Check your inboxes! E-ballots will be sent to the designated voting rep for each of our Member organizations on Wednesday, September 14th. You’ll have until September 30th to make your decision and follow your voting link to cast your ballot.
Didn’t receive yours? First, please check your junk mail. If you don’t find your e-ballot there, please contact us at chamber@tbchamber.ca.
Meet Your Candidates
Between September 14 and 30, our Membership will vote to elect four Members to fill seats on our Board of Directors for the 2022 – 2025 term. Thank you to our candidates for accepting your nominations and standing for election. We wish you all the best of luck.
Michel Beaulieu
Lakehead University
A proud alumnus of Lakehead University, I returned to Thunder Bay in 2007 as a full-time faculty member. Since then, I have served in numerous roles within the university and am currently the Associate Vice-Provost Academic (Special Projects) and founding Director of the Lakehead’s soon to be launched Community Zone. In my roles I support the development of new and expanded academic and non-academic (micro-credential) programs and partnerships, often in collaboration with external partners including industry and local organizations. My community connections, though, stretch far beyond the university. I have served on/chaired a number of local, provincial, and national committees and non-profit organization boards. (More information can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/msbeaulieu/)
My interest in serving on the Board on behalf of Lakehead University rest in the university’s important role as both the region’s largest education institution, and as one of the city and region’s largest employers. With over 2,000 staff and faculty Lakehead plays an important role in advancing the commercial, financial, and civic interests of tour community, and contributes $1.44 billion to the province’s GDP.
Debra Coran Anderson
Coran’s Music Education CentreI am currently a music teacher, owner/operator of Coran’s Music Education Centre Inc. I have been in business since 1974 helping the family retail store Coran’s Music. I purchased the business in 1994 and added music lessons to our services. In 2012 I closed the store and taught piano from my home. In 2016 with my son Kevin, we opened Coran’s Music Education Centre Inc. where we focus entirely on teaching music. I have much experience with adapting your business to the ever changing times. I have been on the Board of the Thunder Bay Rowing Club, and am currently on the Board of the Lakehead Festival of Music and the Arts. I am married for 37 years and have two grown children, 3 dogs and a bird.
I have been a Chamber member for many years and have enjoyed many of the benefits that come with being a member. I am so glad to see so many young people starting businesses I would like to encourage and offer some of my experience of living and doing business here in Thunder Bay. ( I also feel I will learn a lot too) I am willing to volunteer for events and love to network. I would really like to see Thunder Bay be an even friendlier place to do business.
Jamie Crozier
Thunder Bay HydraulicsI am an entrepreneur, a husband and a father; and not necessarily in that order. I moved to Thunder Bay 10 years ago and fell in love with the city, the culture and the people. It is my home now and I am now raising a family here. I am the co-owner and GM of Thunder Bay Hydraulics which is a small to medium sized manufacturer of hydraulic and pneumatic systems. My main areas of expertise are with sales development, product development, relationship building, manufacturing and sales management, as well as all other areas required by a small to medium sized business.
My passions are to grow the business community in North Western Ontario with a specific focus on manufacturing and skilled trades. With this end, I want to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors with an eye for action and a promise to deliver. We need to boost our local business’s, to give them the support, the network, the supply chain and the resources they need to achieve success locally, nationally and internationally. I have the experience necessary to do this and I wish to grow the community. Thunder Bay and surrounding region is a naturally beautiful area that people want to live in; now, we need a business community to back this up and push us into decades of sustainable economic growth.
Ryan Gagnon
Jones & Associates InsuranceFor over 20 years, I have worked in marketing, advertising, PR, and, most recently, commercial insurance with Jones Insurance to champion local SMBs and non-profit organizations in our area.
As a Commercial Insurance Broker with Jones Insurance, I am tasked to provide exceptional service, tailored insurance solutions, and develop partnerships to empower our business clients and community. I stay on top of legislative and regulatory changes across numerous industries to confidently advise our SMB clients on the risks they can take to grow their operations. I leverage my professional network to connect our clients with other community stakeholders and organizations to foster partnerships and succeed.
Outside of my advisor role, I enjoy using my education and experience as the marketing lead for the company. I am responsible for ensuring the company tenants of relationship building and volunteerism remains at the forefront of all our communications and messaging.
I am passionate about seeing this city thrive and am committed to bringing value to the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce membership.
If elected, I would use my extensive historical and current knowledge of the local business climate to provide meaningful representation and advocacy on behalf of the local SMB community. My experience in board participation and governance has positioned me with skills to exercise my duties as a Director with purpose and proactivity.
To speak to this experience, my time with the George Jeffery Children’s Foundation Board, which included a term as President, was some of the most rewarding and challenging work I have done to date. I am eager and enthusiastic about the prospect of continuing my community involvement through the TBCC board and look forward to finding solutions to help our city prosper.
Jeff Heney
Venshore MechanicalAs controller for Venshore Mechanical, a local industrial mechanical contractor, I oversee the finance department and work with various unions, customers and vendors. Venshore services customers primarily in pulp and paper, mining, utilities and other industrial sectors and also operates the largest pipe fabrication shop in Northwestern Ontario.
Having served on the Board as well as the finance and executive committees for the Chamber over the past 3 years, I have had a chance to work with a great team that represent a diverse group of businesses in Thunder Bay. It has been great to be able to learn from the diverse perspectives on the Board and being able to provide my input from the industrial sector. The business community has faced a lot of challenges over the past couple of years and the Chamber was a great resource to help businesses with changing laws, regulations and available funding during the pandemic.
I was born and raised in Thunder Bay and I hope to be able to serve for a second term and continue to work towards growth in our business community.
Florian Le Tellier
Northern Ontario Francophone Immigration Support NetworkI am employed as a socioeconomic development officer for the Northern Ontario Francophone Immigration Support Network. I help communities in Northwestern Ontario to improve their capacity to attract, integrate and retain French-speaking immigrants. My duties are very broad and depend on the needs in immigration of my partners. Also, I develop and maintain partnership with municipalities, post-secondary institutions, employers, and organizations throughout Northwestern Ontario. With different partners, we have developped different project to promote Northwestern Ontario, the success of immigrants living in the region and employers employing immigrants. We have also developped projects to integrate and retain immigrants. Moreover, we sensitize employers on the different pathways to hire immigrants and on the benefits of them being bilingual.
I want to serve on the Chamber’s Board of Directors because I would like to share my expertise in immigration. There is an important labour shortage all over Northwestern Ontario in different fields, and immigration can be an answer to this labour shortage. Moreover, I am familiar with the difficulties that newcomers can face when trying to open a business or to keep it afloat. I also want to bring the francophone side to the table. Indeed, there is a francophone community in Thunder Bay. Finally, I want to learn how a Board of Directors works, acquire new skills, and meet people that I would not have been able to meet otherwise.
Katie McCormack
Impala CanadaThunder Bay is my home. It is where I was born and raised, and where my husband and I are growing our family.
I have spent my entire career in mining. My formal training is as a geologist (I received an undergraduate degree from Lakehead and a Master’s degree from Queens), and I’ve held roles in geology and exploration departments for various companies both in Northern Ontario as well as internationally.
My current role at Impala Canada requires I apply technical skills and industry experience to business development and strategy. In particular, I am thrilled to be part of a critical minerals movement that has potential to benefit all Ontarians.
Most recently I have added oversight of Indigenous Affairs to my portfolio. I am keen to play a role in ensuring that the benefits mining companies can offer are shared with our local Indigenous communities.
First and foremost, I want to serve on the Board because I believe in the mission of the Chamber of Commerce, and I believe in what it can achieve for the community at large.
Mining has an important role to play in the future of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. The Chamber of Commerce has an opportunity to further leverage the mining industry to support the growth and diversification of small businesses, as well as uphold the community’s economy and social fabric.
I would love to bring the voice of mining to the Chamber of Commerce’s Board room.
Rob Mozzon
MNP LLPI have lived in Thunder Bay my entire life and have been involved with the local business community since graduating from Lakehead University in 1993. As a Chartered Professional Accountant, I have assisted organizations with planning and evaluation of operating decisions. I am the Regional Managing Partner for MNP’s Northern Ontario offices. MNP is an organization with over 170 team members in Northern Ontario and with clients in both urban and rural settings; this provides me with an awareness of the challenges faced by organizations operating in the region, their teams, and their customers. I am passionate about supporting and advising local business and service organizations from new entrepreneurs and start ups, to multi-generational family and regional businesses. I am proud to work with businesses to help them achieve their goals. I Chair the Chamber’s Finance Committee and am a member of the CEDC’s Tourism Investment Committee.
I work with a national firm of business advisors with a strong regional presence. I have seen how the success of the regional economy provides opportunities for families and improves overall quality of living. I will provide a balanced perspective to advocate for the business community on the Chamber Board. The challenges posed to individuals and organizations through COVID-19 and the pressures we continue to experience as the economy recovers have emphasized the importance of supporting local businesses. We have participated and supported “Buy Local” campaigns and looked for opportunities to create awareness and address challenges experienced by organizations from supply chain, human resource, and operational issues. I will encourage the Chamber to advocate for local needs, challenges, and concerns to influence the creation of policy and the availability of resources to support and strengthen our community.
Kathleen Sawdo
Sister Bear Designs
.Boozhoo, tan’si, hello, I am the CEO/Artist of Sister Bear Designs Inc. located at Goods & Co Market. I am one of 2 in Canada to have achieved the Tribal Human Resource Professional (THRP) designation. This means I am able to assess and ensure tribal law/band custom is considered alongside provincial/state and federal legislation and regulations. I have over 20 years experience working in Human Resources Management. I specialize in Indigenous Relations and use my two-eyed seeing gifts to walk and guide employers through diversity and inclusion journeys. Miigwetch, All my relations.
I love this city and our community. Thunder Bay has a diverse and growing business sector and I’d like to see our Chamber Board reflect our community. As an Indigenous woman, I work passionately and diligently to ensure Indigenous voices are included in every corner, at every opportunity within the city. In 2018, I spoke locally about our business sector’s responsibility in participating in the TRC calls to action. I am excited to see conversations happening. I hope to see individual business create cultural spaces. Many times I’ve been the lone indigenous voice at a board, committee level and I’d like that to change.
Erin Sisko
The Elleiance Network
I am an entrepreneur who’s business centres on supporting other small and medium sized business owners create amazing businesses. I am the founder of The Elleiance Network, a community created for women entrepreneurs and ambitious women in business to create the right connections to take their business to the next level.
I am a Commercial Realtor with Re/Max First Choice focusing only on supporting entrepreneurs with commercial buildings, leases and businesses transition. I am a business coach, strategic advisor, investor and business owner. I love and believe in the Thunder Bay community. I see endless possibility and a bright future.
I want to serve a second term on the Chamber’s Board of Directors because I believe in the business community and I want to have a voice and involvement in shaping and guiding the direction of the Chamber of Commerce for the betterment of small business and industry. I also believe in the vision and mission of the Chamber of Commerce as it aligns with my personal and professional vision and mission of supporting entrepreneurs and creating a really strong and prosperous local business community.