President
Abbie Sizer
BMO Business Banking, Relationship Manager
Abbie is an experienced banking professional who applies expert knowledge, industry experience, and relentless energy to serving clients. A graduate of the University of Ottawa with a degree in social sciences, she began her career in the non-profit industry and federal government as a researcher and policy analyst. Within a few years, she joined the banking industry, quickly progressing to a wealth management firm, where in her role she ranked 1st in total volume of sales across Canada.
In 2021, Abbie joined BMO’s Business Banking team where she provides tailored business banking solutions such as financing, treasury and payments, and deposit solutions for Small to Medium sized diversified enterprises, health care professionals, and commercial real estate. As a key point of contact for her clients, she is supported by an experienced team of professionals, consisting of a Client Service Officer, Treasury and Payments Specialist, and Financial Planners.
Through her 3-years of volunteer board experience with the WBN, she has proved herself a dynamic leader. She oversees the organization’s operations, human resources, finances, strategic planning, marketing, membership engagement, sponsorships, and event management. Abbie is the 40th, and youngest, President of the Women’s Business Network of the National Capital Region.
Abbie has been nominated for several prestigious awards recognizing her achievements as a financial advisor, community involvement, and leadership. In 2019, the WBN awarded her with the ‘Emerging Leader Award’ for her outstanding contributions to the network.
A new resident within Stittsville’s Crossing Bridge neighbourhood, Abbie is a big believer in shopping local. In her spare time, she enjoys ballroom dancing, reading, hiking with her dog Frank, traveling, and trying new food with her fiancé Jayson.613-894-5823
https://www.bmo.com/
Vice President of Operations
Victoria Stewart
Ottawa Business Journal, Account Executive
Great River connects clients with powerful marketing, media and publishing strategies. Based in Ottawa, Great River produces respected, market-leading local print, digital and event products. The Ottawa Business Journal has been owned and produced by Great River Media since 2010.
The OBJ is a leading media brand in the Ottawa Region, providing news, business resources, local events and marketing opportunities to Ottawa’s B2B community.
victoria@obj.ca
Vice President of Strategic Initiatives
Vacant
Executive Director
Soula Burrell
Entrepreneur, Networking Strategist
Soula is a Membership and Networking Strategist with over 10 years of experience. Her professional attributes have earned her many accolades for client satisfaction. Her experience includes work with solopreneurs, executives, the Nepean Chamber of Commerce, Collab Space and the Hellenic Community of Ottawa.
Soula’s passion is people. She is known for her strong communication skills, friendliness and creating a positive experience.(613) 983-4145
Treasurer
Jennifer Baldwin, CPA, CA
GGFL, LLP, Manager, Assurance & Advisory Services
Corporate Secretary
Shelbi Dippold
Shelbi Dippold is a lawyer at the boutique law firm of SKS Law LLP where her practice focuses primarily on corporate law, estate and succession planning, and civil litigation. She prides herself on taking the “legalese” out of the legal process and helping clients understand the legal complexities facing their businesses and estates. She advises on a range of issues from the incorporation of a start-up business to assisting in the merger or acquisition of larger complex businesses as well as advising on estates of all shapes and sizes.
When not practicing law, she can be found baking up a storm and forcing friends and family to taste test her various creations or throwing on her hiking boots and exploring the Ottawa valley with her dog.
Chair of Events
Corrie Cassalman
For over 20 years, Corrie has worked with clients in helping them achieve financial freedom. She started in the financial services industry in 1999 and has been with RBC since 2001. She brings her expertise to personal and small business clients in her current role of Financial Planner, specializing in investment and retirement planning. She strives to find a balance approach that makes sense for her clients, balancing today’s needs with tomorrow’s objectives. A graduate of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Commerce program, Corrie has earned her Certified Financial Planner and Chartered Investment Manager designations as well as completed many other industry courses. She is proud to call Ottawa home and enjoys exploring all that Ottawa has to offer.
Acting Chair of Membership
Dina Beaudoin
For several years, Dina had supported the network and appreciated the profound impact of the WBN from the outside, looking in. This was through attending charitable events, participating in community initiatives, and listening to the outstanding stories of WBN founding members. Add to that being a firsthand witness to the rise and evolution of her own mother’s journey as a woman business owner and active contributor within the network, it was just a matter of time before Dina decided to “come on home” to the WBN.
Now as a proud member and self-proclaimed “lifer”, Dina recognizes the powerful ripple effect throughout the National Capital Region because of the collaboration, contribution, and actions that occur amongst members within the WBN. The relationships and the unending efforts are a force unlike any other. It is both a privilege and a great responsibility to follow in the footsteps of long-time members and the legacy of what this network represents. Dina believes deeply in acknowledging where we have come from and who has walked before us, in all areas of our lives, and to recognize how we can honour, learn, and carry the torch forward.
Professionally, having worked in marketing, media and HR for 15 years, Dina’s career path is now dedicated to military service and the family business. Celebrating 26 years in business, the Beaudoin family supports thousands of consumers with household and health-related grocery services, providing convenient online shopping and home delivery. As a servant leader in her professional and personal life, Dina’s beliefs and actions are to show up with enthusiasm, compassion, openness and an acceptance that we are always “becoming”. Dina’s approach is to be REAL and imperfect, as life is all about learning, teaching, falling, rising, and growing together. As a favourite quote and personal family motto reads:
“Be patient with me God, I’m a work in a progress …”
(613)986-4633
Chair of Gala
Deborah Bard
Deborah Bard Consulting , CEO
At Bard Consulting we offer senior professionals with a record of driving business process management and operational excellence. Our goal is to help businesses achieve process standards and create positive change to increase profitability.
I have worked in the Airline industry in Europe for most of my career in Project Management, Continuous Improvement and Kaizen/Lean process management. After 20 years living in Switzerland, my husband I moved to Ottawa last fall, to be closer to family and to foster the Canadian roots in our children. I enjoy meeting people, building relationships and giving back to the community, which is why I have joined the WBN.613-852-4376
Chair of Nominations
Darlene Kelly
Business and Leadership Coach
Darlene is passionate about helping entrepreneurs, new managers, executives and their teams to realize their full potential as leaders.
She enjoys helping them to uncover their unique authentic brand of leadership and to lead in alignment with their core values to achieve superior results for themselves and their organizations.
Darlene brings over 20 years of experience as both an accomplished entrepreneur/business owner and executive in the technology sector to her work as a business and leadership coach to organizations. She has first-hand knowledge of the challenges leaders are facing and a proven approach to help her clients realize their full impact as leaders. Uncovering those courageous conversations that result in meaningful and lasting change for her clients is central to her work as a coach.
Darlene holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree as well as her designation as a Chartered Public Accountant (CPA). Darlene was honored as a Fellow of the accounting profession (FCPA), its highest honour, in recognition of her outstanding career, as a leader both in business and in the community. Darlene is a graduate of the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and is certified on the Leadership Circle Profile (360 leadership assessment) as well as the Birkman Personality Assessment.https://www.linkedin.com/in/darlene-kelly/
Chair of Mentorship
Laura Tippett
KPMG, Director, Global Mobility Services at KPMG
Background:
Laura is a Senior Manager in KPMG’s Regions East Global Mobility Services (GMS) practice. Laura has over 13 years’ experience in Canadian and US personal tax and expatriate taxation. Laura is based out of KPMG’s Ottawa office but has primary responsibility for clients all over Eastern Canada.
Professional and Industry Experience:
Laura assists companies and their employees who are travelling cross-border. She works with employees who are on foreign assignment, travelling internationally on business, or relocating cross-border.
Laura has managed the Canadian/US expatriate programs for numerous multinational organizations, including overseeing several programs that have hundreds of Canadian-touching assignees annually. Laura advises on the management of international assignment programs; considers the tax and payroll aspects of international assignments; works with corporate tax colleagues to address the international corporate tax implications of those assignments; and works with immigration professionals to consider both the tax and immigration implications of cross-border travel. She also has experience working with international executives in high touch situations.
In addition to mobility program clients, Laura works with individuals who are US citizens residing in Canada, are Canadians spending time in the US, or have cross-border investments.
Laura also advises on Canadian and US issues related to compensation and benefit plans, including various types of equity and retirement plans.
A graduate of the University of Waterloo’s Master of Accounting program, Laura is a Canadian trained CPA, CA and also holds her US CPA designation.
Community Involvement:
Laura has been involved in organizing events for the Alzheimer Society and has volunteered her time in an accounting and finance role for the Tumaini Children’s Project, a non-profit organization. She also co-leads the KPMG Ottawa women’s network “Thrive” and is an active member of the Ottawa Women’s Business Network (WBN), including chair of the Mentorship Program Committee.https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-tippett/
