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04/08/2010  |  0

Modern Earth

The Earthlings have landed. Well, actually they landed more than 10 years ago…and they’ve been multiplying ever since.  No need to be scared though, “The Earthlings” are nothing more than a clever nickname the staff at Modern Earth gave themselves after their inception in 1999. The Winnipeg-based web design company was founded by Dan Belhassen and his team has quickly grown from one to three to more than twenty people.

Belhassen, who won a 2004 Smart Award for Entrepreneurship and in 2007 was chosen as the Manitoba Recipient of the BDC Young Entrepreneur Award recognizing innovative spirit and business acumen, has built Modern Earth into the largest web design company in our province with over 700 clients across five continents.

The Modern Earth motto is “solutions for an online world”, meaning they assist clients with developing their online strategy. With an in-house team that includes, designers, programmers, software developers, online marketers and content builders, Modern Earth has positioned itself as a one-stop resource for individuals, businesses, associations and agencies who want a focused and result-driven web presence. As Marketing & Communications manager Susan Hurrell explains it, “to do business in 2010 and beyond, you need to be findable on the web, and you need to make it easy for people to do business with you online and in real time. We help our clients develop a unique online value proposition where their products and services can be showcased.”

When it comes to the rapid growth and overall success of Modern Earth, Hurrell is quick to point to the connections they’ve made with their clients and the quality of their work. “The majority of our growth has come from referrals and building relationships within the business community. When our clients are doing well, we are doing well, and we celebrate their successes. Four of our clients were recently named to the 40 Fastest Growing Companies in Manitoba list.”

With solid credentials and a successful web-based business, Belhassen, who was born and raised in Winnipeg, is increasingly asked to be a thought-leader and in demand speaker about online business practices and was part of the Canadian delegation that went to Amsterdam for the World International Trade Conference this spring.

Despite being an international business in an increasingly borderless world, Belhassen, Hurrell and all of “The Earthlings” at Modern Earth continue to make Winnipeg their home base for a number of reasons. The large number of small and medium businesses in the area with potential to grow equals an unlimited amount of future clients, the affordable cost of living allows staff to enjoy all aspects of their lives, the geographical location of the city make it central to the North American business market, and the stable economy provides continuous opportunities for ongoing work with established clients, as well a new ones.