Who We Are

Eric started his career as a Town Councillor coming on during a Bi-Election in 2017. Working with the EDO at the time, Eric learned a great deal of the role of an EDO and became passionate about the part they can play in a community. When the opportunity came in 2019, Eric resigned as a councillor and applied for the position. Eric volunteers on a number of local boards, as well as regional and provincial committees and is passionate about learning new things and meeting new people. He is currently working on his Ec.D. Designation through the Economic Developers Association of Canada.

Becky has been involved in rural and northern business and community development for over a decade with the Community Futures Program. An advocate for sustainable and inclusive development in Manitoba’s North, Becky has served on the Board for University College of the North and the Communities Economic Development Fund, as well as the Flin Flon & District Chamber of Commerce and the Manitoba Mineral Development Fund Application Review Committee. Becky is passionate about grassroots economic development and empowering women and youth to be the business and community leaders for tomorrow.

Eve completed a Bachelor of Business Administration (Accounting) Degree from Yorkville University in 2025 and is currently pursuing certification in the Manitoba Municipal Administration program at the University of Manitoba. She is also certified through the Manitoba Community Edge Program. She holds an Ec.D. designation from the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC), a national association for economic developers. She also holds both the Technician Aboriginal Economic Developer and Professional Aboriginal Economic Developer designations from CANDO, the national Indigenous economic development association. In addition, she has earned a Professional Community and Economic Developer designation from the Saskatchewan Economic Development Association.

Eve O’Leary has been the Director of Economic Development for Portage Regional Economic Development since 2019. Having moved from Ireland to Canada in 2014, Eve is passionate about Economic Development. She has a strong and proven track record in relationship-building, investment attraction, business retention and expansion, tourism, strategic planning, and governance.

Joel Lemoine has been the Director of Business Services and Immigration Integration Officer for the past 20 years at the Economic Development Council of Manitoba (CDEM). During this time, I’ve also been an EDAM board member as well as the representative of the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC). With a background in business, accounting, international business as well as an Economic Development certification, I really enjoy providing guidance to entrepreneurs and communities in achieving growth and success in the years to come.

Marilyn Crewe has been the Economic Development Officer in Neepawa since 2014. Marilyn is a certified practitioner through EDAM’s new Community Edge program and has completed both the Economic Developers Certification and Fellowship programs from University of Waterloo. She sits on several boards including the Neepawa Chamber of Commerce and the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation. She supports local businesses and organizations to drive community growth. Marilyn enjoys working with entrepreneurs, developing viable businesses that move the community forward and provide employment. She believes that sustainable economic development can be accomplished through clearly understanding the needs of the region and communicating those needs effectively.

Lana is the General Manager of Community Futures West Interlake. She was born and raised in rural Manitoba and has spent the last 20+ years working in community development. She continues to be inspired by the volunteers and community champions who work so hard to keep rural Manitoba vibrant and is driven to support their efforts. Lana is an active member of various regional development agencies, including the Economic Developers Association of Manitoba. Lana has been a part of the development of the Community Edge Program and enjoys delivering the training and engaging in the great conversations that result.

For the past 25 years Tammy has been working in the field of business and economic development. Tammy is the current manager of Community Futures East Interlake Inc., as position she has held since 2004. Tammy has experience working in client counseling, lending, proposal writing, strategic planning, HR management, development and implementation of training worships, financial statement analysis and bookkeeping.