COMMUNITY FUTURES PETERBOROUGH - Key Persons
Braden has spent most of his career in retail sales, operations and project management, primarily in Toronto. In 2014 he moved to a small hobby farm outside Peterborough and now enjoys living the country life. His most recent position was Innovation Specialist at the Innovation Cluster - Peterborough and the Kawarthas where he focused on digital technology startups and working with youth to develop entrepreneurial interest and skill development.
In his spare time he enjoys volunteering in his local community of Asphodel-Norwood. Currently he is the Chair of the Economic Development Committee there and Founding Director and Vice-Chair for Norwood Pride - a nonprofit supporting the local LGBTQ community. He is also a board member with YES Shelter Peterborough.
Braden manages all loans over $50,000.
Job Titles:
- Vice - Chair of the Board of Directors
A native of Peterborough, ON, Charlina brings over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, specifically as a commercial lender and a financial consultant. She is an active member of the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce and Peterborough's Women's Business Network. She has volunteered her time with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Junior Achievement, the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board's Peterborough Alternative and Continuing Education (PACE) program, and has acted as the Finance Sector Chair of the United Way of Peterborough & District.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Manufacturing Operations Executive
Cyndy is a manufacturing operations executive and government relations advocate with 3 decades of industry experience in pharmaceutical, automotive injection molding, non-ferrous forging, and the electronics aerospace & defence sectors. During her years working in Peterborough, Ontario, she collaborated with Fleming College to design and implement Manufacturing Operations and Lean curriculums, hosted shop tours and became a spokesperson for Women in Manufacturing and STEM. Most recently, her time as Vice-President Programs & Services at Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters allowed her to focus her support of manufacturers across Canada through connections to programs and advocacy. Cyndy continues to be engaged with helping SME's through involvement with resources such as Community Futures Peterborough, liaising with government programs and mentoring post-secondary students.
With a strong background in finance and technology, Gail is a strategic sales and business professional who has a solid reputation for helping small businesses. Gail has held senior sales and management positions for the past 15 years with major technology companies like Microsoft and built the national community channel programs for Ingram Micro and Tech Data.
As an avid boater, she moved to Ennismore five years ago and quickly became involved in the community through the Chamber, Women's Business Network of Peterborough, and the Ennismore Sprouts/Horticultural group.
After serving on the board of directors for Community Futures Peterborough for two years, Gail stepped up to the Executive Director role in January 2018. Gail is a risk taker and a seasoned entrepreneur who has insights into profit and loss. She uses her wealth of experience to consult with local businesses on finance and growth strategies.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Board of Directors
- Chairman / Founder, President and CEO
Founder, President and CEO of Machine Dynamics Ltd. CEO of private investment company and consulting firm. Dedicated to the community and the development of Peterborough businesses. Member of 100 Men of Peterborough and the Peterborough Regional Angels Network to benefit local startups. Board Member of the YMCA Central East Ontario.
Job Titles:
- Founder and Owner of Tribal Trade Co
Mallory Graham is an anishnaabe-kwe, founder and owner of Tribal Trade Co, an online retail store with a brick and mortar location in Curve Lake, offering contemporary indigenous apparel, giftware, and cultural education products. Mallory leads a team of content creators to develop online educational resources that are aimed to share, celebrate, and connect people with indigenous cultural teachings. As a digital marketing strategist, Mallory specializes in social media content campaigns, and lead generation strategies for indigenous-owned organizations. Mallory holds a Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, majoring in Marketing and Brand Communication, and sits on Curve Lake First Nation's Economic Development, and Gaming Revenue Fund committees.
Job Titles:
- Partner at Grant Thornton LLP
- Treasurer, Chair of Finance & Audit Committee
Marie Dietrich is a Partner at Grant Thornton LLP in Peterborough where she provides accounting, auditing and tax services to a wide variety of clients, including those in the for-profit and not-for-profit sector. Marie holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from Queen's University and obtained her Chartered Accountant designation in 2001. She is treasurer and board member of the Ennismore Girls Hockey Association and is a member of Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough's finance committee. She previously served as a member of the Board of Directors and treasurer of the United Way of Peterborough and District.
Matthew is a recent graduate from Trent University where he received a bachelor of Business Administration and a minor in Computer Science. Before being hired full-time at Community Futures Peterborough, Matthew had over 5 years of retail experience and first began as a placement student for CFP in January.
Matthew has a strong desire to help the local community and looks to follow in the footsteps of his dad, who operates a successful small-business in Lindsay.
Michele has spent most of her career in retail sales and has extensive experience as a business owner and manager. Michele holds a Business Administration Diploma, a PEAK Leadership Certificate and is a successful graduate of the Self Employment Benefit Program. She has a sincere interest in helping small business owners, earning a reputation for professionalism, customer service and community involvement. Michele grew up in Lakefield and has recently moved back to the village from Peterborough. Michele enjoys kayaking and spending time in nature in her free time.
Michelle Foster has an extensive and varied background, having previously held positions in loan management, office administration, digital marketing and retail sales. She gained a deep understanding of small business practices from running her own online store. Michelle's attention to detail and supreme organizational skills help to keep our company's financial records in top form.
Peter Gaffney was educated, and received his formal training in the UK. He relocated to the Peterborough area in 1981 and in 1992 moved to the US as General Manager with a Japanese transplant, returning to Peterborough in 1997. He has held General Management positions in various manufacturing companies, both in Canada and the United States, and has extensive engineering experience with large North American and Japanese automotive OEM's. He retired in 2015 after sixteen years as the General Manager of Ritz Plastics. He has spent seven years on the board of GPAEDC (Peterborough Economic Development) and was Board Chair from 2014 through 2016.
Raymond currently teaches in the School of Business and Information Technology at Fleming College where he is the Coordinator for the International Business Management and Global Business Management postgraduate programs and is the lead advisor for the College's Enactus team. He also lectures in the School of Business at Trent University where he has led the university's Jeux de Commerce competition team. Prior to teaching, Raymond worked in a number of marketing roles, managing consumer brands such as Maxwell House, Black & Decker, Werther's Original and Avery Office Products as well as in the education sector. Raymond grew up in Trinidad, holds a BSc in Geology from Acadia University and a Master's of Business Administration from McGill University and was a Scout leader for fifteen years.
Rod Wallace spent the bulk of his professional career employed by one of the major chartered Banks. Postings in management and commercial lending led Rod and his family to various Ontario cities and into British Columbia. While in B.C. a lawyer acquaintance introduced him to the world of Community Futures, an organization he admires for the services provided to local business communities. After retiring from his banking role, and subsequently completing a contract position with Fraser Fort George CFDC, Rod and his spouse moved to Prescott Ontario where he spent over 4 years as the Business Advisor with Grenville CFDC before relocating to the Peterborough area to be closer to family. Since then he has been able to assist other CFDCs, completing two contract positions; one with Peterborough CFDC and the other with Northumberland CFDC.
He has previously held Board positions with Fraser Fort George Community Futures, Dunrovin Park Lodge, Crime Stopper's and participated in an Advisory capacity with North Grenville Economic Development.
He looks forward to sharing his experience in finance, business management and like minded CFDC's with the Peterborough team.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Loan Committee
Ron and his wife Sharon have called Peterborough County home for the last 42 years and raised 3 children here. Ron moved from Toronto to Peterborough to work as a Respiratory Therapist at the local hospitals where held the position of Director of Respiratory Therapy at St. Joseph's HealthCentre. In 1986, Ron and Sharon founded Breox Medical Inc. a home oxygen and medical equipment company. They eventually sold the company to Praxair/Medigas where Ron gained experience in business acquisitions and productivity before retiring in 2015 as the Canadian Director of Business Development and Productivity for Medigas.
In 1994, Ron was elected as Smith Township's Councilor at Large and was then acclaimed Councilor of Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield Township in the following election. He was Provincially appointed to the Smith Ennismore Police Services Board three times and served as Chair for six years. Ron was a founding board member and partner of the Peterborough Festival of Trees. He chaired the St. Joseph's Health Centre Foundation, was founding chair of the St. Joseph's Care Foundation which helped raise funds to build St. Joseph's at Fleming LTCF. Ron was the founding Chair of the Greater Peterborough Health Services Foundation that supports your local Family Health Team. Ron is/has been a member of the Ontario ALS Society, Canadian Assistive Devices Association, Kawartha Pine Ridge Lung Association and a number of local sports organizations. Ron was awarded the Peterborough City/County volunteer service award in 2014 for his almost 35 years of volunteerism in Peterborough.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of HR & Governance Committees
- Chief Financial Officer of McCloskey International Limited
Wayne Harding has been the Chief Financial Officer of McCloskey International Limited for the past 12 years. McCloskey is an international manufacturer of heavy equipment used in the aggregate, construction and recycling industries. Wayne holds a CPA, CA professional accounting designation and has over 25 years of extensive finance and accounting experience in the manufacturing, retail and hospitality industry sectors. Wayne is a past chair of the Peterborough Festival of Trees and has been an active member of the Peterborough Rotary Club since 2011 and presently serves as a board member and treasurer.