Our Team

PKED Leadership Team

Rhonda Keenan

President and CEO

705-743-0777 Ext. 2120

As President & CEO for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development, Rhonda leads and mobilizes the organization to achieve its mission and vision. Works directly with the PKED team to the promote, facilitate and develop a strong unified economic development presence within the region. Working cooperatively with local municipalities, businesses and other organizations and stakeholders to ensure that business investment opportunities through the region are effectively developed and supported.

Suzanne McCrimmon

Director of Business Development

705-743-0777 ext. 2127
Cell: 705-872-6802

As Director of Business Development, Suzanne leads a team of Economic Development Officers to support and assist existing businesses, potential investors and local municipal initiatives.

Barb van Vierzen

Director of Operations

705-743-0777 Ext. 2162

As Director of Operations, Barb develops and manages the processes and support systems that help ensure the smooth functioning of the organization so that staff can successfully fulfill their mission. Barb also provides leadership to the Operations Team and oversees the human resources, procurement processes, policy and procedure development, records management functions and any other legislated requirements of the corporation.

Contact Barb for: information regarding Human Resources, procurement processes, records inquiries, policies and procedures.

Tracie Bertrand

Director of Tourism and Communications

705-743-0777 Ext. 2129
Cell: 705-872-7926

As the Director of Tourism and Communications, Tracie coordinates the promotion of PKED and the services offered to targeted regional, national and global markets. Tracie also provides leadership to Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism, the region's official destination marketing organization, in order to attract visitors and larger scale tourism-related investments to the local economy.

PKED Business Development Team

Joe Rees

Economic Development Officer - Tourism Sector

705-743-0777 Ext. 2138

As the Tourism Sector EDO, Joe develops and converts leads and inquiries within the regional tourism industry into investment expansion, job creation and development activities that ultimately help Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development fulfill its mission to promote and facilitate business opportunities to create a thriving economy, resulting in regional prosperity.

Madeleine Hurrell

Entrepreneurship Officer
Business Advisory Centre

705-743-0777 x 2136
Cell: 705-875-5724

As the Entrepreneurship Officer that oversees the Starter Company Plus program, Madeleine leads the development of services for entrepreneurs through the Business Advisory Centre (BAC) program to guide small business talent and investments in the Peterborough region.

Steven Tripp

Business Retention & Expansion Officer

705-743-0777 Ext. 2123
Cell: 705-930-6281

As the Business Retention & Expansion Officer, Steven develops and converts leads and inquiries into investment expansion, job creation and development activities that ultimately help PKED fulfill its mission to promote and facilitate business opportunities to create a thriving economy, resulting in regional prosperity.

Gabi Dragomir

Rural Economic Development Officer

705-743-0777 Ext. 2160
Cell: 705-872-6224

As the Rural Economic Development Officer, Gabi works with the Peterborough region’s rural communities and businesses to identify rural and agriculture-based investment opportunities. Gabi develops and converts leads and inquiries into investment expansion, job creation and development activities that ultimately help to create a thriving economy, resulting in regional prosperity.

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism Team

Jaimie Eastabrook

Visitor Experience Officer

705-742-2201 Ext. 2141

As Visitor Experience Officer, Jaimie develops and implements tourism communications and programs to attract visitors, local residents and tourism related investments. Oversees the front line operations of the PKT Visitor Centre.

Susan Quinlan

Tourism Partnerships & Development Officer

705-742-2201 Ext. 2143

As Tourism Partnership & Development Officer, Susan leads partnership initiatives with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism to generate tourism product and program development that attracts visitors, local resident and larger-scale tourism related investments to the region.

Hannah Barclay

Visitor Services Assistant

705-743-0777 Ext. 2155

As the Interim Visitor Services Assistant, Hannah serves as first point of contact and provides front line services within the PKT Visitor Centre to new and local visitors.

Operations Team

Gail Henderson

Corporate Finance Specialist

705-743-0777 Ext 2140

As the Corporate Financial Specialist, Gail oversees the daily financial operations and key activities of the corporation to assist staff in successfully fulfilling and achieving set targets and project goals. As part of the Operations team, Gail also ensures that corporate expenditures are in compliance with policies and procedures and assists in monitoring key funding initiatives for reporting requirements. She supports key record management functions and supports the Financial Controller with reconciliation activities. She is also a member of the Joint Health & Safety Committee.

Contact Gail for: financial related inquiries re: accounts payables and receivables, proof of payment, general financial inquiries.

Aleks de Oliveira

Corporate Operations Coordinator

705-743-0777 Ext. 2122

As Corporate Operations Specialist, Aleks leads key executive and administrative services to help ensure the smooth functioning of the organization. She provides essential support to the President/CEO as well as the PKED Board of Directors. As part of the Operations team, she oversees the day-to-day functions of the organization ensuring staff have the resources to complete daily tasks. Aleks supports the record management functions of the organization and serves as PKED’s Health & Safety Officer. She also provides administrative support to the Kawartha Manufacturers Association and is a key organizer for many of the monthly meetings.

Contact Aleks for: appointments with the President/CEO, inquiries regarding the Board of Directors or KMA, general inquiries.

Marketing & Communications Team

Kelly Jessup

Corporate Marketing Officer

705-743-0777 Ext. 2130
Cell: 705-749-7747

As the Corporate Marketing Officer, Kelly leads the marketing development and promotion of core initiatives on a provincial, national and global level. Kelly serves as the first point of contact for all external media outlets and journalists.

Keaton Robbins

Corporate Communications Officer

705-743-0777 ext. 2116
Cell: 705-761-3683

As the Corporate Communications Officer, Keaton leads the promotion of core economic development initiatives of Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development externally to the Peterborough region.
Keaton also works collaboratively with the Marketing and Communications team to promote corporate programs and initiatives to stakeholders, media and the public.

Alyssa Cymbalista

Corporate Digital Media Coordinator

705-743-0777 ext. 2175
Cell: 705-875-2330

As Corporate Digital Media Coordinator, Alyssa supports the marketing and communications efforts of PKED overseeing the social media accounts. Serves as the main contact for the digital voice of the corporation online.