Our Staff
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Jonathan McClelland, CEO
Jonathan has been the CEO of the Cumberland Business Connector since June 2017. His background in Business Management and Community Economic Development has been gained working in rural Nova Scotia. He understands the challenges that business owners and managers face in running a business in a small town or rural region. Bringing people together to gain additional insight and find solutions to complex problems is something that he enjoys. Developing partnerships and collaborating with like-minded organizations and individuals has led to significant progress in Economic Development initiatives throughout the Cumberland Region. Jonathan credits the strong team at the Cumberland Business Connector, both board members and staff, as one of the most significant contributors to the Connector’s success. He received a B.Sc. in Agriculture with a major in Economics from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro, NS. He enjoys working with businesses across different business sectors, and with entrepreneurs as well as established businesses. |
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Sylvia Day, Communications & Special Projects Lead
Sylvia has many years of experience working in marketing and event planning across Canada. She also has extensive experience working with youth, and will play a key role in running the Cumberland Business Connector's youth events. Sylvia studied International Business with a concentration in Spanish at Saint Mary's University. She came to Rockley, Cumberland County 12 years ago, and it has been home for her ever since. Some of Sylvia's favourite things to do include: spending time in nature, gardening, connecting with her large family, and watching her son play basketball. |
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Gilles Gallant, Business Development Officer
Gilles leads our Accelerator Program which provides extensive business advice and coaching support to businesses that have the potential to rapidly scale up. Gilles grew up as the son of an entrepreneur, he saw his father invest, operate and partner in a handful of businesses. Being a hard worker and never backing down from a challenge, Gilles has had a career spanning different industries such as: retail, manufacturing, construction, automotive, electronics, and fundraising in the non-profit sectors. Also, Gilles was a provincial coordinator for a mentorship program to support university students and startup businesses with their struggles and to help them grow. Gilles has lived and worked in Alberta and NWT before returning to the Maritimes almost 13 years ago to start a family. Gilles grew up and still lives in a rural area with his wife, Monique, 11yr old son Etienne, and their dog Murphy. Aside from working, Gilles has a passion for photography. |
Our Board of Directors
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Michael Stack
Chair, Executive Committee Vice President, Aquisitions, BrokerLink Michael has over 20 years of insurance, senior management and leadership experience on both the insurer and brokerage side of the insurance industry. He is a graduate of Dalhousie University and a Canadian Accredited Insurance Broker (CAIB). He’s a former partner and CEO of Archway Insurance Inc., which he led and helped grow into one of the region’s largest and fastest growing insurance brokerages. Michael is currently VP Acquisitions of BrokerLink Insurance Inc., a national insurance brokerage and one of the largest of its kind in the country. Michael has always had a keen interest in his community and has been a director and past President of the United Way of Cumberland County, Chair and served on the Cumberland Healthcare Foundation Board, along with being a founding member, director and executive board member of the Cumberland Business Connector since its inception. Michael is an Amherst resident and is married with two young children. He enjoys spending his free time at the family cottage along the Amherst Shore or otherwise playing golf, volunteering or travelling abroad. |
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David Hoffman
Past Chair, Executive Committee Former Chair & Co-CEO Bragg Group. David McNairn – was born in Amherst, Nova Scotia. He attended the University of Western Ontario for his undergraduate degree and went on to receive his LLB from the University of New Brunswick in 2003. In 2004 David began his legal career with Hicks LeMoine Law with a focus on real estate, corporate/commercial law, municipal law, and estate planning. David became a partner at Hicks LeMoine in 2009. David has been an active volunteer in the community. He has served on the board of directors and executive for the Amherst & Area Chamber of Commerce from 2005 through 2009. He has also been a member of the Rotary Club of Amherst since 2005 and served as President of the Rotary Club for the 2017/2018 year. David also currently sits on the board of Directors as Chair of the Cumberland Business Connector. Within the legal profession, David has served as President of the Cumberland Barrister’s Association and was a member of the council for the Nova Scotia Barrister’s Society from 2008 to 2013. David has also spent a number of years on the Complaints Investigation Committee and the Complaints Review Sub-committee. Currently, David serves on the board of the Real Estate Lawyer’s Association of Nova Scotia. David is licensed to practice in both Nova Scotia and New Brunswick working primarily out of the Amherst office. |
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Lacey Fisher
Secretary/ Treasurer Finance (chair), Audit, HR Committees Owner & Broker, RE/MAX County Line Realty Ltd Born and raised in Sackville, NB; Lacey is a full-time Mom, community member & business owner. She and her husband Jacob own Timberwood Farms Ltd. & RE/MAX County Line Realty Ltd. in Cumberland County NS. Lacey's Business Management & Corporate Financial background allows her to provide clients/boards/groups with a multifaceted person who is dedicated to them, utilizing business strategies and marketing strength to an industry capacity. Her educational background assists, while providing clients with the duty and care they deserve, ensuring a focused, professional, honest, and sincere approach, as this is and will always be the foundation of her business. Lacey's educational and professional direction focuses on connecting to clients through volunteer work within my community, memberships, board of directors, etc. As such, all have assisted her to become the business owner she is today. Lastly, as a lifelong learner, Lacey enjoys training and attending events that are put on to expand her business concepts. Lacey is considered to be a skilled leader with an enthusiastic, motivating personality and a solid business and personal portfolio that's always open to new ideas. As an individual and an active member of her community, Lacey truly loves giving back and assisting where she can. Some involvement includes: Past President Amherst Rotary Club, Past President Canadian Simmental Association, Treasurer Amherst Rotary Club, Board of Directors Cumberland Business Connector, Past Vice President & Current Treasurer Maritime Simmental Association, Vice President Amherst Minor Basketball Association, Board of Directors ARHS Band Association. Director Maritime Quarter Horse Association, Vice President Cumberland County 4-H, Coach or manager of various sports & equestrian teams with her daughters. |
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Nancy Burgess-Graham
Director Nancy currently calls Pugwash home and works in Planning and Development with Cross Roads Company Group since opening its doors in 2020. Her previous experience includes working for the Nova Scotia Department of Economic, Rural Development, and Tourism. Board and Committee experience on regional initiatives includes the Pugwash Area Chamber of Commerce, Pugwash Farmers Market, Northumberland Shore Community Development Association, Cumberland Tourism Advisory Committee and the Bay of Fundy Partnership Council. She and her husband are also entrepreneurs owning Coastal Stair Solutions creating customized beach stairs for Northumberland Shore clients. |
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Don McCormack
Director HR (chair), Job-Ready Workforce Committees Principal, NSCC Cumberland Campus Don McCormack has been the Principal at NSCC Cumberland Campus (Amherst Community Learning Centre and Springhill Campus) for the past 14 years, bringing many years of educational expertise to the College. Since beginning his career with NSCC, Don has helped the Cumberland Campus-Amherst Community Learning Centre grow from a 900 square foot building to 42,000 square feet, offering more opportunities to the residents of Cumberland County. Don enjoys working hand in hand with the community and industry partners to better serve Cumberland County residents while transforming one learner at a time. Don currently sits on the board of directors for the Cumberland Business Connector, and is Chair of the Human Resources committee. |
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Jim Prince
Director Jim's experience in Commercial Lending, Risk Management and Sales is a strong asset to the board of the Connector. Jim believes in giving back to the community and is Past President of the Rotary Club of Amherst, Vice President of the Amherst Curling Club, and former “Crew 6” team member as well as Secretary-Treasurer of the Oakville ON Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary (TOWARF). Jim and his wife Darla returned to her hometown of Amherst in 2019, after working in Halifax, Toronto, Vancouver, and St. John’s. Jim and Darla have two grown children Brett and Ken, and two delightful daughters-in-law Lauren and Cassie. Jim retired from RBC in 2023 and enjoys time during the summer at the family cottage at Mattatal Lake or on his motorcycle, as well as snowboarding and curling during the winter. Jim is originally from Bridgewater NS and graduated from St. Mary’s University with a B. Comm in Finance and from Dalhousie University with an MBA in Marketing / Logistics. |
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Mary McPhee
Director Communications & HR Committees Independent Consultant Mary has a dynamic background in community development, non-profit governance, logistics management, human resources, facilities and risk management, facilitation, renewable energy, marine environments, horticulture, agriculture, and sustainable forestry. Mary’s passion for rural revitalization and community has been solidified with over 25 years of volunteer service and work with community organizations, local municipalities, and non-profits. Mary is a natural organizer who thrives on process improvement, a seasoned public speaker who loves to connect people, and an amateur writer who strives to practice gratitude daily. Mary divides her time between consulting, volunteer commitments, working in a small but productive sawmill, gardening and growing food, working in the woods, practicing yoga, and trying to enjoy every moment of life on the Fundy shore with her friends, family, and loyal dogs. Mary is a hard-working, energetic, and caring member of the Cumberland Business Connector Board of Directors. Since joining the organization in December 2020, she has been active on the Communications and Human Resources Committees. Mary hopes to increasingly connect the diverse network of businesses along the Parrsboro to Advocate shore to resources and growth potential through the Connector’s programs and supports. |
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Todd Lawrence
Director Job-Ready Workforce Committee President, Waldale Manufacturing Todd was born in Winnipeg (MB), and was raised on the family farm outside of the French community of St. Pierre-Jolys. Todd is proud of his roots as a “Son of a Pig Farmer” and the life experiences this provided growing up and working in a family business. Todd left the prairie province to move to New Brunswick to attend Mount Allison University where he completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in marketing. Todd fell in love with the Maritimes, and he never left except to pursue his MBA in Marketing and International Business at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia. In the summer, between his undergrad and MBA, he worked at Waldale Manufacturing as the Marketing Manager. After finishing his MBA at Simon Fraser, he returned to work at Waldale as Marketing Manager. In 1997 he became the Vice President of Waldale, and three years later, he took over as the President and CEO of the company. When he started with Waldale, the company manufactured plates for only a few provinces. Over the 28-year span with the company, Waldale’s market has grown to include all of the Canadian Provinces, ten US states, and many other Caribbean and Latin American countries. It is a great point of pride to travel to other provinces and countries and see license plates on all the vehicles that were produced in Cumberland County by a great team at Waldale. Todd joined the Cumberland Business Connector board in 2021 and currently sits as a director. He is also an active member of the Job-Ready Workforce committee. Todd lives in Nappan with his wife and two children. When he is not working at the office, you will find him working outside and spending time at his cottage on the Tidnish River. |
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Matt Cormier
Director Matt is a Partner in Cormier Weatherbee Chartered Professional Accountants located in Amherst, NS. Matt joined the business in 2018 after working for Boudreau Albert Savoie and Associates. Prior to this, Matt worked as a Controller at Dayle’s Maritimes Ltd. Some of Matt’s other interests include serving as Treasurer of the Rotary Club in Amherst. He has also been heavily involved in youth sports in the local area. |
Our Organizational Structure
