meets with builders, helps create new designs, troubleshoots styles, and is very active in the building process. Why? The more you know, the more you can inform your customer. Ryan’s passion for Mennonite furniture drives him to create and sell only the best for his customers.

As a child, Ron Armitage used to watch his uncle race cars. Enthusiasm turned to passion, and Ron knew he wanted to be around machines. After starting off his career as a helicopter pilot and ground crew member, Ron’s love of cars and driving sparked in him the idea to start a business offering high quality driving instruction. Ron worked with different driving schools over a period of five years, researching the industry, before launching Limestone Driving Academy Inc.

Ron worked with KEDCO and the SEB (Self-Employment Benefits) program to obtain a grant to start his driving school. The grant provided Ron with the capital he needed to learn about starting and running a business. KEDCO helped him create a business plan, write a forecast and start-up cost sheet, and apply for funding through CYBF (Canadian Youth Business Foundation).

In 2011, Ron was ready to put his plan into gear. The Limestone Driving Academy Inc. opened its doors in November, targeting primarily teenagers and new drivers. But the work of owning a business doesn’t stop when it opens; Ron discovered the secret to entrepreneurial success: forcing yourself to get out there. He worked to build word-of-mouth buzz and developed a referral program for students.

The Limestone Driving Academy Inc. offers in-class instruction and a Ministry-approved BDE (Beginner Driver Education) program. In the first month of operation, the Academy made money – a rare feat in the business world. In addition to great instruction, Ron is committed to providing convenience to his students. The Academy is open for business from 7AM to 9PM and offers a graduating scale of programs. Most driving schools offer 10 hour programs, so the students who had no time to practice would get knocked down instead of built up. At Limestone, you can choose the Fast Track (a 10 hour program), On Track (13 hours), or Sure Track (15 hours) to get the driving time, and confidence, you need.

What are Ron’s plans for the future? In the next year, he would like to focus on growing his student base and building word of mouth. Limestone is driven to become the best option in town by offering the most convenience, flexibility, and value for students.