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Alumna earns BDC Young Entrepreneur Award

From The Guardian (Charlottetown)
The Province, Tuesday, October 18, 2005, p. A4

Melody Dover runs growing advertising, marketing and design firm in Charlottetown, with broad range of Island business clients.

When graphic designer Melody Dover, 34, broke her wrist three years ago, she turned that unpleasant experience into an opportunity to expand her horizons and open her own business.

The owner of Fresh Media Inc., a growing Charlottetown advertising, marketing and design firm, Dover has earned the Business Development Bank of Canada's (BDC) Young Entrepreneur Award for Prince Edward Island.

She will be presented with the award during a ceremony tonight in Calgary.

Fresh Media specializes in developing brand identity, print design, web design and creativity coaching.

Breaking her right wrist, while she was working as a graphic designer, was what Dover describes as "life-altering." She began to rethink her career and decided to take the interactive multimedia course at Holland College offered in partnership with Sheridan College.

With her newly gained skills, she entered an Atlantic region animation and web design competition, Animediafest, where she took first prize.

"People started contacting me to do work for them, and so in June of 2003, I registered the business," she said.

Fresh Media started out with only three clients, but within a year business "just started to swell," says Dover.

"Word of mouth was incredible," she said.

Now, Fresh Media's clients include a broad range of P.E.I. businesses, including DeltaWare Systems, Sensor Wireless and some small businesses.

Last summer, Dover helped Sensor Wireless launch a product called Agent QC, which is now exported internationally.

Fresh Media continues to expand. Sales have increased nine times over the previous year's results and Dover plans to hire full-time staff.

As a successful entrepreneur, Dover has had several interesting opportunities during the past year.

She was one of seven P.E.I. businesswomen selected to participate in a six-month accelerated business program offered by the P.E.I. Business Women's Association; she was invited to be a guest speaker at a small business development symposium in Halifax; and she was asked to address university students interested in becoming entrepreneurs.

"I tell them you have to have passion because that's what drives you to reach your goal," she said. "Being an entrepreneur is a lifestyle. Your business is a living, breathing creature that you have to take care of."

A highlight of Small Business Week, BDC's Young Entrepreneur Awards recognize the achievements of Canadian businesspeople between the ages of 19 and 35, paying tribute to a young entrepreneur from each province and territory.

Winners are chosen by a selection committee, based on a number of criteria that range from operating success and innovation to involvement in the new economy, community work and export performance.

Dover said being an entrepreneur means a person has to be prepared for the unknown.

"You have to be really flexible and ready to accommodate whatever comes along, whether it's a challenge, a catastrophe or something positive."

Dover's company also contributes to the community. Fresh Media adopts one charitable organization each year and provides services free of charge to help promote it.

Last year, with the help of a student intern, Dover designed a poster concept for the local Arthritis Society. The Fresh Media Inc. posters were used across Canada.

For 2005, Dover has dedicated her services to supporting a local woman who swam the Northumberland Strait to raise money for AIDS research.

BDC president and CEO Jean-Ren? Halde says Dover is an example of the best of Canada's young entrepreneurs.

"The energy and commitment with which she runs her business have resulted in success for herself and generated opportunities for others. She has shown that creativity, passion and dedication make for a powerful combination and drive the Canadian economy."

The Business Development Bank of Canada is a financial institution wholly owned by the government of Canada. BDC plays a leadership role in delivering financial, investment and consulting services to Canadian small business, with a particular focus on the technology and export sectors of the economy.

For more information about this release, please contact:
Sara Underwood, Media and Communications Officer
Tel: 902-566-9695
Date: Saturday, November 05, 2005