Marina Bleahen, CEO & Founder, Business Works.
Elected member of the Small Firms Association National Council, President North Dublin Chamber, and elected Council member Dublin Chamber.
Marina, the founder and CEO of Business Works is passionate about indigenous business in Ireland. She sees it as more than business, money and tax receipts. Behind every SME is a family, those who take risks, invest in their dream to deliver a service, manufacture a product and employ a team.
Marina’s ambition being re-elected to the SFA council is to help SMEs throughout Ireland to cope with the challenges. The cost of doing business is increased, the obligations of the employer are greater, inflation is at an all time high. I will work to deliver the SFA nationwide, hands on business success clinics, bring knowledge and practical help to the regions and counties of Ireland to that we the SMEs survive and survive 2024-2030
Rohit Thakral is a CEO of Target Integration,
Rohit Thakral is an Entrepreneur & Business Automation Consultant with over 20+ years' experience of working with businesses from Manufacturing to Finance and from Retail to Distribution.
Rohit moved to Ireland from India in 2003 and studied in DIT Kevin St (Now TU Dublin). He worked for a few companies before starting Target Integration in 2008.
Target Integration (TI) is a LEO South Dublin and Intertrade Ireland supported SME with consultants working on Digital Transformation projects.
Rohit has been on the council of Small Firms Association for 3 years and is going for re-election. Other than SFA, Rohit is on the steering committee of Ireland India Business Association.
Philip Delaney is the Managing Director of Dairyglen.
Dairyglen is the leading frozen beverage solutions specialist in Ireland, parent to the number one ice cream concession and retail brand Smooch. With headquarters in Bray and Cork, Dairyglen has an extensive product portfolio, catering to some of Ireland’s most reputable businesses across retail, foodservice, and forecourt convenience sectors.
Philip has considerable experience in strategic growth areas, leading the expansion of Dairyglen over the past 30 years to its now number one position in the Irish market and recent successful launch into the UK. Dairyglen were awarded Best Food and Drink Brand in the National 2023 business awards.”
Chris Fleming is the owner and founder of Sea Green Health.
Chris has spent 20 years in the Health and Beauty industry, involving the operation of 9 Womens’ Fitness Gyms under the ‘Curves’ franchise, 2 Day Spas, and a Distribution Business bringing in products from all over the World for sale into the Pharmacy and Health Store market.
A recent ‘Consultancy’ project for a Spanish Company, introduced him to the benefits of Marine Microalgae, a 100% sustainable, plant based and nutrient dense ingredient, which is one of the sources of all life on the planet. This has led to the development of the Sea Green Health range of Supplements and has sparked much research into the concept of Eat Yourself Well and just how much of our health is controlled by our Gut Microbiome. He is looking to develop the range with specific formulations to help with a variety of ailments particularly in the neurological area of medicine.
With a work life beginning with Unilever and Merchant Banking, as an investment analyst in the City of London, he then became Group Financial director of the Family Business, helping grow it to a multimillion turnover, employing some 350 people in the Construction and Heavy Engineering industry.
Chris, having been the winner of the SFA Best Emerging Business Award in 2021, is also passionate about helping small businesses to grow and develop, with the help of various agencies, and in particular the SFA.
Paul Murphy is the CEO of AVCOM
Paul Murphy is the CEO of AVCOM - the Premium Event Production Agency. AVCOM are design-led production, fuelled with the latest innovative technology, delivered by highly trained & skilled specialists, the AVCOM Ninjas.
From a family business, Paul has 25+ years’ experience across all levels of the business and is leading the business since 2009 after a successful succession planning period with his father. AVCOM are over 40 years trading, it's Paul’s vision to build on the entrepreneurship and success of his father Tony Murphy.
Paul is currently leading his Senior Management Team through strategic change and growth with the vision of transforming AVCOM from a national success story to an international legacy.
Paul is also an active volunteer in the business community to be an advocator of the event industry in Ireland. He is currently a founding committee member of Event Suppliers Ireland (ESI) and a former policy committee member for IBEC Experience Economy. Paul is also head coach of his local football team, nurturing the talent and spirit of his team from academy level through to competitive league football.