Our Business Advisors are seasoned professionals with extensive backgrounds providing sound business advice tailored to your individual business model. All of the Advisors at the Centre have a wealth of relevant entrepreneurship business knowledge from operating their own small businesses.

Gary Peters, Business Advisor

e-mail: gary@guelphbusiness.com

Gary has owned and operated two successful businesses within the last 20 years as well as a real estate investment business. Operating companies that range in size from start-up to those with $2.5 million in annual sales with up to 18 employees. Gary has thrived in costs and time driven environments within the retail and service sector. In addition, he has also acted as a group facilitator providing debriefing / consulting services for small to mid-sized companies.

Len Robinson, Business Advisor

e-mail: len@guelphbusiness.com

Len's forte is as a business generalist. He has over 30 years of experience in a wide range of industries including retail merchandising, warehousing and fulfillment, distribution and delivery, travel and tourism, and business development. He has owned and operated companies including startups and turnarounds. His staff levels have ranged from as few as 3 to over 250, operating from both single store front locations and multiple warehouses across Canada. He has also operated his own fleet of trucks. Now his passion is to help others become successful in their own business.

Chris Kuehl, Administration

e-mail: chris@guelphbusiness.com

Chris has an extensive administrative background with experience including Customer Service, Accounts Payable and Receivable, Order Entry and Vendor Contact.

Chris handles all of the administrative functions for the SEB Program from initial contact with program participants to administrative support for internal staff.

Lindsay O’Handley,
Research Database

e-mail: lindsay@guelphbusiness.com

Lindsay’s background is in National Sales Management, Product Management, National Account Sales and Territorial Sales for multi-national manufacturers with products sold through both Industrial and Retail channels. He assists clients in their gathering of Market Research in support of their business idea and is developing an electronic database of both business and government websites to assist with Market Research.

Patricia Koopmans, Bookkeeping Assistance

e-mail: bookkeeping@guelphbusiness.com

Patricia has 26 years experience in the accounting field and has owned & operated two businesses providing bookkeeping & accounting services to small business. Her background includes public accounting, Financial Manager for a Historic Museum and Accounting Manager for an international corporation. Her background in business is diverse and over the years she has developed knowledge for service industries, construction, professional and manufacturing. Patricia provides direction to SEB clients in software formatting, application and reporting and provides answers and links to tax questions and tax laws.