Meet the Wood Centre Team
Get to know the people behind the Wood Centre! This team is committed to empowering students with entrepreneurial spirit and fostering innovation on their journey to bring ideas to life.
Jessie Kennedy
Manager
Jessie joined the Wood Centre team in 2021 and brings extensive experience in partnership development, donor relations, program management, and strategic communications. An alumna of the University of Guelph, Jessie has a deep understanding of the institution and its values, shaped by her previous four years in the Admissions and Recruitment Office, where she travelled across Canada engaging prospective students and audiences through public presentations.
Jessie holds a master’s degree in Project Management and plays a key role in fostering meaningful relationships with external partners and donors to advance the Centre’s mission. She oversees the planning and delivery of programs and initiatives, ensuring projects are well-managed, impact-driven, and aligned with the Wood Centre’s strategic goals. Her collaborative approach and strong communication skills support sustainable partnerships and high-quality programming that benefit the University community.
Office: Macdonald Hall (RM 109)
Email: jkenne11@uoguelph.ca
Phone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 53798
Erin Young
Business Incubator Services Manager
Erin manages the Hub Incubator at the John F. Wood Centre, where she creates and instructs programming to support student entrepreneurs in turning their product ideas into viable business ventures.
She began her entrepreneurial journey as a Producer in the film and television industry, with her production company creating content for national and international broadcasters and theatres. Among her award-winning work, her documentary Hardwood received both Academy Award and International Emmy nominations.
Erin has also taught entrepreneurship in college media programs and holds a Master’s in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Technology from the University of Waterloo, an experience that fuelled her passion for working in entrepreneurship and innovation.
Office: Macdonald Hall (RM 107B)
Email: erin.young@uoguelph.ca
Phone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 54823
Alex Mitro
Program Coordinator
Alex Mitro is the Program Coordinator at the John F. Wood Centre for Student and Business Enterprise. He is responsible for running entrepreneurship-themed workshops and programming for students across campus. He also manages the MakerSpace, a collaborative space for students to access tools and equipment that will help with their innovation development. Previously, Alex worked in the beer industry as a Project Manager innovating processes and growing the business, and he holds a master's degree in biotechnology from the University of Guelph.
Office: Macdonald Hall (RM 110)
Email: amitro@uoguelph.ca
Phone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 56675
The John F. Wood Centre for Business and Student Enterprise is developing innovators and entrepreneurs at the University of Guelph. We look for innovative and sustainable solutions to economic, social and environmental problems. It is through this mission that we empower a new generation of business leaders committed to community engagement and a sustainable future. We instill in our students a sense of social responsibility and leadership, character-building values that help develop citizenship. We help to bring ideas to life!