(Calgary, Alberta) Meridian Merchant Capital Canada announced today that company President and CEO, Keith Turner has once again been nominated for the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Prairie Region.
This will be Mr. Tuner’s fourth year of nomination for the prestigious award throughout his 11 year career in Canada. Following on two nominations in 1999 and 2000 with partner Randy Lennon in the Pacific Region, this will be the second successive year of nomination with Meridian Canada, last year achieving finalist standing in the Prairie Region.
“We are grateful to the team over at Ernst and Young for all of the support and recognition in the past and we intend to grow this relationship and give back in any way that we can,” commented Mr. Turner. The culture of Meridian is based on the premise that “everyone has four families to support; their immediate family, their corporate family, their community, and the global family. And only when we are able to be actively involved in all four, can we start each day with a jump in our step,” added Turner. “Ernst and Young certainly fall under the category of the corporate family and the community for Meridian.”
2009 marks a year of great initiatives for Meridian as expansion plans throughout Canada and into the United States have been put in motion. Meridian is now opening independently owned business development offices in select Canadian cities with individuals who ‘get’ the Meridian Pledge. Meridian focuses on assisting and financing established, growth-oriented mid-market companies, either seeking to expand, change ownership or make acquisitions.
Meridian has teamed up with The Business Development Bank of Canada and other financial institutions and media sponsors to create a series of events in early June. The Access to Capital Conferences will be held in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver June 8th,10th, and 11th. This will be an opportunity for business owners, private equity groups, financial intermediaries and other professionals to put their heads together, learn about unconventional financing and business strategies as well as further develop their network of resources.
“We want smaller companies to have the access to ‘Fortune 500’ quality merchant banking expertise and experience. In fact, in our experience, even entrepreneurs running large companies often don’t have the support and access to capital they really need and deserve” added Turner. “These conferences are about educating people about the possibilities and resources out there that perhaps they had not considered in the past.”
For more information on the Ernst and Young nomination, the Access to Capital Conference or opening a Meridian Office, please go to www.meridiancanada.com or contact Randy Lennon at 403-538-2130.
