Meet The Judges

It’s time to meet the Judges for the upcoming Louth Business Awards!

Anne Caldwell – Enterprise Ireland

Anne has 29 years experience in Enterprise Development in the Region, having worked for IDA Ireland, Forbairt and now Enterprise Ireland. Anne’s has vast experience in assessing and evaluating projects. Anne covers Counties Louth, Cavan and Monaghan.

Anne Caldwell

Robbie Richardson – Director of Customer Focus

An accomplished customer experience, management, sales and marketing strategist, with 25 years experience in the retail, service and hospitality industries. Currently the director of Customer Focus, which offers management solutions, through a blend of training, coaching and customer auditing. An experienced business tactician, with a reputation for generating results through increasing sales, retaining customers and maximising business potential. He has developed a reputation as a customer experience specialist through keynote speaking, training seminars and has guest lectured for the DKIT Business School. A regular judging panellist for the Louth Business Awards and was a panellist for the DKIT Business School Enterprise Programme.

Robbie Richardson

Mario MacBlain – School of Business & Humanities, Dundalk Institute of Technology

Mario is a lecturer with the School of Business & Humanities, Dundalk Institute of Technology. He delivers under graduate and post graduate degree modules across a subject  range from Entrepreneurship, Innovation, Business strategy, Business modelling, Accountancy, Marketing, Business planning, Business strategy, Quality Management  through to Dissertation Research Projects. Mario, together with School and Institute colleagues has developed Global Student Programmes between Australia, USA and EU partners, ICT Accountancy Support Programmes and EU Business Planning Models. He works closely with many business support organisations and SME’s in the region augmenting the links between the Institute sector and national / international industry plus consulting on business planning and development issues. Mario has a background of some 37 years with international industry at senior management level through this time holding eight directorship positions with manufacturing and financial services companies. He is the founder of an Integrated College with a current enrolment of over 600 pupils and an ethos of shared mutual understanding.

Mario McBlain

Paul Cumiskey – Business Development Manager at Ulster Bank Corporate Markets

Has been a professional Banker for 20 years and works extensively in client-facing roles. Currently Business Development Manager in the North East, Paul has extensive experience in working capital requirements, re-financing, leasing, deposits, invoice financing, interest rate hedging along with all other related banking products.

Paul Cumiskey
He is also a qualified Accountant Technician and hold the QFA Designation.

Michael Gaynor- Gaynor HR

Previous employment includes: Management of Employment Agency (London), worked in the Public Service within, Dept of Labour, Enterprise Trade & Employment and Dept of Education.
Currently managing Book publishing company, operating and providing a HR (human resource] support service to the business sector. He has many years experience in dealing with, and providing a wide range of services to SME’S and has a familiarity and knowledge of the challenges facing the sector.

Michael photo