Paul Braconnier joins TEC Edmonton as an Executive-In-Residence, assisting TEC Edmonton client companies in the fields of natural and health sciences.

Noreen Hoskins comes on board as manager of TEC Edmonton’s new Entrepreneur Skills Development programs.

By profession a chartered accountant, Paul spent the first 10 years of his career with a large international accounting firm, reviewing and assessing client's computer environments. 

After five years in the manufacturing industry as a senior executive, he moved on to the software/service industry as VP Finance and Chief Financial Officer of a publicly traded company.

 In 2000, Paul put his entrepreneurial skills to work when he joined a start-up clinical contract research organization with a proprietary electronic data capture system. Paul was president and CEO of Global IQ from 2000 until joining TEC Edmonton in 2012.

“I’m here,” says Paul, “because of the opportunity to help startup companies commercialize their products. The attraction of running clinical drug trials at Global IQ was to give the end-users more  choice from which to shape their lives. For the same reason, helping new companies deliver new technologies and services is something I very much enjoy.”

As Manager of TEC’s Entrepreneur Skills Development, Noreen builds learning programs  for innovative small and medium-sized business leaders, for entrepreneurially minded students and researchers. 

Noreen has been a consultant, university instructor and business owner.  Before arriving at TEC Edmonton, Noreen helped launch start-up businesses (including two of her own) in Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.  She is well versed in start-up financing and has a strong background in market research, marketing communications and commercial lending.

“I was attracted to TEC Edmonton by the excitement around innovation and its positive impact on small businesses,” Noreen says. “I’ve always had a keen interest in how entrepreneurs transform ideas into viable businesses that contribute to the community.”

TEC Edmonton bids a fond farewell to Executive-In-Residence  Peter Silverstone. The community-minded scientist, professor and life sciences entrepreneur has taken on the most time-consuming but rewarding public-service assignment, as the incoming chair of the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation.

Meanwhile, regulatory affairs and quality control expert John Simon had moved from a TEC Edmonton consultant to a full-time member of TEC Edmonton’s Business Development team.