Joan’s involvement with the co-op sector started when she bought car insurance for her first car in Ontario. She also belonged to a local credit union. She has successfully incorporated a women’s worker co-op as part of her Community Centre’s business plan. Most recently she has joined First Ownership Co-op with Vanessa Hammond. Her primary work experience has been in the not for profit community organizations as a community organizer and as an executive director. Over many decades she has helped to develop and strengthen non-profit organizations with sound management and administrative skills. She has been a member of many non-profit boards including the local and national Police Governance Boards. Upon retirement from her executive position, she has become a management consultant and currently is working with a local United Church to provide community engagement and management practices to the administrative and leadership of the church. She is also working with a local workers cooperative to assist in establishing their management practices. Learning about coops has provided her with a new interest in raising the profile of the sector so that the co-op option is the first thought for community-focused entrepreneurs in Canada and around the world. Joan has a Masters Degree in anthropology and numerous human resource certificates. Working in community , building relationships and harnessing community strengths are hallmarks of her work style.