Executive Director
Email: [email protected]
Kristel Manes is a Change Management Specialist; having spent the last 13 years coaching entrepreneurs as they start and grow businesses. Kristel has an extensive history in communication and negotiation amongst such prominent groups as boards of directors, sponsors, core funding partners, senior management, peers, and aspiring business owners.
Expertise
Program Manager
Email: [email protected]
Angela Poirier is an experienced Program Manager and Digital Advisor. She has a background helping a wide variety of industries streamlining their business to be the most efficient possible, from trucking, to retail, to food production. Her primary focus is helping businesses learn to build consistency through out all aspects of their business ventures.
Expertise
Business Advisor
Email: [email protected]
Olga George-Cosh is an accomplished professional and an entrepreneurial thinker with extensive experience in management of non-profit organizations and social entrepreneurship. Her career spans a diverse range of business accomplishments, from being a partner in the family’s businesses, to consistently achieving superior results as an executive, and guiding non-profits in creating and sustaining positive community change.
Expertise
Business Advisor
Email: [email protected]
Tony Morris is an experienced professional with a passion for Canada's agriculture sector and small business. His varied career includes work within financial institutions, business consulting, government, and governance of not-for-profit organizations. With years of hands-on experience owning and operating small businesses and a farm operation, he strives to help people answer the question: "what is it you do better than anyone else, that adds value to the lives of people, that makes you unique?"
Expertise
Digital Advisor
Email: [email protected]
Saleh Albaity is an accomplished professional in the e-commerce space. He has worked with many businesses and guided them towards a digital transformation!
Expertise
Alex is a Senior Manager at RLB where he utilizes his diverse skillset and expertise in tax to constantly develop and build relationships with new and established small business owners to become their trusted advisor. As the current Chair of the Board, Alex works diligently to ensure the Business Centre Guelph-Wellington continues to be a leading community resource for small businesses and start-ups.
Bob is experienced in the corporate, startup, academic and NPO sectors. He has mentored startup companies and is a partner in a startup. Certified in project management (PMP) and business process management (6 Sigma). Bob previously sat as a member of the Innovation Guelph board of directors. Presently he is consulting for the University of Guelph's student entrepreneurship center.
Representing the City of Guelph, Christine brings seventeen years of municipal experience in developing and executing award winning economic development programs and strategies. As Manager for the Economic Development Department for the City of Guelph she has been both project lead and support for high level strategic economic development initiatives as well as ground level program development.
Mayor Shawn Watters, Centre Wellington Mayor. Shawn has chaired numerous committees at both local and county levels including planning, land division, information, heritage and seniors committees. He has served on boards including Groves Memorial Hospital, and the Ontario Association of Landscape Architects. Shawn's business career has provided him the opportunity to design communities and build parks, streetscapes, restaurants, golf courses and music festivals.
Jennifer Seberras, P.Log, is the owner of Simplify Supply Chain Solutions, a courier company providing package delivery for businesses across Ontario. With 20 years experience in logistics, Jennifer saw a need for women led businesses in the transportation, operations and logistics. As a past participant in Business Centre Guelph-Wellington's programming, she has volunteered for the board as a way to give back to the entrepreneurial community.
Heather MacDougall is a lawyer in Guelph with Nelson, Watson PC, specializing in employment matters and general litigation. She helps both employees and employers navigate the complex world that is employment law. Heather is excited to volunteer to be a part of an organization that fosters and supports local entrepreneurs by providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed.
Carinta has been in the Money Service Business(MSB) space for over 20 years and divides her passion between a love for entrepreneurship and the world of MSBs. Having started her own first retail MSB in the 2000, and an MSB franchise in 2009, Carinta credits “business start up” programming with her success. As a participant in the Youth Entrepreneurship program, and the Self-Employment Assistance Program, she learned first hand the value of coaching and mentorship. For the past ten years, Carinta has volunteered with the Guelph Business Centre to give back to the community that helped her to get her start.
Gillian Cuthbert is the Co-Owner/Director of Operations for Malamar Construction, a family owned and run business with 14 employees, offering a superior full service complete renovation and construction service, with years of experience in renovating/restoring and building. Prior to working with Malamar, Gillian worked within the finance & banking space supporting business owners, small/medium and large, in many facets. Gillian believes in following your dreams to create a life that you love every day.
Geoff is an Account Manager at Agri-Neo focusing on selling food safety pasteurization systems while providing best in class customer service. Previously, he has held various roles at the University of Guelph’s Agriculture & Food Laboratory, including being the New Business Planning and Implementation Coordinator as well as the Assistant Manager for Business Development.