The Donegal Dublin Business Network (DDBN) gathered recently in Bank of Ireland, Grand Canal Dock for a Get Down to Business breakfast event. The first in a series which will be rolled out twice per year, the DDBN gave four members a chance to introduce their businesses to the network and to take part in a panel discussion.
The members who took part in the panel were:
- Kieran Dunleavy , Owner of Dunleavy Décor Painting Contractors – www.dunleavydecor.ie
- Antoine Xavier, Chief Executive of Xestra Asset Management – www.xestra.ie
- Louise Breslin, Owner of Laveesha Statement and Wedding Jewellery Boutique – www.laveesha.com
- Paul Whoriskey, Senior Account Manager at Ben McArdle Ltd Insurance Brokers – www.benmcardle.ie
Chaired by Bank of Ireland’s Jimmy Stafford (Operations Manager, Co Donegal) and joined on the panel by Pierce Butler (Head of Sectors, Bank of Ireland), members learned about the panel’s links to Donegal, their businesses and the challenges that they have overcome through the recession and that they face today. There was real insight into online marketing, the Irish property market, the high demand for painters and other building professionals and the current challenges facing the insurance industry with the uncertainty caused by Brexit.
Barry Gallagher (Head of Bank of Ireland, Co Donegal) explained Bank of Ireland’s Workbench concept, which offers free hot desk work space for co-working, seminars, clinics and events to encourage innovation and new ideas. There is a Workbench in Bank of Ireland’s Grand Canal Dock branch and in their Letterkenny branch, which DDBN members are welcome to use at any time.
The DDBN look forward to a second Get Down to Business event later in the year. Members should feel free to contact any committee member if they would be interested in hosting or taking part in an event.
