Michelle Neilson (right) is the Vice President and Director of Business Development for MCLEAN ORGANIC FOODS INC. With over 15 years of business consulting experience, Michelle oversees Mclean's company finances and new business growth including new product and systems development, contracting, industry research and relations, strategic planning, brand development and company communications.
Before joining Mclean Organic Foods, Michelle was on contract under the Board of Directors for Canada’s Learning & Enrichment Travel Alliance (now called Canadian Experiences Travel Network), funded by the Canadian Tourism Commission. During this contract, Michelle was instrumental in developing three inter-dependent websites directed at the travel trade, media, and consumer markets, plus a customized content management system to catalogue and manage the member directory. Michelle also oversaw the day-to-day management of the organization and worked closely with members, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) and the Board to promote a learning travel marketing portal for Canada’s tourism sector.
Michelle has experienced business growth, from vision to reality, from a variety of hands-on experiences. In the 1990’s, Michelle joined international tour operator Butterfield & Robinson as their Regional Director for the Canadian Rockies and British Columbia. During this time, Michelle managed and developed multi-sport travel packages and guided tours from Banff National Park to Tofino and Salt Spring Island. In the shoulder seasons, Michelle returned to France for additional bike touring, wine tasting and cultural tours with Butterfield & Robinson. In the winter months, Michelle developed and facilitated workshops directed at individuals in the caregiver industry and volunteered with a variety of community organizations.
For over 12 years, Michelle honed her skills as a business development consultant and in 2000 she returned to university to study business at Simon Fraser University.
Today, Michelle sits on the Organic Standard Processing Working Group under the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB).
In her community of Squamish, British Columbia, Michelle sits on the Board of Directors for the Wild at Art Festival and Chairs the Fundraising Committee.
Michelle values the tradition of back-to-nature living, including community connections, organic farming and slow foods – food that connects us back to the land and the people who produce and prepare the food we eat.
Favourite Food Books (suggested reading):
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle – A year of food life, by Barbara Kingsolver
Hard To Swallow – The truth about food additives, by Doris Sarjeant and Karen Evans
The Food Revolution – How your diet can help save your life and the world, by John Robbins
Foods That Harm, Foods That Heal – An A-Z guide to safe and healthy eating, Readers Digest
