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.
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.
Kraig was born and raised in Chatham-Kent, growing up and attending school in Blenheim. After high school, he attended Brock University in St. Catharines, obtaining my Honours Bachelor of accounting, with first-class standing. While at Brock, Kraig was active in an annual free tax clinic, run entirely by student volunteers from the Bachelor of Accounting Program. Services offered by our tax clinic included reviewing, completing and filing personal tax returns for qualifying members of the community. He also participated in the peer tutor program as a mathematics tutor, as well as several intramural teams.
After University, and post graduate studies in Toronto, Kraig moved back to Chatham-Kent, purchasing a home in Blenheim in 2013. Also in 2013, he obtained his Chartered Professional Accountant designation, while working at Collins Barrow in Chatham, where he articled throughout University. He is in his 13th year with the firm, now named Baker Tilly, working primarily with owner managed businesses, servicing several industries, including real estate, professionals and financial services, agriculture and construction.
While not working, Kraig enjoys the many easily accessible pleasures the community has to offer. He is often found golfing, primarily at Willow Ridge Golf and Country Club (formerly the Blenheim Community Golf Course) where he has been a member for 25 years. Prior to the sale of the course in 2015, he served on the Board of the community run course for several years. Kraig also likes to take advantage of the surrounding bodies of water for fishing and boating activities and loves participating in several recreational sports leagues.
Kraig has enjoyed, and looks forward to working with the members of the Chamber to make a positive difference in the community, from both a social and a business prosperity standpoint.
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.
Todd was born and raised in Chatham-Kent. After attending the Chatham Collegiate Institute, he attended the University of Windsor, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree.
Following university, Todd joined Daymond Aluminum as a Cost Estimator and has worked for Daymond Aluminum and Dajcor Aluminum for 31 years. Todd is currently VP Sales and Marketing at Dajcor Aluminum.
As a previous volunteer on the Chamber’s Business & Member Connections Committee, Todd looks forward to continuing his efforts as a Director on the Board. While not working, you can find Todd enjoying cycling and spending time with his wife and two adult children relaxing at a cottage in Sauble Beach.
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.
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).
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.
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 Big Brothers Big Sisters 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.
