Volunteer Committees
We couldn't be where we are today without the help, dedication and support of our invaluable volunteers!
Volunteers Needed
Exciting news! The Locally Connected Community Hub (LCCHub) is on the lookout for enthusiastic volunteers to join us in various roles, both at the chapter level and within our organization. We are seeking dedicated committee members, ambassadors, and coordinators to help us enhance our programs and initiatives based on the interests of our members. If you're passionate about making a difference in our community and want to help us elevate the LCCHub, click the link below to express your interest in getting involved! Together, we can take our community from good to great!
Eastbridge Business Connections
Jason Kipfer
As an Eastbridge resident since April 2011 with my wife Kate, two daughters and our Labradoodle (Hazel), I am the Executive Director of Growth & Operations for Explorer Solutions, a Peterborough-based consulting firm that provides economic development strategic planning and airport planning and development services to municipalities and airports throughout Canada and the US Midwest.
In my spare time, I enjoy working on expanding the brand, outreach and programming of Eastbridge Business Connections (which I began in January 2017). To help me in achieving this, I enjoy meeting with and being inspired by people in the local (and broader) community who are also looking for ways to make a difference and meaningful impact on the people, places and businesses around them.
I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids at the lake, going to the beach, cycling, golfing and venturing down the grand river on our inflatable raft!
Eugene (Gene) DiMira
Louis Cilibanov
Steve Cook
Dori Power
Vince Vasco
Tara Wilson
These last few years have been harder than anyone would have expected, especially for small business owners. My goal in in supporting the growth of the Locally Connected Community Hub (since December 2023) is to ensure we are building a thriving community; sharing local stories and successes while supporting our local business owners.
Whether it's helping streamline operations, get leadership teams working in the same direction, building effective processes, helping owners build great teams or helping with go-to-market strategies and taking advantage of multi-channel packages, I ensure local businesses can reach their local communities WITHOUT having to spend more time away from their business or family.
Jason Panda
Lakeshore Business Connections
Brad Wilton
Angela Vieth
Hans Roach
Jason Kipfer
As an Eastbridge resident since April 2011 with my wife Kate, two daughters and our Labradoodle (Hazel), I am the Executive Director of Growth & Operations for Explorer Solutions, a Peterborough-based consulting firm that provides economic development strategic planning and airport planning and development services to municipalities and airports throughout Canada and the US Midwest.
In my spare time, I enjoy working on expanding the brand, outreach and programming of Eastbridge Business Connections (which I began in January 2017). To help me in achieving this, I enjoy meeting with and being inspired by people in the local (and broader) community who are also looking for ways to make a difference and meaningful impact on the people, places and businesses around them.
I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids at the lake, going to the beach, cycling, golfing and venturing down the grand river on our inflatable raft!
North Guelph Business Connections
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Steven Parker
Jason Kipfer
As an Eastbridge resident since April 2011 with my wife Kate, two daughters and our Labradoodle (Hazel), I am the Executive Director of Growth & Operations for Explorer Solutions, a Peterborough-based consulting firm that provides economic development strategic planning and airport planning and development services to municipalities and airports throughout Canada and the US Midwest.
In my spare time, I enjoy working on expanding the brand, outreach and programming of Eastbridge Business Connections (which I began in January 2017). To help me in achieving this, I enjoy meeting with and being inspired by people in the local (and broader) community who are also looking for ways to make a difference and meaningful impact on the people, places and businesses around them.
I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids at the lake, going to the beach, cycling, golfing and venturing down the grand river on our inflatable raft!
Westmount Business Connections
Diane Matyas
Diane and Alex (DNA) are an award-winning mother-daughter team creating, integrating and procuring products and services in travel, tourism and technology to help people every day.
Diane earned a degree in physical education, National Coaching Certification through the Coaching Association of Canada and leadership awards for her contribution to her community and the global impact of her message.
Diane published her first book on Performance in 1998 and is credited with being the first woman in Canada to independently execute an international book promotion tour and media campaign simultaneously. Her book became a national bestseller and was featured in the media across North America, the Caribbean and Europe.
They represented Canada on trade missions, presented to Olympic Committees and at MEMS Tour, Medical Sensors, Sensors, Consumer Electronics Show, Sports Analytics World Series, Future Innovation Sport Technology.
Their story has been featured in media outlets around the world as well as in the Concussion Documentary by Protocol Sports Marketing.
They are multisport athletes, world travellers and innovators leading the research, design, development and manufacturing of new products into the marketplace to solve global challenges.
Together they inspire the world with their vision.
When they moved to they Westmount neighbourhood, they started Westmount Business Connections to connect businesses in the Westmount Neighbourhood.
Westmount Business Connections (WBC) is a networking group that brings together entrepreneurs who live or work in the Westmount Neighbourhood. We were inspired by the vision of Eastbridge Business Connections founder Jason Kipfer and Lakeshore Business Connections founder Brad Wilton, both networking groups are in Waterloo.
Let's make Westmount an inclusive and collaborative community; support entrepreneurs who live and work in our neighbourhood by buying and selling their products and services.
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"I enjoy attending the many community-based Meetups because I like to meet new people and check out awesome places in KW."
Alex Matyas
Alex is an entrepreneur and partners with Diane Matyas as an award-winning Mother-Daughter Tech Team: DNA Everyday. As a Mechatronic Systems Engineering Graduate, she utilizes multiple platforms to engage her passions of Travel, Sport, Technology and Engineering. These industries connect her to new opportunities and promote innovation and international collaboration. As a Westmount Resident, she has attended community-based Meetups for almost 3 years but has been involved in the Kitchener Waterloo Community for over 20 years. Alex volunteers her time, as the Communications and Marketing Director for SWE Toronto, to successfully lead marketing campaigns to engage the Engineering Community on top of recurring events and long-term initiatives. She is an advocate for her community and plans on working closely with the volunteers to engage with women in the STEM field and create a fun environment to connect, grow and support each other.
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"I enjoy supporting Westmount Business Connections in a volunteer capacity because supporting each other is what creates community and encourages growth and infrastructure for a better environment.
I enjoy attending the many community-based Meetups because every interaction is a step in a direction that didn't exist before."
Jason Kipfer
As an Eastbridge resident since April 2011 with my wife Kate, two daughters and our Labradoodle (Hazel), I am the Executive Director of Growth & Operations for Explorer Solutions, a Peterborough-based consulting firm that provides economic development strategic planning and airport planning and development services to municipalities and airports throughout Canada and the US Midwest.
In my spare time, I enjoy working on expanding the brand, outreach and programming of Eastbridge Business Connections (which I began in January 2017). To help me in achieving this, I enjoy meeting with and being inspired by people in the local (and broader) community who are also looking for ways to make a difference and meaningful impact on the people, places and businesses around them.
I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids at the lake, going to the beach, cycling, golfing and venturing down the grand river on our inflatable raft!
Woolwich Business Connections
Sara Cook
Jason Kipfer
As an Eastbridge resident since April 2011 with my wife Kate, two daughters and our Labradoodle (Hazel), I am the Executive Director of Growth & Operations for Explorer Solutions, a Peterborough-based consulting firm that provides economic development strategic planning and airport planning and development services to municipalities and airports throughout Canada and the US Midwest.
In my spare time, I enjoy working on expanding the brand, outreach and programming of Eastbridge Business Connections (which I began in January 2017). To help me in achieving this, I enjoy meeting with and being inspired by people in the local (and broader) community who are also looking for ways to make a difference and meaningful impact on the people, places and businesses around them.
I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids at the lake, going to the beach, cycling, golfing and venturing down the grand river on our inflatable raft!
Tavistock Business Connections
Peter Pickett
My wife and I moved to Tavistock in 2017 from Kitchener. Our children had all moved out and we wanted to find a simple life away from the bigger city life. I love getting involved in the community to meet the families and people around me. I joined the Tavistock Men's Club, and at the time, they were changing the secretary position of the club and when they asked if I would take on the role, I agreed and it looks like it has become a lifelong position lol. I am happy to be involved with the club and we have many events in the community that are well supported by it.
My wife and I try to also support the local community by purchasing what we can in the area from farm fresh eggs, meats, vegetables etc. I also am involved with the Tavistock Chamber of Commerce to meet other local businesses. Professionally, I am a life insurance agent and also offer investment solutions. My approach is unique because I have a large shelf of offerings you will not find with traditional planners. The families and business owners who I support appreciate the fact that we cannot come to any solutions until we better understand the dynamics of the family and business to provide the right solution that supports the long-term view.
My wife and I have fostered pets in the past, however, we currently do not own pets as we plan to travel more in the future!
I consider myself to be a handy individual and love to tackle projects around the house even if I don't know what I'm doing…because at the end of the day, I love the challenge.
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“I'm excited to be part of a team of great people to establish an East Zorra-Tavistock Business Connections chapter in our community because I love connecting and building relationships with business owners and local-area residents in addition to applying my solutions and engaging profession o can help me with my concerns. I enjoy attending the many community-based Meetups because you never know who you will meet, and it is always great to network with like-minded business owners.” and professionals
Krysta Hajovic
With over a decade of experience spanning Public Health, Post-Secondary Education, non-profits, and the insurance sector, Krysta is passionate about making meaningful contributions in every space she works. Currently serving as the Executive Director at Paris Child Care, Krysta is dedicated to leading with purpose and supporting the growth and development of Paris Child Care and the children they serve.
Krysta is also a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, having provided crucial training across Canada since 2017. Through her business, Elephant in the Room Mental Health Training and Consultation, Krysta aims to create safer and more supportive environments by empowering others with the knowledge and tools to handle mental health crises. Krysta prides herself in building an army of mental health warriors through every course she teaches.
As a passionate public speaker, Krysta is driven by a desire to inspire others by sharing her personal story and experiences. Through her talks, she aims to connect, uplift, and motivate individuals to recognize their own potential and create positive change.
Residing in Tavistock, Krysta values the importance of staying connected to her community, giving back, and fostering resilience.
Rob Puschelberg
Jason Kipfer
As an Eastbridge resident since April 2011 with my wife Kate, two daughters and our Labradoodle (Hazel), I am the Executive Director of Growth & Operations for Explorer Solutions, a Peterborough-based consulting firm that provides economic development strategic planning and airport planning and development services to municipalities and airports throughout Canada and the US Midwest.
In my spare time, I enjoy working on expanding the brand, outreach and programming of Eastbridge Business Connections (which I began in January 2017). To help me in achieving this, I enjoy meeting with and being inspired by people in the local (and broader) community who are also looking for ways to make a difference and meaningful impact on the people, places and businesses around them.
I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids at the lake, going to the beach, cycling, golfing and venturing down the grand river on our inflatable raft!
Cambridge Business Connections
Jason Kipfer
As an Eastbridge resident since April 2011 with my wife Kate, two daughters and our Labradoodle (Hazel), I am the Executive Director of Growth & Operations for Explorer Solutions, a Peterborough-based consulting firm that provides economic development strategic planning and airport planning and development services to municipalities and airports throughout Canada and the US Midwest.
In my spare time, I enjoy working on expanding the brand, outreach and programming of Eastbridge Business Connections (which I began in January 2017). To help me in achieving this, I enjoy meeting with and being inspired by people in the local (and broader) community who are also looking for ways to make a difference and meaningful impact on the people, places and businesses around them.
I enjoy spending time with my wife and kids at the lake, going to the beach, cycling, golfing and venturing down the grand river on our inflatable raft!