Barclay & Knap Educational Services

Our business is two-tier. We provide private academic counselling for high school students about to enter university, and we represent 20 leading UK Universities here in Canada. Students typically work with us on a long-term basis. For example, in the summer prior to grade 12, my partner Jackie will begin to create a set of objectives with each student. This includes a program / school search, scholarship applications where applicable, and the application itself (transcripts, references, etc.). Finally, when the acceptances begin to arrive in the spring, Jackie will sit down with the student and their family to discuss which offers the student is most interested in, eventually paring this down to one. The same process is followed for students entering one of our UK partner universities. We provide individual support on the entire application process, including the UK student visa.

What were you doing prior to launching the business?

We both have backgrounds in education. Jackie has extensive experience in pre-college / university counselling, my background includes teaching and department head duties, primarily in business studies. In terms of qualifications, Jackie holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, and a Master of Education. I have undergraduate degrees in Economics, Political Science, a Master of Science in Education, and hold an Ontario teaching certificate.

What makes you unique?

Our business allows us to work in depth with students and their families, which isn’t always possible in other settings. There are some individuals who offer career / academic counselling, but usually on a part-time, home-visit basis. This is a full-time venture for us, with a busy office in downtown Burlington. We keep up to date on all education trends, and travel extensively throughout Canada, the US, and UK to attend conferences relevant to our practice.

What would you say has been your biggest challenge so far?

All start-ups are a challenge, especially in an emerging field. While our business is fairly commonplace in most major US cities, it is unique here. Most students typically receive a few hours with a guidance counsellor throughout their four years of high school, so we had to work to explain how our service was different. Once we concluded our second year of business however, we saw a sizeable increase in past-client referrals. This confirmed we were headed in the right direction.

What about your success to date and plans for the future?

The steady flow of students who work closely with Jackie, and gain acceptance to the colleges / universities of their choice brings with it a great feeling of accomplishment for us. On the UK side of the business, we have the opportunity to work with some very established schools who are recognized worldwide. In early fall we often receive updates from our students as they settle in throughout England, Scotland, and Wales. It’s an exciting time for this group, and we are happy to have been able to facilitate this pathway for them.
To date, a trickle of Canadian students have found their own way to UK Universities, but this is an opportunity we hope to see more students exploring, particularly for Master’s programs. Many of the Postgrad programs run on a concentrated 12 month curriculum, so this can be very attractive to our students looking for a Master’s qualification, with only one year of living / study overseas.

Why do you work with WEALTHdesigns.ca?

WEALTHdesigns.ca simplifies our insurance and financial planning, and provides expert advice. The hours we would need to spend researching all the options is time away from our core business. Plus, at the end of the day it’s all about relationships and knowing that our needs will be met as we continue to grow.

barclayknap

Barclay & Knap Educational Services

www.barclayknap.com

Dr. Matthew Orzech, DDS

Dr. Matthew Orzech owns and operates a thriving dental practice that is proud to be celebrating 20 years of practicing dentistry in the Forest Hill/Eglinton community.

Tell us about your business

My practice has one simple but extremely important goal: Patient care

We provide all aspects of general dentistry to our patients whether they are children, adults or seniors. Essential to our practice is the integration of the latest in dental technology. Staying current and innovative allows me to continually enhance the overall patient experience around fillings and freezing without the use of needles, 3-D digital impressions for crown and bridge dentistry, digital x-rays and electronic filing of dental claims.

We also offer dental implants, in-office whitening in less than 40 minutes and extended hours for added convenience.

What makes your dental practice successful?

I thoroughly enjoy dentistry and the daily patient interaction. I work hard to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for patients with an eye to greater patient satisfaction.

Because we offer a range of different dental services and use the latest technology, each day is both varied and challenging. This is fundamental to my success and love of dentistry.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

A dentist must be highly trained. I earned my Honours Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Toronto and then completed a DDS degree at Northwestern University in Chicago.

After my degrees I completed a one year general practice residency at the Erie Country Medical Center in Buffalo, New York.

How have you gone about expanding your practice?

An essential business principle is to recognize prospective opportunities and to capitalize on them. The practice of dentistry is no exception. I’ve acquired and integrated several neighboring dental practices into my current dental office over the past 20 years. In fact, I recently acquired a second dental office at 815 Danforth Avenue, Suite #401 in the Danforth and Pape Area.

My team is always growing. We’ve expanded to include dental associates, dental hygienists, restorative dental hygienists, dental assistants, an office manager, a marketing manager and a front desk receptionist.

I also believe in participating in the industry even beyond my individual practice. I currently serve as a supervising clinician for George Brown College’s Denturism and Restorative Dental Hygiene programs.

Over the years, I’ve served as a principal dentist for the Humber College Campus Dental, and I volunteered dental services at the Scarborough Urban Health Outreach Clinic. I was also the resident dentist for the Toronto Marlies – I really enjoyed that.

What business element is essential to your thriving dental practice?

Maintaining a strong professional dental team is a primary goal of my practice. Investing in the right staff is as essential as patient care.

It’s the daily patient interaction and skill of the staff I employ that define the success of the practice. Constant communication and dialogue with my team is important and I support their participation in dental related courses.

Any community involvement?

When you run a busy dental practice, balance is important. For me, this means giving back to my community. I participate in a number of organizations like the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, B’Nai Brith Canada, Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto, Toronto Jewish Music Week, Alzheimer’s Society, Princess Margaret Hospital, Project Winter Survival Program and I sponsor a number of community hockey teams.

In recognition of my 20th anniversary practicing dentistry, I recently launched the Keep Smiling Program in partnership with Ve’ahavta, a Jewish Canadian humanitarian and relief organization, to support the dental needs of homeless individuals in Toronto.

What are your plans for the future?

My long term goal is to continue to offer a complete range of services to meet the varied dental needs of my patients. I plan to maintain a strong presence in the community and expand my practice with the latest in patient care technology.

How has WEALTHdesigns.ca helped you?

WEALTHDesigns.ca’s expertise and personalized service has enhanced my professional well-being by addressing many other aspects of my practice like insurance, financial planning and establishing of long-term career goals.

Their advice empowered me to maximize the potential of my business and gain a greater piece of mind to allow me to focus on what I do best: Fulfilling the dental needs of my patients.