NLIS 2
July 27, 2006
(Business)
Minister announces
addition to Business Advisory Board
Capitalizing on the wealth of expertise
and industry knowledge in the business community of this province is
important for government and for The Department of Business, said
Minister Kevin O�Brien today as he announced the addition of Alfred
Whiffen of Bell Aliant Regional Communications to the Business Advisory
Board.
�I am more than pleased that Mr. Whiffen has accepted the invitation to
serve on the Business Advisory Board,� said Minister O�Brien. �His years
of progressive experience in sales and marketing, combined with his
specialized knowledge of the telecommunications industry, will make a
valuable addition to the talent and capabilities already represented on
this board.�
The Business Advisory Board was established in June 2005 and reports
directly to the Minister of Business. Its mandate is to provide
strategic advice to the Premier and government on provincial direction
for investment attraction, as well as business and economic development.
The board is chaired by Dr. Gary Gorman, Dean of the Faculty of
Business, Memorial University of Newfoundland. The 15 additional board
members, including Mr. Whiffen, represent a cross-section of industries
and regions of the province.
�This board is a real asset to this government as we move forward in our
efforts to strategically position Newfoundland and Labrador in a
competitive global environment�, added Minister O�Brien. �I extend my
sincere appreciation to Mr. Whiffen on his commitment to this province
as he begins in his capacity as member of the Business Advisory Board.�
A biography of Mr. Whiffen follows.
Media contact: Glenda Power, Communications, (709) 729-7628, 693-2655,
glendapower@gov.nl.ca
Biography-Alfred Whiffen
Alfred Whiffen is Vice President Sales � SMB Markets for Bell Aliant
Regional Communications. Mr. Whiffen leads all aspects of Bell Aliant�s
business-to-business sales operations with specific responsibility for
field and inside sales teams serving the company�s small and medium
business customers in Atlantic Canada.
A native of Southern Harbour, Placentia Bay, Mr. Whiffen holds a
Bachelor of Commerce degree (1985) and a Masters of Business
Administration (MBA) degree (2002) from Memorial University.
Mr. Whiffen began his career in 1985 as a sales and marketing assistant
with Brookfield Ice Cream in St. John�s. Since then, he has held
progressively responsible positions in marketing and sales management
roles in the cable television, radio broadcasting and telecommunications
industries. He is currently a member of the steering committee for
Nearshore Atlantic, a public-private partnership between the Government
of Newfoundland and Labrador, Bell Aliant and the Newfoundland and
Labrador Association of Technology Industries (nati). He is also a
member of the board of directors for Innuvations, a joint venture
between the Innu Development Limited Partnership and xwave.
Mr. Whiffen is involved in the community as a member of the board of
directors for the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA) and
currently chairs the local chapter of CPSA in Newfoundland and Labrador.
He is a director of the Kids Eat Smart Foundation and is past chair of
the Mary Queen of the World School Council. He is a past board member of
Big Brothers, Big Sisters Association and of the Newfoundland and
Labrador Crafts Development Association and is a former member of the
Gander, Waterford Valley and St. John�s Rotary Clubs. He also coaches
boys and girl�s minor soccer in Mount Pearl.
Mr. Whiffen lives in St. John�s with his wife Mary and two children
Robin (15) and Stephen
(12).
2006 07 27
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