Board of Directors from left, Ellen Boucher, Paul Boisvert, Rhonda Perry, Leanne Smart, Ken Pack, Barry Moffatt, Donald Gagnon, Randy Labadie, Ken O’Leary and Leanne Gray.
Kayla Bertrand
Board of Directors from left, Ellen Boucher, Paul Boisvert, Rhonda Perry, Leanne Smart, Ken Pack, Barry Moffatt, Donald Gagnon, Randy Labadie, Ken O’Leary and Leanne Gray.
Kayla Bertrand
MANSFIELD – About 40 people attended the SADC Pontiac’s annual general meeting, June 12, at Maison Bryson. Attendees were informed of the services the SADC offers local entrepreneurs including business loans, youth business loans, renovation funds, economic development funds, and business training. The organization announced $5 million in total assets belonging to Pontiac businesses – $3.5 million more than they started with. “If the businesses do well, we do well,” said SADC General Director Rhonda Perry.
Financial statements showed a promising future for the SADC despite their almost $500,000 deficit in investment fund expenditures explained as bad debt from large projects that did not prosper. “It’s a consequence of the economic woes that have hit the Pontiac these past few years,” explained Daniel Amyotte. The corporation takes a clear risk when loans are made, even if they are in conjunction with multiple financial institutions with all precautions in place.
Brittany Morin, SADC Business Coordinator, Marketing and Communic-ations then explained highlights from last year and noted the SADC’s partnership with the Pontiac Scholarship Fund, where they were able to offer 24 bursaries this year. Other 2013 highlights were partnerships with the Revitalisation project in L’Ile-aux-Allumettes and Chichester, the Pontiac Chamber of Commerce, the Pontiac Tourism Association, the Youth Entrepreneur Networking Event, etc.
Elections for the Board of Directors took place with: Paul Boisvert in seat 1 as Pontiac West Entrepreneur; Ken O’Leary in seat 2 as Pontiac Centre Entrepreneur; Leanne Gray in seat 3 as Pontiac East Entrepreneur; Randy Labadie to seat 4 for Pontiac Municipality; Ellen Boucher in seat 6 for Representative of non-profit socio-economic organization; Leanne Smart stayed in seat 8 for Women; and Donnie Gagnon was re-elected to seat 9 for MRC Pontiac. Also re-elected unanimously was the accounting firm Welch & Company LLT as auditor for the current fiscal year.