Why join the KWBWA
We welcome women who conduct business primarily within Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Each prospective member represents a classification of business not already represented.
Only one person is permitted per classification and each member is only allowed to represent one category.
2025 - 2026 Board
- President: Catherine Hibbard
- Vice President: Karen Savage
- Treasurer: Nicole Hacock
- Secretary: Rebecca Butler
- Special Projects: Joanne Atkins
- Membership: Sylvie Drader
- Member at Large: Nancy Koebel
- Marketing & Social Media: Shannon Acton
- Past President: Shanna Koetsier
Member Directory
Social Media Management

Shannon Acton
Content Creation
I alleviate the challenges business owners tackle because of inefficient systems and inconsistent online presence by optimizing technology and automating processes, allowing professionals to focus on core operations.
Group Travel

Kendra Allen
Frederick Travel Waterloo
Specializing in group tours, educational travel, leadership programs and more! "Pack your bags, we'll do the rest".
Wealth Management

Joanne Atkins
Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management
Executive Assistant
Our goal is simple - to help you achieve your lifelong financial dreams and goals.
Architect

Emily Boone
Alter Studio d’Abri
Alter Studio d’Abri is a boutique residential architecture firm with experience in new construction and renovation, especially of century homes and mid-century modern homes. We value workplace culture community and are growing in affordable housing and sustainable design. We are a new firm in Kitchener with one member and are fortunate to have a three-member sister firm in North Carolina, where much of our previous work has been.
Retired

Rebecca Butler
Active KWBWA Board Member, Secretary
Rebecca is a former mortgage broker and is currently serving on the KWBWA Board of Directors as Secretary.
Retirement Residence

Allie Comerford
Briarfield Gardens Retirement Residence
Lifestyle Consultant
Allie brings a wealth of experience in hotel hospitality, real estate and is passionate about creating a warm, welcoming environment and helping seniors find the perfect place to call home @ Briarfield Gardens in Kitchener. When she’s not assisting families, Allie enjoys playing board games and spending time with her family.
Golf Professional

Connie Deckert
FORE U Enterprises
Owner / Manager
FORE U Enterprises is a golf services company. Lessons—private, semi-private, clinics and playing lessons. Learn how to use golf as a business tool!
Catering

Irene Divaris
MEAL IN A JAR INC
Owner
At our company, we strive to provide you with the freshest & healthiest alternatives to everyday meals. With our convenient Meal In A Jar service, your life just got a little easier- delivering healthy fast-food options to your house.
Virtual Assistant

Sylvie Drader
Admin Superhero
As the admin superhero of the Positive Mindset Entrepreneurs Club, I keep our community running smoothly behind the scenes. Think of me as your cape-wearing cheerleader here to help entrepreneurs keep a positive mindset.
Residential Real Estate

Linda Dreveny
Re/Max Solid Gold Realty
Residential Realtor
I want to be "Your Real Estate Agent"
Personal Concierge

Suzanne Flinn
Suzanne's Personal Concierge
Owner
I am working as a personal concierge. I love helping people lighten their load, whether that means running errands, organizing their lives, or providing a bit of lifestyle support. It’s all about making life a little easier and more enjoyable for others.
Professional Organizer / Move Management Specialist

Trudy Fraser
Tartan Spaces
Move Management
Professional Organizing, Support and Seamless Move Management. Specializing in helping seniors and their families prepare and transition to a new home!
Travel

Brigitte Gingerich
Travel Consultant
Northstar Travel & Associates
Your personal travel consultant, taking out the frustration and putting in the fun! I can custom select resorts that match your lifestyle and needs in a vacation. Whether those need are for a family, couple or friend vacation! Each requires different considerations. Let me know when you would like to go!
Accounting

Nicole Hacock CPA, CGA
Nicole Hacock Professional Corporation
Accountant
Dedicated to helping small and medium size businesses by providing quality service, individual attention and workable solutions.
Tax Consulting (Returns and Planning)

Catherine Hibbard
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Senior Manager, Tax Services
I provide comprehensive tax planning and compliance services to Canadian businesses and individuals.
Patio Furniture Sale

Kim Jackson
Distinctly Patio
Founder
Distinctly Patio has been proudly providing Kitchener and its surrounding areas with gorgeous wicker furniture and patio accessories for 10 years.We design our very own furniture and bring it straight from the factory to the customer. This allows us to sell quality furniture at low market prices. For brand names, we ALWAYS buy factory direct to keep our costs to a minimum so we can pass those saving on to you.
Life / Disability Insurance

Nancy Koebel
Lyfstyle Financial Inc.
Financial Security Advisor
Helping to create, protect and preserve your financial well-being and Lyfestyle dreams.
Photo Curation

Shanna Koetsier
GingerSnaps
Certified Photo Manager
Shanna is the founder of GingerSnaps, a business dedicated to helping individuals, families, and businesses organize, preserve, and celebrate their photo memories. She specializes in working with both printed and digital photos, offering services such as photo organizing, scanning, video conversion, and custom photo book creation. Shanna is passionate about fostering meaningful connections, supporting women in business, and building a strong, collaborative community.
Custom Designed Jewelry

Kristin Moore
Buy Moore
Owner, Designer and Metalsmith
Telling your story through jewelry.
Food Education

Destiny Moser
FoodZen
Owner
FoodZen's goal is to bring zen to busy family schedules, assist professionals in a better work/life balance, and help seniors maintain their independence by providing locally made, healthy and delicious food. As an Indigenous chef, and growing up surrounded by a farming family, Chef Destiny's focus is to create meals that are hyper-local and ultra-seasonal. Her farm-to-table approach supports many local businesses and favours whole foods over processed ones.
Wholesale Men's Clothing

Donni Rasmussen
Valdemar Designs Inc.
V.P. Finance
Wholesale Distributor of Fine Mens Clothing to Independent Mens Wear Stores.
Automotive Sales & Leasing, New & Used

Karen Savage
Heffner Lexus Toyota
Senior Sales Specialist
Visit Heffner Lexus Toyota for all your automobile (Luxury, Pre-owned and Leasing) needs. Karen is a Senior Sales Specialist with more than 20 years in the automotive sales industry and was the Diamond level recipient in The Record.com - Readers Choice 2019 - Best Auto Salesperson category! Her high level of customer service is what drives her business! Karen only works with referrals, repeat guests and accounts.
Life Coach

Brenda Schrader-Sanders
Jumpstart Your Success
Owner
Moving forward is not a quick fix. To find your "greatness" sometimes this requires a third person to gently point out where and why you may be stuck. Then you can find your "greatness". I am a Registered Hypnotist with the National Guild of Hypnosis since 2014. I'm honoured to have won Waterloo Region, READERS' CHOICE - first place (Diamond) for the year 2022 and 2023. I'm Certified Goal Setting to Success: Life Coach and Certified Personal Transformation Breakthrough Coach. Also, an Energy Psychologist..
Homeopath

Delia Simu
Hom., RBIE, IMG
Loving Health Clinic
Owner
Health and wellness office-Homeopathic consultation and treatments (covered by insurance companies under the extended health benefits), remedies prescriptions, food stressor tests, energy/stamina balance, adrenal balance, thyroid balance, stress balance, acid/alkaline balance, ECHO2 Oxygen facial with collagen induction micro-needling method. Product formulator of Alpha Cellulite cream, author of Conquering Cellulite book.
Commercial Insurance

Gloria Smith
Cowan Insurance Group
Commerical Sales Consultant
Helping businesses identify risks, and providing Risk management and Insurance solutions.
Gardening and Hardware

Elizabeth J Uffelman Wing
Ontario Seed Co. Ltd
Import Manager
Ontario Seed is a long established company serving your gardening and hardware needs in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.
Sr. Home/Health Care Services

Marie Wolf
Promyse Home Care
Executive Director
Promyse Home Care, quality personal and home support services for seniors and adults in Waterloo Region.
Alumni Members

Jacqui McFarlane CFP, CLU, CH F.C.
Retired Alumni
Jacqui McFarlane joined the KWBWA in May 1987. She has dedicated her life to helping people in her community, sharing her knowledge, and making a difference. We thank Jacqui for her 35 years with our association and congratulate her on an outstanding career in financial services.

Carolyn Pegg
Retired Alumni
Carolyn Pegg joined the KWBWA in 2002. As a former teacher, she has devoted her life to spreading knowledge. After her retirement, she worked as a writing tutor at UW and as Office Administrator for The New Quarterly, a leading Canadian literary magazine that publishes short fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction, as well as volunteering for the KPL. Her volunteering efforts now focus on organizing bingos for various charities: St. Mary's Parish, YWCA Family Relocation Project and Kitchener Westmount Rotary. On behalf of the KWBWA, we are appreciative of Carolyn’s 20+ years with our association and congratulate her on her retirement.