TEC Canada Announces Plans for Southwestern Ontario Expansion to Facilitate Growth and Development of Regional Business
February 2, 2012 (LONDON, ON) – TEC Canada, the preeminent peer-to-peer mentoring organization for Canadian business leaders, announced today an expansion in Southwestern Ontario to support the development of business within the region.
Currently, almost 300 TEC members participate in 24 dynamic groups in Ontario, each led by an accomplished business leader referred to as a TEC Chair. Within each group TEC members and Chairs work together to understand current business challenges and opportunities as they assist one another in navigating the complexity of the new business landscape, setting goals and achieving milestones. This structuring has translated into improved company performance for TEC members, particularly in business growth and profitability. To build on this base, TEC has appointed Business Development Manager, Karen Hanes, to lead the expansion in Southwestern Ontario. In her new role, Hanes will partner with Ontario TEC Chairs, identifying and matching potential members – small to medium sized business leaders – with the right groups.
“Matching a new member to the right group is an important step in becoming a TEC member,” says Hanes. “How the members in a group come together, length of time they’ve been together, diversity of personalities, the norms each group develops, the tenor of the Chair as leader – all of these and other factors help to create quite different and distinct TEC groups. Through our matching process, members are warmly welcomed not only to their particular group, but to a Canadian and world-wide network of successful, passionate business leaders.”
TEC Canada’s decision to focus on expansion in Southwestern Ontario came after an analysis of several leading business indicators. “When you consider the number of small and medium sized companies – our primary focus – in the region, we’re looking at a hugely untapped market with tremendous opportunity,” says TEC Canada’s Vice President, Karen Chown. “For this key reason, along with the strong market presence we have already in the Greater Toronto Area, expansion in Southwestern Ontario was a natural choice.”
Chown is optimistic about TEC’s enhanced presence in the region despite the current economic climate, stating there is a high correlation between growth in membership and uncertain economic times. “Our membership appeals to business leaders both in times of rapid growth and in times of challenges. We work to provide our members solutions and opportunities. The current economic uncertainty actually makes it a good time for us to expand in this market.”
Karen Hanes
Karen Hanes has over 25 years of progressive experience in a variety of industries including manufacturing, IT, printing, consumer goods and transportation/logistics. She has fulfilled numerous marketing and business development roles for companies such as 3M Canada, GE Canada and StarTech.com. Karen also has considerable leadership experience, having led a Canadian division for a multi-national company. Additionally, she has extensive experience working with senior business leaders, having managed several industry-based CEO groups. Originally hailing from the Toronto area, Karen has made London her home for much of the past 25 years. More recently, she spent over four years in Calgary working for Calgary Economic Development as a Senior Business Development Manager, however a re-location brought her back to London last year.
About TEC Canada
To join TEC is to connect with professionals who have a passion for business leadership and enterprise creation. TEC Canada is the preeminent peer-to-peer mentoring program for Canadian business leaders. For more information on TEC Canada and how our CEO association can advance the growth and development of your business visit www.tec-canada.com.
Contact
Karen Hanes
Business Development Manager
TEC Canada
khanes@tec-canada.com
519-203-0117
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