Who We Are

Supporting the financial, social, and individual well-being of the people, businesses and communities we serve in the Annapolis Valley.

The Valley Regional Enterprise Network Is Here For You!

Helping the Valley grow and prosper.

With services designed to grow economic well-being and sustainability, the Valley Regional Enterprise Network is the only publicly funded organization dedicated to supporting the local economic development of seven municipalities and one First Nation in the Annapolis Valley region, with the potential of reaching two additional municipalities and two First Nations.

Valley REN At a Glance

Incorporated in March 2014.
Members are Glooscap First Nation, the Municipalities of the County of Kings and the District of West Hants, and the Towns of Berwick, Kentville, Middleton, Windsor and Wolfville.
Funding is provided by these members and is matched by the Province of Nova Scotia.
Governed by a Liaison and Oversight Committee and a Board of Directors from the private sector.

Our Unique Role and Competitive Advantage

The Valley REN’s competitive advantage is our ability to objectively address the economic and business development needs of the Region as a whole – without being confined to municipal boundaries – and, despite being publicly funded on an inter-municipal and provincial basis, to have the overview necessary to link both public and private sector organizations to achieve specific economic development objectives in the Annapolis Valley.

If public and private organizations work together, we will create a more competitive and attractive region from a business standpoint, evident in an increase and retention of diverse and sustainable business activity among small, medium and large businesses, as well as in attracting labour force and new residents.

Our Mandate

Provide centralized access to regional “Valley” business and economic data, including proprietary research to assess the needs and performance of local businesses.
Recommend and drive Annapolis Valley regional economic development strategies and measurable growth, with a view to reflecting the needs and goals of private business, municipalities and the Province.
Act as “Opportunity Connectors” across the private and public sectors, so that the dreams of businesses and individuals can become a reality.

Serve as supporters and enablers of regional competitiveness and investment readiness, by communicating the Valley’s advantages and potential to local, provincial, national and international audiences.
Make a meaningful and positive impact on the Valley’s regional economic development, by demonstrating impact, progress and measurable results from within the REN organization.

Our Team

Jennifer Tufts, CEO
jtufts@valleyren.ca

Rachel Brighton, EDO – Research Analyst
rbrighton@valleyren.ca

Richelle Brown Redden, EDO – BusinessNOW
rbrownredden@valleyren.ca

Emily Kennedy, Connector Program Coordinator
ekennedy@valleyren.ca

Christina Palmer, Office Manager
cpalmer@valleyren.ca

Board of Directors

David Ritcey

Chair

Director, Wealth Management, Scotia Wealth Management

David Ritcey has been with ScotiaMcLeod in Kentville for the past 26 years and is a Portfolio Manager and Director, Wealth Management. He earned BSc and BBA degrees from Acadia University and is a Certified Financial Planner, Certified Investment Manager, Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute, Certified Investment Management Analyst, and Trust and Estate Practitioner. Beyond his activity in a number of industry-related organizations, Dave has a wealth of experience serving on local boards and is currently serving on the boards of Scotia Solar Energy Inc., Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce and Kings Historical Society. Dave makes Kentville his home with his wife, Melissa.

Gerard d’Entremont

Vice Chair

Community Innovation Lead, NSCC (Nova Scotia Community College) – Annapolis Valley Region

Gerard d’Entremont is the Community Innovation Lead with the Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec and Annapolis Valley campuses. With 21 years’ experience under his belt, he links client needs with customized training-based solutions, helping organizations increase organisational effectiveness. He holds a BA (Economics) and BEd from Mount Allison University and a MEd in Educational Administration from the University of New Brunswick. Gerard and his wife Becky live in Kentville along with their two daughters, Heather and Darcy.

Heather Delage
Vice President, Business Development & General Manager, BioVectra

With over 25 years of commercialization experience in Diagnostics, Pharma and Biotech, Heather started at Diagnostic Chemicals Limited in 1990, moving to BioVectra in the year 2000. With increasing leadership roles in commercial functions, building a business development team and client base as a specialized global CDMO, Heather was appointed to Vice President, Business Development, for BioVectra in 2014 and is the General Manager at the Windsor site. She has a BBA from the University of Prince Edward Island as well as Continuing Education through McGill Mini-MBA program and York School of Business. Heather is passionate about partnering across biotech to bring life-changing therapy to patients.

Paul Dixon
Owner/Operator at Safeguard Property Management & Services

Paul is the President of Safeguard Property Management, serving all three counties of Hants, Kings and Annapolis. Originally from Paradise, Newfoundland, Paul was transferred to the Valley back in 1994 to work at Zellers in New Minas instantly falling in love with the area, never wanting to leave. Following Zellers, and before opening Safeguard in 2016, Paul worked at Staples, Home Depot and Workplace Essentials in the roles of Sales Management, Store Management and Operations.

Rick Dunham
Maritime Pressure Works, Combustion Section

Retiring as CEO of Maritime Pressure Works, a high-pressure boiler fabrication and repair company Rick formed in 1998, Rick turned his interests to several properties and business ventures in the Windsor area, becoming a major factor in the business sector of the town. In 2011 , he and his wife Debbie purchased the Spitfire Arms Ale House and in 2014 opened Fry Daddy’s Restaurant. A second Fry Daddy’s Restaurant opened in Fall 2018. It was Debbie’s retirement from the Dartmouth school system that brought the Dunhams to Windsor, initially to open the Clockmaker’s Inn. Rick completed his Bachelor of Science at St. Mary’s University.

Michele Fash
Director, Business Development, ACENET

Michele Fash is the Director of Business Development with ACENET. She has been in the marketing field for 25 years, her career spanning the federal government and both large and small companies in the private sector. Her background includes industrial goods, consumer packaged goods, the grocery trade, private consulting, and now the technology sector. Michele graduated from Acadia University with a BBA, later completing an MBA at Dalhousie University. Having been away for a number of years, she has been back living in Wolfville with her husband and son since 2008.

Barry Gander
Co-Founder, i-Canada

For 30 years Barry Gander has helped jump-start the development of advanced technology organizations in Canada and abroad. As Executive Vice-President of Canada’s largest high-tech association, the Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, Barry has helped showcase the best of Canadian innovation to global markets. The i-CANADA program, which he co-founded, aims to create an “Intelligent Nation” by establishing a grassroots movement of communities that network digitally at ultra-fast speed. He has authored several best-selling books and created new social networks. Recently, he co-founded i-Valley, dedicated to the creation of a Smart Annapolis Valley.

Bob Gaudet
Production Manager, Michelin North America (Canada) – Waterville facility

Bob has held many roles in his 37-year career with Michelin, which include, supply chain, IT, quality technician, HR Management, and Environment, Health and Safety. After working for several years as a purchasing agent in the Alberta oilfield industry, Bob returned to Nova Scotia to start his career with Michelin. He first worked in the Granton plant and then transferred to the Annapolis Valley for the start up of the Waterville facility. He is currently the Production Manager at the facility. Bob graduated from Acadia University with a BBA. Bob’s other community involvement has included chairing the Annapolis Valley Safe Communities Coalition and membership of the VBLI.

Dan Mullen
Owner/Operator, Velocity One Natural Products Limited

Dan Mullen is a second-generation mink farmer, Past President of the Nova Scotia Mink Breeders Association, and served on various boards during the development of the Nova Scotia Fur Industry Act and the National Humane Care Code for mink. Dan received his Pastoral Theology Diploma from Summit Pacific College and spent four years in the British Colombia lumber sector.
After five years as a residential construction project manager in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Dan put down roots in Waterville with his wife, Karen, and three children, building a new farm, continuing the Mullen family mink tradition. Most recently, Dan and Karen started Grafton Greenhouse Greens, a local greenhouse business, focused on the year-round production of pesticide-free, hydroponic lettuce.

Scott Roberts
Executive Director, Communications and Public Relations, Acadia University

Scott Roberts, Executive Director Communications and Marketing, joined Acadia University in January 2004 to manage its communications activities related to strengthening the Acadia brand with incoming students, community stakeholders and news media. Scott has more than 25 years of combined experience in communications, government relations and public policy development across Canada as well as a BA (Economics) from the University of Waterloo. He and his wife, Janet, have two sons and live in Wolfville, where they are both active community volunteers.

Stephen Shaw
Executive Director, CBDC Hants-Kings

Stephen Shaw is the Executive Director of CBDC Hants-Kings. With an MBA (Finance) from Saint Mary’s University and more than 25 years of banking and small business experience, Stephen is a customer-focused leader with a passion for community, who wants to ensure that all entrepreneurs receive the advice, training and financing they need to be successful and a productive part of our local economy. CBDC (Community Business Development Corporation) Hants-Kings is a government-supported not-for-profit organization that specializes in job creation and economic development by providing training, advice and financing to businesses in our area. CBDC Hants-Kings is proud to have been serving the counties of Kings, West Hants and East Hants for more than 25 years and building the largest loan portfolio of any CBDC or their equivalent across Canada.

Cris Shirritt
Founder, BTW Law

Cris launched BTW Law in 2015 to focus exclusively on supporting Annapolis Valley businesses and their owners. In his role as a legal and business advisor, Cris sees on a daily basis the opportunities and challenges of doing business in the Annapolis Valley. Cris graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with degrees in accounting and law. He has also completed Levels I, II and III of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada’s In-depth Tax Program. Cris began his legal career in the tax group of a large, regional law firm, providing tax and business advice to clients ranging from single-owner start-up businesses to multi-national public companies. His personal business background includes establishing two start-up ventures and managing the growth and contraction of a well-established business. Cris has been an active community volunteer and is currently a director and member of the executive committee of the Annapolis Valley Chamber of Commerce.