A summary of my career path:I have always enjoyed working with entrepreneurs and the business community. This was inspired through growing up in a family business. It was a natural progression for me to study Business at Brock University and get heavily involved with the Association of Collegiate Entrepreneurs, the Business Ambassador program, and the Brock Business Consulting Service. In 1999 I was awarded the CIBC ACE Canada Entrepreneur of the Year award. This was related to a business that I ran through University. This start-up was a perfect way to apply business concepts I learned at Brock.Shortly after graduating with a Honors Business Degree, I went into the insurance industry and eventually started my second venture, which was an independent insurance business.During my insurance career, I became involved as a volunteer with the St Catharines Small Business Enterprise Centre. At the SBEC, I volunteered as a Summer Company business mentor and on the CYBF Loan Review Committee. This experience inspired an interest to work closely with entrepreneurs. In 2009, I sold the general insurance part of my business, and worked for the company that bought it, until I made my career change.In 2010 I joined the the Hamilton Small Business Enterprise Centre, which is a division of the Planning & Economic Development Department. Each year, I conducted approximately 400 consultations with start-ups and small business. It was amazing to see Hamilton's economic progress at the grass roots. In 2012 I started Economic Development courses through EDAC and the University of Waterloo and in July 2015 I received the designation, Economic Developer. Later in 2015 I earned the Certified Economic Developer Designation through IEDC.After 7 years with the City of Hamilton, an opportunity to lead the St Catharines Enterprise Centre came up. The transition to a leadership role was welcomed and I continue to enjoy working with startups and small businesses.