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October 22nd marked the inaugural OMISTA Credit Union SmallBizRIOT in Moncton. Seventy-five people from across the Maritimes—including business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals—gathered for a full day of presentations. The event was an opportunity for small business owners to network, exchange ideas and develop new commercial opportunities.
The conference was orchestrated by business consultant, author and speaker David Barnett and his team. Barnett has spoken at many similar events and felt that Moncton could benefit from having one. He says many of the problems faced by small business owners can often be resolved by networking and problem-solving with other business owners.
The RIOT part of the conference name is an acronym for Revenue, Innovation, Operations, Team. Guest speakers covered each element and at the same time, shared ideas, experiences and lessons designed to help attendees build stronger and more profitable business operations.
Barnett says he received a lot of positive feedback from attendees who appreciated the opportunity to meet with like-minded business owners and hear stories of how entrepreneurs struggled and got back on their feet. For example, one of the speakers discussed the challenges of navigating the U.S market during tariff wars and how they pivoted away from American customers.
Colby Johnson, a SmallBizRIOT participant, summed up most attendees’ feedback by saying, “I absolutely loved it…fun time networking…listening to some professionals in the field give all of their expertise.”
Attendees had a chance to win over $15,000 worth of donated door prizes. These included business consulting packages and bookkeeping assistance, in addition to typical door prizes like books and coffee experiences. The event wrapped up with a sponsored networking cocktail party that combined to also be a charitable fundraiser for the Second Mile Food Bank. The food bank received $1,000 worth of donations which will provide 25 Christmas food boxes for area families.
Barnett emphasizes that small businesses give an economy resiliency and this is especially true when a major employer shuts down operations. Barnett grew up in Moncton when the CN shops ceased operations and thousands of people lost their jobs. But there was a light at the end of that tunnel. “A lot of the guys that lost their jobs at the shops were given severance packages and a lot of them decided to open their own business” says Barnett. “I think if you look at the different cities in the region, the ones with the most diversified number of employers are the ones that are best able to weather downturns.”
Plans are underway to have a second annual conference in 2027, location to be determined.
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