Growing up in Chatham-Kent and attending Blenheim District High school Billy-Jo always knew he would come back to live and raise his own family. After high school B.J. attended Fanshawe College in London pursuing a career in Recreation and Leisure Services. Once graduating with honours he decided to take a few years off to work and enjoy life. His diploma from Fanshawe College allowed him to go back to school at the University of Windsor where he pursued a Human Kinetics Degree. What B.J learned from this is that life has many turns and twists. How we deal with those turns and twists is what helps to develop into the people we are today.
While in university B.J. had to make a hard choice in whether to finish or take an offer to work for what is now his employer, RBC Royal Bank of Canada. Billy-Jo is in his 12th year with RBC, and is thankful for the decision he made that has allowed him to continue to raise a family in the area in which he grew up. Giving back to the community has always been a passion for B.J. After high school he spent time coaching both high school football and basketball but was a growing supporter/coach with the Chatham-Kent Cougars organization for 10 years. Over the last 3 years he has sat on the Board with the Blenheim Youth Centre, which as a resident of Blenheim B.J. can say is a great organization that helps to keep kids off the street, providing education and drug awareness.
Billy-Jo has been married for 10 years and has 2 beautiful daughters Henley and Frankie. When not working, you will find him running the girls around to their baseball, dance or hockey games and wouldn’t change it for the world... all while trying to get in a round of golf.
Billy-Jo looks forward to being a part of the Chamber, and hopes to help and support business in this great community.
Amanda grew up in a small town on the other side of Toronto before moving away to Waterloo to attend Wilfrid Laurier University. There, she obtained her Honours Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Psychology as a Research Specialist. She eventually moved to Chatham-Kent to be with her now husband and has been here for the past 14 years. Amanda has previous experience in a clinical setting at St. Clair Child and Youth Services as well as several years at a youth detention facility for male young offenders. At present, she has been working with BGC of Chatham-Kent for 11 years.
Amanda also fills up her time with part-time work. Previously she was a Musical Director at a local ministry and is now a Children’s Director for their children and youth programming. When not working she enjoys her time with her two daughters, Lillian and Edyn, playing the piano, and baking up a storm! As a self-taught baking enthusiast, she hopes to pass on these skills to her children.
Amanda looks forward to being a member of the Board and hopes to make new connections while simultaneously providing support to others.
As Vice President, Performance and Chief Financial Officer, Aaron brings with him a progressive employment history with 12 years of health care leadership experience. Most recently as the Director of Financial Services at Windsor Regional Hospital. Aaron’s familiarity with CKHA provides a great base to build on as he previously held the role of Director of Finance and Decision Support from January 2013 to September 2015. During this time at CKHA he developed several collaborative relationships both within the organization and across the broader community. As CKHA develops more partnerships with the community sector, Aaron’s experience as Director of Finance at the Erie St. Clair Community Care Access Centre from October 2007 to December 2012 will be invaluable to the organization.
In his current role as VP of Performance and CFO, Aaron is responsible for the leadership and direction of CKHA’s corporate services: Finance, Procurement, Decision Support, Planning, Capital Planning, Health Records, Digital Systems, Facilities and Support Services. In addition, with the movement towards Ontario Health Teams, he is responsible for working with other organizations and stakeholders to establish and sustain partnership opportunities.
Aaron is a graduate of the Odette School of Business, University of Windsor. He completed his Bachelor of Commerce in 2002 and completed his Master’s in Business Administration in 2009. Aaron is designated as a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA).
Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ryan came to Chatham-Kent in 2007, after meeting his wife Justine who was born and raised here. Since moving to Chatham-Kent Ryan has been welcomed with open arms and immediately came to appreciate the quality of life that this community provides for him and his family. Ryan tells everyone that he could not imagine living anywhere else and he is extremely excited to have had the opportunity to contribute to Chatham-Kent through his involvement with the Chamber of Commerce.
Ryan has spent most of his career working at Enbridge Gas in a number of different capacities and has had the privilege of working with local businesses over the years. Ryan is excited to continue to work with local businesses as a representative of Enbridge Gas on the Board of Directors and getting the opportunity to get to know the Chatham-Kent business community better.
Tracy has been in Chatham-Kent for over 20 Years. Having grown up in the military lifestyle, it had her begin to crave a community that she could put down roots in and make a home.
Chatham is home. Tracy spends her free time with family and friends, loves attending community events and getting the opportunity to meet new people.
Tracy attended Western University in London and met her husband there. They started their lives together 30+ years ago and continue on stronger than ever.
Tracy, and her husband Rick, have raised 2 children while Rick also built his own business in the municipality. With the children grown, Tracy is wanting to give back to the community and the Chamber of Commerce. This gives her the opportunity to perfect the skills she has developed over the years. Tracy has been working in the banking industry for 30+ years. As a Relationship Manager, Agriculture & Commercial Banking, and throughout her career with CIBC, she has been advising clients on business and personal needs.
Chatham–Kent has a wealth of entrepreneurial spirit and Tracy expresses her hope to share the experience and work with the Chamber to keep that spirit going.
Sarah was born and raised on her family’s cash crop and vegetable farm between Chatham and Thamesville. She graduated in 2021 from the University of Guelph’s agricultural business program receiving a Bachelor of Commerce. Sarah moved back to Chatham-Kent knowing it would be her forever hometown with her high school sweetheart and now fiancé, Bailey. They are happy to be building their life together in the community they both know and love.
Following university, Sarah joined the team at Farm Credit Canada as a Relationship Manager. She is a passionate advocate for Chatham-Kent agriculture and enjoys being able to foster growth and provide support for the industry through her role with FCC.
Sarah is happy to have the opportunity to be involved in the Chamber and is looking forward to building relationships within the community!
Drew was born and raised in Chatham-Kent. Attended Chatham Collegiate Institute and finished his high schooling at Chatham Kent Secondary School. After High School he attended Brock University receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Major in History and a Minor in Geography.
Once University was over, he moved back to Chatham and started working in the local plumbing industry. After spending over a decade working alongside contractors, plumbers and the community of Chatham-Kent he decided to start his own business. In 2020 Drew began CK Tubs and Taps, which is a retail showroom specializing in bathroom and kitchen fixtures and cabinets. It was through this process that he was introduced to the CK Chamber and began to become aware of the wonderful programs and services they offer local small businesses such as his own.
In 2022 the CK Chamber awarded CK Tubs and Taps with the Small Business of the Year Award. Drew was also fortunate enough to be awarded Young Entrepreneur of the Year for 2022. Through this experience he was further introduced to the many ways the CK Chamber helps the local business community. Drew is hoping he can use these experiences to help other entrepreneurs and businesses throughout Chatham-Kent and looks forward to connecting with this community and discovering ways we can support and grow together.
Adrian has been a lifelong resident of Chatham-Kent. He resides in the rural community between Ridgetown and Blenheim with his wife Sylvia. Adrian has been involved in agriculture his entire life, holding various positions as 4H leader, Director and then President of Quality Swine Co-op, Marketing Manager for a North American Swine Breeding Stock company, CEO of the same Swine Breeding Stock company while farming in the Ridgetown area for 25 years. Since his retirement from farming, Adrian has managed a vegetable transplant greenhouse, and developed a food safety program for mushrooms, holding various positions as 4H leader, Director and then President of Quality Swine Co-op, Marketing Manager for a North American Swine Breeding Stock company, CEO of the same Swine Breeding Stock company.
For the last 10 years he has been employed at AGRIS/Co-operative Ltd based in Chatham, currently holding the position of Operations Manager.
When not working Adrian and Sylvia enjoy the amenities CK has to offer like golfing, hiking trails, and numerous local restaurants as well as spending time with their children and grandchildren.
I am very proud to be born and raised in Chatham-Kent. I attended Ursuline College Chatham where I played basketball and played guitar in rock bands that entertained during school assemblies. After high school I made my way to McMaster University where I graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. Once school was over I worked 12 years in Toronto’s downtown financial district at BMO Nesbitt Burns where I fine-tuned my skills in investment management. During a particularly brutal Toronto commute I came to the conclusion that small city living is a more comfortable lifestyle for me, spurring me to move back to Chatham in 2016. I then joined RBC Dominion Securities as an Investment Advisor where I bring my Bay St experience to the people of Chatham.
The Chamber was integral for me to reconnect with the community when I moved back. I found attending BIZconneCKt monthly, participating in the Chamber’s annual Golf Tournament and sitting on two Chamber sub-boards enabled me to quickly get in touch with Chatham’s thriving community. Above all the Chamber opened the door to meeting lots of great individuals, many of whom I now call friends.
I now live just outside of Chatham with spouse Jessica and my two beautiful daughters. In my spare time I enjoy travelling with family, playing guitar and gardening.
Scott was born and raised in Chatham and is an inductee of the Chatham Sports Hall of Fame as a member of the ‘01-‘02 JMSS basketball team. He played basketball at St Clair College before pursuing a career in professional sports and working in the front office of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He has worked as an official stat recorder at the CFL combine and has instructed at the off season camps of top CFL players. With baseball being his top passion, he eventually left the football club to join the baseball start up of a leading sports technology company. Now residing back in Chatham, Scott works as a Financial Planner for TD Wealth. Aside from his work in investments, Scott has been leveraging his vast experience on the business and operations side of both professional and amateur sport to be an integral part of the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers IBL baseball franchise, acting as both Corporate Sales Rep and Assistant General Manager.
Jon started practicing law in Chatham-Kent in 1994 with his partners Gabe Benoit, John Van Raay, Sergio Spisani, and Stephen Fuerth.
Jon is a big personality with much experience in many areas of the law. Jon will extract relevant legal issues from clients, provide them with his opinion as to the outcome, the steps required to achieve their goal, and the likely costs of proceeding.
Jon manages the firm’s real estate department. He has guided developers through the creation of many of Chatham-Kent’s residential and commercial subdivisions. He acts for builders, commercial property owners, and residential home buyers and sellers. With more than 10,000 deeds registered, Jon is a local wealth of knowledge about closing a real estate transaction in Chatham-Kent.
Jon also manages the firm’s family law and estate litigation departments. Jon focuses on the legal issues over the drama. Jon will explain how the law applies to your circumstances and the various steps it takes to bring a conclusion to the legal problem. Jon has significant training in mediation in addition to considerable Superior Court of Justice trial experience.
Jon is married to Christina, and he has two wonderful children Noah and Jack. Jon is occasionally found lumbering around the local high school track where they call him “gramps.” Jon served on the first Chatham-Kent CCAC Board of Directors, the Board of Directors for the Chatham-Kent Children’s Services, and the Lambton Kent District School Board, Special Education Advisory Committee. Jon is presently a member of the local Canadian Association of Farm Advisors (CAFA).
Moréna has been working with small local businesses in Chatham-Kent for the past 10 years.
By creating and organizing large local events like the Dresden Night Market and Etsy: Made in Canada, she has helped make thousands of connections between local shoppers and creative entrepreneurs in Chatham-Kent and across southwestern Ontario. Together with friends who have helped build the Dresden Night Market into what it is today, they have proven that small businesses, non-profit groups, and artists can work alongside each other to help grow and improve small communities.
She is also a partner at LUVLOCAL, a marketing and e-commerce solution for the same kind of small businesses she’s been working with for the past decade. Small businesses have their own online storefronts on luvlocal.co, making it easy for customers to shop local 24/7.
Bringing people together is a common theme in everything Moréna does, from organizing community and corporate events, volunteering for several local non-profits, and helping small businesses with their marketing and communications needs.
Todd, a seasoned automotive industry professional with 28 years of experience, proudly serves as the General Manager and Operating Partner at Chatham Honda. Hailing from London and St. Thomas, Ontario, Todd has the pleasure of contributing to Chatham Honda's success for the last decade.
In addition to his managerial role, Todd is a Certified Automotive Sales Process Trainer providing comprehensive training to sales professionals across Ontario and New Brunswick. His expertise extends to dealer management, strategic planning, and dynamic marketing initiatives.
Beyond the boardroom, Todd finds joy in mountain biking, hockey, and indulging his passion for high-speed thrills on the track. Despite his busy professional life, Todd cherishes time with family.
Eager to make a broader impact within the business community outside of Chatham Honda, Todd is looking forward to his new role with the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce.
Dibesh Regmi is a manager at Everest Convention Centre and The Gurkha Lounge Restaurant, Chatham, where he directs all aspects of restaurant operations and events management while maintaining high quality of professional services. He also supports other Hakka Khazana Group of restaurants in Sarnia & Windsor.
Dibesh has over 20 years of experience working at various reputed 5 star hotels, restaurants, cruise lines, contract management and as well operating his own restaurants.
In August 2022 he moved from Toronto to Chatham with his wife Subhana. During his free time he enjoys photography, carpentry, driving, listening to music, and keeping himself busy in the garage.You can reach him at everestconventioncentre@gmail.com.
