Areas of Expertise

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Tourism, Culture and Entertainment
 
Duggan International recently organized and lead a second best practices to Vermont, USA.  The mission focus was to review the practices in experiential tourism and products tours in the state of Vermont, and how Nova Scotia companies can transfer these practices to their business to increase and enhance visitor experiences.  These companies specialize in food products manufacturing and processing, and the hospitality industry. 

Other prominant projects include the evaluation of customer service of Parks Canada front line employees; the study of the redefinition of economically depressed communities in the USA, and how the communities turned themselves around through tourism initiatives, and the tourism development of Belfast, Maine.  Provincial projects include developing the business plan for the Bella Rose Arts Centre in Halifax and the Osprey Arts Centre in Shelburne.  

In culture and entertainment, Darlene Duggan began working in the music industry in 1987 as an executive assistant for Hudson Productions.  At that time, Hudson Productions was the largest booking agency in Atlantic Canada and managed Attic Recording artists Haywire, at the peak of the band’s career.  Ms. Duggan later moved to Toronto where she coordinated and hosted fundraisers featuring Maritime music at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern.  She worked with Much Music and Polygram artist Sue Medley on a publicity campaign promoting the Ride for Sight.  Ms. Duggan then worked as a publicist for Gino Empry Entertainment.  The firm’s clients included Limelight Theatre, the musical Russians on Broadway, Jackie Richardson as Mabel Mercer at Top O’the Senator, Skylight Theatre,  performer Roch Voisine, comedian André Phillip Gagnon, TV personality Jim Perry, and the Jane Corkin Gallery. 

Later she worked for Brockum Canada, the Canadian merchandising arm of BCL Entertainment Corp. (Ballard Cohl Labatt).  BCL owned other companies such as Donald K. Donald Productions, Concert Productions International and Perry Scope Concerts and The Agency. At this time, BCL was world’s largest concert and merchandising entertainment company.  Ms. Duggan assisted in managing the sales and marketing of merchandise lines for over 100 musical artists and other cultural industries. Corporate clients included Management Trust (Jake Gold of Canadian Idol fame), CBC Television, Floating Film Festival, Robocop and the Canadian Film Centre. Other duties included developing and managing Brockum’s Canadian merchandise mail order program for the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Bon Jovi and The Tragically Hip.  She created and organized the distribution of merchandise for the Canadian concert tour Another Roadside Attraction, featuring The Tragically Hip.  She assisted in developed merchandise line, producing the program and organizing the vending for the Canadian production of TOMMY - A New Musical, Elgin Theatre, Toronto.

In communications, she developed the merchandising press kit for the Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge Tour and prepared press releases, coordinated media interviews for Brockum’s president and prepared a press release announcing Michael Bolton’s performance at the CNE.

Upon returning to Halifax in 1997, after Labatt sold their interests in BCL and the company disbanded, Ms. Duggan organized and publicized CD launch parties for Loggerhead Records and Lifeline Entertainment. She was a member of MIANS and wrote articles for the association’s newsletter. She coordinated and publicized the Nova Scotia Multicultural Festival.  The campaign entailed developing and executing the communications and marketing plan, creative director on all media campaigns, sponsor liaison, artist liaison, working with the artistic director, budget management, working with the Festival board, committee and government officials, the Nova Scotia Cultural Federation, TIANS (Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia) and other cultural groups.  She also organized an international sales conference for The Maritime Life Assurance Company.  She worked with Michael Ardenne to book entertainment for the event.  She has also worked with Brookes Diamond and volunteered at the Atlantic Film Festival (1988) and the ECMA’s held in Halifax.
 

Professional Service Sector
 
Darlene Duggan started out her career in international trade mentoring with the professional services sector.  The service sector encompasses a broad range of sectors and sub sectors. Darlene Duggan works with engineers in the oil and gas industry, environmental industries, geoscience, and mechanical engineering.  As well, she has worked with the education industry, healthcare, interior design, human resources, financial services and public relations consultancies.  While working for the federal government she promoted CIDA programs, International Financial Institution initiatives and worked with local industry associations.  She was also responsible for the Women in Business and Youth file.
  
ICT
 
Technology encompasses many sectors within Atlantic Canada.  Darlene Duggan works one-on-one with companies exporting various types of technologies.  Clients include B4Checkin Inc., ADM Systems Engineering, and TruckWeight Inc.
 
Additionally, while running the marketing support department for Maritime Life, Darlene participated in six software product launches.  Maritime Life marketing department focused on producing product software and other communication products for independent financial planners and insurance brokers across Canada.  By having Maritime Life software to assist selling financial product to their clients, the company made it easier for planners to sell Maritime Life financial products over competitors.
 While working for Brockum Global Merchandise, the company was one of the first in Canada to incorporate selling over the internet.   Darlene Duggan coordinated design, product placement and fulfillment.
Darlene Duggan has studied computer programming, graphic design and website design.  She also was a volunteer at the first Softworld Conference held in Halifax.
Darlene attended the Atlantic Internet Marketing Conference in 2008 and prepared an article for business clients on new development in website development and promotion. Duggan International is expanding its service offering to clients to reach new markets and will be offering consulting and technical services on Podcasting and internet marketing.
 
Oil and Gas/Ocean Technology/Manufacturing
 
Duggan International is currently working with the supply and service sector within the oil and gas and ocean technology community to help with business planning and international activities.  With Haisley Millar, the company assisted in developing the Energy Strategy for Cape Breton University.  Other clients include Claire Machine Works, Instrument Concepts, Control Panels Plus, Marener Industries, ROMOR Atlantic Ltd., Alpha Chemicals, Instrument Concepts and Alscott Heating and Ventilation Systems.

Darlene Duggan has worked with all members of the oil and gas community in Atlantic Canada (as well as the UK) including engineering firms, technology manufacturers, service and equipment providers, all those who are members of OTANS.  Also worked very closely with OTANS, NOIA, NS Department of Energy and other government departments, and international governments and associations to deliver international marketing strategies.

Highlights

OTC Brasil Matchmaking 2011
Organized Doing Business in the UK event.  Presented and coordinated incoming speaker from First Point        Assessment, UK.  Partnered with OTANS.
Organized Export Cafe and Outreach Event for incoming DFAIT officers (app. 10).  Program is now used as a model for Outreach Programs in Canada.
Worked with incoming UK trade mission from the Northern Oil Federation in New Castle, England. Matched NS companies with like minded UK firms and held information session.
Organized strategic alliance, investment and partnership event at Offshore Europe.  Partnered with NSBI, NS    Department of Energy, OTANS, Greater Halifax Partnership.  Assisted DFAIT with programs and speakers for the Canadian session with the City of Aberdeen. 
Hosted and organized Trade Team Canada Inc. training session, Roadmap to Exporting and Financing Programs, in conjunction with the OTANS CORE Conference.  Focused on Caribbean and South America.
Organized and recruited for Export USA program and Department of Energy mission to a Louisiana, oil and gas trade show, LACGOE.
Moderator at  the NS Skills Energy Forum hosted by the NS Department of Energy
Supported trade promotion initiatives at OTC conference in Houston, Texas
Promoted smaller shows and trade missions, ie.  Oil and Mission to Mexico, Sakhalin Islands.
Heavily promoted Trinidad marketplace, recruited companies for Petroleum Conference in February.
Worked with PEMEX and Canadian Trade Missions to Mexico.
 
Building Products/Value Added Wood Products
 
Darlene Duggan specializes in identifying export markets for value added wood product manufacturers.  As a former trade commissioner for Industry Canada at the International Trade Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ms. Duggan provided export counseling, market entry support, export financing, and competitive intelligence to small and medium sized enterprises. She also worked with her counterparts at the Canadian Consulates and High Commissions to recognize target markets, opportunities and key contacts.  She was a member of the Atlantic Canada Building Products Team, which was comprised of trade officers from provincial and federal governments, including CMHC, as well as the Wood Products Group.  The team organized trade missions and training sessions to help expand regional exports.  Some of these missions included Build Boston, Plan Expo in Ireland, Interbuild in the UK and Munich Bau.  Ms. Duggan also supervised client research reports developed by Dalhousie University MBA students through the Trade Team Nova Scotia program. Ms. Duggan has participated in CMHC training sessions in Nova Scotia and at Construct Canada in Toronto.  She was also a member of the National Wood Products team organized by Industry Canada in Ottawa and participated in Wood Products Symposium, Sydney.

Darlene Duggan completed a project to identify future trends of the housing industry in the United States.  She also worked on an international mentoring project for Atlantic Dream Homes Group, distributors for Linwood Homes.  Under DSR, the company represents manufacturers in the furniture industry.

Minerals and Mining
 
Duggan International is assisting Black Bull Resources Ltd find new export markets.

Horticulture
 
In 2007 completed an intense study of the USA Christmas tree industry and potential markets for Canadian product.  Under the Export Mentor Program, Duggan International worked with Qualitrees Christmas Tree Farm and targeted the USA Northeast.  We also reviewed markets in the UK, Caribbean and South America.

Consumer Products

Duggan International has counseled clients in clothing and textiles, furniture, crafts and other consumer goods in Canada on their export strategies and domestic market sales. 

The company specializes in taking a concept or prototype and taking the product to market.  Duggan International has also been successfully working with Tracy’s Wood N Things through the ACOA CAS program and NSBI Export Prospector.  Tracy’s Wood N Things has doubled their business since working with Duggan International and have won awards for their export initiatives.  

Duggan International Group has worked with companies on their brand strategy and identity, developing design, packaging and promotions.  Clients in the consumer products industry include: Pearl and Daisy Natural Soap Company, Lady Luck Boutique, Atlantic Healing Hemp, Rupa Organics, Anchor Imports, Artburn, Red Spruce Ltd., Armstrong Fox, Denise Designs, Village Golf Shop, Womax, Acadian Glass Art, Tracy’s Wood N Things, Allison Moz Pottery, Artifacts In Clay, La Galerie Comeau, and Kate Church Sculptural Puppetry.

Duggan International also coordinated the Team Canada Atlantic Consumer Products trade mission to Florida.  Nine companies from Atlantic Canada participated in the event.  The mission was extremely successful, with six companies asked to register as suppliers to Disney. In June of 2008, Duggan International organized a trade mission to Florida with consumer product companies from across Canada.    Darlene Duggan, using her wealth of contacts in the industry as works a sales representative for large accounts.

 
 
 Licensing and Promotional Products
 
Darlene Duggan also worked in the promotional products industry, both clothing and other hard goods for 3 years with Brockum Global Merchandising in Toronto and Twin Cities Promotional Products in Halifax.  She sourced raw goods from various suppliers in Canada, working with designers for artwork, creating her own designs and developed relationships with value added finishing firms.  These products were sold wholesale, retail and mail order.  Darlene also developed the mail order program for the firm and designed promotional catalogues and other advertising materials.  Licensed product creation included over 300 trademarks.  The largest included the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, the Labatt Blue Jays, and Harley Davidson. She also administered the licensed product program in Canada for Labatt Breweries, Coors, Budweiser and Labatt USA.  (Above photo is one of my designs)
 
Agriculture, Agrifood and Seafood

Over the last two years, the company has been working with Taste of Nova Scotia on marketing strategies and experiential tourism with their members.  We also developed a market entry strategy paper for Europe for the Association.

 Duggan International worked with Farmers Dairy Cooperative to help the company with international product expansion to the Caribbean.  Duggan International researched Hotel Restaurant Industry and Consumer Product industry in dairy products.  As well, the company put together a comprehensive report on the wholesale food industry in the Caribbean.

In 2008, Duggan International also assisted Farmer John Herbs to prepare for entering the USA marketplace.  She prepared the domestic marketing plan for Brynmore Enterprises’ brand the Soup Sergeant for retail and industrial sales.  Other clients have included, international marketing plan for H&H Seafood Ltd and Chef Stefan Inc.   Chef Stefan Inc marketed an internationally a collection of exotic salt and pepper kits to gourmet and other specialty stores.

In relation to agriculture and seafood marketing, as a trade commissioner with Industry Canada, Ms. Duggan worked closely with officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. She organized outreach meetings and export cafes with the DFAIT officers and agriculture and seafood operators. She also worked on the Expo Acadie project to attract US seafood importers and other agricultural importers to Nova Scotia to meet with local firms.  Ms. Duggan was member of the Nova Scotia Export Achievement Awards Committee.  In doing so she worked with industry, federal and provincial governments examining and evaluating marketing plans of many agriculture and seafood companies.  The majority of the awards went to companies in the agriculture sector.

Additionally, she worked as a marketing coordinator with Farmers Dairy Ltd., one of the largest dairy companies in Atlantic Canada. At Farmers she learned jurisdictional issues related to these industry and retail aspects of the food industry.  She occasionally assists Yoplait with yoghurt promotional events.  While in university, Darlene worked for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and developed a marketing plan for quick frozen battered mussels to the USA.

Investment

Darlene Duggan advises companies on forming strategic relationships and partnerships.  
Darlene has connections with various private investment firms in Halifax as well as Export Development Canada and other funding organizations. 
Darlene Duggan has valuable experience in the investment sector studying various financial courses including the Canadian Securities Course which is required to sell mutual funds and stocks. 
 
Working for Maritime Life which sold segregated investment funds, also enable Darlene Duggan with an understanding of financial matters.

Environmental Industries

Darlene Duggan started out her career in international trade mentoring with the professional services sector. Part of her responsibilities was to work with companies involved in the Environmental Sector within Nova Scotia; these companies marketed both environmental products as well as services.  She worked with companies on developing new opportunities outside of Canada, acted as a liaison with the Canadian Consulates and administered financial assistance programs to help the companies expand abroad.  Darlene kept in communication with the Nova Scotia Environment Industries Association, the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and she served on Team Canada Environment. 

Darlene Duggan also worked as a senior communications advisor for Environment Canada.  She was responsible for communication activities for the Atlantic Canada Environmental Protection Branch, including the Office of Enforcement, Pollution Control, Environmental Emergencies, Shellfish, Waste Management, Air and Toxics, and Environmental Management and Technology.  Her duties included providing advice to senior and corporate affairs management, developing and implementing internal and external strategic communication plans, adapting key message to suit the audience, identifying issues to be address by appropriate managers, preparing persuasive communications to achieve a desired outcome, handling delicate situations which involved Environment Canada, the media and public interest groups.

In 2008, she worked with Haisley Millar developing the communications plan for the Environment Industries commercialization database of Atlantic Canadian capabilities.
 
Media and Communications
 
Duggan International working with companies to develop media announcements and create print promotional material.  In 2008, Duggan International completed a full performance measurement analysis of the marketing and communications Prince Edward Island Community Business Development Corporation.  The project involved implementing client surveys, conducting focus groups and recommendations of how the CBDC can attract new clients. 
Darlene Duggan started her career in public relations.  With a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University, Darlene Duggan concentrated much of her professional activities working with the media and various forms of communication vehicles to promote the client’s products and services. These included video commercials, radio broadcasts, news articles, CD ROM’s, websites, print communications, advertisements etc.  Today, Duggan International prepares press releases for its clients and works with local, national and international media and works with her client’s to prepare communication strategies and implement initiatives.
Other Responsibilities have included:
·         Environment Canada:  Senior Communications Advisor
·         Maritime Life:  Responsible for Strategic Direction of all communication materials
·         Brockum Merchandising: Graphic designer for branded merchandise.  Developed the merchandising press kit for the Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge Tour and prepared press releases, coordinated media interviews for Brockum’s president and prepared press releases.  Prepared and designed merchandise catalogues.
·         Twin City Promotional Products:  Created designs for licensed products for Alexander Keith, Budweiser, Blue, Captain Morgan, Budweiser and other corporate entities.