Miriam Simon is founder of PTO.ie (www.pto.ie), a consultancy that specialises in trading & consumer strategy. An experienced Business Mentor with over 30 years experience working at board level within the Retail sector, alongside cross industry mentoring with Enterprise Ireland, Miriam helps CEO's and Business owners grow their business and get great results - at pace! Miriam has added tens of millions to the bottom lines of the businesses she has worked with, and as such is ranked by Linkedin as within the Top 1% for Retail.

In addition, Miriam is an accredited executive coach, has studied Corporate Governance and Strategy with the Institute of Directors, and is also advisor to Ireland's finalists for the SME Instrument Horizon 2020 programme, which has a strong track record of fund achievement..

Breanndán Casey is the Innovation and Enterprise Manager at The Mill Enterprise Hub in Drogheda which was established to support startups and entrepreneurship in the greater Drogheda region. The original idea for The Mill emanated from Drogheda Chamber and we continue to successfully collaborate on a number of projects. The Mill’s current initiatives include the Illuminate Female programme with M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet and ‘The Fintech Corridor’ plan to develop a cross-border Fintech Cluster from Dublin to Belfast.

Ken has over 15 years Banking experience mainly involved in commercial & property lending at a senior management level. Qualified as a Certified Public Accountant in the late 1990’s, and have worked both in practice and industry. Ken also leads a wholesale and retail business, involved in the import and distribution of household products throughout Ireland and the UK.
Ken has been a Chamber Council member since 2012 and is currently Chairman of the Finance Committee.

Michael has been working in the media Industry for more than 30 years. In that time Michael has worked in Radio TV and Newspapers, local and National.

Still involved in the Radio Industry, he has his own business, Michael Gerrard Media. He helps companies with their digital marketing strategy and manages their Social Media platforms on a daily basis.

Bridget Kerrigan, is the founder and creative director at BAMMEDIA, a creative branding and web agency based in Drogheda, Co. Louth. After graduating from design college with qualifications in both Graphic Design and Digital Media, Bridget set up BAMMEDIA in 2006. Under her creative direction, Bammedia has carved out an extensive client base and built a reputation as a small yet impactful design studio, creating and developing some of the North East’s best known corporate, retail and tech brands.

Tamara is a brand & creative marketing consultant who founded her own Brand & Marketing agency Tamara Howard Communications. She has a diverse background having worked to deliver through-the-line advertising campaigns with some of the largest blue-chip Irish & International brands, as well as having exposure to start-up/challenger brands. She brings this full spectrum of knowledge to her vibrant book of clients.

Eddie is a chartered Civil and Structural Engineer and managing director of VCL Consultants. He has operated the practice for the past 20 years providing consultancy services to the construction industry both locally and throughout Ireland. Eddie has been a council member of the Chamber since 2012 and was Chamber president from 2015-2017. Eddie originally hails from Kildare but has lived in Drogheda since 1995 and he and his family have been embedded in the community since that date.

Geoff Fitzpatrick set up Fitz Scientific, a monitoring and testing business, on Narrow West St, in Drogheda 22 years ago. Since then the business has grown to employ 48 people and is one of Ireland’s leading monitoring and testing businesses.

He is passionate about local enterprise and Drogheda. He is also involved with the Boyne Greenway project, Drogheda Young Innovators, the Boyne / Drogheda 10k and one of the founders of the LoveDrogheda Business Improvement District Company.

Paul qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 2014 working in a Big 4 Firm where he gained extensive experience across a myriad of different industries, including technology, manufacturing, distribution, pharmaceutical and retail.

Paul works with and advises businesses of all stages, including those in the growth and maturity stages and has an avid interest in start-up businesses. Paul is passionate about assisting and promoting local trade and enterprise.

Website Link: https://www.bkg.ie/

LinkedIn Link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-berrill-3250b068/

A successful and innovative business/marketing professional with a strong track record in delivering profitability and market share. Particularly effective in competitive/urgent business environments with an instinctive flair for creating and driving winning strategies. Solutions focused and persuasive as a leader and a passionate culture carrier for the organisation. Open and engaging preferring honest dialogue and debate as a collaborative team player.

Shona is a highly accomplished and respected global recruitment business leader. Qualified to MBA, she commenced her professional life in the hospitality industry but it is the competitive world of recruitment that she found her niche and true passion. With 18 years experience in the Industry Shona has successfully managed, led and transformed recruitment businesses in both multinational and indigenous Irish recruitment firms, excelling in among some of the most challenging times the industry has faced.

Since Shona took over the helm of Osborne in April 2013, in the depths of recession, her vision, innovation, strong values, ability to build teams and ambitious but inclusive entrepreneurial leadership style was the driving force for Osborne to not only navigate its way through these perilous times but saw the business emerge in a very strong market position, ready for the next phase of growth.

Since 2018, Shona has combined her passion for her locale in the North East of Ireland with her business acumen, becoming the President of Drogheda Chamber of Commerce, Board Member of the Mill Enterprise Hub and Chair of M1 Drogheda Chamber Skillnet. Shona is also part of the M1Corridor Steering Group, the Regional Enterprise Planning Group in the North East and the Louth Economic Forum. Most recently Shona is Chair of the research project that is examining and improving management development standardisation in SME’s in Ireland through the Department of Enterprise.

Collette Farrell has worked in the cultural sector for the past 30 years. Starting out as an actress, she completed the Diploma in Theatre & Media Studies with the Abbey Theatre, and taught drama in the Gaiety School of Acting. She was General & Programme Manager of the City Arts Centre, Dublin, Producer for Calipo Theatre & Picture, Drogheda and in 2017 she became Director of Droichead Arts Centre. Collette co-chairs Drogheda Arts Festival, is a member of the Louth Creative Ireland, and has an Advanced Certificate in Management Practice and Entrepreneurship with Ulster University.

Steven is the founder and CEO of Big Wheel Marketing (www.bigwheel.org), a marketing consultancy with offices in both Ireland and the United Arab Emirates. Since inception in 2015, Big Wheel has worked with over 60 clients in areas of expertise ranging from marketing strategy, video production, digital marketing technology, creative services and public relations.

Steven is also an international tourism consultant and has contributed to many projects in the areas of national tourism strategies, travel technology and marketing, and travel-related investments and private equity.

Previously, Steven was the Managing Director (Ireland) and Commercial Director (Europe) for online travel agent ebookers.com, and the former CEO of the Tourism Development Authority of the emirate of Ras al Khaimah, UAE.

Alma Jordan is the founder of AgriKids a multi-award winning social enterprise that has become a leader in farm safety education for children. Founded in 2015, its ethos to engage, educate and empower children to be farm safety ambassadors.

With a background in marketing and communications, Alma is passionate about entrepreneurship and social enterprise.

‘Our greatest legacy is to leave behind a world in better shape than when we entered it’.