Entrepranu: Caribbean Business Groups

Laura Cotton

Managing Director & Principal Consultant

Laura Cotton, with more than 10 years of experience with public relations and facilitating change, has been hands-on with nearly every type of change a company could undergo. Seriously … ask her. With her proven portfolio of change and communication programmes, Laura confidently (pro)claims she cannot be daunted by any task or surprised by any hurdle in business life.  Maybe that’s her usual optimism speaking, but it’s as contagious as her energy and honest approach to solutions.  

Just before graduating from Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah, USA) with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and a minor in Business Management, Laura enjoyed a brief stint at Connect PR coordinating media pitching for high-tech clients. After graduation, Laura joined Atlantic Southeast Airlines/Delta Connection in Atlanta, Ga., USA. Under the tutorage of her “best boss ever,” Laura initiated and coordinated internal communications for the airlines quickly growing staff and external communications for its expanding markets and parent company, Delta Air Lines. She managed communications programmes supporting the company’s accelerated growth, active negotiations with labor unions, station closures and openings, new executive management, sale to SkyWest Airlines, and new corporate branding.

In 2006, Laura’s former CEO and vice president invited her to create the corporate communications department at Caribbean Airlines Services, Inc. – a division of Stanford Financial Group. She accepted and developed public relations, internal communications and advertising programmes for both Caribbean Sun Airlines (based in San Juan, Puerto Rico) and Caribbean Star Airlines (based in Antigua & Barbuda, West Indies). In her role as manager – Corporate Communications, Laura acted as chief communications counsel for the CEO and served as the communications consultant on the company’s strategic planning team.

While at Caribbean Airlines Services, Laura directed all communication for one of the biggest business collaborations in Caribbean history with the LIAT and Caribbean Star merger acquisition. In recognition of her versatility, she was appointed as the director of Caribbean Star.  In this role, Laura was based in Antigua and oversaw all aspects of the airline’s ultimate closure. 

Laura’s trademark is her ability to quickly read cultures and win trust. Her time in the U.S. and Caribbean has taught her valuable lessons about the differences in business and work cultures – lessons she is eager to share with others. It was that desire that motivated her to form Pearl Strategies in 2008.

With her current clients, Laura manages all types of change communication and strategic public relations initiatives with her infectious dedication and passion. She developed several corporate communications strategic plans for Caribbean Airlines in Trinidad – including its crisis communications plans; coordinates media relations for Atlanta Jazz Dance Preservation Society; developed community marketing initiatives for Heritage Security in Antigua; and has monitored personal media coverage for Caribbean government leaders.  

Outside of the workplace, Laura is an avid dancer. She has been a swing dance instructor since 1997 and has been a featured dancer in performance troupes in Atlanta, Ga., and South Florida, USA. Just turn on some music and watch Laura’s eyes light up, feet tap and hips move. If not dancing, Laura usually can be found on an airplane satisfying her wanderlust.   

Pearl Strategies Link

On May 3rd at the Carlise Bay Hotel Board room, we will be having our first Entrepranu meetup. Because this is the first event, everyone attending should be prepared to give a 3 minute speech, toast or presentation about anything the want, the goal is to speak in front of people.

We will start the meetup with the 3 minute speeches, then move on to a pitch game called battle decks (will be explained there if you don’t know what it is). We will then have our key speeches and finally end off with a brain storming session for a charity program for Antigua. We then can head to the Carlise Bay Bar and have a few drinks to continue networking, if you would like!

I am excited to see everyone there and part of something new on the island!

For the facebook event go to: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=75667445898

 
Entrepranu - John Boxall speaks about the Mobile Web from Greg Harrison on Vimeo.

This is the first in my series of talks with people that I think are very cutting edge and innovative when it comes to business, technology and marketing.  I want to explore all types of businesses, who is behind them and how they got started.  I love talking business and when you ask people about their businesses they are so passionate and love sharing their vision and knowledge with you, which in turn rubs off on you.  My goal is to speak to the people that are making things happen and get my pseudo MBA through listening to their knowledge.

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Follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/entrepranu

Join us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=74056462260&ref=mf

Entrepranu 1.0 is scheduled for May 3rd 2009.  Come and join like minded business people to discuss business, network, learn and share.

Because it is the 1st meetup everyone attending must follow the first rule of Entrepranu, which is everyone must give a 3 minute, speech, toast or presentation.  This 3 minute speech can be about anything, the idea is to force people out of their comfort zone so that they can become better public speakers.

4pm - Welcome, Meet and Network.
4:15 - New Member Speeches/Toasts/Presentations.
4:30 - Keynote Speaker 1 - Greg Harrison talks about Split Testing
5pm - Discussion Q&A
5:30 - Keynote Speaker 2 - TBD (email greg@entrepranu.com if you would like to present)
6pm - Discussion Q&A
6:30 - Charity Discussion
6:45 - Closing Remarks

We are very excited to have you attend our business networking and join in discussions that can help improve your business and your future!

To RSVP please email Greg @ Greg@Entrepranu.com

EntreprANU is a small business group based in Antigua (Airport Code: ANU) that is focused on helping entrepreneurs succeed by combining the groups expertise in business to help each other grow their business and their knowledge.

The idea for EntrprANU came from the want of a public speaking group to help improve the little skills in public speaking that the founder, Greg Harrison had.

The Idea then became focused on not only improving public speaking skills but also learning the skills of other business people in Antigua.  

Starting May 3rd, we will be kicking off our first Entrepranu and are looking for people to come and share the experience.  To be a part of EntreprANU 1.0 please email greg@entrepranu.com.  We also need people who would like to present as a keynote speaker, giving the members a 30 minute speech and presentation on something that they find valuable to business owners.