Centre Wellington Chamber of Commerce About information

Having been with CWCC since early 2019 wearing a few different hats including event planning, bookkeeping, and marketing, I’m excited to have stepped into the General Manager role. My background includes over ten years of event and program management experience, in both the non-profit and corporate sectors, from large business-to-business conferences to fundraising events across the country and almost everything in between. Throughout my career I have gained extensive administrative and financial experience, and also found time to complete my MBA! I am proud to now call Centre Wellington home and look forward to further supporting the business community. CWCC strives to provide solutions, benefits, and connections for our businesses, create opportunities to learn and grow, and advocate for local business needs.

Business Name: Bensol Consulting

Janet and her family have called Centre Wellington home for 20 years. Having raised her children in Fergus, Janet views serving on the CWCC Board of Directors as a privilege and an opportunity to give back to our community.

As an Account Representative with Bensol, Janet represents the Chamber Plan to local business owners. Bensol offers employee benefit plans that allow small and medium size businesses to succeed and thrive.

Member Engagement and the Awards of Excellent are 2 areas of involvement that Janet is participating in with CWCC. We live in an amazing community and Janet is honoured to be part of it!

Business Name: Diane Cook 7Seas2See Travel

Type of Business: Independent Travel Advisor, Customized Travel Experience Designer

After 32 years of commuting, working for National Retail Travel Companies, 30 in Management, Diane made the decision that 2 years ago was the time for her to live her dream of Entrepreneurship owing her own Travel Company under the umbrella of TPI -Travel Professionals International, creating unique, authentic and immersive experiences worldwide. As a by invitation only Virtuoso Advisor, Diane specializes in Adventure/Active Travel (walking, cycling, etc), Specialty Cruising(expedition, river, small ship, luxury, etc) and Culinary (food and wine) Travel.

Diane has enjoyed building relationships and connecting within Fergus, Elora and Centre Wellington working from her home office; building her business 1 client at a time. Diane is the first and only Canadian Travel Advisor named to the Saveur Virtuoso Advisory Board and also sits on The TravelMarketPlace and TPI Advisory Boards.

Diane considers it a privilege to serve our community of small business and the Chamber of Commerce in this role.

Business Name:  ASC4Business

My life motto is:  "I try to leave everyone a little bit better for having met me, even if it's just a smile."

With a lifetime of entrepreneurial, business advisory, and financial industry experience, I have always enjoyed working with businesses and non-profit groups to help them find viable, practical solutions that will "stick" for them. As an Advisor, Teacher, Leader, Coordinator, Volunteer, & Empress of My Own Universe, I am always looking for ways to help out, step up, and assist where needed. Giving back is something that has always been important to me and I try to lead by example. 
Sheri & ASC4Business are proud to support:  The YSTOP program (WWCFDC) - Company of Women (Centre Wellington) - Centre Wellington Chamber - Centre Wellington Community Foundation -  Toastmasters Centre Wellington -Confident Careplanners - Cambridge Chamber - Small Business Community Network - >Guelph Women in Networking - Channel Your Inner Redhead & many more organizations + events over the years.
We are always looking for opportunities to give back this community (anywhere - big or small) as much as possible! Look for us at an event, charity, or workshop and stop to say HI!
 

Business Name: Shift: A Family Health Centre

Business Name: Wolfe, Smith & Forster

I have lived in Wellington County for most of my life. I grew up in Orton and attended high school in Erin. I graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 2008 and began practicing law in Guelph. Now, I am very pleased to be practicing law in Fergus as well. My family still lives nearby and it feels like a return to my roots.

I have a wide variety of legal experience ranging from litigation to business law. My current practice focuses primarily on residential and commercial real estate, estate planning and all aspects of business law.

I am also an avid musician and have been playing professionally for 20 years. When I’m not at work or chasing after my very active 5 year old, you can find me playing cover songs and original music around local music venues.

Business Name: Harrcroft Acres Ltd

Type of Business: Agricultural Business – Dairy Operation

Community Involvement/ Previous Experience:
Janet has lived in the Fergus community for over 20 years and, through Agricultural or Volunteer Board opportunities, has held positions with: The Fergus Fall Fair, Wellington County Dairy Producers, Centre Wellington Preschool, School Parent Councils, Fergus Skating Club, Centre Wellington Youth Advisory Committee, and previously named Leisure Advisory Committee (now re-named the Parks, Recreation and Culture Advisory Committee).
She loves working as an RN at the Critical Care Unit in Guelph; however, her passion is agriculture and agri-business.

Franchisee: M&M Food Market, Fergus.

1985-1997 Owner of Birdland Music, Fergus and a Member of Board of Managers of BIA and Chair of Promotions Committee during that time.
Active member of the Centre Wellington community with fund raising events through the former M&M Meat Shops.
Married to Ken for over 50 years with three married daughters, seven grandchildren and one great grandson. Resident of Centre Wellington for 20+ years. Attends and is involved in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Fergus. Enjoys theatre, music, reading and travel. Member of Board of Directors for the CWCC since 2005.

Business Name: The Grand 101.1FM

Austin has lived in Centre Wellington all his life. He was born in Georgetown and raised here in Fergus.
He loves his community and is no stranger at all! Austin is an On-Air personality at The Grand at 101.1FM radio station in Fergus. He has been at the station for over 5 years now and his all supporting local businesses and organizations.
"I love Centre Wellington so much, it is such an amazing place to live, work and play!"

Business Name: Derek G. Graham Limited

Derek and Alexandra have operated Derek G. Graham Limited since 1979 having lived in Elora and now Centre Wellington since 1974.
As a professional surveyor, Derek is licensed as a cadastral (boundary) surveyor, land use planner and drainage engineer. He is a fifth generation professional surveyor having worked in both the public and private sector.
He has past community experience as president of the Elora Chamber of Commerce, president of the Fergus Elora Big Brothers, a member of Elora Council and a committee member of the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors.
Alexandra, Derek’s former fiancée (47 years ago) and Derek enjoy their small farm operation and are members of the Elora Salem Horticultural Society.

Business Name: Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures Development Corporation

Jenna Morris, WWCF's Community Economic Development Coordinator, brings curiosity, enthusiasm and a Millennial point-of-view to the team. Jenna's role is to identify and facilitate development opportunities for expanding the local economy as well as to support initiatives within local municipality offices. She brings business, research, and community knowledge with her to help increase the strength of our network. Jenna holds a diploma in General Business from Conestoga College and is currently working towards her certified Economic Development Professional designation at the University of Waterloo.

Business: Schooley Mitchell

Dale grew up in Waterloo County before moving to Guelph to start a family. He eventually ended up in Fergus and considers Centre Wellington home. One of his 3 young adult children are still at home completing an apprenticeship in the trades.

As a Solopreneur, Dale has enjoyed the many benefits of being a member of the CWCC by joining one of the CPN luncheon groups, is a member of the Communication & Marketing / Engagement Committee, and the CWCC Ambassador program.

The Chamber provides an excellent forum for meeting other business owners and gaining a better understanding of the unique environment in which we live, work and play.

With over 25 years managing corporate IT, Dale followed an opportunity to work with Schooley Mitchell as an Expense Consultant, focusing his energy on helping small and medium business owners increase their profits and reduce pain points. If you think you're paying your vendors and service providers too much, give me a call, chances are very good that you are.

Jane grew up in Centre Wellington and is proud to live, work and raise her family in the community as well. She has been involved in the community through the family business, her employment with Wellington-Waterloo Community Futures and with volunteering.

Jane continues to volunteer with the Fergus Fall Fair as an Entertainment Committee member & Director, with the St. John’s United Church Belwood as a committee member & congregational chair, as the President for the Centre Wellington Toastmasters and with CWCC as an Engagement Committee member and Director.

Jane is excited to be part of the CW Chamber and looks forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

Paul retired from managing the LCBO in Elora after 40 years in 2014. He is a big supporter of the Chamber and membership and he values all of the businesses in CW, believing that together we will create a strong business community. Paul was the CWCC Board President from 2000-2003, and has been the President of the Grand River Agricultural Society since 2006. As the President of GRAS, Paul sits on the Township’s Economic Development Committee and now the CWCC Board of Directors.

Patrick joined RBC in March 2011 and has been in banking and lending since 1980 with an entrepreneurial background from the United States and Canada. After Bank of America he was a venture capital lender. He then helped grow a small firm into a successful vendor finance equipment leasing company. His experience is in credit, sales, marketing, business development and service. His Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration is from University of San Francisco. Patrick has also been involved with the Guelph Chamber of Commerce since 2013 and joining the Board in 2014 After being elected to the Executive Committee in 2016, he just completed being Board Chair in December 2020 and will finish sitting on the Board and Exec by holding the Past Chair title until December 2021.

Business name – RLB Chartered Accountants

I grew up in Mount Forest before moving to Guelph after completing my post-secondary. I started working with RLB in their Fergus office in 2016 and received my CPA designation in 2018. Working with RLB has given me the great opportunity to get to know many small business owners around Centre Wellington and gain a firm appreciation of how their hard work and dedication shapes this community.
At RLB I currently focus on helping small business and agribusiness owners with financial statement and tax preparation as well as tax planning, business advisory and other compliance work.

Outside of work I have many hobbies that keep me busy and can usually be found fishing, hiking or playing hockey.