PULLIA ACCOUNTING & CONSULTING

Consulting Services Introduction Highlights of Accomplishments Clients References Information Technology International Business Community Economic Development

Frank Pullia, CMA will serve as the project manager. Frank has over 22 years experience in labour, management and ownership of a small business. He has held positions of increasing responsibility in the public (Ontario Hydro), private sector (Kimberly Clark), and community-based organizations (Northwest-Midwest Alliance) and has an excellent background in economic development, marketing, financial management, management information systems, business planning, and strategic planning.

Principal Office: Suite 200, 215 Red River Rd.
                            Thunder Bay, Ontario
                            Canada  P7B 1A5

Telephone: (807) 474-8294   Fax: (807) 767-6579

E-mail: frank@frankpullia.com

Primary contact: Frank Pullia, Project Manager

Project Team: The proposed project team will include consulting and support personnel including but not limited to: Frank Pullia, Project Manager; and other sub-consultants as needed.

• Developed a complete business plan for an International company providing Internet Business Solutions to the Latin America, North America, and European markets. The plan provides substantial market and financial information for the purpose of market expansion and funding by prospective investors.

• Brought together 3 Information Technology (I.T.) companies to form a Consortium (Northwest Tech), and prepared a successful funding proposal and business plan to the Ontario Rural Job Strategy Fund. The goal of this partnership is to position itself in the fast growing US Midwest I.T. market by capitalizing on the shortage of Informational Technology professionals. This project will allow the Consortium to acquire US contracts, retain and create much needed knowledge-based jobs, help strengthen a new industry, and further diversify the economy of Nortwestern Ontario.
  

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International Business

• As Project Manager for the Northwest-Midwest Alliance, brought together the various economic development agencies in the region and developed a community partnership model and a team approach that was successful in further opening up the North-South trade corridor. These efforts resulted in a substantial increase in the level of export activity, inward investment opportunities and the formation of many strategic alliances, partnerships, and joint ventures between Northwestern Ontario and US Midwest companies.

Developed brand/name recognition and awareness across Northwestern Ontario and US Midwest through the development of a Web site, promotional material, and implementation of marketing plans. Also developed a model to broaden the community partnership; prepared business plans and received funding from its major partners including Thunder Bay Ventures and FedNor.

George Pacholczak, Trade & Technology Officer
Industry Canada, FedNor (807) 766-1806

• Established excellent working relations with the Wisconsin Counties Association and also pursued a number of potential strategic alliances with them. One included the exploration of promoting Native Arts and Crafts in the German market in co-operation with German travel industry contacts. This opportunity is long-term in nature and while it requires a certain level of co-ordination among various groups from both Northern Ontario and the State of Wisconsin, it remains very viable.

Dave Dumke, Field Services Representative
International Trade, Business and Economic Council
 Coordinator Wisconsin Counties Association
(608)224-5330

• In collaboration with Development Thunder Bay and the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines, developed a full-fledged Inward Investment Program. The program emphasized a Team Thunder Bay approach to attract investment to the region from expanding US Midwestern companies. The first of a series of inward investment seminars was held in Minneapolis on October 6, 1998 and attracted over 40 participants. The team included the Port and Airport Authorities along with the Chamber of Commerce.

Also coordinated the follow-up and visit of interested US companies. A successful visit included a meeting with, and presentation to a local group of engineering and information technology (IT) companies on December 13-14 1998. The meeting led to a working agreement and subsequent contracts being signed with a local IT company, who has hired a number of IT professionals to service the U.S. contract.

Dale Ashbee, Economic Development Officer
Ministry of Northern Development and Mines
(807) 475-1518

• Participated in a Trade Mission to Milan, Italy and coordinated the preparation of a Pasta Plant Proposal to create a joint venture initiative in Thunder Bay. The proposal resulted in four responses from Italian pasta producers and two from interested North American companies. Frank was involved in coordinating the meeting and facilitating negotiations with two international companies. The opportunity still exists for the creation of a new industry and 120 new jobs for Thunder Bay and region.
  

Richard Pohler, Economic Development Officer
Development Thunder Bay (807) 625-3967

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Community Economic Development

• Presently working on a Community Profiling Project for the Greenstone and North of Superior Municipalities. The community profiles will serve as the bases for a regional marketing brochure that will highlight the uniqueness of each individual community while promoting the area's investment opportunities to both public and private investors.

Madge Richardson, 
Community Placement Officer
Township of Schreiber, (807) 824-1369 ext. 28

• Presently working as a sub-consultant in a project team developing a Comprehensive Economic Strategic Plan for the Sand Point First Nation. The plan includes the development of a community profile, skills inventory and training needs analysis, education standards and needs, and the entrepreneurial capacity of community members. Other deliverables include organizational, economic, social, cultural, and external analyses, along with strategic goal setting for the community and the development of viable projects and development opportunities.
  
  The consulting team is working with a local project team that includes representation from the following groups: band council, local youth, community elders, cultural leaders, and current or potential business operators.
  

• 
  Franco Crupi, Principal
  Crupi Consulting
  (807) 473-6411
  

• Recently completed a comprehensive Strategic Economic Development Plan for the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge, including the formulation of a prioritized list of viable community development strategies and projects.
  

• 
  Rowland Martyn
  Chair, Economic Development Committee
  Oliver Paipoonge Municipality
  (807) 935-2613
  

• Spearheaded a Committee of City Council to prevent a further decline of the Downtown Core Areas. Brought together various groups with competing interests and was successful in leveraging funds from various government agencies in order to create a full time Development Facilitator position to work on this initiative.

Mark Smith, 
Manager Long Range Planning
City of Thunder Bay (807) 625-2833

• As the Chair of the Casino Committee, coordinated the social, economic and policing impact study. Personally conducted research, interviews with different stakeholders, and preparation of 2 separate reports that led to the formal process of a public information meeting and subsequent referendum.

The construction of the Casino will create approximately 450 direct and just as many indirect jobs. The economic impact is estimated at $70-80 million dollars per year over and above the $40 million investment in construction and furnishing.

Robert Katajamaki, 
Manager Licensing & Enforcement Division 
City of Thunder Bay - (807) 625-2644

• Worked closely with a number of local private companies and economic development agencies to co-ordinate and facilitate a large-scale emerging technologies project. In co-operation with the Canadian Consulate, did a preliminary due-diligence on the principal U.S. project partners, some of whom were heavily involved in the Mall of America in Minneapolis and other successful retail/entertainment development.

Frank also coordinated funding requests (approved) for the project and the tendering of a risk analysis and feasibility study. The project was awarded to a local consultant and a final report submitted to the group on March 1999. The second phase of this project included the development of a Community Investment Fund model. A workshop with Ontario Ministry of Finance personnel and community leaders was held on June 16, 1999 and a final report prepared by the end of that month.

Rob Stinchcombe, Community Development Officer 
 Industry Canada, FedNor - (807) 766-1809

• Shaw Cable community program - "Thunder Bay’s New Economy". Frank took the lead in participating in this eight-part documentary highlighting the changes, challenges and opportunities in the economy of Northwestern Ontario by sponsoring and developing a half-hour program to increase awareness of international trade and business opportunities both internationally and in the U.S. Midwest.

He videotaped parts of the Northern Networks Trade Conference in Wausau and held on-site interviews with Mike Fabius of DST Consulting and Uli Walther of GRK Canada Ltd. A panel discussion with service providers (FedNor, MNDM, DTB, Northwest Enterprise Centre, Chamber of Commerce) in the studio completed this section of the program which aired on public television in the spring of 1999. After the initial airing, the eight-part documentary was made available to the public through libraries and related agencies.

Rene Boyer, Program Coordinator
Shaw Cable - (807) 767-5511

• Held information session with Oliver-Paipoonge economic development committee, and provided advice and support in their development of an economic and marketing strategy to attract investment and revitalize their economy. This included the identification of funding agencies and programs that enabled the committee to acquire the resources necessary to implement the plan, including the development of a Website and promotional materials.

Rowland Martyn, Chair Economic Development Committee
Municipality of Oliver-Paipoonge - (807) 935-2613

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Copyright © 2000 [Pullia Accounting & Consulting]. All rights reserved.
Revised: October 03, 2006 .