NEWS RELEASE
BUSINESS CENTRE GUELPH WELLINGTON
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It’s with genuine excitement that Anne Toner Fung, Innovation Guelph’s executive director, and Kristel Manes, long-time Innovation Guelph director and director of the Rhyze Program, are making transition plans as Manes takes on a new role as executive director of the Business Centre Guelph Wellington in early April.
“There’s tremendous opportunity to amplify what the Business Centre does well and to improve the alignment and collaboration with Innovation Guelph,” says Manes. “Both offer complementary programs to help local businesses at different stages of their development and we often refer businesses to one another.”
Toner Fung agrees and underscores the benefits for local business. “We direct clients to the most appropriate resource depending on their goals, the issues they’re facing or the expertise they need at that stage,” she says. “It’s a very nimble arrangement that builds capacity for the business community. We’re both very excited to leverage that even further.”
Both women boast extensive and impressive business development track records, including as business owners and business advisors. For Manes, a former program lead, advisor and facilitator at the Business Centre Guelph-Wellington, the new leadership role takes her full circle after six years at Innovation Guelph.
“My role and organization changes, but my service to Guelph’s business community -including my commitment to the Rhyze program - doesn’t change. I’m looking forward to new initiatives at the Business Centre, like the partnership with Immigrant Services for the Newcomers Program, and ongoing collaborations with Innovation Guelph.”
As Guelph grows and Guelph-based businesses assume a more important place along the Innovation Corridor, both leaders believe it’s a great opportunity and an optimal time to align business support services to help clients reach their objectives – on a local or global stage.
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