The Réseau Mentorat (mentorship network) is a community of interest “by and for” entrepreneurs. It offers a high level of support to all Quebec entrepreneurs who are interested in being mentored, regardless of their business’s stage of growth or area of activity.
The network’s aim is to accelerate local entrepreneurs’ development in order to increase their business’ survival rate and foster growth from start-up all the way to buyout.
Mentoring for entrepreneurs… To achieve more, more effectively!
Being Mentored
Being mentored helps entrepreneurs accelerate their development, as well as gain perspective, better weigh their options and make informed decisions. In the mentor-mentee relationship, a person with considerable entrepreneurship experience helps guide you by sharing their knowledge and know-how. In short, mentoring helps:
Clarify your vision of your business
Build your confidence and reduce your doubts
Help you more easily recognize business opportunities
Being a mentor
Being a mentor involves supporting entrepreneurs in your area and drawing on your experience to guide them toward success. It’s joining a structured and growing network of entrepreneurs that lets you contribute where it counts most. It’s being part of a community of more than 1,500 volunteer mentors committed to the success of Quebec entrepreneurs.
Join a vibrant, recognized network serving all of Quebec
Enrich your experience with courses and workshops
Be recognized for your efforts
Our mentors
Éric has been working in the media industry for more than 30 years. He worked for several radio and television broadcasters as a journalist. At the age of 34, he joined Astral Media’s executive team as director of information, carrying out a series of projects in Quebec and throughout Canada in this capacity. He currently works for Bell Media as general manager of the Boom 104.1 – 106.5 radio stations in Montérégie, while donating his time to mentees.
After obtaining a management certificate from the HEC business school, Sébastien became an area sales manager for Pennzoil. He later founded Solutions-Graffiti, which became the largest pressure-cleaning company specializing in graffiti removal in Quebec. His latest ventures include air duct cleaning and start-up consulting.
Josée is a member of the Quebec order of chartered professional accountants and has an MBA. Over the last 25 years, she has co-owned several construction companies, including Les installations sportives Defargo, which has carried out major national and international projects. She has also held several executive positions in finance in a number of public and private companies, where her emotional intelligence, her listening skills and her strategic thinking were greatly appreciated by her teammates and colleagues. She is now helping her spouse and their children with a succession plan to transfer the businesses she started with her spouse a few years ago.
Holder of a Bachelor of Civil Engineering and a Master of Environmental Engineering from McGill University, an International Development Management Fellowship and a Master of Business Administration from the HEC business school, Josianne is a valuable resource for entrepreneurs. One of her focuses is structuring organizations in accordance with their growth plan by, among other things, analyzing their strategic planning.
For 36 years, Fernand was a teacher, a school principal and a director of educational resources in adult education and vocational training. He attended and organized many seminars that led to greater conciliation between education and work. He is now retired and actively involved in mentoring.
Steve launched his first business at the age of 17, offering minibar and vending machine management services to the hotel industry. Two years after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree, he started the Armoires Signature company with four other shareholders. In 1996, he acquired the Diacarb company with his brother and is now the sole owner. Thanks to his experience, Steve is an ally of choice for start-ups.
Rosaire was an administrator in the educational services, school administrations and a vocational training centre. He also has experience in the industrial, commercial, social and financial sectors, having founded and managed four businesses, as well as serving on a Caisse Populaire’s board of directors. He now spends his time volunteering and acting as a mentor. He received the “Mentor emeritus of Haut-Richelieu” distinction in recognition of his excellent work.
After obtaining a Bachelor of Education, Mr. Thouin held management positions at Justice Alternative du Haut-Richelieu, the Haut-Richelieu community development corporation and finally the Complaint Assistance and Support Centre (CAAP) Montérégie. His experience led him to become president of the Vallée des Forts CLSC and Justice Alternative, where he also served as a citizen mediator.
General manager of the Haut-Richelieu chamber of commerce and industry (CCIHR) for the past three years, Michel is a manager with 40 years of experience in several big companies, including Distribution aux Consommateurs, L’Équipeur and Loblaws. He later started out on his own, taking over the reins of the Provigo grocery store on Saint-Jacques Street in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. He was also regional president (Montérégie) of the Quebec food retailers’ association (ADAQ) for two years.
A manager with more than 30 years of experience in human resources management and labour relations (operations), Hélène has always been interested in entrepreneurship. In 2013, she founded her human resources business for SMEs, which was in operation until December 2021. Having used the mentoring service herself, she wants to give back to the community by supporting local entrepreneurs.
Steve launched his first business at the age of 17, offering minibar and vending machine management services to the hotel industry. Two years after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree, he started the Armoires Signature company with four other shareholders. In 1996, he acquired the Diacarb company with his brother and is now the sole owner. Thanks to his experience, Steve is an ally of choice for start-ups.
Alain began his career as a banker, a position he held for 15 years. He later did business development and marketing for computer companies, communication agencies and law firms. He was a municipal councillor for nearly 19 years. He is now the general manager of Groupe LeSieur et Frère and has been an enthusiastic mentor for more than 10 years.
An account manager at Desjardins, Marc spent 17 years in Vietnam helping his clients identify investment opportunities and navigate the complexities of doing business in Southeast Asia. Throughout his career, his driving force has been helping business owners with their investments and financial management, identifying and developing new business opportunities and building mutually beneficial partnerships. He brings something unique to the mentoring relationship by leveraging his investment and financial expertise, his economic and financial analysis skills, his extensive knowledge of Asia and his passion for entrepreneurship.
After spending 10 years as a big-box retail store manager, he reoriented his career in 1999 by becoming Combined Insurance’s director of the Montérégie region. In 2006, he became Director of Sales at Industrial Alliance, where he built one of the largest sales forces in the network. In 2019, he and his spouse started a company that specializes in the import, online sale and distribution of health foods, vitamins and supplements. Since 2022, he has been a manager at Beneva’s financial centre in Laval. Over the course of his career, Benoit has recruited and coached more than 150 financial security advisors and more than 30 directors, which has led him to become a mentor.
Marie-Claire has worked in sales management and national and international market development for more than 20 years now. After a dozen years acquiring experience in market development and distribution network support, she opened a Segway rental centre. She quickly saw that there was a strong market for her idea and developed other aspects of her business, which led the American manufacturer to put her in charge of Segway sales in Canada and Latin America. Marie-Claire later worked in manufacturing environments, where her tasks included filling in on various positions, increasing sales, providing coaching, structuring distribution and supporting customer care representatives as a sales manager.
For nearly 30 years, Réjean has worked in the field of finance and business development for an international manufacturing company, as senior VP and special advisor to the president. He also acquired food retailing experience as a financial services administrator in the Canadian Armed Forces.
