![Rhonda Barnet, VP Finance at Steelworks Design Inc., was recently selected as the first-ever female chair of the national board of directors of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (photo: Steelworks Design Inc.) Rhonda Barnet, VP Finance at Steelworks Design Inc., was recently selected as the first-ever female chair of the national board of directors of Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (photo: Steelworks Design Inc.)](https://kawarthanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/rhonda-barnet-696x464.jpg)
Rhonda Barnet
Congratulations to Rhonda Barnet on becoming the new Chair of the Board of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME), their first female chair in history.
She has served as a director on CME’s board since 2013 and is currently the VP of Finance at Steelworks Design Inc. in Peterborough.
Complete Retail Solutions Inc.
![Complete Retail Solutions Inc. accepting a best of show award at the Grocery Innovations Canada trade show (supplied photo)](http://kawarthanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/csr-award-696x464.jpg)
Pan-Oston is the driving force behind a collaborative initiative that brings together four local Peterborough companies under a collective sales initiative called Complete Retail Solutions Inc. (CRS).
The companies are: Optifi, which measures brand impressions in high traffic venues; Woodarts, whose millwork can be found everywhere from the LCBO to the National Library; TechnLite, which provides LED large screen signage; and Pan-Oston, a leader in manufacturing checkouts and commercial display fixtures. The Complete Retail Solutions alliance has attracted Southern CaseArts, a US-based specialty manufacturer of refrigerated and hot food display ceases.
The CRS initiative was introduced at the Grocery Innovations Canada trade show where they met with instant success, receiving a Best of Show award and attracting a lot of attention. Congratulations to everyone on this fantastic local collaboration.
Lakefield Foodland
![Ross Bletsoe of Lakefield Foodland (photo: Cayuga Displays / YouTube)](http://kawarthanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/lakefield-foodland-696x464.jpg)
That same show saw Lakefield Foodland awarded the Top Independent Grocer of the Year Award in the small surface category.
Congratulations to Ross and Carol and Ian and Sarah Bletsoe of Lakefield Foodland.
Marianne Beacon
![Marianne Beacon is the owner of Elderberry Herbals and the Elderberry Clinic in Peterborough (photo: Elderberry Herbals)](http://kawarthanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/marianne-beacon-696x464.jpg)
Congratulations to Marianne Beacon of Elderberry Clinic, who was recently named President of the Ontario Herbalist Association.
Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Business Summit
![Peter Lawler of the Business Development Bank of Canada will deliver the breakfast keynote at the Peterborough Chamber Business Summit (photo: Camilla Pucholt)](http://kawarthanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/peter-lawler-696x464.jpg)
The Chamber of Commerce Business Summit takes place next Thursday (November 10th).
The theme is “scaling up” and attendees can choose from four workshops and enjoy two keynote speakers. There’s also a new feature called speed consulting where attendees can get 10 minutes of one-on-one with a local business expert.
For more information, visit www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
Maude Barlow
![Political activist, author, and policy critic Maude Barlow (photo: Wolfgang Schmidt)](http://kawarthanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/maude-barlow-696x464.jpg)
Maude Barlow, Chair of the Council of Canadians, will be speaking on Canada’s water crisis tomorrow (November 1st) from 7 to 10 p.m. at Adam Scott Collegiate in Peterborough.
For more information, call Roy Brady at 705-745-2446.
Electric City Hacks
![More than 350 students are expected to attend Trent University's first-ever hackathon, Electric City Hacks, from November 4th to 6th (logo: Ana Djurkovic)](http://kawarthanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ehacks-696x464.jpg)
The Innovation Cluster and Blackberry present Electric City Hacks this weekend (November 4th to 6th) at Trent University.
At Trent University’s first-ever hackathon, 350 student thinkers from across Canada will demonstrate their skills and innovations.
For more information, visit 2016.echacks.xyz.
Tri-Association Manufacturing Conference
![Dr. Roger Firestein of the International Center for Studies in Creativity will give a keynote on innovation and collaboration at the Tri-Association Manufacturing Conference (publicity photo)](http://kawarthanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/roger-firestien-696x464.jpg)
The annual Tri-Association Manufacturing Conference takes place next Tuesday (November 8) at the Cobourg Best Western.
The conference provides local manufacturers with a day of professional development.
Details are available at www.thekma.ca.