‘The Business Panel’ Local Enterprise Week 2023

County Carlow Chamber in association with Local Enterprise Carlow were delighted to host ‘The Business Panel’ as part of Local Enterprise Week, with Anton Savage & an accomplished panel of entrepreneurs & business leaders.  Including Rowena Dooley of Dooley Motors, Lynda Bolger of Flag Lane Marketing, Kieran Comerford, Local Enterprise Office, and Michael Quinn of Robert Quinn Limited. The Panel shared their extensive knowledge, experience and advice and discussed many topical issues facing business’s today.   Colin Farrell President of Carlow Chamber gave the opening address and Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council, Cllr. Brian O’Donoghue joined us to say a few words.

• Anton Savage,  MC, Chair, Communications Trainer, Broadcaster and Journalist.

Anton is an award-winning broadcaster, journalist and communications advisor. He has presented numerous Current Affairs and Magazine TV and Radio Programmes, including The Sunday Business Show, Ireland AM, The Tonight Show, The Last Word, Savage Sunday and the PPI Gold-Medal winning Anton Savage Show. He currently presents The Anton Savage Show- a bright, lively and engaging current affairs magazine show that features all the latest news, features and opinion on a Saturday morning from 9-11am. He is also the relief presenter for the Pat Kenny Show and The Hard Shoulder on Newstalk.

• Rowena Dooley, Dealer Principal Dooley Motors Group Carlow.

Rowena began her career in the motor industry over 20 years ago when she returned from Australia and joined the family Ford dealership.  She became managing director in 2017 and over the last 6 years has overseen the company’s expansion with additional franchise brands including Kia, Fiat and Jeep. Being Treasurer of SIMI and board member for a number of years deepened her knowledge of the industry and provided her with an insight into best case practices.  Her business degree from Trinity College and experience gained in Financial services down under has helped mould her management style and drive. Incoming President of Carlow Chamber of Commerce, Rowena is a proud Carlow lady and enjoys working on various projects and committees for the improvement of Carlow town and county.

• Michael Quinn is the Managing Director of Robert Quinn Ltd

Michael Quinn is the Managing Director of Robert Quinn Ltd and has over 15 years experience within the construction industry. He has successfully managed numerous construction projects throughout the country in various sectors. Michael prides himself in taking a proactive role towards ensuring the success of each project undertaken by the company.

• Lynda Bolger, Flag Lane Marketing

With almost twenty years of International marketing and sales experience, Founder and Managing Director of Flag Lane Marketing; Lynda Bolger has honed her expertise in helping rurally based businesses of the South East execute efficient and effective marketing plans. Lynda is firm in her belief that the people who run small businesses in rural towns and villages are the ones who keep the economy and culture of Ireland’s interior alive. Lynda brings businesses to life through the power of storytelling in her marketing campaigns, installs a framework she has developed centered around her ”Service with a Purpose” ethos amplifying the power for word of mouth marketing, helping businesses grow from the inside out!

• Kieran Comerford, Head of Economic Development & Enterprise

Kieran is Head of Economic Development & Enterprise in the Local Enterprise Office in Carlow County Council having previously served as Chief Executive of Carlow County Enterprise Board.   He has worked in a variety of roles from retailing, banking, and information technology and in the training sector during his career and has worked in the Enterprise Development sector since 2002.  Since then, he has acted as an advisor & mentor to hundreds of start-ups and developing companies and has rolled out a variety of unique business support and enterprise promotion events and projects. His current role involves the management of the Local Enterprise, Economic Development & Special Project Development functions of Carlow County Council. His works includes project management and leadership, eco-system support development, strategic planning and business growth.  His work has included a variety of projects at local, national and international level. He is a graduate of the Quinn School of Business in UCD and holds postgraduate qualifications from SETU in Management, UCC in Social & Co-operative Entrepreneurship and a professional diploma from European Studies from the European Institute of Communication.