UPEI executive MBA student wins provincial entrepreneur award

Hannah Bell, a student in UPEI's Executive MBA program (2009 cohort) has been dubbed the PEI 'champion' as part of the 2012 Student Entrepreneur National Competition. The competition is put on by the charitable organization, Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) and presented by the John Dobson Foundation.

Bell is the owner of The Solution Agency Inc., a company that provides sustainable business planning tools and techniques for municipal governments and non-governmental organizations. Some of Bell's business accomplishments to date include using her creative and innovative problem-solving skills to establish her business, while maintaining a full-time job and completing her studies.

Dr. Wendy Carroll, EMBA Program Director and UPEI's Vice-President Student Affairs, believes Bell is an excellent representative for the University and the province. 'The combination of Hannah's entrepreneurial spirit, and her learning and development from the UPEI executive MBA experience, launched her into the creation of an innovative model for working with municipal organizations for sustainable futures.'

Bell is thankful that her hard work was recognized during the provincial competition. 'It validates the work that I'm doing, renews my energy and focus, and provides me with publicity and recognition that will help move my business to the next level.'

As a provincial champion, Bell will move on to represent PEI on March 8 at the 2012 ACE Regional Exposition in Halifax. There, she will present her business to a panel of entrepreneurs and industry professionals. Two regional champions will be selected and each awarded $1000 and a spot in the 2012 ACE National Exposition in Calgary in May.

The national champion will take home $10,000 and earn a spot to compete at the international level at the Global Student Entrepreneur Awards.

For more information on ACE, visit http://www.acecanada.ca/

For more information on UPEI's EMBA program, contact Grace McCourt, Program Coordinator at (902) 566-6474 or mba@upei.ca