Grimsby and District Chamber of Commerce
Connecting businesses and the community together
Our volunteer Board of Directors is a diverse group representing businesses and non-profit organizations throughout Grimsby and the Niagara Region. Dedicated members of the Grimsby Chamber, the board comes together to provide expertise, strategic direction, and overall guidance to the Chamber. The Board’s role is a vital one, bringing leadership, integrity, innovation, and a tremendous pool of knowledge to Chamber activities.
Kendra is a fully certified dance educator that runs Kinetic Elements Dance Inc. a dance studio in downtown Grimsby. Kendra has traveled and performed all around the World. She is happy to call Grimsby her home.
Kendra has also a graduate from George Brown College in their Social Service Worker program. From there Kendra has developed her own program for young dancers called Decipher to use movement and dance as a tool to help them recognize their strengths, build confidence and develop their self-esteem.
Sean is a small business owner and certified professional coach, specializing in leadership coaching and advisory services for construction, technology, and not-for-profit executives.
Over the course of his career, Sean has accumulated two and a half decades of experience leading, growing, and advising high-performance organizations. He has counseled executives and industry leaders on corporate strategy, team performance, meetings and communication, and operational execution.
Prior to the 2019 launch of his own company, Sean spent ten years leading the Ontario division of a national construction association. Earlier in his career, Sean served as a marketing and corporate communications leader with one of Canada’s largest software companies, and as a communications advisor to a senior Federal cabinet minister.
Sean lives in Grimsby with his wife and their two daughters and serves as a Deacon in his local church.
Daniel is a Grimsby native with a passion for marketing and technology. After graduating as a graphic designer, Daniel worked in Toronto, St Catharines, and Niagara Falls in digital marketing and web development before returning home to take over The Dutch Shop in 2019.
As the owner of one of Grimsby’s oldest continuously running businesses, Daniel has a respect for tradition and history, while seeing opportunities to modernize and reimagine business. He is excited to work with local businesses to help Grimsby realize its full potential.
Daniel lives in Grimsby with a house plant that’s not doing great.
Joel DeGroat is a distinguished entrepreneur and visionary in the consulting sector, with an indomitable spirit for nurturing small businesses across Canada. As the founder of Extraordinary Executive Inc., he has cemented his status in the realms of strategic planning, coaching, and staff support drawing upon an extensive wellspring of knowledge and experience to elevate enterprises across the Golden Horseshoe area.
With an educational background and professional experience that spans various facets of enterprise, franchising, and business ownership he has developed a keen acumen for identifying and fostering the latent potential within both emerging and established businesses. Through Extraordinary Executive Inc., they offer a comprehensive suite of services that encompasses fractional strategic consulting, coaching solutions, and staffing services tailored to the unique needs of each client.
A firm believer in the power of networking and community involvement, Joel DeGroat, his wife, son and daughter are proud to call Grimsby home.
In his quest for professional and personal growth, Joel DeGroat remains dedicated to the principle that extraordinary leadership and execution are the cornerstones of business success. Through his work, he continues to inspire and empower business leaders to live with an edge not on the edge.
After growing up in Northern Ontario, attending Wilfrid Laurier University, and living in Asia for five years, Amanda settled in Niagara and started a career in the not-for-profit sector. For the last 10 years, Amanda has worked at McNally House Hospice, focusing on community engagement, fundraising, and most recently, managing the McNally House Hospice Capital Campaign.
As a former board member at Community Care of West Niagara and former volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Amanda has a strong sense of community. She is looking forward to representing the voice of the not-for-profit sector at the Grimsby Chamber’s board of directors.
Amanda enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, and listening to many audiobooks.
Ben is the co-owner of Spaceless, a digital agency based in Grimsby. He has gained his knowledge and expertise by working with high level agencies in Canada, America and Europe over the past 14 years. He has created content for household brands such as Unilever, Canadian Tire, TSN, Sobeys, Absolute Vodka and Ford. His work has been showcased on platforms such as Amazon Prime, Apple TV, Food Network, Much Music and countless OOH campaigns.
Now that he runs his own business, his goal is to bring what he has learned while working with the major players into the hands of his local clientele and business owners, allowing them to grow and achieve their own brand identity on a much bigger level.
Meet Blake, a dedicated entrepreneur with over 14 years of experience in the business world. Alongside a dynamic professional team, Blake tirelessly works to achieve diverse business goals and manage a growing portfolio of companies.
With a passion for entrepreneurship, Blake has a proven track record of starting and scaling businesses from the ground up. His expertise extends across various domains, including business systems development, sales growth strategies, franchise operations, marketing, SEO, and more. Blake’s practical approach and strong business ethics have been instrumental in his success.
Building lasting relationships based on trust and delivering exceptional value to customers are at the core of Blake’s business philosophy. He thrives in collaborative environments, seeking to partner with individuals who share his values of integrity, energy, and optimism.
Blake is not just a business leader but also a gifted speaker. He has showcased his businesses at over 40 in-person business conventions across Canada, engaging with thousands of individuals eager to explore business opportunities and gain valuable insights.
Blake’s contributions to the business community have been widely recognized. In 2022, he was honoured with the prestigious Top 40 under 40 business award for his outstanding achievements and positive impact on both local and broader business communities in Ontario. Additionally, Blake received the esteemed “Bigger” Business Award from the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 2023, further affirming his dedication and excellence in the business realm.
In addition to his entrepreneurial pursuits, Blake serves as a Director with the Grimsby and District Chamber of Commerce, where he actively contributes to the growth and prosperity of the local business community.
Connect with Blake to explore exciting business ventures, leverage his expertise, and embark on a journey of growth and success!
Serina is the Director of Sales & Marketing at DeSantis Homes, and in her 11 years with the homebuilder she has managed the Design, Marketing and Sales for over 1500 new homes and condos. Her profound awareness of ever-changing policy and construction technology, and ability to analyze complex issues and develop innovative solutions has helped lead DeSantis Homes to recognition at the national level.
As a youth, Serina attended an art-focused post-secondary institution where she developed a passion for creative arts, and now strives to ensure art is reflected in each community DeSantis builds. Part of her origin story also included a career in digital advertising where she managed over 200 clients ranging from small businesses to multinational companies.
Throughout her career Serina has worked closely with important causes and organizations in Hamilton and Halton, including Board Chair for Halton Food For Thought and as an event committee member for the Dr. Bob Kemp Hospice. She also served two terms as a Director for the West End Home Builders Association.
At home, Serina loves to garden, and enjoys spending time outdoors and on the water with her young son, husband, and dog.
Justin is a Mortgage Agent who specializes in sharing expert advice and providing solutions that help people meet their financial goals. Justin’s genuine desire to help others extends beyond his professional endeavors; it is a fundamental aspect of who he is. He takes pride in assisting clients with transparency and clear communication, ensuring they understand every step of the mortgage process. Whether guiding clients through the intricacies of their mortgage or volunteering his time to support local initiatives, Justin is committed to making a positive impact. With a passion for collaboration and a love for meeting new people, he continually seeks opportunities to expand his network and exchange ideas.
In every aspect of his life, Justin’s dedication to his family, his clients, and his community shines through, embodying the essence of servant leadership, with an unwavering commitment to service and success.
Justin lives in Grimsby with his wife, two children, and their dog Luna. He enjoys spending his free time with his family and, when it fits into his schedule, getting out onto the golf course.
Jackie Van Der Marel is a dedicated business owner, mother of 4, and sports enthusiast. With a BSc in Kinesiology from Wilfred Laurier University and over 15 years of experience as a Certified Canadian Pedorthist, she takes pride in running Bioped Grimsby. Recently appointed as a board member for the Grimsby Chamber of Commerce, Jackie is excited to contribute to the local community.
Calibrator Coaching and Consulting
Alejandra is the founder of Calibrator Coaching & Consulting, a company committed to helping organizations achieve their goals. With over 25 years of diverse experience across various fields including government relations, strategic planning, communications, project management, training/coaching, and more, Alejandra brings a wide breadth of expertise to every project she undertakes.
Dedicated to empowering her clients, Alejandra provides them with the guidance and support they need to navigate their projects confidently and deliver tangible results. Her approach is grounded in practicality but infused with creativity, ensuring that each challenge is met with innovative solutions tailored to her clients’ unique needs.
Currently, Alejandra serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors for the Employment Help Centre of West Niagara and chairs the Chamber’s Advocacy Committee. She has also contributed as a board member for the West Lincoln Chamber of Commerce, and spent 8 years as part of Grimsby’s Economic Development Advisory Committee, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the Town’s first formal economic development strategy.
Alejandra lives in Grimsby with her family and their cats, the mischievous Harry Pawter and Hermione Purranger.
Executive Director
Rebecca provides the Chamber with excellent management of membership programs and events.
She brings 20 years of professional experience to her role with the Grimsby & District Chamber of Commerce, most recently from Bell Media. Rebecca has many years of office management, administrative, organizational and coordination experience. Her background embraces small- and medium-sized businesses, including a wine agency, a media company, and an IT security firm run by former Dragon Robert Herjavec.
Many thanks to Bryan Macaulay of Village Studio for donating his time and talent to capture our board member photos.
If you’d like to join our Board of Directors or volunteer for one of our committees, please contact Rebecca Shelley at info@grimsbychamber.com or 905-945-8319.