About

About Us

Advocate for Businesses

Support Existing Businesses

Develop a Job Ready Workforce

Our Mission

The Cumberland Business Connector is a business led, not for profit organization. Our focus is to foster a strong business environment in order to strengthen Cumberland County by removing barriers to business, and connecting businesses with the resources they need to be successful.

Click this image to view a copy of the Annual Report

Recording of the 2021 AGM

Our History

Shortly after “Now or Never, An Urgent Call to Action for Nova Scotians” was released, a small group of local business people started meeting to talk about how we could make a significant, lasting difference to the economy of Cumberland County. We looked at the Ivany report and saw the need for businesses to step up and take an active role in revitalizing the economy of Nova Scotia, particularly rural Nova Scotia.

With encouragement from our local municipal governments the discussion was broadened to include a wide cross section of leaders in Cumberland County. Discussions lead to a three-pillar strategy on to connect, support and influence existing businesses, youth and government decisions to drive economic development.

In order to have the most impact and achieve the goals outlined in the three-pillar strategy, the volunteers needed to formalize their structure and governance from an entirely volunteer organization to a board -staff model.

This is how the Cumberland Business Connector was formed. Deliberately named as that is how we see our role (the Connector), and symbolized by the stylized depiction of the Wallace River bridge in our logo. We incorporated as a not for profit society in 2016 and hired our first employee in the summer of 2017.

Our Structure

Our Directors

David Hoffman

chair

Susan McIsaac

past Chair

Kevin Toth

DIRECTOR

David McNairn

vice chair

Mary McPhee

Director

Lacey Fisher

DIRECTOR

Michael Stack

secretary/
treasurer

Don McCormack

DIRECTOR

Andrew Cameron

DIRECTOR

Todd Lawrence

director

Our Staff

Jonathan McClelland - CEO. Jonathan has an extensive background in Community Economic Development as well as Business Management. He has spent 20 years working in rural Nova Scotia as a small business manager, a business consultant and as a business development officer.

He has worked with entrepreneurs in the agricultural, forestry and fishing sectors as well as renewable energy and small manufacturing businesses. He has been involved in business plan development, research and development initiatives, business attraction, and export market development. This work has included working closely with government departments, industry associations, Chambers of Commerce, Municipalities, and Non-Governmental Organizations. Jonathan has also facilitated board governance training sessions, conflict resolution processes, and strategic planning sessions.

In addition to his paid employment, Jonathan has sat on various boards of directors including, the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce, Upper Clements Parks, and Medway Community Forest Co-operative. Jonathan and his wife have five children and reside near Pugwash, Nova Scotia.

Melissa Mills - Business Development Officer. Melissa is known for her ability to mindfully build up communities and the people, businesses and sectors within them. She takes great pride in helping others live their passions and achieve their goals through a conscientious and compassionate approach that aligns with her strong environmental, social & cultural values. In doing so, she thrives on encouraging the best possible outcomes for all by creating and enhancing collective value. A future-oriented, output & outcome driven professional, with strong strategic problem-solving capabilities, enhanced by a B. Comm (Marketing & International Business) and MScBA (Strategy & Development) to her name, Melissa is well equipped with the tools to facilitate, create and execute mindfully designed, actionable strategies. Her passion, energy, and positivity compliment her relationship building and capabilities, and her eclectic experience allows her to understand, and empathize with, the unique needs of diverse clientele. Melissa truly loves what she does; collaboration with others never ceases to energize and excite her. Helping people discover and live their "why", and adapt, evolve, and pivot in rapidly changing environments fuels her to continue down this path.

Emily Haynes - Communications & Projects Lead. Emily joined the Connector in 2019 as a recent graduate of NSCC with her BA Diploma. Emily enjoys learning and is always looking for ways to expand her knowledge. The Connector has brought forward many learning opportunities for Emily and has continuously supported her in her growth, both in a professional and personal sense. Since joining as a Research Assistant, her role has changed to Communications & Projects Lead. This role allows Emily to focus on the things she is more passionate about; leading youth entrepreneurship initiatives, developing and implementing solution-based projects to improve economic growth, and coordinating learning opportunities for entrepreneurs, business owners, and their staff throughout the region. In her spare time, Emily is working towards her B. Mgmt. (Human Resources Management) with Athabasca University.