Krista Ross joined the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce as CEO in September of 2011 and in 2017 she was chosen Chamber Executive of the Year for Canada by Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada. Krista was also GM of the Fredericton Chamber from 1989 to 1997 followed by 14 years as an award-winning private business owner. With more than 30 years of results-driven experience ranging from association management to printing and communications, to real estate, Krista is excited about supporting businesses through the work of the Chamber, being a community leader, builder and an economic development driver for Fredericton. Krista lives on Fredericton’s north side with her daughter Rachel.

Courtney Larkin is an entrepreneur living in Fredericton, NB with her spouse (Jonathan) and son (Reid). Ms. Larkin is the Owner of ‘Happy Hour Club’, an event planning company that specializes in hosting networking events for women in Fredericton to celebrate their accomplishments; Happy Hour Club has recently expanded to both Moncton and Saint John. She is also the Owner of ‘Luna Baby’ which designed and manufactures their luna pillow, a uniquely designed breastfeeding and bottle-feeding pillow which is helping families across Canada feed their babies in comfort. Prior to moving to Fredericton, she lived in Halifax, NS and worked in fundraising, recruiting, and career services. In 2010, Courtney received a Bachelor of Management and was also awarded the ‘Lily Ju Lifetime Achievement Award’ and ‘Malcolm Honour Award’ by the Dalhousie Student Union, and the ‘Community Contribution Award’ and ‘Mentor of the Year Award’ by the Faculty of Management. Prior to graduating, she served on the Dalhousie Student Union as Vice President Student Life (2007-08) and President (2008-09), and volunteered for over 20 student clubs and events. Additionally, she has been an avid volunteer throughout her career, most notably serving on the Dalhousie Alumni Association’s Board of Directors from 2010-2017; she was elected the Executive Vice President (2013-15) and President (2015-17). Currently Ms. Larkin volunteers on the Local Council in Fredericton for Junior Achievement New Brunswick

Check out her LinkedIn! www.linkedin.com/courtneylarkin

Melissa Lunney is the Market Access Officer at the Joint Economic Development Initiative (JEDI). She has developed and implemented key programs related to fostering Indigenous entrepreneurs and helping them grow their businesses. This includes identifying and solving problems relating to everyday business practices and the additional barriers that Indigenous entrepreneurs face while trying to get their product or service to market.

Melissa is also a Mi’kmaw entrepreneur and is growing her own start up, Appdigenous.  Appdigenous has developed an Internet of Things mobile app called Doorable, which opens accessible doors wirelessly and maps barrier-free environments. This app will provide evidence-based data to enable better informed decision-making in accessibility infrastructure to help cities develop solutions to create a more inclusive community.

Karina LeBlanc is the Executive Director of both the Pond-Deshpande Centre (PDC) at the University of New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Social Policy Research Network (NB-SPRN). With a passion for supporting the growth and development of motivated systems change makers, Karina is invested in inspiring our youth, fuelling the growth of the Impact Economy in Atlantic Canada and creating the connections between sectors needed to drive evidence-based public policy and programming. She is working to build a more equitable and sustainable economy with the creation of such initiatives as the Student Ambassador Program, the Be.For.Change Social Venture Accelerator, the ChangeMaker Funding Program, and NouLAB, a Public and Social Innovation Lab.

Karina has a degree in engineering from Western University and an MBA from York University. She has worked in manufacturing and marketing for Procter & Gamble before getting hooked on the start-up community. She has worked with six different tech start-up companies in Atlantic Canada before taking on the inaugural role of Executive Director for the PDC.

Karina is a mom to three teenagers and is passionate about social innovation, snowboarding, and being a lifelong student.

Aaron Naccarato is the Regional Vice-President of Western New Brunswick at BMO Bank of Montreal. Aaron is focused on ensuring an exceptional customer experience through BMO’s network of 13 branches from Edmundston to Sussex.

Aaron has over 35 years of extensive experience with BMO Bank of Montreal’s Personal and Commercial Banking Group, including Vice-President Commercial Banking in Greater Toronto Division prior to her appointment as Regional Vice-President for Western New Brunswick.

Aaron has strong Atlantic roots, born in St. John’s NL, and spending her summers in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.  She is a seasoned, passionate leader, an acknowledged champion of quality customer service and exceptional employee engagement.  For Aaron banking is all about relationships – those you have with customers and peers, partnered with those you build in the community.

She is a passionate champion of mentoring Women in Business Banking as well as promoting BMO as the bank of choice for female entrepreneurs.  Aaron is a member of the Women’s Presidents Organization, Women’s Executive Network, She-EO, WBE, and Grow Your Biz through BMO's national sponsorship program.

Aaron is also a long-time promoter and plays an active role at both the corporate and local level supporting United Way, JA New Brunswick and Kids Help Phone fundraising efforts.