As a third-generation entrepreneur in her family’s business, Sarah takes great pride in continuing a legacy in Chatham-Kent. Sarah’s grandparents built a successful swimming pool business that served the community for over 30 years, which her mother later took over. Sarah started working in the family business at just 10 years old, learning firsthand the values of dedication, customer service, and entrepreneurship.
After earning a Business Administration – Marketing diploma from St. Clair College, Sarah pursued further studies at Wayne State University before returning to Chatham to contribute to her family’s business roots. Sarah’s career journey has been a blend of business development and property management. She spent nearly five years in a Business Development role at the Bradley Centre before transitioning into property management.
In 2016, Sarah’s mother launched Paragon Property Management & Maintenance, and she joined the company in 2018. Since then, the business has grown from managing 100 doors to nearly 500, specializing in residential and commercial rental properties throughout Chatham-Kent. As Director of Operations & Sales, Sarah’s focus on strategic growth, client relations, and ensuring high-quality service for the property owners and tenants.
Sarah has been involved with the Chatham-Kent Chamber of Commerce for over a decade, serving on various committees and currently in her fourth year on the Board of Directors. Supporting local businesses and our community is a core value for her and my family.
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. After spending 12 years at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Chatham-Kent, Amanda took on the challenge of incorporating a local BGC (formally known as Boys and Girls Club) and has since been growing the organization in the Chatham-Kent community.
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).
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.
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!
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.
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).
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.
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.
Matthew Nahdee is an Anishinaabe serial entrepreneur, educator, and community leader from Bkejwanong territory, now referred to as Chatham-Kent. He co-owns and serves as Vice President of Corporate & Regulatory Affairs for the Chatham-Kent Barnstormers. Nahdee has held leadership roles such as Executive Director of the Can-Am Indian Friendship Centre, and has taught at Fanshawe College and Western University.
Passionate about Indigenous youth empowerment, he launched the Native Land Project in partnership with East Woodland Brew Co., serves on the Board for the Bkejwanong Trust, Powwow Pitch and Family Services Kent.
Nahdee's multifaceted career reflects his dedication to advancing Indigenous communities through education, entrepreneurship, and cultural initiatives.
