Michael Sanderson

Director

Michael has been at SMUEC for over 20 years. His educational background combined with many of his entrepreneurial experiences help guide the Centre. He’s always working on a side hustle or two – he’s currently creating a platform to help people learn unique skills. Owning a restaurant is still on his bucket list, mostly so he would have a place to eat all the time. Movies have always been a passion for Michael – he used to own a video store and even made a 5-minute film that showed at the Atlantic Film Festival (Reality). His favorites are The Professional, The Princess Bride, The Abyss, The Usual Suspects, and Star Wars. 

Paulette Brousseau 

Office Coordinator

Paulette has been part of SMUEC since 2010. She works with staff and students to ensure that the office operates smoothly and efficiently. Her duties include overseeing all administrative duties for all staff members and student employees. If Paulette were to start a business, it would be something that involves dogs. She loves dog of every kind and would be so happy to spend her days surrounded by them. She is currently owned by her English Mastiff, Kiev, and her French Bulldog, Paisley. When she’s not at the office, you’ll find Paulette spending quality time with her children and grandchildren, of course with her dogs in tow. 

Jason Turner 

Manager – Skills Development and Training 

Students who have an entrepreneurial spark and are interested in developing an idea would be wise to stop by the Centre to meet with Jason. Jason has been working with the SMUEC since 2004 and spends his days connecting students to the right resources and helping perfect their pitch. If Jason started a business, it would be some form of coaching, he loves to chat, offer advice, and develop relationships. Outside of the office Jason likes to spend time with his wife and two crazy teenagers either out on an adventure or home watching Netflix together with a little junk food (sweet and salty, why choose!). 

Matt MacPhee 

Manager – Business Design 

Matt has been with the Centre for 10 years and enjoys helping clients understand their model and market to make better decisions and stand out from the competition. Matt spends his free time playing music, reading old books, hanging out with his wife, cleaning up after his dogs, and rock and ice climbing. If Matt was going to start a business, it would be an ‘Air B&B’-style platform to help outdoor recreation guides find and book clients. The industry is stuck in the early 2000s – everyone would rather be outside having fun instead of improving their tech. 

Monique Boudreau 

Manager – Operations and Community Engagement 

Monique has been with the Centre since 2015, focusing on connecting the University to businesses and the greater community and helping youth gain real world experience through training and experiential learning. She loves building processes from the bottom up or reworking existing ones to increase efficiencies. If Monique was going to start a business, she’d open a bed and breakfast. She finds the day to day lives of other people fascinating and loves hosting people and making them feel welcome. When she’s not in the office, you’ll find her with a cup of tea and her nose in good memoir or outside figuring out how to grow better tomatoes. 

Leslie Gates 

Project Manager – Marketing and Communications 

Leslie has been with the Centre for five years, with the majority of her time being spent helping persons living with disabilities and multi-barriered youth find meaningful employment. Leslie is the office animal whisper and is currently the proud owner of two bunnies, Yoda and Bert. If she was going to start a business, it would most certainly be a massive dog rescue. Her revenue would include the joy every day from doggo kisses and snuggles. If she had to swap places with someone for a day, it would be Carlton the Campus Cat for a day – living the life of a celebrity has always been a dream of hers. 

Brennan Daley 

Project Manager – Options Youth

Brennan has been with the Centre for five years and runs our Options Youth program, a virtual employment program dedicated to helping at-risk youth across Nova Scotia learn the skills necessary to gain and stay employed. If Brennan was going to start a business, it would be a website/app called Daley Development to help youth learn essential lifelong skills. When he’s not at the office, Brennan’s happiest at the family cottage, sipping tea around the bonfire with friends and family. If there are some loons in the background to listen to, well that’s just bliss! 

Yifei Li 

Project Manager – RBC Talent Hub 

Ivy has been part of SMUEC since 2017. She builds and organizes programs that support student entrepreneurs, connect students with local businesses, and provide coaching and training opportunities. If Ivy was going to start a business, she would love to open an art gallery, which would put her skills of designing, launching, and managing programs to work in a different way. Her hope would be that the gallery would incubate and support artists. When she’s not at the office (and it’s not a pandemic of course), Ivy is happiest when she’s travelling, every trip is her charging station. 

Madison Morgan 

Project Manager – Business Design

Madison has been with SMUEC since 2019 and works with a wide range of businesses from student start-ups to growth companies throughout Atlantic Canada. She is committed to helping organizations identify and understand the challenges that they face to overcome adversity, implement effective organizational change, and grow in their respective industry. If Madison was going to start a business, it would aim to showcase all the best food, wine, destinations, and outdoor activities that Nova Scotia has to offer. When she’s not working, Madison likes to try out new recipes and dine out with friends at local restaurants. 

Bronson Beaton 

Project Manager – Business Design 

Bronson joined the SMUEC team in 2020. He works with various local businesses as a project consultant, helping clients identify strategic growth opportunities and optimize their business performance. If Bronson was going to start a business, he would open a craft brewery. He loves the social and innovative nature of the industry. When he’s not at the office, Bronson is happiest when he’s being active. You’ll find him at the hockey rink, on the golf course, or on the water sailing and surfing. If you can’t find him there, he’s probably out giving the newest restaurant a try. 

Johnathan Mac Neil 

Project Coordinator 

Johnathan runs our Access-Ability program, including the Entrepreneurial Mindset Success Certificate – Covid-19 Resiliency Edition, helping those who self-identify as living with a disability learn new skills and find gainful employment. If Johnathan was going to start a business, he would create a mental health clinic, providing additional supports to help individuals reach their wellness potential. When he’s not at work, Johnathan likes to be out in nature or jamming on his piano. 

Crystal Witter 

Project Coordinator – Starting Point Conference 

Crystal joined the team in 2021 and spends her days organizing and implementing student and community events. Crystal has a strong entrepreneurial spirit and is the C.E.O of Ilash Icon Hfx and co-founder of Chrystal Treasure Herbarium. If she was going to start her dream business, she would run a renowned tea company – she loves tea, as a child it was a rule to have tea every day! When she’s not at SMUEC, you’ll find Crystal working on her side businesses, coloring, or reading. 

Adam Khamis 

Project Assistant – Options Youth 

Adam is the Project Assistant for Options Youth and spends his days building content and working on the backend of our Options Online training platform. He also stays very busy in his second role as Enactus SMU’s Co-President, where he leads a team of entrepreneurially minded students to solve community problems, such as improving food security and reducing recidivism rates. If Adam were to start a business, he would run a technology solutions business. When he’s not at the office, Adam is happiest creating. You’ll find him working on all sorts of art including videos, drawings, writing stories and poetry. 

Maddie Bristol 

Project Assistant 

Maddie works with SMUEC supporting a variety of different projects, helping students and community members gain access to training and events. If Maddie was going to start a business, she would create a social enterprise, as she has a strong background in how these types of businesses run from her volunteer work. Outside of work you’ll find Maddie doing good for her community by volunteering and helping where she can, and spending quality time and having a good laugh with her friends. 

Mehul Tanwar 

Technology Assistant 

Mehul is a tech wizard and spends his time supporting SMUEC’s technology services, building and maintaining websites, and troubleshooting with our staff. If Mehul was going to start a business, it would be related to larger solutions for human civilization, such as sustainable consumption and production of resources or making education more transparent and available. When he’s not at the office, you’ll find Mehul either outdoors with his camera (and a telescope on a clear night), or indoors gaming on a PC. 

Rebecca Yorke 

Project Assistant – Marketing 

Rebecca works closely with the marketing team to create promotional material and advertise upcoming events. She also works with the Business Design team where she helps businesses achieve their marketing goals by improving their strategies through social media and market research. Rebecca loves animals, if she were to start a business, it would be a dog daycare centre. Outside of work, she’s happiest when she’s spending time with her horse, dog, or doing anything outdoors. 

Ryan Sanderson 

Project Assistant – Access-Ability 

Ryan supports the Access-Ability program, connecting with participants and employers to help skills and hiring needs. He also facilitates personal and professional development workshops to help program participants thrive in their work placements. If Ryan was going to start his own business, he would launch a production studio and hopes to make this a reality post-graduation by starting a few small-scale production passion projects for both himself and other creatives. When he’s not at work, Ryan loves to write, he has lot of ideas and putting them on paper is a great way to spend a few hours. 

Sarah Little 

Project Assistant – March Madness Pitch Competition

Sarah works with SMUEC organizing and planning March Madness, a month-long pitch competition for students to develop their ideas or business. If Sarah was going to start a business, she would start a Winery Booking Application, to make booking winery tours, tastings and restaurant meals more efficient in high volume wine regions. When she’s not at work, Sarah is happiest when she’s out surfing in the ocean or up in the mountains snowboarding. 

Vimbayi Handara 

Project Assistant – Sparkzone 

Vimbayi runs our Ignition program, helping student business owners from across the province gain entrepreneurial skills and build their networks. If Vimbayi were to start a business, it would be a networking community that allowed women from all-over the world to connect and work on business ideas together. A lot of big industries have historically had boys’ clubs, and Vimbayi would love to see women have these networking opportunities as well. When she’s not at work, you’ll find her channeling her creative side by making music with her friends.