Founders

Rhonda Barnet

Rhonda Barnet is the President & Chief Operating Officer of AVIT Manufacturing (formerly Steelworks Design), an engineering and custom automation firm in Peterborough, Ontario. An ardent supporter of Canadian Manufacturing and Exporting, Rhonda was appointed the first female Chair in history of the National Board of the Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (2016-2018). She maintains an active schedule of government and industry engagements, including functions in Germany, Holland, Italy, China, Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Further appointments include the Federal Advanced Manufacturing Strategy Table and Board Member of Next Generation Manufacturing Canada (NGen Canada), one of the 5 Canadian Super Clusters to deliver $950M of federal innovation funds.

Rhonda currently serves CME in the role of Past Chair and newly appointed as the Chair of The Workforce of the Future. In 2018 Rhonda launched CME’s “We Can Do It” Campaign, an initiative funded by the federal government to add 100,000 women to the manufacturing workforce over the next five years. Rhonda is a regular spokeswoman on diversity, women in manufacturing, skills and the future workforce.

Rhonda believes in the value of mentorship and upholds the philosophy

“If you can see me, you can be me”.

Dawn Hennessey

As a long time business person in the area, Dawn Hennessey has enjoyed working with entrepreneurs, associations and the like for the last two decades. Professionally, she has been in the financial services industry for 20 years. Dawn started her early career in Toronto and eventually accepted employment in Peterborough, Ontario to enjoy a well balanced lifestyle. In her personal time she contributes to the community as Vice Chair of Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, School Council Committee and now a Co-Founder of FemSTEAMPTBO. 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 is dedicated to life long learning while enjoying family life as a wife and mother. Dawn is an advocate of empowering anyone, especially young women, who want to achieve success and meet their full potential!

Sofie Andreou

Sofie Andreou, Founder of 123DigitalPower, Digital Marketing Services & Training "We'll train you or do it for you!"

Sofie's team provides training and full-service digital marketing services to her clients.

Digital Marketing training includes customized on-location training or full digital marketing certification.

She was the Chair of the award-winning Bears' Lair Entrepreneurship Competition, Board of Directors for the Women's Business Network of Peterborough, Director of BREI Business Retentions & Expansion International, Currently a Judge of EDCO's Economic Development Council of Ontario Annual Marketing Awards, a founding member of StartUpPeterborough, founder of FemSteamPtbo and current member of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Sofie holds her undergraduate degree in Computer Science and her Masters of Engineering in Information Systems from the University of Toronto.