At least nine of Newmarket’s business leaders have so far signed on to serve as mentors to local business people as they begin to navigate the uncertain road ahead of slowly reopening after months of near-lockdown during the coronavirus crisis.
The Town of Newmarket initiative is known as the Mentorship Access Program (MAP) and, as part of its economic resiliency plan, provides small and medium-sized businesses access to a directory of volunteer mentors.
Those mentors will make themselves available to provide strategic advice and guidance on how to adapt to these unprecedented times and map out a business plan, during and post COVID-19, town officials say.
Local business owners interested in the mentorship program can contact the Town’s Business Assistance Concierge (BAC), a virtual business support centre at 905-895-5193, ext. 2753 or visit newmarket.ca/BAC.
As part of the services provided by the BAC, all participants will have the opportunity to work with an experienced mentor, including retired executives, members of the Newmarket Economic Development Advisory Committee and respected business leaders looking to give back.
The mentors on board to date include:
- Doug Wilson, president at D. Wilson Consulting and the retired president and COO of Sony Canada and Sony North America’s deputy president
- Pat Horgan, an adjunct professor at Western University and retired vice-president of operations at IBM Canada
- Donna Fevreau, senior account manager for construction service and real estate for RBC, who is also chairperson of the Newmarket Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Beric Farmer, a co-founder of Xe and vice-chairperson of the Newmarket Economic Development Advisory Committee
- Bri-Ann Stuart, managing director of asset services at Cushman & Wakefield.
Mayor John Taylor said as Ontario slowly starts to reopen the economy, the town wants to support the business community “every step of the way”.
“Our local businesses have done an incredible job adapting to this changing landscape and coming up with creative new ways of doing business,” Taylor said. “The goal of this mentorship program is to continue to help guide our business community through this journey while they map out their short and long-term plans.”
Mentor Donna Fevreau noted the impact of COVID-19 changed everyone’s lives overnight.
“Stay safe, stay home also meant that our local business owners had to quickly adapt to finding new ways to operate,” Fevreau said. “Businesses had to imagine creative ways to produce and deliver products and services while ensuring the health and safety of their employees, their clients and themselves.”
“Contributing as a business mentor is one small way I believe I can help to give back to the community I am proud to call home,” she added.
The concierge program participants will be provided access to the list of mentors available. Mentees can connect with mentors based on what they feel is the best fit for their business model.
They will work together to determine the guidelines and terms of their mentorship agreement. Participants can contact mentors for guidance and assistance with sales, marketing, financial planning, taking their business online/using digital platforms, social and digital media, accessing grant funding, recovering from COVID-19 and more.
For more information and to view the profiles of the existing mentors, visit here.
