About Us
Attracting Investment and Jobs for More Than Three Decades
Who We Are
The Ontario East Economic Development Commission (Ontario East) is a member based regional marketing agency established in 1988 and incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 2002, with a mandate to develop, implement and administer programs to attract new investment and jobs to its diverse group of communities in eastern Ontario. Ontario East also offers professional development and networking opportunities delivering a variety of programs to promote and enhance the region’s competitiveness.
Team
The Ontario East Economic Development Commission collaborates with Economic Development offices at the city, township, and county levels to address all your inquiries thoroughly. Reach out to us to explore how Ontario East can be the ideal choice for your organization.
Jay Amer, Ec. D.
Executive Director
Megan Howes and Erica Lattimore
Program Administration
Jody Burns
Financial Manager
Alysha Dominico
Project Coordinator-Ontario East Workforce Partners Support Project
Julie Savard
Project Coordinator-Lead Generation
Message from the President
On behalf of the Board of Directors, welcome to Ontario East.
Eastern Ontario is a region full of opportunity and we work collaboratively to promote the advantages of doing business in our corner of Ontario, the economic engine of Canada. The Ontario East Economic Development Commission is celebrating 36 years as a regional non-profit economic development organization facilitating collaboration, supporting members with professional development, and working as a collective voice for promoting investment and job growth in Eastern Ontario.
Our members ensure that businesses looking to expand in or to Canada and Ontario have all of the support and information they need to make the right decisions for expansion or growth. In these uncertain times, one thing is for sure, the Ontario East Economic Development Commission and its members will make your business journey easier by providing one point of contact accessing many communities located between Toronto and Montreal who are open for business.
If you are an investor or a business seeking information on how to enter our proven business locations throughout our region, Ontario East is your one-stop connection with local economic development professionals ready to assist with the latest information and informed advice. If you are a municipality or economic developer in eastern Ontario, please consider becoming a member!
Our 150+ members and partners work together to bring economic development, growth and prosperity to Eastern Ontario. If you are a member, be sure and connect with us through the website, social media and at our regular meetings (virtual and soon, in person). If you are not a member, email us or give us a call at 613-634-8569 to learn about our successful track record and the benefits of collaboration through regional economic development with Ontario East.
Please subscribe to our newsletter and connect with us through social media for the latest news.
– TJ Flynn
Board of Directors
T.J. Flynn
President
View Bio
T.J. is currently the Investment Attraction Officer for Northumberland County and serves as the Ontario East Economic Development Commission President. Prior to these roles, he served in a volunteer capacity for several Economic Development projects, including, the Cobourg Downtown Vitalization Committee, the Cobourg Economic Advisory Committee and the Business & Entrepreneurship Northumberland Faster Forward Coaching program. Before becoming involved in economic development in eastern Ontario, T.J. worked for 30 years in the private sector, his last position as Sr. Vice President, Sales at Transcontinental Media.
T.J. holds a B.A from the University of Toronto and an M.A. in Eighteenth Century English Literature from Queen’s University. He has also completed the Queen’s University Executive Program courses in Financial Management.
In addition to his volunteer role with Ontario East Economic Development Commission, T.J. volunteers as Board Member and Finance Committee member of Northumberland County Habitat for Humanity.
Vicki Bristow Ferguson
Vice President/Treasurer
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Vicki Bristow Ferguson joined the Quinte Economic Development Commission (QEDC) in 2012. As Business Development Officer, she focuses on investment attraction activities, leveraging over 30 years of experience in advertising, territory sales, and account management.
An active member of Ontario East Economic Development, Vicki serves as the food sector lead for the Regional Marketing Committee and is a past co-chair of the Ontario Food Cluster. Her contributions to the field were recognized in 2023 when she was named the Ontario East Economic Developer of the Year.
Vicki is also a dedicated mentor and advocate for business education, serving as a member of the Program Advisory Committee for the Business Sales and Marketing program at Loyalist College.
Stephen Paul
Past President
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Stephen is the Director, Community and Development Services for Lennox and Addington County. His portfolio includes Economic Development, Tourism, Planning, Public Libraries and Museums.
Prior to returning home to Lennox and Addington, Stephen worked for the City of Toronto Tourism Department as a producer of large scale events and festivals.
He is a Past President of the Great Waterway Regional Tourism Organization and the Ontario East Economic Development Commission.
Stephen is an active member of the community. He is the President of Softball Napanee and has been the Chair of numerous national sporting events that have been hosted in Lennox and Addington.
Stephen is a graduate of Queen’s University.
Jay Amer, Ec. D.
Executive Director & Board Secretary
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Jay’s economic development experience includes twelve years as a senior executive with Peterborough’s economic development agency and since 2010, operation of his own professional consultancy, Amer & Associates Economic Development. He has delivered a successful portfolio of work that includes economic development strategic plans, economic research and analysis for investment attraction and trade, marketing communications, government relations and funding programs, as well as organizational development and governance. Prior to discovering his passion for economic development, Jay served in a variety of technical and communications management roles with Ontario Power Generation, and he has also volunteered on numerous non-profit boards. He is a past President of the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), has been a member of Ontario East since 2000 and is Ontario East’s representative on the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC).
Ben McIlquham
Director
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Ben is an economic development professional specializing in health and life sciences for the City of Kingston. With 18 years of experience spanning government, industry, non-profits, and business development, Ben has a proven track record in facilitating growth and fostering foreign direct investment for health and life sciences companies.
Born in Kingston and a graduate of the University of Western Ontario, Ben excels at leading complex, multi-disciplinary projects and programs. His current focus is on making Kingston an ideal environment for both existing and new life sciences companies to establish, grow, and thrive.
Ben also serves as a key point of contact in Kingston for the Kingston Syracuse Pathway, where he builds relationships and assists companies in soft landing into new markets.
A seasoned contract management specialist, Ben has led numerous projects for hospitals and managed various contract portfolios in the healthcare sector. Before joining the Kingston Economic Development team, he worked at Shared Support Services Southeastern Ontario (3SO) and the Ministry of Government Services, where he played key roles in project management that advanced healthcare and strategic sourcing initiatives.
Derrick Morgan
Director
Business Development Bank of Canada
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Derrick Morgan is the Manager of Major Accounts at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) in Belleville, Ontario. With a background in economic development and business management, Derrick has been instrumental in supporting local businesses and fostering economic growth in the Belleville and Hastings County regions. He is based at the BDC office located at 284-B Wallbridge Loyalist Road, Belleville, ON K8N 5B3
Derrick’s role involves working closely with major accounts to provide tailored financial solutions and strategic advice. His expertise in business development allows him to understand the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs and offer customized support to help them achieve their goals. Derrick is known for his proactive approach and dedication to building strong relationships with his clients, ensuring they have the resources and guidance needed to thrive in a competitive market.
In addition to his professional achievements, Derrick is actively involved in the local community. He participates in various economic development initiatives and collaborates with local organizations to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. His commitment to the community extends beyond his work at BDC, he is a volunteer firefighter, hockey coach and is the previous president of both the Belleville and Quinte West Chambers of Commerce.
Rebecca Mustard
Director
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Rebecca Mustard has been in the Economic Development field for 20 years serving in communities in Ontario and Australia. For the past 10 years, she has held the position the Manager, Economic Development for the City of Kawartha Lakes. This portfolio includes Economic Development, Tourism, and Culture.
Rebecca is currently on the Board of VCCS Employment Services, and a previous member of the EDCO Young Professionals Committee.
A certified Economic Developer, Rebecca holds a Masters of Environmental Science (Local Economic Development) from the University of Waterloo, and a Bachelors of Arts/Commerce from the University of Sydney.
Chris King
Regional Marketing Committee Chair
Quinte Economic Development Commission
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Chris King serves as the Chief Executive Officer for Quinte Economic Development Commission.
Chris leads the successful QEDC team guiding the overall direction and operation of the QEDC with programs to attract new business investment and support the retention and growth of targeted existing business in the region.
Bonnie Ruddock
Director (Non-Voting)
Region 9 Regional Tourism Organization
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Bonnie Ruddock has been with RTO 9 since it’s inception in 2011. Bonnie was appointed Executive Director in 2017 after 6 years as Operations Manager for RTO 9. With a background in finance and a passion for the tourism industry, she is a true leader. Prior to her career with RTO 9, Bonnie was Executive Director for the 1000 Islands Gananoque Chamber of Commerce for 10 years, where she was instrumental in growing membership and launching the first official bilingual visitor guide.
In 2020, she completed her MBA in Community Economic Development, from Cape Breton University.
Bonnie currently serves as a board member for Festival and Events Ontario, and Tourism Kingston. She is also a committee member on the Program Advisory Committee for St. Lawrence College, Kingston Campus. She looks forward to working with the team and directors of Ontario East.
Cyndy Palleske
Director (Non-Voting)
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Cyndy joined CFEO in 2022 and has strong roots in Eastern Ontario. She is passionate about supporting businesses and economic growth, leveraging over three decades of senior executive experience in the manufacturing and non-profit sectors. She is committed to driving regional and provincial economic initiatives. She has served previously as a volunteer board director for Community Futures Peterborough, and is currently a director on the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council (EOLC) board. Her combined background and experiences across multiple sectors gives Cyndy unique insight into developing strong partnerships and helping businesses grow through connections with regional, provincial, and federal support systems.
The Ontario East Board of Directors also includes Government Members who are senior regional officials from the following organizations:
- Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation & Trade – MEDJCT (Provincial)
- Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness and Ministry of Rural Affairs (Provincial)
- Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement -MPBSDP (Provincial)
- Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development-MLITSD (Provincial)
Partners
Regional
Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus & Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus
Ontario East Economic Development Commission works closely with the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) and the Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus (EOMC) through the Eastern Ontario Leadership Council.
The EOWC includes all counties and lower-tier municipalities across Eastern Ontario and are focused on advocating for and improving infrastructure and connectivity, growing the regional economy, and reducing municipalities’ operational costs.
The EOMC includes all mayors representing the separated cities in Eastern Ontario from Peterborough in the West to Cornwall in the East and Pembroke in the North. EOMC works to advance municipal priorities important to Eastern Ontario. The EOMC advocates for advancing issues of importance to Eastern Ontario’s cities.
Eastern Ontario’s Leadership Council
The EOLC consists of 5 major partners that together represent the various sectors across the region. The partnership was launched to tackle issues regarding the economic performance of the region and pursue opportunities to maintain and enhance its economic prosperity.
The five partners are: Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, Eastern Ontario Mayors’ Caucus, Eastern Ontario Regional Network, Ontario East Economic Development Commission and Community Futures Eastern Ontario.
Provincial
Invest Ontario
Invest Ontario is the central agency for businesses and investors to discover what others from around the province and globe have already realized—that Ontario is a top-tier destination for investment and strategic business growth.
Rural Ontario Institute
OMAFRA
MEDJCT
MLTSD
Federal
Community Futures Eastern Ontario
Ontario East Economic Development Commission partners with a network of 14 participating Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) in Eastern Ontario through Community Futures Eastern Ontario. The Community Futures Program (CFP) is a community driven economic development initiative designed to assist rural areas.
CFDCs are funded through the federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.
FedDev Ontario
Invest in Canada
Invest in Canada works directly with global investors to unlock investment opportunities and facilitate expansion in Canada. We bring industry, community and government partners together to offer seamless services that make it easy for you to grow your operations in Canada.
Ontario East participates in programming and trade missions in support of Invest in Canada’s mandate.
Agriculture & Agri-food Canada
Become a Member
Membership offers your organization a competitive edge, connecting you to a network of industry leaders, valuable resources and growth opportunities in the dynamic Eastern Ontario region.