OUR TEAM

President & CEO

YVONNE PILON

KEY INITIATIVES – Tech Week YQG, Tech In The City

Yvonne Pilon is the President and CEO of WEtech Alliance. At the age of 24, she founded her first tech venture, AD2IT, and by the age of 29, became the youngest woman to lead a Regional Innovation Centre. Yvonne has over 10 years of experience in the tech sector with a core focus on growing companies and building a thriving entrepreneurial community. She is also the host of the #TechInTheCity podcast.

EMAIL: ypilon@wetech-alliance.com | OFFICE: 519.997.2857

Director of Operations & Partnerships

ADAM FRYE

KEY INITIATIVES – Innovation Catalyst

Over the past 5 years Adam has worked extensively in the startup space in Waterloo and Toronto, both as an early employee in a high growth social enterprise, as well as a startup coach and mentor for young entrepreneurs. His values can be summed up in 3 quick sentences. Find your passion. Relentlessly pursue it. Help others to do the same. Adam recently received a certificate from MIT Sloan School of Management, completing the Corporate Innovation: Strategies for Leveraging Ecosystems executive program.

EMAIL: afrye@wetech-alliance.com  |  CELL: 226.747.4398

Director of Venture Services

ADAM CASTLE

KEY INITIATIVES – ScaleUP, Venture Success Team, Client Perks

Adam Castle has spent the last six years working in Economic Development in Windsor-Essex, specializing in business development and growth across multiple sectors and working with companies of all sizes. Adam is a highly driven and successful Business Advisor with an entrepreneurial spirit. He started his first business when he was 15 and continues to run it today.

EMAIL: acastle@wetech-alliance.com | CELL: 226.246.0287

Director of Programs & Marketing

JOHN-MARC VACHON

KEY INITIATIVES – Nerd Olympics, Social Media Day

John-Marc joined the WEtech team as Director of Programs & Marketing in March 2015 after over 17 years in the restaurant industry. He brings with him over 15 years of Management experience as well as extensive knowledge of Social Media Marketing & Graphic Design. His work as Director of Marketing for Wendy’s Windsor-Essex has won both local & National Awards, including recognition of his locally created Community Connection Program.

EMAIL: jmvachon@wetech-alliance.com | CELL: 519.564.9849

Manager of Programs and Events

SHRIAA SHETH

KEY INITIATIVES – Tech Events

Shriaa has worked for the past 5 years as a passionate event planner helping non-profit organizations, and corporations reach their fundraising and event planning goals. She has a MBA from University of Windsor, and a Bachelors in Communications from Rutgers University. After living in Windsor for 3 years, and in North America for 14, Shriaa is excited to learn and grow at WEtech Alliance as the Manager of Programs and Events. She is looking forward to connecting tech talent, community, and companies.

EMAIL: ssheth@wetech-alliance.com

Business Advisor

CHELSIE HUNT

 KEY INITIATIVES – Spark Clients

Chelsie Hunt’s work with entrepreneurs’ ranges from local food producers in Ontario to SME’s in the tech sector in Brazil. For the past 13 years she has worked within the financial industry, first as a quant, then supporting impact-based entrepreneurs and enterprises around the world. Joining the team in fall 2020, Chelsie is eager to support start-ups in their entrepreneurial journey.  She believes innovation and strong communities can transition us to a more just and sustainable society.

EMAIL: chunt@wetech-alliance.com

Business Advisor

JANELLE ABELA

KEY INITIATIVES – Client Advisor

Janelle has a Masters degree in Education, specialized in Social Justice and Indigenous Education. She is an expert in diversity, equity and inclusion strategies, implemented to support corporate culture and transformative leadership practices.

EMAIL: jabela@wetech-alliance.com

In-House Storyteller

MICHAEL SEGUIN

KEY INITIATIVES – Tech | Talent | Community Storytelling

Michael Seguin was born with a pen in his hands and too many words floating around his skull. Since then, he’s worked tirelessly to get them out. Unfortunately, more keep taking their place. After university, he began dabbling in marketing and journalism. At the age of 26, he became the first in-house writer at Windsor Life Magazine, an esteemed local publication. Michael is dedicated to lending a voice to the tech sector around Windsor and Chatham-Kent.

EMAIL: mseguin@wetech-alliance.com

Program Coordinator/Administration

MICHELLE TENO-WACHTER

KEY INITIATIVES – Tech It Out Newsletter

Michelle Teno-Wachter has been with WEtech Alliance since 2010 as the Administrator for Member Services. Michelle is the “concierge” for WEtech; as she is the greeter, caller and the go-to-person assisting with all WEtech inquiries. Michelle brings a wealth of Administrative experience and organizational skills from working at The Windsor Star for 32 years.

EMAIL: mteno-wachter@wetech-alliance.com | OFFICE: 519.997.2848

Women’s Entrepreneurship Coordinator

KATE TOMEN

KEY INITIATIVE – F5: Refresh & Reload program

Kate’s professional experiences span both those of an entrepreneur working in start-ups and on the investment side. Kate joined Angel Investors Ontario while completing her Master of Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University. As Manager, Business Development and Operations Kate was responsible for the implementation of new program development and operations of Angel Investors Ontario and its 13 angel a groups across Ontario. Prior to AIO, Kate was responsible for non-degree programming development at the Centre for Professional Education (University of Windsor). Kate also hold a Bachelor of Science (honors) from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Commerce (honors) from the University of Windsor.

Email: ktomen@wetech-alliance.com  |  Phone: 519 355-7365

Tech Talent Strategist

DR. VICTORIA ABBOUD

KEY INITIATIVES – Tech Connect

Dr. Abboud has spent much of her 18-year career in post-secondary education in three Canadian provinces, the United States and Brazil where she served as faculty and as a chair, dean and director. Victoria was the program creator, lead facilitator and manager for Senior Leaders, a training program at MaRS Discovery District (Toronto) where she engaged participants from education, government, and the private sector to prepare for what’s been labelled as the “future of work.” More recently, she became an adjunct professor for University of Guelph-Humber and Humber College. Victoria is the national director for Changemaker Education at Ashoka Canada. She holds Bachelor of Science and Honours Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Windsor and Master of Arts & PhD degrees from Wayne State University.

EMAIL: vabboud@wetech-alliance.com

Tech Community Program Manager

AISLYN LEWIS-LAURENT

This is a shared position with Invest WindsorEssex

Aislyn is a Computer Science graduate from the University of Windsor with a passion for Bioinformatics and Computational Chemistry. She’s a researcher, Windsor’s Women Techmaker Ambassador, leader of Google’s Developer Student Club, co-founder of BorderHacks, a quantum computing enthusiast and developer of scientific analytical software.

EMAIL: alewis-laurent@investwindsoressex.com