Brian Hicks, founder of Coronis Solutions  is widely respected for his personal mantra of “ IT can make a difference”.  He is strongly committed to practicing business ethically with a goal of giving back. He believes in the sustainability and value of rural communities and encourages everyone to consider a more gentle approach to the natural environment.

 

Brian devotes time to a variety of activities.   He is a  volunteer judge for Communities In Bloom - "provincial edition"  & site sponsor of the new CIB site for Nova Scotia.   Brian currently volunteers as webmaster with the MacPass Bridge Mile Run, and has supported Nova Scotia Tall Ships events in 2000 & 2007.  Brian's hobbies include photography, gardening, biking, hiking and kayaking. He also spends time supporting a community based not for profit group in Dartmouth.

In 1994 Brian joined a group of Nova Scotia Tourism operators attending a PATA Conference in Vancouver whose keynote focus was the emerging trend of something called the "Internet" and a looming paradigm shift for business. Brian followed up  post conference  to become the volunteer chair of a newly formed Internet Technology Committee at the provincial tourism association.  The committee was the birthplace of a number of initiatives as well as research projects that helped establish Nova Scotia Tourism at the forefront in Internet & IT usage by small and medium sized business.

Brian  was engaged for seven years at the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia -TIANS.  He was a team member of a pan Atlantic group TourismTechnology.com  motivating the sector to develop web presence.  Much of the effort was accomplished through the use of workshops, seminars & newsletters. Brian delivered or coordinated more then 150 workshops to business operators around the province and throughout Atlantic Canada. It was during this time that he focused and specialized on the subjects of website development and search engine optimization.  Additionally he was the sector liaison for the Nova Scotia Bed & Breakfast Association, The Campground Owners Association of Nova Scotia  as well as the Nova Scotia Adventure Tourism Association.  Working with each of these groups and regional tourism organizations enabled him to experience the character and potential of the province in a very meaningful way. 

Brian has enjoyed collaborating with NGOs and government agencies.  He has supported groups as diverse as the Gulf of Maine Council regarding sustainable tourism development, the Canadian Bureau of International Education CBIE –  study tour from the Ukraine,  the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States OECS - delegation on sustainable tourism. The Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources – Bras d’Or Lakes Collaborative Environmental Planning Initiative and worked with  Environment Canada  for Camp Green Canada & Atlantic Green Boating initiatives.