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Chris Fox

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A Fredericton-based social networking website for the business community has a new look and the site's creator says it has been well received.

Mynexia, which launched in October as a way for local businesspeople to network with potential employees and investors, saw the debut of a redesigned site at the end of February.

Kelly O'Brien, president of Mynexia, said the new site has taken into account plenty of user feedback and is a big step up.

"When we launched our beta site last fall we just wanted to get an early version out there and test it with the marketplace," he said.

"Some of the things people commented on were that they really wanted a more structured approach to highlight the things that they are looking for everyday, so the business community came up with about 15 key activities that we do everyday and that was a big part of our restructure."

Mynexia has several hundred members mainly from within the region, but O'Brien said he's hoping that will grow.

"The big effort now is to really get the word out and we are working with a number of potential channel relationships to really help get our message out to the world that we are here," he said.

"There is a tremendous amount of activity in the web 2.0 in the world right now with a lot of social networking sites popping up every day, but mainly out of traditional locations like California. This is a brand new front for us and it is quite exciting."

NBIF to announce competition winners

A five-month process will come to an end Wednesday night when the New Brunswick Innovation Foundation announces the winners of its second annual Breakthru business plan competition at a gala dinner at the Delta Fredericton Hotel.

More than $250,000 in prizes and in-kind services will be handed out to a group of six finalists during the event, which will be hosted by Dianne Buckner of CBC's Dragon's Den.

The evening will bring to an end a record year for the Breakthru competition, which doubled its entry total from last year with 60 submissions this year.

"We had a great increase in the number of entries, but also a tremendous increase in quality. We had a whole variety in types of business plans and ideas and all of the top six would be very valid winners and companies we could easily work with," said Calvin Millbury, vice-president of business development with the Innovation Foundation.

"It is really great to see so many people thinking about ways to innovate and create new products and the fact there is so many people out there willing to take risks is a good sign for the province."

A panel of six will choose the winners of the competition. In total, three different business plans will receive prize money.

Tickets for the gala are still available and can be purchased through the Innovation Foundation's website at a cost of $75.

Organization has new president

Business Fredericton North has a new president.

Paul Elliott, a partner at the law firm Matthews McCrea Elliott, was selected to take over from outgoing president Anne Baldaro at the organization's annual general meeting March 19. Baldaro had occupied the role for two years.

"We'll be continuing to look at ways to improve upon the services provided by Business Fredericton North to make us a better resource for you, our members," Elliott said to members during the meeting.

Serving up tips for restaurant owners

Mark Taylor says teaching local restaurant owners better food safety techniques is good news for everyone.

That's why Taylor, the founder of Diningpick.com, is teaming up with Elena Connors of Impact Microbiology Services to offer clinics in Moncton, Saint John and Fredericton for local restaurants interested in receiving tips on how to ensure food safety in their establishments.

The Fredericton workshop is scheduled for April 20.

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Chris Fox is a freelance journalist. If you have news items for Networking, e-mail news@dailygleaner.com and put 'Networking' in the subject line.