BEDC Welcomes Five New Staff To Their Team
The Bermuda Economic Development Corporation [BEDC] has hired five new staff — Kelsea Williams, Donte Hunt, Dennis Carter, Jonathan Starling, and Tiffany Durham — with the “goal of providing improved assistance to existing and new entrepreneurs.”
A spokesperson said, “Following the announcement earlier this year of the promotion to Directors of two long-standing Officers within the Corporation, the Bermuda Economic Development Corporation has hired five new staff to fill its compliment of fourteen posts all with the goal of providing improved assistance to existing and new entrepreneurs, with support throughout the business life cycle by providing advice, financing, special programmes, and entrepreneurship education.
“The BEDC has restructured its organisation to better serve clients and now has 4 Units as follows: Finance, Data and Administration Unit; Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Unit; Economic and Cooperative Development Unit; and Communication and Development Unit managed by a total of 14 staff.”
“BEDC is extremely pleased to have the ability to work with and hire new talent to support the growing mandate of our organization,” said Executive Director Erica Smith. “Our role in the community has changed significantly since we were first created almost forty years ago in 1980 and we have consistently tried to be innovative to provide support to Bermudian entrepreneurs in this transforming landscape.
“We now provide 9 various financial and incentive products compared to just 1 product in 1980. We also have expanded service offerings from advisory services, to a robust education regime, and special progammes and projects such as our Enterprise Bermuda Incubator and our Summer Student Entrepreneur Programme.
“With the rest of the team, our new staff will ensure that we are able to deliver on our expanded mandate inclusive of supporting the development of existing and new Bermudian entrepreneurs and helping to grow Bermuda’s entrepreneurial eco-system.”
Communication & Development Officer, Kelsea Williams
The BEDC said, “Ms. Williams joins the BEDC as the Communication & Development Officer and will work with the Communication & Development Director [Mrs, Jamillah Lodge] to manage the marketing and communication for the corporation, inclusive of its website and social media profiles. Ms. Williams will also be involved in special projects and identifying entrepreneurial development opportunities for local Bermudians.
Micro Small & Medium Enterprises [MSME] Officer, Donte Hunt
“As the Micro Small and Medium Enterprise Officer for the BEDC, Mr. Hunt will be providing small and medium sized businesses with advice, guidance, and financial products. In addition, he will coordinate advanced community-based initiatives to create economic development tools for the continued development of the Economic Empowerment Zones [EEZs], specifically in NE Hamilton.
“Mr. Hunt will also implement and manage a diverse range of internal and external projects and products as developed by the MSME Unit. He Reports to the MSME Director [Mr. Raymond Lambert].
Junior Micro Small & Medium Enterprises Officer, Dennis Carter
“Mr. Carter also joins the MSME Unit, working under the MSME Director [Mr. Raymond Lambert] by implementing and managing projects, providing business development advice, guidance, and financial support to Bermuda’s micro-enterprises, small businesses, and medium-sized business. In addition, Mr. Carter will also support the St. George EEZ.
Economic & Cooperative Development [ECD] Officer, Jonathan Starling
“Mr. Starling, under the direction of the Economic and Cooperative Development Director [Mr. William Spriggs], will be supporting the Economic and Cooperative Development Unit to develop innovative economic development tools to foster local economic growth which is inclusive but not limited to planning, development and implementation of economic development programmes, guiding policy development and assisting with the development of economic policy proposals. The unit is further tasked with establishing and growing a cooperative economics eco-system in Bermuda which will see cooperative businesses created and sustained.
Administrative Assistant – MSME and ECD Units, Tiffany Durham
“Under the shared direct supervision of the MSME and ECD Directors, Ms. Tiffany Durham will provide administrative support to enable the MSME and ECD teams to effectively discharge their duties and responsibilities.
“Ms. Durham will be scheduling appointments, following up with client pre and post meeting deliverables, seminar planning, data-entry, drafting correspondence, preparing, editing and disseminating documents and other administrative duties.”
Sigh. More money that we don’t have.
Congrats to the new team. We look forward to their success with budding entrepreneurs.
Another bunch of useless civil servants (or quasi civil servants) who can only increase our debt. Entrepreneurs by definition are people who do things that no one has done before.
How on earth can you teach entrepreneurship? These are fake appointments.
It is good to know that Jonathan Starling is on-board with the BEDC. Jonathan is a tried and true environmentalist who knows that human activities and development need to be in harmony with the environment, not in competition with it. I am confident that he will bring this special awareness into his new role.
Sadly he doesn’t understand economics or business so this is just a wasted salary.
More government employees. More spending.