Gavin Leitch, President
Gavin is an associate lawyer with the firm Scheifele, Erskine & Renken, with offices in both Meaford and Thornbury. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Political Science from the Universite de Montreal (2007), and went on to complete his law studies in New Brunswick (2012). On his return to Ontario in 2013, Gavin was called to the Bar and sought to establish himself in the Grey-Bruce area to practise law.
Living with his family in Clarksburg, he is eager to stay active outside of work, and joined the Chamber of Commerce to contribute to the growth of the business community and collaborate with its members to ensure that our region remains a great place to live and do business. You will find Gavin relishing the great outdoors and enjoying time with his family in town.
Sean Landreth, Vice-President
Sean is the Founder and President of Property Valet, a full-service property management company for second homes, vacation rentals and investment properties that he started in the Blue Mountains in 2016. It has since become a valued area employer that provides an ever-expanding list of services to more than 80 properties, with over 40 employees, and they continue to grow. It should also be mentioned that Property Valet were the winners of the Chamber’s 2020 Business Recognition Award for Business of the Year!
Sean arrived in the Blue Mountains in 2015 via a fascinating professional background that brought him around the globe in roles that included B2B and B2C sales, sales management, media distribution, and real estate financing. Sean brings this diverse expertise to the Chamber Board of Directors with a fierce desire to help new and existing local businesses thrive. As the area continues to grow, he is passionate about being an active part of the business community here and serving as a dedicated steward to its future success. Sean and his family are thrilled to be part of the Blue Mountains community, and they feel so lucky to be able to enjoy all that this beautiful area has to offer.
Glenn Gatcliffe, Treasurer
Hailing from Trinidad and Tobago, Glenn ended up at McGill University for an MBA and proceeded to marry the love of his life from Montréal. He landed a job in investment banking at BMO Capital Markets and moved to Toronto in 2000. After working for two banks, for 20 years, and collecting a ridiculous amount of frequent flyer points, he has finally crossed the street to private equity. Joining the team at Argyle Capital as a Partner is part of Glenn’s dream to own and operate amazing private businesses. He hopes to bring his experience and love of agriculture to a transaction one day.
Glenn may have started riding his gravel bike and running a little late in life but it allows him to keep up with his two children. He spends every free minute thinking about his next deep-sea fishing adventure or spending time at the Farm in The Blue Mountains with his wife and the family Wheaton Terrier.
Alicia Wood, Secretary
Alicia is a lawyer with an office located on Bruce St. in Thornbury, practicing law with Scheifele, Erskine & Renken.
Alicia has been a member of the Blue Mountains community for over 25 years, having grown up in the area as an avid FIS ski racer at Craigleith Ski Club and the National Ski Academy. Her family has permanently resided in Thornbury for over 15 years, and her brother is also a local business owner.
Prior to permanently moving to the Blue Mountains in 2018 Alicia worked for several years as a lawyer at national and global law firms based in Toronto and lead the national in-house legal team at Canada’s second largest retail pharmacy and pharmaceutical services provider.
Alicia has both business and legal experience and education; she has a Bachelor of Business Administration (B.B.A.) degree (International Business and Economics) and earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from Queen’s University; she is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and a Notary Public.
At an early age Alicia developed her desire to assist small businesses and local communities’ members as a consultant and project manager for the national charitable organization Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship/Enactus. Alicia continues to be passionate about contributing to her community and is actively involved in local community initiatives and sporting activities.
Neal Lewis, Director
Neal is the Vice President of Operations for Turner Hospitality Group, which owns and operates several local restaurants including Twist, Magnone’s, Winifred’s & Mother Tongue. Together they provide over 120 employment opportunities within the community. Neal relocated to the Blue Mountains in 2015 from Mississauga, where he worked with several large restaurant brands. He brings with him a wealth of industry experience and business management expertise.
Neal is passionate about community networking to encourage mutual support and growth. He resides in Thornbury with his wife and daughter, and loves spending time outdoors hiking or skiing.
Karen Ferri, Director
Karen’s professional career began as a school teacher in the Durham region teaching phys. ed and grades 4 & 5. After moving her career to the Peel region, she headed the special education department in an Elementary school in Brampton.
In 2004, she and her husband Tom purchased an orchard in the Blue Mountains. After enduring a devastating tornado, they quickly renovated the property into an internationally recognized, award-winning orchard in Clarksburg, including a farm-gate market during harvest.
Karen is no stranger to industry and community support, having twice hosted the Community Long Table as well as numerous industry events including provincial and international grower events at the farm. Continuing her interest as an educator, Karen regularly hosts special interest groups along with both Canadian and international media tours of the orchard. Local food banks have been the recipients of over 75 000 of donated apples in the past 10 years.
In addition to the micro climate for apple growing in the Blue Mountains, the lure for Karen has been the outdoors. An avid alpine skier, and water skier, Karen has settled easily into the area. As a small business owner, she knows that the heart of every community is its small businesses. Karen has joined the Board of Directors to be a voice for the agricultural sector contributing to its sustainability and growth within our community.
Barb Weeden, Director
Originally from New Hamburg, Ontario, Barb’s educational background is in Outdoor Recreation. She worked at Seneca College for twenty-two years, managing their Leadership Centre and teaching in the Recreation programs, for which she received the President’s Award of Distinction. Her leadership facilitation and corporate training has taken her to California, Guyana, Costa Rica and Western Canada. Before moving to Craigleith in 2017, Barb was the General Manager for the largest Tim Horton Foundation Camps operation in St. George, ON. In 2018, she became Executive Director of Events for Life, a day program for adults with special needs in Thornbury and couldn’t be happier!
An avid outdoors enthusiast, Barb spent her weekends skiing and biking up on Blue Mountain at her grandparent’s farm, where her mother was born. She whole-heartedly believes in giving back to her community and has served on numerous Boards and committees. She has volunteered for BBBS in Collingwood and BVO helping to plan gala fundraising events. Barb served on the Town of the Blue Mountains Leisure Activities Planning Committee in 2020/2021. She is thrilled to join the Blue Mountains Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors as a voice for the vibrant non-profit sector in our area, bringing with her diverse management and fundraising experience, and a passion for event planning and making good things happen.
Dawn Hennessey, Director
Business Development Bank of Canada
Dawn Hennessey has enjoyed working with diverse entrepreneurs, associations and the like for the last two decades. Professionally, she has been in the Corporate, Financial & Advisory industry for over 20 years, and has spent 18 years with Business Development Bank of Canada. Dawn started her career in Toronto and later worked in the Peterborough & Durham region, and she presently supports The Blue Mountains, Dufferin, Brampton markets. In her personal time she has contributed to the community in various ways, including her work with the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, School Council Committee and now as a Co-Founder of FemSTEAM, an awareness group focussed on bringing STEAM careers to the forefront of young girls’ aspirations.
Dawn is passionate about supporting education, the business ecosystem and making a positive contribution to the community at large. Dawn grew up in Sarnia, Ontario, attended McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and has completed various professional development programs.