Wednesday, July 31, 2002

Local titans on block

Time with city's top execs up for grabs

By GEOFF MATTHEWS, Money Editor

Time is running out to book a few hours of "face time" with some of the city's movers and shakers.

Bidding closes a week from today in the third annual summer version of Executives on Auction, an event that matches buyers with about 20 local executives and media personalities and benefits more than a dozen charities.

So far former Nortel exec David Mann is the hot ticket item, with a bid of $1,500. His designated charity is Compassion in Action, which helps people with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome.

There's also a $1,000 bid to spend an afternoon with Jim Roche, president and chief executive officer of Tundra Semiconductor.

Got a craving to hang out with some local media personalities? Make a bid on the Sun's own Sue Sherring, Jen Rennick of Rogers 22 and Kool FM's Sandy Sharkey for an evening that includes dinner and limo service.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to network with some of Ottawa's very important people," said auction organizer John Ernst.

It beats hunting them down at a luncheon, "where you might get their ear for five minutes," said Ernst. "The auction gives you hours with them, and it's quality time."

He said he is hoping to top the all-time high bid of $1,625 for a round of golf with World Heart CEO and Senators owner Rod Bryden.

Other executives up for grabs include Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation president Jeffrey Dale, Greater Ottawa Chamber of Commerce chairwoman Claudia Chowaniec and Ottawa 67's coach Brian Kilrea.