LOWBIC Staff

                                             (L to R - Ted Couch, Louise Tresoor, Ryan Reynard, Jon Johnson, Brian Vroomen)

Ryan Reynard, MBA - Executive Director

Ryan was born and raised in Kenora until Hockey and School took him to Colorado Springs, Colorado. While attending Colorado College on a full hockey scholarship, Ryan earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He also completed his MBA in Global Management.  Ryan played professional hockey for 1 year after graduating college.  During his time in Colorado, Ryan worked in the Hi-Tech industry for SCI Systems & Agilent Technologies. Colorado was home to Ryan for nearly 10 years until he and his family decided to return to Northwestern Ontario, where he worked for Weyerhaeuser. Ryan joined LOWBIC as the Executive Director in early 2006. Ryan has had a significant impact at LOWBIC, helping the corporation regain stability and rebuild the trust of the business community and government agencies! Ryan has also been President of the Northwestern Ontario Development Network (NODN) since 2009. Ryan has a passion for community and economic development activities, helping make the Kenora area a great place to live and work. Ryan and his wife Michelle have two wonderful daughters – Natalina and Isabella. Ryan is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys playing hockey, golf, baseball and coaching his girls in hockey!!

Tel: (807) 467-4657

Fax: (807) 467-4645

Email: rreynard@lowbic.on.ca

Address: 301 First Ave South Kenora, ON P9N 1W2

Ted Couch, Ec.D. - Business Development & Loans Officer

Ted is the Business Development and Lending Officer for LOWBIC.  Ted is a Certified Economic Developer (Ec.D), from the Economic Developers Association of Canada, and has taught year 2 of the Economic Development Certification Program across Canada. For many years Ted was involved in the private sector as Controller for various sawmills in Northwestern Ontario.  He has worked on numerous projects, including telecommunications and snowmobiling, assisting in the formation of the Northwestern Ontario Snowmobiling Trails Association (NWOSTA). Ted has also participated in regional development networks, assisting in the formation of the Northwestern Ontario Development Network (NODN), whose aim is to increase economic stability and growth throughout Northwestern Ontario.

Tel: (807) 467-4651

Fax: (807) 467-4645

Email: tcouch@lowbic.on.ca

Address: 301 First Ave South Kenora, ON P9N 1W2

Louise Tresoor, B.Ed. – Self Employment Benefit Coordinator (Acting)

Louise joined LOWBIC on a contract basis as the Business Development & Lending Assistant. Her contract expired at the end of March 2011. Timing was everything as Louise was a natural fit to fill the maternity leave of our existing SEB Program Coordinator. Louise has over 20 years experience operating a small business in Kenora. Prior to getting her Bachelor of Education degree, Louise had worked in the financial services industry for four years. After six years of teaching elementary school, Louise moved to Kenora, with her husband and family, to take over an existing family business. The small business experience Louise brings to LOWBIC is an asset in working with local entrepreneurs.

Tel: (807) 467-4642

Fax: (807) 467-4645

Email: ltresoor@lowbic.on.ca

Address: 301 First Ave South Kenora, ON P9N 1W2

Jon Johnson, B.Comm Hon. – Communication Intern

Jon joined LOWBIC as a Communication Intern in mid-October of 2011 and will be working on various media and advertising campaigns, including maintenance of the new LOWBIC website.  After graduating from Kenora’s Beaver Brae Highschool in 2004, Jon pursued his hockey career playing in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League for the Winkler Flyers and later the Neepawa Natives. Upon completion of his junior career, Jon decided to stay in Manitoba and begin his University studies while still playing hockey at the Senior level for the Kenora Thistles. Jon is a recent graduate of the University of Manitoba earning a 4-year BA in Commerce (Honours) from the Asper School of Business. He is excited to be back in Kenora after many years in Manitoba and will be a great addition to the LOWBIC team.

Tel: (807) 467-4641

Fax: (807) 467-4645

Email: jjohnson@lowbic.on.ca

Address: 301 First Ave South Kenora, ON P9N 1W2

Crystal Mousseau-Kast - Self Employment Benefit Coordinator

Crystal joined LOWBIC in August 2007 and brings with her a very good understanding of entrepreneurialism and small business. Crystal is a graduate of the International Business Management program through Confederation College and had the opportunity to participate in business study exchange programs. Born and raised in Northwestern Ontario, Crystal comes to LOWBIC with a wealth of business orientated experiences, having participated with family owned businesses and spending the last 3 years in the financial services industry. Having an appreciation as to the challenges of business ownership and doing business in Northwestern Ontario, Crystal is eager to meet new clients and assist in their business endeavours.

Tel: (807) 467-4642

Fax: (807) 467-4645

Email: cmousseau@lowbic.on.ca

Address: 301 First Ave South Kenora, ON P9N 1W2

Brian Vroomen – Accountant and Executive Assistant

Brian joined LOWBIC in August 2006, bringing with him 6 years of corporate non-profit work experience and 11 years non-profit board experience. Brian understands small business intimately, having had 14 years of self employed experience managing his own income tax franchise and computer training business, growing its resale value at an annual rate of 16%. At one time a Certified Financial Planner, Brian brings with him a background which nicely complements our client’s needs. He presents his own workshops for clients and is a charismatic present. As LOWBIC’s goal is to help clients, he created a cash flow planning spreadsheet that has greatly improved the product produced by clients making their submissions much more accurate, easy to produce, and this tool improved our internal processes to yield a faster client turnaround time. When not working at LOWBIC, Brian may be found reading books to expand his skills, teaching a course at Confederation College, or helping his wife Lena with her own Hip Hop dance business. Entrepreneurship runs in the family!

Tel: (807) 467-4630

Fax: (807) 467-4645

Email: lowbic@lowbic.on.ca

Address: 301 First Ave South Kenora, ON P9N 1W2