National Women’s Enterprise Day (#NWED)
Thursday, October 12th 2017
Local Ambassador’s Name:Oonagh Monahan
Company Name and Address: Alpha Omega Consultants, Fawn, Dromahair, Co.Leitrim F91FF82
Job Title: Founder and MD
Personal Profile
Oonagh Monahan graduated from University College Galway with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Microbiology. She also has a Graduate Diploma in Food Science and Technology from the Sligo Institute of Technology and a Master of Engineering Science degree by research thesis from the Dept. of Agricultural and Food Engineering at UCD. For this research, Oonagh won a scholarship sponsored by H.J. Heinz. In addition, Oonagh has a Diploma in Training and Education from NUI Galway and has qualifications in Marketing Management. She has been a registered trainer with Fás and the ILM (Institute of Leadership and Management).
Oonagh initially worked for a short time with Élan Pharmaceuticals prior to becoming Quality Control Manager with Manor Bakeries Ltd in England. She then took up a position as Quality Assurance Manager with Kerry Foods (Grove Turkeys) in Co. Monaghan for three years prior to moving to Fort Dodge Laboratories (Irl) Ltd. in Sligo as a Production Manager for seven years, where she was the first female to be appointed to the Board of Directors. Now Elanco, the company manufactures veterinary vaccines for export throughout Europe. She was responsible for 40 staff and led Technology Transfer of veterinary vaccine production from international sites.
SME Business Development:
She subsequently moved to a position as Manager of the Food Technology Centre in the St Angela’s College in 2004. Reporting to the Board of Directors, she was responsible for business development of the centre and developing collaborative innovation projects with client companies.
In that time, Oonagh grew the business from one of dependency on grant aid to one of profit. The employee numbers grew from two to seven professional staff in the same period. Her role involved building the business, re-branding and promoting the brand, managing growth, developing the customer base and ultimately leaving it as a profitable, reputable and successful enterprise.
Alpha Omega Consultants:
In January 2008, Oonagh set up Alpha Omega Consultants, based in Co. Leitrim, where she uses her extensive experience to devise, deliver, facilitate and manage support programmes for a range of SME enterprises, and the food sector in particular.
In that time she has completed work for Líonra, the Higher Education Network in the BMW region, the Border Midlands and Western Regional Assembly, the Town and Country Homes Association, St. Angela’s Food Technology Centre, and is a Mentor with several County Enterprise Boards including Sligo, Roscommon, Cavan, Longford, Louth, Leitrim, Westmeath and Mayo, as well as a number of Rural Development companies (LEADER) such as Mayo North East Leader Partnership Co. and South West Mayo Development Company, County Wicklow Partnership and others. She is also a food business mentor with Enterprise Ireland and with InterTradeIreland.
In September 2013, Oonagh her book “Money for Jam – the Essential Guide to Starting Your Own Small Food Business” was published by Oaktree Press. The 2nd Edition will be launched on September 15th 2017 and will be available in bookshops nationwide as well as for Kindle.