2022-2023 Board of Directors
2022 – 2023 Board of Directors
Executive
President
Ralph Vitello
Tripemco Insurance Brokers
99 Highway #8
Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1C1
Tel: 905-664-2266
Ralph is a graduate of Mohawk College’s Insurance program and has been with Tripemco Insurance for over 30 years. He is very dedicated to his many clients and ensuring their needs are met. Ralph has had a long involvement with the Chamber serving on the Board for many years, leaving and then returning to serve his community.
Kathy Wakeman
Vice President
Stoney Creek Historical society
605 Highway 8
Stoney Creek, ON L8G 6E6
Tel: 905-662-6269
Kathy has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a Management Diploma from McMaster University. She has spent the last 40 years working at Honeywell Ltd. as a Contract Manager and retired in late 2017. Kathy has been very active in the community in addition to serving on the Stoney Creek Chamber Board, she is also Vice President of the Stoney Creek Historical Society, and is a past appointee to the Hamilton Future Fund Board of Directors and is an active member of the Stoney Creek Santa Parade committee.
Treasurer
Bennie Esposto
Fuller Landau LLP
45 Goderich Road, Unit 11
Hamilton, ON L8E 4W8
Tel: 905-561-2992
Bennie is a Partner at Fuller Landau, and manages the firm’s Audit and Accounting practice in the Hamilton office. With previous experience in a mid-sized firm, and more recently, as a sole practitioner with a team of 8 professionals, Bennie is fully attuned to the evolving needs of his clients. For over 30 years, Bennie has worked closely with his entrepreneurial clients to help them pay less tax, build better businesses, and increase their personal wealth. In addition to providing value-added accounting, tax, and advisory services, Bennie also specializes in the hospitality and food sector, in addition to franchise operations and non-profit organizations. Bennie is Treasurer and former President of the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce, as well as the former President of the Canadian Italian Business Professional Association of Hamilton-Halton. He is a consummate networker who prides himself on being a resource and connector for his many clients and contacts in the industry.
Directors
Director
Fabian Grenning
Grenning & Co.
589 Barton Street, Suite 202
Stoney Creek, ON L8E 6E4
Tel: 905-643-9300
Fabian is the President of Grenning & Co., a locally-owned, accounting firm that has served the Greater Hamilton Area since 1999. They are committed to providing high-quality accounting & bookkeeping services that meet your unique needs—and your budget. Over the years, they have developed a number of specialties, including settlements, corporate and personal tax returns, bookkeeping, and accounting for business start-ups. As their diverse roster of clients will attest, they have the know-how to serve a variety of unique individuals and businesses.
Director
Nadia Klun Stadler
Meridian Credit Union
259 Highway 8
Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1E4
Tel: 905-662-2998 ext. 5261
Nadia hails from a long career in the financial services industry, most recently as part of the Meridian Branch Leadership Team in Stoney Creek. Being a once long time resident of Stoney Creek she is eager to give back to the community she grew up in by transferring her abilities and skills to the Board of Directors of the Stoney Creek Chamber. She believes in the importance of community and is motivated to help the Stoney Creek residents both in personal and business finances achieve their aspirations and realize their full potential. Nadia is committed to helping the Board continue their work in growing the organization to strengthen the business community.
Director
Kim Bailey
GFL Environmental Inc.
65 Green Mountain Rd. W.,
Stoney Creek, ON L8J 1X5.
Kim Bailey is an Administrative Professional with over 30 years of experience in various business sectors. Over the past 24 years, Kim has worked for GFL Environmental Inc. (and its predecessor companies at the Stoney Creek Regional Facility) and continues her work as the Trust Administrator with the Heritage Green Community Trust.
Kim represented GFL Environmental Inc. with the Chamber’s Special Events Committee in 2019 and found it to be a natural transition to becoming a Board Member; she welcomes the challenges and opportunities in working with the team at the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce.
Kim and her family live in Stoney Creek where she continues to volunteer with various organizations.
Director
Doug Robbins
Robbinex Inc.
8 Christie Street,
Grimsby, ON L3M 4H4.
Doug is the President and founder of Robbinex Inc. which is an internationally renowned Canadian Business Intermediary and Business Broker. As a licensed Real Estate & Business Broker in the Province of Ontario, Doug is a seasoned businessman having completed more than 1,000 assignments relating to advising clients on Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A); valuations; transferring businesses to the next generation; partnership resolutions; refinancing; along with numerous other consulting activities.
Doug has long been an active volunteer in various community initiatives and serving on numerous boards.
Director
Monica Di Gregorio
McHugh Whitmore LLP
914 Queenston Road
Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1B7
Tel: 905-662-6001
Monica Di Gregorio is a Lawyer at McHugh Whitmore LLP. Monica practices in the area of Commercial Real Estate, with a primary focus on Land Development. In her Land Development practice, Monica assists land developers and builders in all aspects of the land development process, including land acquisition, subdivision and condominium approvals and unit sales. Monica is a member of the West End Home Builders’ Association and the Hamilton Law Association.
Director
Drew Prinsen
BDC
25 Main Street West
Hamilton, Ontario L8P 1H1
10th Floor
Tel: 905-296-0091 Cell: 289-962-0305
Drew is a Commercial Banker with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) in Hamilton. In his current role he supports medium-sized businesses in the Hamilton and Stoney Creek area by providing project-based capital for growth and advisory services for overcoming the unique challenges entrepreneurs face in today’s competitive landscape. Prior to joining BDC, Drew spent 4 years on the commercial banking team at another financial institution. Drew’s experience includes working with clients in numerous industries including hospitality, automotive, manufacturing and construction.
In his spare time he enjoys golfing, mountain biking, working out at the gym, and spending time with family and friends. Drew’s hometown is St. Catharines, ON and he holds a Bachelors of International Commerce and Global Development from Niagara College.
Administration
Brenda Wilson
Executive Director
Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce
21 Mountain Ave. S. Stoney Creek, ON L8G 2V5
Tel: 905-664-4000
Brenda has had a career that spanned many business sectors including retail, manufacturing, wholesale, and direct selling. Within these channels her team leadership skills were utilized in brand management, marketing (both traditional and social media), sales, product development, operations, and customer relationship management.
With an extensive background in providing people focused strategic direction she delivered award winning results in sales, marketing campaigns and product launches for brands such as Birks, Avon Canada, Laura Canada, Rubbermaid, and Zellers. Together with these companies funds were raised for Kids Help Phone, Canadian Cancer Society, Avon’s Breast Cancer Crusade and United Way.
Brenda loves to travel and has been to over 28 countries on five continents for work and pleasure. An avid reader (over 300 books last year!) she has taken that love of words and stories to the Hamilton Literacy Council as an adult tutor.
Brenda grew up in Stoney Creek and attended McMaster University. She is thrilled to be living once again in Stoney Creek and to be able to use her knowledge and experience to partner with, strengthen and advocate for the local business community
Office-Administrative Assistant
Connie Behie
Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce
21 Mountain Ave. S.
Stoney Creek, ON L8G 2V5
Tel: 905-664-4000
Connie has been the Administrative Assistant at the Stoney Creek Chamber of Commerce since 2001. She has a Diploma in Retail Management and a BA, Sociology/ Political Science from McMaster University and prior to working at the Chamber she was a Retail Manager and Marketing Coordinator. Connie has been very involved in the Stoney Creek community for many years as she was the Executive Director of the Stoney Creek BIA and Chair of the Stoney Creek Canada Flag Day Parade. She has continued to be a tireless community volunteer, continuing her efforts as the Parade Coordinator for the Stoney Creek Santa Claus parade, served on the Stoney Creek 150th Celebration Committee, and volunteers as needed with Battlefield Park and various service clubs at the Peach Festival.
Bookkeeper
Kathie Grosul
Your Books Done Right 905-643-7487