Providing business coaching, industry knowledge, and expert advice to entrepreneurs.
• Business Strategy & Marketing
• Corporate Law
• Digital Marketing
• Employment Law & Human Resources
• Financial Planning
• Immigration
• Taxes
• Business Coaching & Talent Development
Business Coaching, Strategy, Cash Flow, Forecasting, Financial Statements and Reporting, Talent Development
Jade is the owner and CEO of Calver Immigration Consulting Inc. She has over ten years of experience in the Canadian immigration field and has worked for Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada as well as one of the country’s leading immigration law firms. She has handled hundreds of Canadian immigration cases, bringing individuals and businesses to Canada to achieve their goals.
Jade became an Expert in Residence to support entrepreneurs and the overall economic success of our region and Canada as a whole. She has a love for helping entrepreneurs realize their full potential, grow their businesses into viable ventures, and link them to the networks that will help them succeed. Jade feels that it‘s essential to attract entrepreneurs to Peterborough and the Kawarthas so they can contribute to the growth of the region and shape the future of the community.
Marcelo founded Prima IP and is a leading intellectual property expert. He has extensive experience in drafting and prosecution of patent applications and industrial designs in the pharmaceutical, chemical, oil and gas, medical device and mechanical areas and has advised clients on the procurement, management, and assessment of intellectual property rights.
Catia Skinner is a marketing visionary and the CEO of Mega Experience Inc., a full-service agency that provides innovative, top-tier marketing solutions. Catia Skinner’s exemplary track record testifies to her expertise in the marketing field. With more than 15 years of experience in strategic planning, marketing intelligence, product marketing, and brand management, Catia has gained the trust of major brands all around the world. Catia’s commitment to excellence and passion for delivering unparalleled solutions have helped Mega Experience Inc. stand out as a premier provider of comprehensive marketing services. Her dedication and commitment to her craft are an inspiration to all who work with her. With her creative vision, strategic planning skills, and leadership abilities, she is sure to take Mega Experience Inc. to even greater heights.
In addition to her professional achievements, Catia is dedicated to giving back to her community by donating her time and marketing expertise to help many charities and non-profit organizations. Catia’s impact on the local business community was recognized by the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce when she was presented with the prestigious 4-Under-40 Award.
Christine Crandell has 30 years of business and marketing experience and is the President of NBS Consulting Group, Inc., a global customer experience and strategy consultancy. She is a frequent speaker and has won several industry awards. Christine has published over 300 articles on strategy, customer experience, sales, and marketing.
Christine wants to help the next generation by leveraging their experience. Christine believes that the region is on the cusp of a transformation and would like to see it become a hub for entrepreneurship in clean tech, climate tech, and med tech.
To continue building on the success of the Innovation Cluster, Christine hopes Peterborough and the Kawarthas can keep innovating, act with a sense of urgency, and think outside the box.
Matthew has over 20 years of experience in business and human resources. He is the founder and Managing Partner of two Peterborough-based human resources businesses — SHRP Ltd and HRLive. SHRP (Savino Human Resources Partners) was established in 2009 to meet the growing HR needs of small to medium-sized businesses in Ontario. Since then, they have expanded to offer full-service management support to both public and private sector organizations across Canada and the U.S. HRLive, a cloud-based platform that automates many human resources functions, was launched in 2018. This innovative software allows employers to streamline, automate, and simplify many aspects of the employee experience.
A local business owner himself, Matthew feels that it is important to encourage entrepreneurs in the community because they play a vital role in the economy. Matthew understands that small businesses face different challenges than larger businesses, so it is important that we support them whenever possible. Matthew believes that when starting a business, it is important to have a five-year plan. This plan should start small and gradually build as the business establishes its presence and reputation in the community.
Kim is a CPA, business coach, and business owner in the region. She is the President of Stratitude Corp., and the Regional Manager for The CFO Centre, with over 25 years of large corporate CFO success. Kim uses her experience to help small and mid-sized owner-managed businesses think big and take the next steps in their journey.
Kim became an Expert in Residence to help the Peterborough and Kawarthas community thrive and witness entrepreneurs reach their goals. Kim believes it is important to provide entrepreneurs with tools to overcome startup challenges and develop strategies that will help them accelerate their careers. Local support ensures that startups can learn the core skills needed to get their business off the ground and the connections required to expand their support network and build their business within the community. A solid team of experts to help our entrepreneurs, allows the business community to build better and faster, providing jobs, and opportunities for our youth and residents.
Kim helps entrepreneurs plan for a successful future by providing coaching and financial advice and understanding what it takes to build a sustainable business for the long term with an emphasis on finance strategies and cash flow planning.
Kevin is a Chartered Professional Accountant and was given his Chartered Accountant designation in 1990. Since then he has worked in corporate tax and assisted small businesses and entrepreneurs.
Kevin has spent 35 years supporting small businesses with financial and tax advice, keeping more money in their business for investment or personal use. He became an Expert in Residence to continue his entrepreneurial support so that Peterborough and the Kawarthas can become stronger and more vibrant.
“If I can help them be successful, then we all win; they keep more of their hard-earned dollars, they hire more employees, the business grows, and our local economy grows with them.”
Nima is the Co-founder and CEO of Trillium Meditec Inc. a company developing and commercializing innovative hydrogels to treat Osteoarthritis. He initiates, identifies, and coordinates the analysis of complex client needs in project areas such as: new/existing business operating models, innovative approaches to solutions support, market research of emerging or available product functionality and operational readiness assessment.
Nima’s leadership and business experience have built expertise in strategic planning, business development, and fundraising, and was motivated to become an Expert in Residence at the Innovation Cluster to help entrepreneurs bring new ideas and innovations to Peterborough and Kawarthas. Supporting entrepreneurship in the region is paramount to Nima as it helps create jobs, accelerate the local economy, and define new markets.
Kaitlyn works for Century 21. She loves helping her real estate clients and she is also passionate about supporting entrepreneurship in our community.
Raised in Peterborough by a family of entrepreneurs, Kaitlyn learned that in order to have a successful business, you need to work hard, be dedicated, and provide good customer service.
Kaitlyn believes that supporting local entrepreneurs encourages new businesses to come to our community. These businesses will then help contribute to the economy by creating jobs.
Kaitlyn’s experience with real estate, sales, and customer service bolsters startups to reach their potential.
Mehdi is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in the field of product development, AI, and machine learning. He has a strong background in research and development, and is proficient in both bench-scale and pilot-scale systems. He is a licensed professional engineer in the province of Ontario, Canada. Mehdi has co-founded several startups across various industries, and has successfully launched and scaled multiple products. Mehdi is eager to help fellow entrepreneurs navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI and utilize its potential to drive business growth and innovation.
