We Can Help
Diana Train
Facility & Event Manager
Diana is the first point of contact for Innovation Guelph and if you have questions, she’s most likely to have the answers!
About Diana
One of Diana’s passions in life is connecting with her community and its members. After graduating with 2 Hospitality Degrees from Fanshawe College, Diana entered into the busy but rewarding life of Restaurant Management. Looking for a change, Diana worked at the Downtown Guelph Business Association, and gained the skills she needed to make a career change. Now she is pleased to be the Front of House Coordinator at Innovation Guelph.
Carly Beneteau
Program Manager, Rhyze Up!
About Carly
With close to 10 years of experience in the non-profit sector, Carly leverages her Bachelor of Psychology Degree, and Social Service Worker Diploma to help clients grow and achieve their goals by connecting them to expertise and supports within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Her experience in non-profit project management allows her oversee projects, coordinate and run events, supervise staff, and improve processes. She utilizes her organizational skills and problem-solving abilities to put the client first and help them overcome their business challenges. In her free time Carly enjoys cooking, baking, and Zumba.
Katherine Laycock
Program Manager, Rhyze Ventures
Rhyze Ventures is a custom-designed program created by women entrepreneurs, for women entrepreneurs. We have crafted a balance of in-class learning, practical hands-on project work, mentorship, and peer-to-peer networking.
About Katherine
Drawing on her work on global issues such as resilience planning, social capital efficacy, the climate crisis, and gender dynamics, Katherine’s contribution to women entrepreneurship, as program manager of IG Rhyze Ventures, is informed by extensive knowledge and international experience in capacity development, international studies, and planning. Katherine demonstrates her belief in community engagement by serving on several boards and assisting the Red Cross Disaster Management team. Katherine enjoys travel, embraces change and believes success in life is never static.
Jordann Hunsperger
Program Manager, i.d.e.a. Fund
i.d.e.a. Fund fosters inclusion, diversity, environment and acceleration while contributing to a green recovery, and is delivered in partnership with the following Ontario Regional Innovation Centres (RICs) to support a more sustainable economy while fostering an inclusive and equitable recovery in southern Ontario.
About Jordann
After graduating from the post-graduate Community and Social Services Management program at Conestoga College, Jordann joined the Innovation Guelph team eager to learn about the exciting things happening in the entrepreneur community. A self-proclaimed multitasker, Jordann enjoys assisting her program manager with a variety of tasks including program development, project management, event planning, data entry, and more, to ensure that programming runs smoothly for our entrepreneurs in the Startup Program. In her free time, Jordann enjoys spending time with her family, enjoying the outdoors, and playing piano.
Shawna Hamilton
CE iHub Program Manager
The CFE iHub supports the creation of new businesses and collaborations that contribute to a circular economy through the development of circular solutions. Activate Circular Accelerator helps scalable businesses rethink waste and reach new markets through circular knowledge and practices.
About Shawna
Shawna has worked primarily in research, in both academic and government roles. With her B.Sc. in Brain & Cognition and an MES in Geography she is particularly interested in research projects that seek to improve our relationship with the environment. Shawna enjoys connecting people to each other and is motivated to integrate sustainability and mental health awareness into everything that she does. Outside of work, her interests include painting, sewing and swimming.
