The Tribune

A Grand Bahama-based business consultant was one of six Bahamian delegates to attend the fourth annual Caribbean Institute of Certified Management Consultants (CICMC) 2014 conference, held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad this month.

Billie Bowe, president and chief executive of Benchmark Consulting Services, who is a professional member of the Institute, said she was delighted to be surrounded by so many consultants with their own specialties and diverse experiences.

“I had no idea until after attending the conference and listening to experts in their fields about the tremendous opportunities for management consultants in the region,” said Mrs Bowe.

She indicated that panelists brought useful information on a variety of topics from how to add value, expertise and revenue in the digital age, to updates on CARICOM’s proposed legal framework for the CARICOM Single Market Economy (CSME) for Caribbean consultants.

The conference was held from October 1-3 under the theme ‘Strategic Partnerships for Knowledge Brokers: Caribbean Consultants Creating Value for Clients’.

Delegates came from St. Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Bahamian-born president and chief executive of the National Association of Black Hotel Owners, Operators and Developers (NABHOOD), Andy Ingraham, also spoke about how consultants can play a critical role in enhancing the tourism product in their respective countries.

Other featured speakers included Parris Jordan, vice-president of HVS New York and managing director, HVS Bahamas.

The Bahamas CICMC Chapter president, founder and CICMC Board member, Donald Demeritte, is dedicated to growing the local chapter.

“I am very thankful that Mr Demeritte invited me to join the organisation and was my sponsor. He walked me through the entire, lengthy application process, and his enthusiasm and commitment to growing the CICMC Bahamas Chapter is truly incredible. Being the only member from Grand Bahama, I felt right at home due to Donald’s welcoming spirit,” said Mrs Bowe.

The Bahamas was well represented at the conference. Among the Bahamian delegation were Senator Jerome Gomez, Donna Smith, Evaneth McPhee, and Mark Turnquest.

“All in all,” said Mrs Bowe, “the conference was an enlightening experience offering ample opportunities to network with other consultants and to share our stories. Professionally it will certainly enhance my management consulting practice”.