The dynamic team at Grow Trade Consulting, Inc. is key to its success. Our members possess a myriad of trade and business development experience from a variety of global markets including Canada, the United States, Asia, and Central America.
Our industry portfolio specifics include export development, management consulting, automotive parts manufacturing, oil and gas, retail sales, consumer product marketing, health care, education, logistics, ecommerce, and customs brokerage.
Grow Trade Consulting, Inc.
Toronto, Canada
(416)-368-6956
info@growtrade.ca
Nancy Ward established Grow Trade Consulting Inc. in 2004 after a successful six-year career with the Canadian Trade Office of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (formerly the Council of Great Lakes Governors).
Since 1998 she has helped thousands of U.S. and overseas SMEs understand the nuances of the Canadian market, connect with Canadian partners, and identify business opportunities in a broad range of industry sectors. She has also coordinated numerous inbound trade missions, both horizontal and industry sector specific, across Canada.
Nancy’s role has also focused on business development and foreign direct investment in the U.S. and abroad. She has successfully executed business development and attraction strategies for two U.S. states and one European jurisdiction, and assisted Canadian companies seeking guidance on market entry, sales growth, and business operation set-up in the United States and Europe.
Prior to working with the Canadian Trade Office of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers and establishing Grow Trade Consulting, Nancy held positions in healthcare, retail sales, adult education, and sales and marketing (the latter while working with the Canadian subsidiary of a U.S. automotive parts manufacturer).
Nancy holds an honours degree in Political Science and a postgraduate designation in International Business. Nancy is currently pursuing studies in sustainable urban agriculture and food security. She is a past president of the International Trade Club of Toronto and was also the Vice President of Communications for the Organization of Women in International Trade – Toronto for three years. Nancy was the recipient of the 2011 Joanna Townsend Award for an Export Champion, recognizing an outstanding woman in Ontario who – through her business and personal networks – created opportunities to actively support Canadian women entrepreneurs and helped them succeed in international business. Nancy is currently active in two local volunteer initiatives in urban agriculture and ravine restoration.
Chris joined the Grow Trade Consulting team in 2008 and has spent the last twelve years in a business consultancy capacity, helping American SMEs find opportunities and partners in the Canadian market.
With expertise in a variety of industries including oil and gas, clean technology, transportation, manufacturing and processing technologies, and industrial products; and with hands-on knowledge of the construction materials sector, he continues to assist clients in understanding the Canadian business landscape, conducting market research, and facilitating business-to-business trade in various industries across Canada.
Chris has been serving as Grow Trade Consulting’s Managing Director since 2021, overseeing the company’s day-to-day operations including communication with partner states and managing the Grow Trade team. He also works directly with clients providing services that develop or increase their export sales in the Canadian market, via direct consultation in order to understand their product and/or service’s value proposition and approach to the market.
Since 2006, Chris has been involved in his local community, serving as the Vice President of Operations for the Optimist Club of Rouge Valley, a member of Optimists International. He holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, a diploma in Finance, and a postgraduate certificate in Project Management.
Joanne joined Grow Trade Consulting in 2017, after spending more than a decade as an International Trade Specialist with the State of Illinois Canada Office in Toronto.
During this time, she has gained extensive knowledge and experience facilitating successful business relationships between U.S. and international companies and organizations with Canadian partners, conducting market research in multiple sectors, and maintaining business relationships with various industries across Canada. She also oversees various administrative responsibilities pertaining to reporting and tracking in various client central management systems.
Although many multi-sector assignments have successfully crossed her desk , Joanne’s passions are in food and beverage, natural health products, transportation, tourism, and spearheading inbound trade missions to Canada.
Kirsten began her career as a reporter/photographer in southwestern Ontario, covering everything from municipal politics to criminal trials.
She later transitioned to creating print and digital communication and marketing materials for a variety of industries including hospitality, IT, engineering, documentary film, and the healthcare sector. She joined Twitter in 2008 and has spent the last decade learning a multitude of digital platforms and contributing regularly to the online world.
Kirsten’s role at Grow Trade Consulting is two-fold: assisting clients with export facilitation, and print and digital communications management, ensuring Grow Trade’s clients are highly visible, particularly during key trade events in the Canadian market.
Kirsten has a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Political Science) from Carleton University, a Journalism Diploma from Canadore College, and an Art and Design Studio Certificate from the Ontario College of Art and Design University. She is a past president of AFCA Toastmasters, where she previously served two terms as club secretary and mentor to new club members.
Shari Stancer has been with Grow Trade Consulting since 2012. She joined the company with more than 15 years of business consulting experience in the human resources recruitment industry.
Shari worked with various companies specializing in the manufacturing, import and wholesale apparel sectors and retail markets, with a great deal of product focus on hardware, home furnishings, food, sporting goods, health and beauty, fashion apparel, footwear and accessories.
As a Market Access Consultant, Shari provides assistance to small and medium-sized U.S. enterprises looking to expand into Canada. This work includes facilitating business opportunities and partnerships, assisting with market research, distributor searches, regulatory information, and coordinating business-to-business meetings at trade shows and trade mission events to Canada. Her experience and knowledge continue to diversify and grow as she successfully helps companies from a wide range of business sectors.
Shari holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and a Certificate in Communication Studies. She is an active community volunteer, has held several senior leadership roles with various portfolio responsibilities, and is a past president of a not-for-profit organization.
Aimee began her career in International Trade at the Southern United States Trade Association (SUSTA). At SUSTA, Aimee helped small- to medium-sized exporters of high-value food products implement and complete their Unified Export Strategies (UES) for trade promotion. She also prepared and presented budgets as a Budget Analyst within the Division of Administration for the Governor of Louisiana.
Upon immigration to Canada, Aimee worked at the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada (AMCHAM) where she developed content material for the Doing Business in Canada CD ROM. Aimee continued to seek out her passion for international trade while working at the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors & Premiers (formerly the Council of Great Lakes Governors) from 2003 to 2007, where she assisted numerous U.S. exporters of food, environmental, biotech, and consumer products in creating synergies, resulting in distribution within the Canadian market. She has assisted with trade show delegations to the Canadian market and educated her clients regarding distribution channels and regulatory compliance issues. Aimee rejoined Grow Trade Consulting in 2012.
Aimee received her Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University (LSU) in International Trade and Finance and her Master’s Degree in Public Administration from LSU’s Public Administration Institute. Aimee obtained her certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo. Aimee is currently a member of the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC).
Specializing in marketing communications and international trade, Susan Baka (of Bay Communications & Marketing Inc.) began partnering with Grow Trade Consulting Inc. in 2016 to provide trade facilitation services such as market research, market entry strategy, and distributor search support.
Bay has worked with clients in Canadian, U.S., and international markets to help them expand beyond their borders. This has included writing trade reports, case studies of successful exporters and communications materials, as well as spearheading trade missions and organizing trade-related events and business matching. Clients include trade departments and agencies, financial institutions, corporations, and organizations.
A subject matter expert in global trade, owner Susan Baka has a deep network of trade contacts in business, industry, and government. She is a prolific writer and frequent speaker on the benefits of going global and on free trade agreements and served on the Canadian Minister of International Trade’s SME Advisory Board (2008-2011).
Susan is one of the founders and VP International of the Canadian chapter of the Organization of Women in International Trade in Toronto (OWIT www.owit-toronto.ca ) and has sat on its International Board since 2000. She has spearheaded countless communication initiatives as well as trade missions and has mentored the start-up of international OWIT chapters. Susan is also active in government stakeholder consultations on free trade agreements, representing the interests of small and medium enterprises.
She has been honoured with four international awards as a woman entrepreneur. Susan has a journalism degree.