Two young Calgary entrepreneurs planning to lure top political experts and pop culture icons to town say they want to boost the city’s “world-class” profile and give charities a hand up at the same time.

Newly formed Calgary Renaissance Corp. has already reeled in one of the bigger fishes on the speaking circuit – former U.S. President Bill Clinton will help kick off the Connecting Calgary series in November with an address to a well-heeled crowd of 1,600 at the RoundUp Centre at a cost of $2,799 for a table of eight. Individual tickets to a pre-dinner gala VIP reception with Clinton are selling at $999 apiece.

For Greg Habstritt, 31, and his partner Grant Doyle, 34, the event is the first in a line of speaking engagements featuring global movers and shakers.

“We knew this would be a high-profile event, and it establishes the fact that we’re going to bring in world-class personalities on an ongoing basis,” says Habstritt. “We’re not just looking at politicians or business speakers, we’re looking at people who have had an impact on the world somehow . . . whether it’s Bill Gates, or Paul McCartney, people who are household names who have a really unique perspective on the world.

Larry MacDougal, Business Edge
Greg Habstritt, left, and Grant Doyle are bringing Bill Clinton to Calgary.

“The speaking circuit is always a motivational, business-development kind of thing. Wouldn’t it be interesting to bring in people that normally you wouldn’t expect and have a chance to hear their opinions?”

Habstritt admits it’s a risk launching the Connecting Calgary series with a former U.S. president and all the pre-paid expenses that a major appearance involves. But risk-taking is a necessary part of business, he believes.

At the age of 31, Habstritt considers himself semi-retired after founding audio production company On Air Digital Media in 1992, which was later named one of Canada’s fastest growing companies by Profit Magazine. He is also president of Calgary-based creative web services company Rare Method, which is going public this fall.

Partner Grant Doyle has a background in event planning as president of Pinpoint Knowledge Ltd. and Pinnacle Mountain Agency, and has worked as a local agent in bringing international authors to speak in Calgary.

“This event with Clinton will help us fund ourselves going forward,” predicts Habstritt. “And then we can afford to not worry so much. This is a big risk for us to take . . . but that’s been my history – big risk, big reward.

“We’re not planning to make a lot of money ourselves, this isn’t a money-making thing so much as it is trying to create a sustaining venture.”

The initiative is being applauded by Georgine Ulmer, president of Promoting Calgary Inc., the lead marketing agency for the City of Calgary.

“The concept of connecting Calgary to world leaders is very much in keeping with the approach we want to take in terms of a global strategy for Calgary,” she said.

“In many ways, that’s why Calgary is such a successful community. The private sector takes on opportunities as they see them, and then goes with them . . . I’m really pleased they’ve taken this on.”

Habstritt and Doyle also want to partner with local non-profit and charity groups to encourage them to build their own opportunities from speakers brought to town by Calgary Renaissance. Following the visit by Clinton, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to a local charity – but Habstritt says he’s not interested in simple handouts.

“We want to try and come up with creative ways to create sustaining economies for charities and non-profits,” he says. “We want to create something that’s going to be an ongoing project for them.”

Calgary Renaissance also plans to link future speakers with a “Young Leaders” program, involving essay competitions for Calgary students. “The idea is to create some kind of legacy so that bringing these people in isn’t a kind of one-night excitement that’s forgotten about the next day,” Habstritt adds.

Both men believe it’s time for businesses to walk the talk when it comes to promoting Calgary as a globally connected city. Opportunities like the coming G-8 Summit in Kananaskis Country are a perfect opportunity to showcase the city to the world, says Habstritt, who expresses dismay that some business and civic leaders see the event as an inconvenience.

There are two schools of thought in the business community around the Clinton event, says Habstritt.

“There’s the old boys’ network that looks at this kind of event and wonders what we’re doing.

“Then there’s this much bigger group of almost newer economy thinkers in the 30-45 category who look at this and say: ‘This is great.’ They see the positive ramifications of bringing Clinton to Calgary, in terms of the exposure and the opportunities this cracks open for the city.”

Web Watch:
www.connectingcalgary.com