Jodi Phelan

Hiregood Services Inc.

Jodi Phelan is the CEO of Hiregood Services Inc., a for-profit social enterprise that creates meaningful employment for people facing barriers while delivering essential services that keep Edmonton and Calgary’s communities safe, clean, and welcoming. With over 18 years of experience in business operations, management, and leadership, Jodi has successfully built Hiregood into a sustainable organization that balances growth, financial discipline, and deep social impact.

In her role, Jodi oversees all aspects of the business—from strategic planning, budgeting, and reporting, to staff development, stakeholder collaboration, and client relations. She leverages her expertise in marketing, sales, customer service, and project management to generate revenue, attract and retain clients, and ensure the consistent delivery of high-quality services.

Driven by a passion for community change, Jodi is committed to empowering individuals to reach their full potential through employment, training, and second chances. Under her leadership, Hiregood has helped more than 680 people gain stability, rebuild confidence, and contribute back to their communities.

Jodi is also the proud recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in recognition of her leadership in social enterprise and social finance. Her philosophy is rooted in continuous improvement, innovation, and the belief that teamwork and dignity can transform lives and communities alike.

‍

Workshops

No items found.

Other speakers & attendees

Jenna Walsh

Momentum/Be Local YYC

Social Business Coordinator with Be Local YYC, Co-founder of GOT Foundation and Founder of Elevated Escapes

Nicole Welykochy

Newo Global Energy

As an energy auditor and Faithful Footprints lead, Nicole brings expertise and enthusiasm for helping people improve their buildings, meet emissions goals and make a positive impact on their communities.

Alyssa Lindsay

Capacity Building Associate at Calgary Foundation

Alyssa Lindsay is a dedicated and innovative non-profit leader with over 15 years of experience in social innovation, design thinking, and systems change. In her current role as a Capacity Building Associate at Calgary Foundation, Alyssa contributes to community building and engagement through research, co-design, and facilitation of shared learning and collaborative spaces.

Colby Delorme

Imagination Group

Colby Delorme is President of the Imagination Group of Companies and a Métis entrepreneur with experience spanning construction, brand development, marketing, certification, franchise development, tobacco manufacturing, and business consulting.

Laurel Dault

Hollyhock Leadership Institute

Facilitator and lead of Hollyhock's Signature Programming, including Activate, Run for Office, and Social Venture Institute (SVI)

Brittany Vine

The Social Impact Lab Alberta

Project Director at The Social Impact Lab, leading social innovation initiatives through community co-design and regional socio-economic development.

Jerome Morgan

Innovate Calgary - Social Innovation Hub

Jerome is an innovations expert and change agent, shaping social, creative, entrepreneurial, and economic change. He is currently the Associate Director for the Social Innovation Hub, with Innovate Calgary.

Michelle Lee

Mount Royal University

Coordinator of StartWork at MRU, supporting refugees and newcomers through inclusive employment and social innovation

Diana Frost

Colouring It Forward

Engineer, artist, musician and founder of Colouring It Forward

Barb Rallison

Institute for Community Prosperity / MRU / StartWork

Social innovator, community economic development leader, and impact investor with deep roots in Moh’kinsstsis and Métis-settler heritage, working at the intersection of systems change, equity, and place-based prosperity.

Randy Poon

Purpose and Performance Project

Chief Story Officer and Founder of the Purpose and Performance Project, a consulting and coaching collaborative that helps leaders and organizations align purpose with impact.

Eva Verity

Social Innovation Hub

Facilitator, producer, and grant writing consultant who has developed and led creative social innovation projects with local communities in more than 30 cities in Canada, the US, UK, Australia, Asia, and Europe.

Rachel Forbes

Imagination Consulting

Rachel Victoria Forbes is the Project Coordinator at Imagination Consulting, coordinating nationwide engagements in project management, policy review, documentation development, and operational improvement.

Mariya Podeyko

:AM CLEANING YYC

Holistic entrepreneur, speaker, mentor, and founder of :AM CLEANING YYC, who’s on a mission to elevate the cleaning profession and crush old stereotypes.

Jodi Phelan

Hiregood Services Inc.

CEO of Hiregood Services Inc., a for-profit social enterprise that creates meaningful employment for people facing barriers while delivering essential services that keep Edmonton and Calgary’s communities safe, clean, and welcoming.

Molly Seaton-Fast

Arcana Creative

Molly Seaton-Fast is the founder, CEO and Creative Director of Arcana Creative, a woman-led social venture and design studio based in Saskatoon.

Natalie Wynn-Dempsey

Little Wonders Early Literacy Music Play Program

As the creator of Little Wonders Early Literacy, Music, and Play Program Offering, I have spent over 18 years evolving the work—from Mother Goose to Mother Goes to Africa and everything in between— weaving Indigenous teachings and cultural stories into early learning and community wellness. Today, as Indigenous Engagement Coordinator at Momentum, I draw on 30+ years of experience, guided by Elders, ceremony, and community, to help advance Truth and Reconciliation.

Carrie Armstrong

Indigenous Tourism Alberta

Senior director of development at Indigenous Tourism Alberta, and founder/owner Mother Earth Essentials.

Gloria Juarez

The Marriage Savers Cleaning

Gloria Juarez is the co-founder and owner of The Marriage Savers Cleaning, a family-owned business in Calgary specializing in luxury residential cleaning, post-construction services, chandelier care, and concierge solutions.

Adrienne Furrie

Adrienne Furrie Beauty

Professional makeup artist and beauty brand founder with over 20 years of experience working in beauty, fashion, and business

Jeff Loomis

Executive Director, Momentum

Jeff works as the Executive Director of Momentum - a change-making organization that combines social and economic strategies to reduce poverty in Calgary. Momentum partners with people living on lower-incomes to get good jobs, create their own job through self-employment and save money to build their assets.

Brian Hill

TuffHill eBikes

Co-Founder of TuffHill eBikes, locally designed eBikes suited for the Canadian riding environment. TuffHill eBikes takes an inclusive, educational approach as they connect with customers, and advocate with the city for better bike infrastructure.

Keith Murray

Second Fire Sacred Arts

Faith leader and transdisciplinary artist – a writer, designer, activist, speaker & facilitator

Joh Smolders

Purppl

Joh is an Entrepreneur in Residence with Purppl, as well as owner of an accounting consulting business, providing financial support and coaching to social enterprises.

Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed

ALCLA Native Plants

Latifa Pelletier-Ahmed is a botanist, herbalist, educator, and artist, and is co-owner of ALCLA Native Plants.

Bibiana Cala

Huginn Insight

Dedicated to fostering growth, community development, and sustainable practices across sectors, always driven by a passion for helping people and organizations reach their full potential.

Beth Ed

The Social Impact Lab Alberta

Beth is a service designer at The Social Impact Lab with a background in media and UX design.

Alex Laidlaw

Calgary Foundation

Alex Laidlaw manages a loan program for charities and non-profits at Calgary Foundation, as Director of Impact Investments.

Tonya Surman

Centre for Social Innovation, CEO

Tonya Surman is a leading Canadian social entrepreneur and founding CEO of the Centre for Social Innovation (CSI). She’s known for creating visionary ideas, collaborative models, and spaces that drive systemic change. Tonya co-developed the Constellation Model and the Community Bond, which has raised over $10M to support social purpose real estate. Under her leadership, CSI has supported 6000+ changemakers. She also founded Social Innovation Canada, uniting innovators nationwide. Tonya is an award-winning leader recognized by Ashoka, the Trillium Foundation, and others.

Karina Birch

Rocky Mountain Soap Company, CEO

Karina Birch is the co-owner and CEO of Rocky Mountain Soap Company; a Canadian natural cosmetic brand rooted in purpose and place.

Barbara Lee

Italiano Please! Ltd.

Barbara is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Italiano Please! Ltd., a family-run social enterprise that is a Micro-Business with a Mega-Mission.

Mike Rowlands

Junxion Strategy

President & CEO at Junxion, a firm that for over 20 years has been advising on strategy, sustainability, and social impact for some of the world’s most courageous and generative companies, non-profits, and movements

Cara Taylor

Oaks Mental Health

Cara Taylor (she/her) is the founder of Oaks Mental Health and a passionate mental health educator with over a decade of social work experience in mobile crisis, inpatient psychiatry, and private practice.

Philip Lozano

Be Local YYC

Manager of Be Local YYC, with almost 10 years of experience working in social enterprise, with a focus on community and grassroot initiatives

Leslie Hill

Discovery House

Executive Director at Discovery House for almost 5 years, with a deep passion for supporting families experiencing domestic violence, and in breaking the cycle of domestic violence through working with families and children to heal from the trauma they have experienced.

Trish Kelly Chornyj

Untapped Accessibility (legal name: Open Door Ventures CCC Ltd)

A purpose-driven leader with over two decades of experience helping organizations operationalize their social goals. At Untapped, she is the team’s expert on accessible procurement and people leadership.

Laura Keating Elske

People & Planet Consulting

Decision strategist, facilitator, and community builder with expertise in structured decision-making

Dieulita Datus

Ubuntu-Mobilizing Central Alberta

An executive director, builder, strategist, and a dreamer who refuses to accept that “the way it’s always been” is the way it has to be.

Rajan Rathnavalu

Newo Global Energy

Founder and CEO of Newo Global Energy, a non-profit social enterprise that engages in solar installation and energy audit services while training people with barriers to employment, particularly Indigenous youth.

Travis Smith

Hop Studios

President of Hop Studios, a boutique web agency specializing in digital tools for non-profits.

Amy Reynolds

UpEarth Pathways

Amy is the founder of UpEarth Pathways, where she blends her 25+ years of experience in project coordination with a passion for regenerative practices—specializing in grant research and storytelling that connect environmental vision with tangible, funded outcomes for communities and the land.

Kelly Lydiard

On A Dime Transformations

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of On A Dime Transformations, an organization helping people in recovery from addictions build meaningful careers.

Gloria Juarez

The Marriage Savers Cleaning

Co-founder and owner of The Marriage Savers Cleaning, a family-owned business in Calgary specializing in luxury residential cleaning, post-construction services, chandelier care, and concierge solutions.

Kira Hunt

Adaptive Ecosystems

Landscape technologist, biomimicry researcher, and artist with a broad range of knowledge that includes urban planning, ecology, biology, design, machining, and mapmaking.

Heather Jansen

Change is Good

Currently leading ventures at Calgary Dream Centre, including the successful evolution of boutique thrift store, Change is Good, from online platform to brick-and-mortar operation.

Neji Tawo

Jobseek AI

Software engineer and tech entrepreneur with more than two decades of experience in building solutions that address critical social problems.

Lisa L'Hirondelle

Moon Beadz

Indigenous Artisan, Therapist and Relations consultant.

Leah Fink

All Thrive

Leah Fink is the founder of All Thrive, a company dedicated to improving workplace mental health. She is passionate about creating environments where mental health is prioritized, enabling both individuals and organizations to thrive.

Jude Brunt

Purppl

Community Lead at Purppl, working with nonprofits and social enterprises to help them secure consulting and coaching services.

Carrie Liu

Bamboo Dumplings

Carrie has experience as an IT Business Analyst to help organization streamline and automate processes in addition to running Bamboo Dumplings for the last 5 years.

Karlee Fellner

ᒪᐢᑭᐦᑭᕀ maskihkiy wellness

Member of the Otipemisiwak Métis Nation of Alberta, a Registered Psychologist (Alberta), and CEO and Founder of ᒪᐢᑭᐦᑭᕀ maskihkiy wellness. Dr. Fellner worked for over 10 years as a Professor of Counselling Psychology-Indigenous Education at the University of Calgary before resigning her tenured position to focus on community-based clinical work.