fbpx

Meet Our Team

WeBC’s team of Business Advisors, Mentors, Facilitators and Volunteers are passionate about offering you the community, training and tools you need—and, above all, celebrating your initiative!


 

Our Team

Together, we bring extensive expertise and experience from diverse backgrounds in finance and marketing to exports and technology. As current and previous business owners, our Advisors draw on first-hand entrepreneurial experience to better understand your needs and challenges.

Whether you need an expert opinion or a friendly ear, you’re never alone.

Shauna Harper

CEO

Shauna Harper is the CEO of WeBC, based in our Kelowna office. As a federally funded not-for-profit organization, WeBC provides… Read more

Melanie Rupp

Senior Director, Loans & Advisory Services

Melanie Rupp is the Senior Director, Loans & Advisory Services at WeBC, and a Certified Investor Q&ATM Trainer. She leads… Read more

Jeet Panghali

Controller

Read more

Kaitlyn McConnell

Skills Development & Mentoring Program Manager

Kaitlyn helps women business owners who are in the early stages of business overcome their entrepreneurial challenges and develop their… Read more

Chaunda Honkonen

Marketing & Communications Manager

Read more

Sarah Guizzo

Business Advisor, Vancouver

Sarah Guizzo is a WeBC Business Advisor, based in our Vancouver office. No stranger to the world of business, Sarah’s… Read more

Neta Raz

Project Manager

Neta Raz is the Project Manager of WeBC’s C3 Program, one of BC’s largest federally funded projects supporting women entrepreneurs… Read more

Archana Samtani Singhania

Business Advisor, Burnaby

With 10+ years of experience in business development & growth in food production, retail and real estate, Archana is no… Read more

Kelly Masson

Business Advisor, Nanaimo

Kelly Masson started out in the field of management consulting and later specialized in work with Indigenous-owned businesses. She has… Read more

Andrea Jacob

Business Advisor

Andrea Jacob is a business advisor at WeBC with over a decade of entrepreneurial experience. Whether navigating the challenges of… Read more

Laura Symons

Senior Loan Portfolio Officer

Read more

Danielle Andrews

Outreach Officer, Kelowna

Danielle is passionate about connecting women entrepreneurs to the resources they need to succeed in business. Since joining the WeBC… Read more

Brandi Ripel

Mentoring & Operations Officer

Read more

Cathy Burrell

Client Service Coordinator, Kelowna

Cathy Burrell is an entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience owning and operating a variety of businesses. She has… Read more

Donique Dwyer-Nembhard

Social Media Coordinator

Read more

Jennifer White

Entrepreneur Development Coordinator

Read more

Deborah Lampitt-McConnachie

PARO Prosper Project Coordinator

Read more

Amanda Needham

Loans Admin Officer

Read more

Pauline Stevenson

Regional Ambassador, Courtenay

Read more

Neasa Maguire

Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Vancouver

Owner of Flip Productions, a Certified WBE Known as “the girl who prints Infoflips®,” Neasa has over 25 years experience… Read more

Tara Black

Regional Ambassador, Victoria

Tara started working at the age of thirteen, first for her Aunt and Uncle and then with local small businesses… Read more

Erin Alexander

Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Certified Investor Q&A™ Trainer

Erin is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence and Certified Investor Q&A™ Trainer and Advisor based out of Vancouver. Her commitment at WeBC is… Read more

Fern Sabo

Regional Ambassador, West Kootenays

Embarking on a dynamic career path at the age of 19, Fern Sabo now has over 28 years of experience… Read more

Carolyn Gibson

Regional Ambassador, Revelstoke

Carolyn Gibson is an entrepreneur with an extensive background in training and development who is a pillar of support for… Read more

Catherine Ruddell

Regional Ambassador, Fort St. John

Motivated by a desire to combine her artistic background, business experience, and family heritage, Catherine Ruddell launched Creatively Sustained in Fort St. John… Read more

Our Board of Directors

Our dedicated board is made up of committed volunteers, who are domain and industry experts representing sectors and regions across British Columbia.

Paris Gaudet
Chair, WeBC Board
Trish Mandewo
Vice-Chair, WeBC Board
Brandi M. Wingrove
Sec./Treasurer, WeBC Board
Sagar Saxena
Director, WeBC Board
Jameel Sayani
Director, WeBC Board
Deirdre Huestis
Director, WeBC Board
Cathy Kuzel
Director, WeBC Board
Monica Murray
Director, WeBC Board
Paula Quinn
Director, WeBC Board

At least 50% of WeBC Board Members are required to own or have owned their own business, or have attained a senior position of leadership in a business or related organization. They are passionately interested and involved in the advancement of women entrepreneurs and women business owners in BC, and they must have demonstrated strong leadership and entrepreneurial skills in business and/or community service.

Board members must be willing to develop the vision and take responsibility to lead WeBC, to advocate on behalf of women entrepreneurs and to have a desire for public service. A varied geographic, urban/rural and ethnic representation of BC is strongly desirable but not absolutely necessary, and will depend on the functional and other qualities needed at the time of recruiting. Previous knowledge of, or connection with, WeBC is considered an asset.

In selecting new members, the Board seeks to find candidates who enhance and complement the cross-section of strengths, skills and experiences already present on the board. Desired strengths include in-depth knowledge of the following functional areas: strategic planning; HR/coaching; finance/accounting; lending, legal or risk management; and marketing. In addition, the following other skills and experience are desired: political connections, governance/board experience, community connections, and community awareness.

Terms for directors shall be for one year, with the understanding that upon joining the board, the minimum desired commitment is for a series of three one-year terms. A director may serve on the board for a maximum of five consecutive one-year terms unless a director is elected to the executive, in which case they may then serve for a maximum of eight one-year terms (including executive terms). The board of directors has the option to renew a director’s term for an additional year outside of the maximum.

The executive positions of Vice Chair and Chair will serve for two one-year terms with an optional third year and, if requested, in the position of Past Chair for a one-year term. Succession planning will be kept in mind in appointing directors to executive positions to ensure continuity.

The WeBC Board has a nominating committee which works with community organizations to recruit new members as needed. Contact us to learn more about the WeBC Board.