After recently completing a competition, the White Lake Limited Partnership is pleased to announce the addition of Steven McCoy as the new Business Development Manager to the White Lake team.
The Business Development Officer position was created by the Board of Directors to support identifying, evaluating, planning and starting up new business opportunities that will provide revenue and employment opportunities for the Pic Mobert First Nation membership. A major focus of the position is supporting the development of an implementation plan for business and employment opportunities set out in the IBA that was recently signed by the Chief and Council and Harte Gold. The position is being financially supported by INAC’s CORP program after receiving approval of a funding application prepared by staff. The position works closely with operations staff at White Lake LP and our First Nation’s economic development department.
Steven is an Ojibwe native from Ketegaunseebee (Garden River First Nation) and grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. His Anishinaabe name is Mishkwanakwet (Red Cloud) and is a member of the Mukwa (Bear) Clan. He enjoys hunting, fishing, biking, canoeing, exercising, reading, cooking, playing sports and is a self-taught musician. Mr. McCoy also enjoys volunteering his time as a member and Treasurer of the board of directors with the Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Sault Ste. Marie as he used to be a benefactor of the program as a child himself. Steven has additional committee and board of director experience as he has been a Trustee with the Garden River Community Trust Fund since 2016.
Steven has an educational background in business, marketing, finance and hospitality with many years of work experience in the same fields. He completed a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a specialization in Marketing at Algoma University and graduated with honours in 2014. Steven also graduated with a Diploma from Sault College in Hospitality and Tourism Management in 2008. In addition, he completed Canadian Securities Course which is required to work with stocks, bonds, mutual funds and derivatives in Canada along with the Life License Qualification Program which is required to work with life, accident and sickness insurance in the province of Ontario.
Steven has been involved in many First Nation administration roles such as Marketing Liaison Manager with the Aboriginal Housing Protective Association (AHPA), Marketing Director with the Ontario First Nations Economic Developers Association (OFNEDA), Anishinaabe Events Coordinator with Algoma University. In addition, he started his own part-time consulting business in 2012 and worked with numerous entrepreneurs, non-profit organizations, Chief and Councils and private corporations. Steven also does motivational speaking around the community to help inspire others take control of their lives and pursue their dreams. He’s had the opportunity to speak to Ontario Works clients, Sault College students, Algoma U students and staff, Batchewana First Nation band members and the Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board. Steven also worked many years in the customer service and sales industry with world-class training from well-established hospitality firms and has experience interacting with a wide range of people and personalities from around the globe.
Through his work experience and educational training, he came to realize that he wanted to contribute more to society than just make a pay cheque. Steven looked at the state of our First Nations in Canada and decided to leverage his skills and training for the betterment of First Nations people in Canada. Mr. McCoy looks forward to servicing the Pic Mobert First Nation community, nurturing partnerships and making a positive impact for our First Nation people.
Steve will be in the community regularly and working throughout the region as he supports research and negotiations on our business ventures; he can be reached by email at busdev@whitelakelp.ca