Our Mentoring Team

Gilles Bazinet

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

After retiring as Project Engineer at Seagram and Schenley, mentor Gilles Bazinet continued his career by joining David’s biscuits and later accepted the position of VP Director at the multinational Redpath Sugar.  After being actively engaged in the process of closing the refinery, Mr. Bazinet acquired his own business, selling a variety of office furniture, which he then sold 19 years later.  Mr. Bazinet then became a finance investment advisor for about 10 years.

In 2011, he started a new career in communications (photography, video, web creation, and training).  He joined the business mentoring program in 2012.

Gilles would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Johanne Bellerose-Messier

BUSINESS MENTOR AND MENTOR FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Johanne Bellerose-Messier is an Economic Development Advisor and specialises in wellness and leadership.  Having worked as a Director and shareholder in the retail business for over 30 years, she now is a professional coach and consultant in human resources.  She participated in many reorganisations of different types of businesses as well as many acquisitions and sales in the retail business.  She enjoys accompanying small business owners in a better future and enjoys contributing to the development of entrepreneurship.  She’s been a member of the mentor team since 2010.

Johanne would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Jean-Claude Billette

BUSINESS MENTOR AND MENTOR FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Being a certified accountant by trade, in 1979, Mr. Billette acquired a agency, Voyage Lapointe, situated in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.  He owned and ran his business for more than 30 years before retiring.  His mission is to help small business owners to succeed, thus being the reason that he joined the mentoring program in 2011.

Jean-Claude would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Jean-Michel Billette

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Our mentor, Mr. Jean-Michel Billette holds a diploma from HEC Montreal B.A.A. in operations and production management, and grew up working for the family business; Les Abattoirs Z. Billette in Saint-Louis-de-Gonzague.  During his studies, he held many different positions in production.  Today, he is an associate in Industries JPB, business specialising in recycling wood products, that are too often sent to the landfill.  Mr. Billette occupied many positions (sales, business development, production, and human resources) in the enterprise before becoming the General Director.

The entrepreneur is trilingual (French, English, Spanish) and completed his studies abroad in the United States and Mexico.

Jean-Michel would be delighted to discuss his role as a mentor and the benefits of mentorship for a mentored entrepreneur.

Serge Bonin

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

From a young age, our mentor Serge Bonin was in continuous contact with entrepreneurs and quickly understood that his professional life would be in the business world.

Starting his first business at the age of 18, he was motivated more by action and practicality than academics and theory.

Following the sale of his business, he embarked on a new entrepreneurial adventure with Constructions Valrive where he started as a project manager and then as VP projects as well as an associate the company.

For the past 30 years, his energy has been focused on the development and continuous improvement of the company.

Serge would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Michel Caron

BUSINESS MENTOR AND MENTOR FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Before joining Séguin & Haché S.E.N.C.R.L., accounting firm, where he was a partner for over 20 years, Mr. Michel Caron had his own accounting firm located in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, for a total of 19 years. From 1972 to 1987, he was also a teacher at the Collège de Valleyfield where he taught administrative techniques to adultes.

Since 1998, Mr. Caron has been actively involved on many board of Directors in the local community. He was a member of the Caisse Desjardins de Sainte-Cécile et de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield. Since his early retirement in 2014, Mr. Caron is the Director of Planned Donations at the Suroît Hospital Foundation.
He considers mentorship as a personal accomplishment and adds to his entreprenerial carreer. He joined the business mentoring program in 2016.
Michel would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Pierre Dufour

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Mr. Pierre Dufour is an Owner-Pharmacist of a branch of the Familiprix Group.  He was involved, at a Canadian level, in the deloppement of the diabetic care in the pharmacies.  He also gave many conferences for different organisations in the community.  He joined the business mentoring program in 2014.

Pierre would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

André Dumas

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Bofore purchasing les Appareils Ménagers Robert Leduc in Valleyfield in December, 2017, our mentor, André Dumas, always worked in the appliance industry.

His career started in 1990, where he worked as Territory and Accounts Manager for Whirlpool for 17 years.  Thereafter, he started working in the retail sector for Corbeil Appliances as Principal Director of Marketing for close to 2 years.  His passion for marketing lead him to 5 years of working for independant merchants as Director of Marketing, appliances for Canada with Mega Group Inc.  His expertise sent him to Rona/Lowe’s to implement the sale of appliances in Rona and Reno-Dépôt.

He wishes to share his experiences with new small business owners.  He joined the business mentoring program in 2019.

Andre would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Marc Faubert

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Following the completion of my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 1995, I took over the family business that has been operating in the region since 1959. I became President and Chief Executive Officer following the acquisition of the shares of the St-Anicet Golf Club, which I still manage.

In 2015, conscious of the upheavals in the economic environment of the markets and distribution channels, I decided to deepen my knowledge with a Master’s degree in Business Administration which I completed in 2018.

Over the past few years, I have served on several boards of directors of organizations in the region. I have been a member of the Caisse Salaberry-de-Valleyfield’s Board of Directors since 2017.

I consider myself to be an entrepreneur at heart and ready to help the men and women of our region with their entrepreneurial projects.

Kathleen Favreau-O’brien

BUSINESS MENTOR AND MENTOR FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Communication Director of the Caisse Desjardins de Salaberry-de-Valleyfield since 2019, mentor Kathleen Favreau O’Brien has a good comprehension of the challenges that Managers for non-profit organisations face in the day to day operations.  She also has a very good work experience with Board of Directors.

From 2005 to 2011, she was the Promotion Agent for Tourisme Suroît.  She then joined the CLD Beauharnois-Salaberry team as Local Development Advisor.  In 2013 she became General Manager of the Suroît Hospital Foundation.

She was the first to obtain her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from UQTR offered in the region of the Haut Saint-Laurent Valley.  She joined the business mentoring program in 2018.

Kathleen would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Serge Gosselin

BUSINESS MENTOR AND MENTOR FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Mentor, Serge Gosselin, stated his carrer as Agricultural Producer Broker in 1988. He started his first brokerage firm in Huntingdon in 1991. After many different business partners, he became, in 2008, the sole shareholder of Gosselin Assurances. In 2010, his daughter, Karine Gosselin, became partner in the family business. After several transition years, Karine raised to the challenge and took over the family business.

After being actively involved in the community, Mr. Gosselin joined the business mentoring program in 2018.

Serge would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Réjean Goyer

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

From 1996 to 2017, our mentor, Mr. Réjean Goyer, worked for 21 years as shareholder and Sales Director for 5 factories in Canada at Columbia Forest Products. From 1981 to 1996, he worked as Sales Director at Levesque Plywood Ltd. and was the Sales Representative for eastern Canada and the United States. He was also the buyer and seller for Bois Daigle (Wholesaler in Construction materials and Cabinetmaking) and worked as buyer and estimator at J.A. Leduc Ltée (commercial Cabinetmaking).

Throughout his carrer, Mr. Goyer developped many business development skills, good relations with suppliers and also with Canadian and American customers. Mr. Goyer is perfectly bilingual and is actively involved with the board of Directors for Canadian organizations working in the field of recycled wood.
Having received support in his entrepreneurial journey, he joined the business mentoring program in 2018 with the desire to give back to other small business owners.

Réjean would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Maggy Hinse

BUSINESS MENTOR AND MENTOR FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Mentor Maggy Hinse, has many years of experience in strategic advisory and management positions in municipal organizations. She helped develop the environmental service, animal service and the ecocentre for the city of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield.

Her leadership and expertise skills brought Maggy to where she is today, as Director of public works for the City of Saint-Constant. She holds a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in business administration. She acquired, throughout her carreer, a deep comprehension for the sustainable development issues in our communities.

Deeply involved in the community, she is always committed to sit on various committees or boards of Directors for organisations working in the social economy. She has been in the business mentoring program since 2018.

Maggy would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Luc Lachapelle

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

After studying in administration, civil engineering and seasonal jobs, mentor Luc Lachapelle started his career at Beauval in 1981.  He quickly worked his way up from Site Operations and Sales Manager, to Aggregrate Production Manager, to Projects Manager,to Paving Team Manager and then to Manager of many divisions throughout Québec.  He became President in 1995 and business owner in 2010.

He joined the business mentoring program in 2007 to share his experiences and accompany small business owners.

Luc would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Suzie Lalonde

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Mentor Suzie Lalonde is the Owner and Manager of 2 Énergie Cardio fitness centers, in Valleyfield and Beauharnois.  Hired as Group Instructor in 1997, Suzie ceased the opportunity to buy out the Énergie Cardio branch, situated in Valleyfield, when the business was going through a rough spot, in 2006.

In September, 2019, the entrepreneur opened a second branch in Beauharnois with her son Maël, kinesiologist and head fitness trainer.

Suzie masters customer service, understands the importance of the quality of her services offered to her members and puts lots of emphasis on employee harmony and happiness. 

Suzie is very involved socially, member of the Board of Directors of CRAFTS and is an active member of the Club Rotary.  With the réseau Énergie Cardio, Suzie and her colleagues hold an annual fundraiser, the proceeds going to Opération Enfants Soleil.

Suzie would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Lise Malo

BUSINESS MENTOR AND MENTOR FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Mentor Lise Malo has been exposed to entrepreneurship all her life, being the daughter of an entrepreneur and having been General Manager for years in the family business. She now is a financial planner for small business owners and individuals, thus knowing well the workings of companies. She wishes to contribute to better our business community and the economic vitality of our region by sharing her experiences. Lise joined the business mentoring program in 2005 and has now accompanied ten entrepreneurs.

Lise would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance your community connections and to keep you focused on short and long term goals.

Jocelyn Riendeau

BUSINESS MENTOR AND MENTOR FOR THE SOCIAL ECONOMY ORGANISATIONS FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

Mentor Jocelyn Riendeau received his BA in Business Administration (Accounting) BAA from the University of Sherbrooke in 1975. He then received his title of Chartered Accountant (CA) and Certified Management Accountant (CMA). He started his carrer with Filiatrault & Associés, where he spent 14 years. After eight years of working for the firm, he then became partner.

In 1989, he started up his own firm, that he sold in 2009 to Séguin Haché, where he now works as a consultant. Jocelyn joined the business mentoring program in 2011.

Jocelyn would be pleased to discuss with you (small business owners) the benefits of mentoring, to motivate and reassure you, enhance

Sylvain Lévesque

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

A graduate of the Université de Moncton MBA program, our mentor Sylvain Lévesque caught the real estate bug 23 years ago, starting out as a Commercial Account Manager at Desjardins. Over the course of 12 years, he held various positions, including Director of Business Services.

Subsequently, he became a commercial broker under the Multi-Prêts Hypothèques banner. After a few years, he co-founded Multi-Prêts Commercial and Mortgage Alliance Commercial. He sold his shares 15 years later to dedicate himself full-time as a commercial mortgage broker at PMML.

Since 2015, he has been a partner in a family business that owns rental properties in the Suroît and Outaouais regions.

Sylvain would be happy to talk to you about his role as a mentor and the benefits of mentorship for a mentored entrepreneur.

Pierre Leduc

BUSINESS MENTOR FOR THE SUROÎT-SUD REGION

After completing his university studies, Pierre began his career in sales and marketing at major Quebec-based companies. Over the years, he has held senior executive positions, including Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Planning at Vidéotron Telecom, Vice President and General Manager of Quebec at Rogers, and CEO of Agora Telecom.

For the past 20 years, he has been assisting his clients through consulting and executive recruitment. In recent years, he has also developed a coaching practice for executives and managers.

In his coaching approach, he emphasizes a systemic and structured approach aimed at achieving defined goals and professional development. His practice is based on his extensive business experience, and he firmly believes that the human factor is the primary driving force of any organization, with organizational culture being the key lever for development.

He holds certification as a professional coach from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and has been a member of the Mentorship Network since 2018.

Pierre would be happy to discuss his role as a mentor and the benefits of mentorship for a mentored entrepreneur.