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Meet the Team

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) is the lead regional economic development agency contracted to conduct core economic development activities on behalf of the City and County of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. PKED also operates Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism (the region’s official Destination Marketing Organization and Visitor Centre), and the Business Advisory Centre (the region’s Small Business Enterprise Centre).

PKED’s Leadership Team

Rhonda Keenan

Rhonda Keenan

President and CEO

Connect with Rhonda for:

• Strategic corporate opportunities and initiatives
• Site selection and investment attraction support

Joe Rees

Joe Rees

Director of Tourism

Cell: 705-872-6852

Connect with Joe for:

• Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism related inquiries
• Tourism investment inquiries

Barb van Vierzen

Barb van Vierzen

Director of Operations

Connect with Barb for:

• Employment opportunities with PKED
• Procurement & Contract opportunities with PKED

Kelly Jessup

Kelly Jessup

Director of Marketing & Communications

Cell: 705-749-7747

Connect with Kelly for:

• Destination Marketing related marketing and media opportunities
• Economic Development related marketing and media opportunities

Jamey Coughlin

Jamey Coughlin

Director of Business Attraction, Retention & Expansion

Connect with Jamey for:

• Business attraction related inquiries
• Business retention and expansion related inquiries

PKED’s Business Attraction, Retention & Expansion Team

Gabi Dragomir

Gabi Dragomir

Rural Economic Development Officer

Cell: 705-872-6224

Connect with Gabi for:

• Agriculture related inquiries
• Kawartha Choice Farm Fresh Program

Eleni Gagovski

Eleni Gagovski

Economic Development Officer

Cell: 705-875-2916

Connect with Eleni for:

• Aerospace, Cleantech and Advanced Manufacturing related inquiries
• Business Expansion inquiries

PKED’s Business Advisory Centre Team

The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Business Advisory Centre is one of the 54 locations in Ontario’s Small Business Enterprise Network.

Madeleine Hurrell

Madeleine Hurrell

Manager, Business Advisory Centre

Email Madeleine

Connect with Madeleine for:

• Starter Company Plus program
• Small business support

Kit Hickey

Kit Hickey

Business Advisory Centre Coordinator

Cell: 705-875-5724

Connect with Kit for:

• Small Business Advisory Centre inquiries
• Summer Company program

The Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism Team, including the Regional Visitor Centre

Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism is the official Destination Marketing Organization for the region.

Andrea Moreau

Andrea Moreau

Economic Development Officer – Tourism

Cell: 705-761-1410

Connect with Andrea for:

• Meetings, Conferences and Incentive Travel related inquiries
• Sports Tourism related inquiries

Jaimie Eastabrook

Jaimie Eastabrook

Tourism Development Officer

Connect with Jaimie for:

• Spark Program and product development support for tourism businesses
• Registering a business with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism

Jocelyn Gilmour

Jocelyn Gilmour

Visitor Experience Officer

Cell: 705-930-6897

Connect with Jocelyn for:

• Visitor Centre & Visitor Services related inquiries
• Tourism events calendar listings

PKED’s Marketing & Communications Team

Christine Drage

Christine Drage

Marketing & Communications Officer

Cell: 705-872-6802

Connect with Christine for:

• Marketing and media requests related to small business and economic development
• Website and social media inquiries related to small business and economic development

Cara Walsh

Cara Walsh

Marketing & Communications Officer

Cell: 705-872-1705

Connect with Cara for:

• Marketing and media requests related to travel and tourism
• Website and social media inquiries related to travel and tourism