Suzanne Tighe is a seasoned entrepreneur and she is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and entrepreneurship. With a career marked by a series of successful ventures, Suzanne has consistently championed the idea of women helping women, fostering a community of support and mentorship.
Drawing from her own experiences as a female entrepreneur, Suzanne understands the unique challenges and opportunities that women face in the business world. With a deep-seated belief in the power of entrepreneurial spirit, she has dedicated herself to help other women to succeed.
Kylee is our communications and multimedia gal and graduated from the Interactive Media Development program at Confederation College.
She has a background in graphic design, social media management and front-end web development.
When she’s not working you can find her out at the barn with her horses or out on the trails.
Judith holds a BSc degree in Economics from the University of Zimbabwe with 15 years of experience as a finance and accounting professional. She is an aspiring CPA who has worked for the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe as a compliance officer, taught economics and accounting at one international school in the Democratic Republic of Congo and has worked as an accountant in a business development organization in the Congo.
Judith always wanted to use her finance and accounting expertise to make a difference in other people’s lives and is proud to be part of the PARO team where she can use her knowledge and experience to contribute to the empowerment of fellow women.
Karen Tretter has a degree in Business and Accounting and her certification as a business coach. She has worked for PARO both in the office and on the road for the past 20+ years, with a few breaks.
She was one of the first BGA’s and has travelled and worked with women throughout most of Ontario. Karen has 4 daughters and 5 grandchildren and has recently moved back to Thunder Bay to be close to her family and her businesses that she has operated for over 35 years.
Karen enjoys hiking, both in the summer and winter, volleyball, curling, downhill skiing and travelling.
Having just moved to Thunder Bay recently, I’m excited to share my experience and the skills, learned during over twenty years in both non-profit and for-profit business sectors. I have worked in such diverse areas as corporate advertising & promotion, management consulting, and most recently in operations, where careful strategic and business planning, diligent resource management and building highly effective teams are my passions. Businesses I have worked with include financial services, global relief & development and clinical services delivered to children in northern Indigenous communities. I believe strongly that the economic success of women is critical to the advancement of women in every part of life, both individually and collectively. I am a life-long learner who never ceases to be curious about what comes next.
I love to spend time with my family, dabble in fibre arts, garden and walk.
Renée has extensive experience in professional development, research, and entrepreneurship.
Brazilian corporate lawyer, Bachelor’s degree in Law with an MBA in Health and recent Post-Graduated in International Business Management at Cambrian College.
She has devoted 14 years to working in the health sector, where the client is the center of the business and she is always eager to provide excellent service.
She is experienced in expansion, global markets, mergers and acquisitions, as well as corporate matters and administrative processes.
Nathalie Plouffe left the corporate world in her mid-twenties to pursue the entrepreneurial route. She has built a resourceful network of business owners, investors, and a myriad of like-minded professionals over the years. She is a commercial real estate agent by trade, and is a Growth Wheel and Nova Global certified consultant. Small business coaching is her passion.
Expertise
Lesa has 30 years experience in business. Her latest business endeavor was owning a successful Grocery store franchise. She enjoys collaborating with other business owners to achieve successful outcomes. As a Prosper Project Coordinator for Nova Scotia, she will use her experience to help business owners thrive.
Montse is originally from Mexico, she arrived to Canada in 2022. With more than 10 years of experience as a university professor and helping entrepreneurs from her place of origin to develop their business ideas and make them come true. she has a law degree and a master’s degree in Business Innovation and Development.
With 18 years of diverse work experience, my journey spans Project Management, financial services, Sales, and Administrative roles. I began in banking for 5 years before becoming the CEO and Senior Project Manager at Pearl Interfacet Resources Limited, where I led a team of 47 employees and initiated a successful youth mentorship program. As a Project Manager with Verisult Training & Consulting, I honed my project management skills, meticulously overseeing budgets and plans.
I hold a post-grad Certificate in Business Management, an Executive Masters in Global Business Strategy, and relevant certifications. My diverse skill set includes project coordination, stakeholder management, creative problem-solving, budget reporting, and more. Excited to contribute my experience to PARO, empowering women entrepreneurs and driving success.
Victoria is an entrepreneur in the food manufacturing, wholesale and retail sector having experience with all aspects of building a brand and business from ideation to national distribution and everything in-between. She holds an L.L.B. from the University of Ottawa and practiced law in the areas of labour/employment, Human Rights and with Legal Aid Ontario. She brings a broad range of experience to her role as BGA and is passionate about empowering females to become successful in all areas of their lives.
Through her company, Empowered Path Inc. Chantal Fraser (she/elle) acts as a Thought Partner, sharing practical tactics and strategies to help people discover their ideal jobs. Chantal also helps employers learn how to create more inclusive workplaces, so that they can attract and retain a more diverse workforce.
Chantal offers a variety of services including: professional speaking on a variety of topics, providing business growth coaching through the PARO Centre for Women’s Enterprise, and delivering Indigenous Inclusion sessions to Canadian employers from Coast to Coast to Coast, with strategic partners Indigenous Link. Chantal is Métis and a military veteran. Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) Chantal Fraser, holds an MBA from the Royal Military College of Canada and is a recipient of the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA) Honourary Life Award.
With her 15+ years of experience in project management and event coordinating, plus her creative expertise from her own hobby business, Blossom & Shine Creative, Melissa brings with her leading-edge solutions that can spearhead your entrepreneurial growth goals and help you overcome your unique challenges and barriers. Her passion for connection, community and collaboration will undoubtedly translate into authentic, heart-centric approaches in your entrepreneurial journey. Melissa’s super-power is brainstorming innovative solutions that will help you to unveil efficiencies and opportunities.
Carole has been working in the Travel, Tourism & Hospitality Industry for over 30 years in Canada, Australia and NZ. Her vast experience includes working in the Leisure, Business, Groups, Incentives, B2B and B2C markets, for various types of businesses including Tour Operators, Online wholesale and retail.
She has worked for various companies assisting them in creative travel packages, exclusive product ranges, incentive programs that will WOW any team!
Carole has also been successful in recruiting, motivating, coaching, leading and managing sales teams for new sales growth. Her Consulting Biz “Great Visions Consulting” in the last 7 years has helped grow businesses of all sizes with their planning, marketing and sales. A well rounded Business Growth Representative who loves meeting and helping people from all walks of life!
After a successful career in retail management, Jen used her sales and management experience along with her education in marketing communications to open a marketing firm dedicated to small businesses in northeastern Ontario. In 2016, Jen closed the marketing firm and moved to southern Ontario. She went back to her love of design and received her certifications in interior decorating and feng shui.
Now based out of Timmins, Jen runs a successful feng shui consulting firm, working with women entrepreneurs from all over the world to shift the energy in their homes and offices. She is a motivational speaker, where she has spoken in both Canada and the US. She is a women’s empowerment mentor and a contributing author to a book that was released in September 2022.
Helping to support women in all aspects of their lives is something Jen is passionate about. With over 10 years of experience running successful businesses, she is happy to use her expertise to help more women in Ontario to build successful businesses and to help them access all of the resources PARO has to offer.
Bonjour, Hello,
My name is Francoise, and my motto is: My life story makes me who I am.”
I am French and come from a small village near Beaune (Burgundy) – a well-known area for its prestigious wine and gastronomy.
I have a Ph.D. in Nutrition and decades of clinical research behind me. My area of expertise was Metabolic Energetic Nutrition and the impact of disease on the interface between energetic and immune cell function.
I changed my career path when I reached a glass ceiling in the clinical research environment. I went back to school to study international development and worked in Haiti, Ghana, and Ethiopia, where incredible entrepreneurs inspired me in food security.
When I returned to Toronto, I started my company – Malty & Hoppy Delicacy. We use beer from the best local breweries in Ontario to make delicious beer jellies and jams (coming soon) with a French twist. I went to business school again (Yedi & York University, Schulich Business School) for a six-month program for small entrepreneurs.
I also worked for the French consul in Toronto for four years (part-time job), where I developed my culinary skills and creativity with food to become a true chef.
I am an entrepreneur, a private chef, and a culinary educator. I am also a resilient person. Life has challenged me deeply over the past decade. I never give up.
I love exchanging ideas and finding solutions. I am also a great listener. My new challenge is working with PARO and helping women in their entrepreneurial journey. It is time to share my life experience and help other women who want to follow the same entrepreneurial path.
Let us have a cup of coffee or tea and discuss!
Cathleen Lundgren-McMahon is a results-driven Business Development Manager with 15+ years of experience in driving revenue growth and expanding market share across diverse industries.
She is a strategic thinker and effective communicator, adept at identifying and capitalizing on business opportunities, cultivating key partnerships, and implementing innovative strategies to achieve organizational objectives. Her proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, negotiate complex deals, and foster long-term client relationships has given her unique opportunities to experience and understand the many aspects of her entrepreneurial path.
Cathleen has fostered her strong analytical and problem-solving skills through the development of multiple companies in the entertainment and not-for-profit sectors. She has a keen understanding of market trends and competitive landscapes to help advise and direct new or expanding businesses toward achieving their goals.
A not-for-profit social enterprise, we collaborate to empower women, strengthen small business, and promote community economic development across Ontario.
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