Eddie LeMoine Consulting Inc.

Eddie LeMoine is from North Sydney, Cape Breton, and like so many of his generation, he moved to Alberta in his twenties in search of career opportunities. Armed with an education from the University College of Cape Breton and Saint Mary's University, he worked first in sales and then in management. But after four years, it was time to return home to the Maritimes.
 
Eddie says that his stint in Alberta “was a life-changing move” for him. “When I left I was from a small town and had small beliefs. But I returned with new views on what you could achieve. It made me a lot more ambitious,” he says.
 
Determined to enter the IT field because it was “going places”, Eddie found success in sales, business development and management at a senior level in companies such as General Electric, IMP Group and MITI. “These were great jobs with great companies,” he admits, “but I was looking for a greater purpose and a way to make an impact on more people.”
 
With a former colleague, Eddie sat down and mapped out his future on the proverbial back of a napkin. Today, Eddie LeMoine Consulting is a business that provides executive coaching, employee engagement workshops, and inspirational keynote speeches. Companies from around the Atlantic provinces and, increasingly, from farther afield, ask Eddie to help motivate their sales force, give their executives a renewed sense of purpose, and talk to leaders about tools they can use to retain staff and get the best from their employees. Clients range from small, local associations to national organizations, such as CGI, J.D. Irving, Bell, and the provincial and federal governments.
 
Eddie maintains that a crisis is looming for companies and employers as the current generation of baby boomers retires. “One thousand Canadians a day are turning 60,” he says. “Companies that can attract and retain staff will survive. And retaining good people is all about developing them.”
 
That said, he is very optimistic about the prospects for Atlantic Canada, and Nova Scotia in particular. “People used to leave the province because they had to. They are now coming here for the lifestyle. They can see that the area has a lot to offer and they want to raise their children here.”
 
For businesses as well, Eddie feels that Nova Scotia has many attractions. “Nova Scotia is in a great position to do business with New England, New York, the Caribbean and the rest of Canada,” he says. “A lot of Atlantic Canadian companies are doing work all over the world. And companies from other places are choosing to come here. I think the future for Nova Scotia is better than it's ever been. People don't have to leave now.”
 
Eddie is part of the phenomenon he describes. He returned to Nova Scotia from Alberta to enjoy the lifestyle and for the benefit of his children. He is committed to living and working here, but that doesn't stop him from exploring business opportunities wherever they arise. At the beginning of 2009 he spoke about leadership in Malaysia and across the Asian Pacific. Currently he is working on a proposal for a project in Jordan and Dubai. He has also been selected as a speaker for the Million Dollar Round Table, a prestigious gathering of the top performing insurance representatives in the world.
 
For Eddie, an essential part of his success is rooted in the support for Nova Scotian charities. “Giving back is one of my company's core values. It's the essence of who I am. It's a truly Nova Scotian characteristic—volunteering and supporting charities.” Eddie held 18 different charity events last year, where he either donated the proceeds from speaking events to a designated charity or provided his services for free. Groups such as the Phoenix Youth Project, United Way, Junior Achievement, Sydney Junior Chamber of Commerce and Young Cancer Care have all received his support.
 
Giving back, helping businesses and individuals succeed, and supporting his local community are all part of what defines Eddie. He believes in that approach and he's living proof that it works.