Eric Crowell CA, MBA
Director

Eric has worked with over 750 small and medium-sized businesses since working as BDC Director since 1997. During this time, the centre has grown from a staff of two to a staff of over twenty employees. Along with his work consulting to businesses in the local community, Eric has participated on consulting projects all around the world, especially in Eastern Europe and Asia, specifically in the field of economic development and business growth. Eric has owned and operated a number of business interests. He has co-authored a book on managing high growth businesses in Nova Scotia. Eric has an MBA from the University of Toronto and is a Chartered Accountant.

eric.crowell@smu.ca
429.4803

Bruce Kelley, B. Comm
Manager of Business Development and Senior Consultant

Bruce Kelley has in excess of 30 years in management and consulting with a broad range of business experience. He has extensive leadership and hands on experience in developing corporate strategy and business plans, corporate re-organization, customer relationship strategy, market knowledge creation, and business transformation. Mr. Kelley also has extensive facilitation experience and skills in the development and implementation of business processes, project management and human resource management. He first joined the SMUBDC team in 2001, working closely with the First Nations community, and is now the Manager of Business Consulting.

bruce.kelley@smu.ca
429.4535

Natasha Benigno, BA (Hons), MA
Consultant

Natasha earned a Masters degree in Law & Economics from the University of Bologna (Italy) and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain), and an undergraduate degree from the University of Toronto. Natasha is currently pursuing her MBA at SMU. She began her career working for an international consulting firm in Austria. Most recently with the SMUBDC, she has worked on feasibility studies and business plans where she has developed and implemented data collection tools (surveys, focus groups), prepared complex financial statements, and provided comprehensive recommendations.

natasha.benigno@smu.ca
429.4601

Benjamin Huwiler, BA, MBA
Consultant

Benjamin has earned two degrees from Fairleigh Dickinson University (NJ, USA) – a BA in Economics and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Studies. He also passed the General Securities Representative Exam given by the National Association of Securities Dealers. Benjamin began his career trading equities out of New York gaining valuable experience in the financial markets. His experience in the financial industry expands into corporate financing as he has sourced and introduced several debt and equity projects and partners. Business planning and corporate strategy creation is a strong point of his as he has worked with clients ranging from start-ups to corporate clients and personal ventures.

benjamin.huwiler@smu.ca

429.4805

Karen Henderson, BComm, MBA
Senior Manager, Consulting Services

Karen is known to consulting clients as a senior business partner with a keen sense of urgency, strong creative skills and a reputation for solving complex business problems and getting things done. Karen has built a reputation as professional, credible member of consulting community in Atlantic Canada and nationally. Karen's thirty+ year business career has included various roles in consulting and financial services including eighteen years as a Senior Consultant, Principal and National Partner with Mercer (formerly Mercer Human Resource Consulting), the world's largest human resource consulting firm. Karen has been extensively involved in the community, having served on a large number of industry and charitable boards. Karen holds undergraduate and graduate business degrees from Saint Mary's University.

karen.henderson1@smu.ca
429.0047

Michael Sanderson, MBA
Manager, Skills Development & Training

Michael has over 12 years of experience in entrepreneurship, economic development and professional training. He has extensive leadership and project management experience in his role at the SMUBDC. He has been responsible for the development and delivery of varied projects including multi year employability training programs for recent graduates, conference planning and coordination, a variety of research and consulting projects, and professional development training. In addition he has gained significant entrepreneurial experience through ownership of several businesses, the most recent being a retail video store. Michael's educational training consists of a Masters of Business Administration from Saint Mary's University and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Dalhousie University.

michael.sanderson@smu.ca
429.4547

Jason Turner
Senior Project Manager

Jason is a graduate of the Institute for Human Services Educations' Youth Worker Diploma program, and is currently working toward a B.A. at Saint Mary's University.Prior to working with the SMUBDC, Jason was employed within the public school system as both a substitute teacher and an Educational Assistant, as well as a personal care worker in small-options homes. Jason has been working with the Skills Development and Training Division of SMUBDC since October of 2004 as a Senior Project Manager, focusing on administering employability programs for Halifax youth, as well as promoting entrepreneurship at Saint Mary's.

jason.turner@smu.ca
429.1782

Evan Radisic, BComm
Project Manager

Evan started his undergraduate degree in Melbourne, Australia as a Bachelor of International Business eventually deciding to move home to finish the degree at Dalhousie University as a Bachelor of Commerce. He has spent a majority of his life traveling around the world, living and attending school in 7 different countries and learning 3 languages along the way. All this equates to a love for people, culture, and diversity. Aside from starting two of his own businesses, his current focus lies in Skills Development and Training for small and medium-sized enterprises. Evan is also heavily involved in helping students with various entrepreneurial endeavors through consulting at the Student Entrepreneurship Centre on SMU campus.

evan.radisic@smu.ca
429.4608

Maureen Joudrey, BComm
Project and Marketing Manager

Maureen is a recent graduate from Saint Mary's University, completing her Bachelor of Commerce Degree with a major in marketing and a co-operative education certification. Previously at the Centre, Maureen worked as the Project Coordinator of the 2008 International Council for Small Business World Conference. Joining the Skill Development and Training Division, Maureen is interested in combining her passions of event coordination and marketing to develop programs focused on training small businesses and students. Maureen is also responsible for promoting the Centre and its services.

maureen.joudrey@smu.ca
429.0558

Goran Radisic, BComm
Project Manager

Goran is a Project Manager at the Saint Mary's University Business Development Centre and is responsible for managing the Student Entrepreneurship Centre on campus.  He graduated from Saint Mary's University in 2007 with a double major in Global Business Management and Marketing. His  duties include managing various projects, helping students start up their own business and promote entrepreneurship among the student population.

goran.radisic@smu.ca
420.5026

Heidi Weigand
Manager and Senior Business Consultant

Heidi Weigand, Manager of Consulting Services and a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black belt, has a track record of success with two "A list" international firms over the last 19 years in Canada and the United States. During that time, she has held various positions in sales, sales management, marketing, finance and business process re-engineering. Since joining the centre, Heidi has led our First Nation's team in assisting communities with projects that include strategic and economic development initiatives to help communities grow their investment potential for the future.

heidi.weigand@smu.ca
429.4522

Kelly Campbell LeFort, B.B.A.
Senior Consultant

Kelly is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick with a Bachelor of Business Administration. Kelly has 10 years of corporate business experience and has held a number of positions in sales, sales training and sales management. Through this, she has developed skills in sales, training and process development by using the principles of Lean Six Sigma. In addition, she possesses extensive skills in leadership, human resource, training and development, sales, strategy and business planning.

kelly.lefort@smu.ca
429.1799

Andrew Ramsay, MA, BBA
Senior Consultant

Andrew received his Master of Arts degree from Saint Mary's University with a concentration in International Development Studies and his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from University of New Brunswick Saint John (UNBSJ). Before joining the Business Development Centre, he managed the economic development and commercial fishery operations of a First Nation community in Prince Edward Island. He has also worked with UNBSJ in Beijing, China and for the federal government in Ottawa. At SMUBDC he is a First Nation consultant, concentrating on economic development and fisheries issues.

a.ramsay@smu.ca
429.2992

Lianne Sarson, MSc
Marketing Research Consultant

Lianne earned her Master degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Saint Mary's University and is currently working toward the completion of her PhD. She has worked as a consultant with various organizations and has experience in research development, management and support. Lianne brings a strong knowledge of statistics and research design, and has experience translating these skills into evidence based practice that incorporates the unique needs and culture of organizations.

lianne.sarson@smu.ca
429.2446

Lisa Gallant, B.Comm
Consultant

Lisa is currently a consultant for the First Nations division at the SMUBDC, with a focus on health. Lisa obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Saint Mary's University, majoring in Global Business Management. She is a co-owner of a music company, and has experience in business management, consulting and logistics, on a national and international level. At the SMUBDC, Lisa has conducted historical research on First Nation communities throughout the Maritime Provinces and has assisted with various health projects.

lisa.gallant2@smu.ca
429.1862

Tammy Williams
Marketing Intern

Tammy is a Mi'kmaq student attending Saint Mary's University full-time, majoring in psychology but with future goals in non-profit business. She is on the First Nations Team at the centre and is currently doing research on a couple of different projects.

tammy.williams@smu.ca
429.2661

Wayde Crawford, M.Sc.(Eng), MBA
Manager of International Projects

Wayde has headed international development projects in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Republic of Georgia and China. The main focus has been regional economic development and private sector development. He has expertise in marketing, management, and business analysis. Wayde also holds a part-time faculty position in marketing, teaching at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
(Currently on government interchange with Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)

wayde.crawford@smu.ca
429.4529

Lynn Murphy
Office Administrator