Innovative Thinking Leads to Olympic Opportunities

Publish Date: November 2005

For Gordon Currie of Dawson Creek, creative thinking and partnering were the keys to a winning contract with the 1996 Olympic Games.

President and CEO of Eldoren Design, Currie wanted to get involved with the Atlanta Games, but recognized a strategic alliance would be necessary for his small business to win a big contract. So he took the initiative, did extensive research and contacted companies who had already won bids to work with the Games. Currie approached one major U.S. firm that was creating the official commemorative book for the Games, and soon his company was hired to design and build a website to market and sell the book.

Participating in even a small part of the project brought great rewards.

"I only earned around $5,000 on the contract itself," says Currie. "But because of the work I did on the project, I exposed myself to other companies that were looking for web developers with experience. I have since picked up hundreds of thousands of dollars of business from the U.S., and I do it all here in Dawson Creek."

Based on his experience with the 1996 Games, Currie recommends businesses across the province think outside the box for ways to partner and work together to get involved with 2010.

"Start now," offers Currie. "Four years might seem like a long time, but it's not."

Currie recommends companies attend the procurement seminars offered around the province by the BC Secretariat and use the Internet resources available, like the 2010 Commerce Centre website.

"Look at sub-level companies working with contract winners and offer to work with them," advises Currie. "If you approach planning from a creative perspective and really look at the big picture, there are millions of opportunities out there."

As for his own 2010 involvement, Currie is targeting 10 to 12 Northeastern companies to partner with and seek out Olympic business opportunities.

"My excitement is for the opportunity that follows the event -- I'll be able to generate jobs, income and lasting legacies of the Games."

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