New Hamburg Board of Trade celebrates women in business on International Women’s Day
- Mar 11
- 3 min read
By Amanda Nelson
On International Women’s Day, the New Hamburg Board of Trade hosted its first Women’s Day event aimed at inspiring and connecting local business owners and entrepreneurs.
The event was held at the boutique event space, The Waterlot, owned and operated by Lynne Hall at 90 Wilmot St. in New Hamburg. Though the event was free for attendees, donations were accepted in support of Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region.
Five women spoke about the successes and struggles of owning a business or working in New Hamburg and how, as women, entrepreneurship can sometimes be challenging but ultimately rewarding.
Lillianne Dunstall, board of trade president, spoke about rising to the top and becoming vice president of North American business operations for a Fortune 500 company. Dunstall spoke about her struggles with imposter syndrome, saying the only way to get through it is realizing an action is bigger than a thought.
She also discussed the realities of being a woman in business and the impact of local New Hamburg businesses being run by women.
“International Women’s Day celebrates the accomplishments of women around the world, but the afternoon also focused on the reality behind success — the dedication, detours, lessons, bruises and wins along the way,” she said. “Kathie Jordan of Kathie Jordan Design mentioned that more than 22 women own businesses in downtown New Hamburg alone, which speaks to the strength of women entrepreneurs in our community.”
Shelby Behling, founder and president of Clean & Tidy Inc., shared how she struggled in school and was often told she would never amount to much. She now runs a business with 50 employees and services hundreds of homes.
Behling said supporting and valuing her employees is her top priority. She pays a living wage, offers benefits and allows staff to work hours that fit their schedules.
“As a female entrepreneur who grew a team from just myself to hundreds of clients and dozens of staff, I hope to inspire other women who have big dreams and goals in their lives. That’s why I love to share my story at events,” she said.
Kathie Jordan Design is located at 81 Peel St. in New Hamburg. As owner, Jordan was nominated for the 2025 Waterloo Region Women of the Year Awards in the arts and culture category, and she spoke about how she once believed that struggling in school meant she could never succeed. Instead, she said her creativity led her to a fulfilling career.
Jordan encouraged others to remember traditional education is not the only path to success and creative pursuits can also lead to meaningful career growth.
Kristi Chambers, owner and operator of Evoke Fitness and Rehabilitation, spoke about her more than 15 years in the industry and building a strong team of women.
Chambers shared her struggles as a woman in business, including being fired from a corporate position while trying to start a family. She said the experience pushed her to create her own path and build a welcoming and supportive fitness environment for others.
Local journalist Amanda Nelson, who writes and serves as director of community engagement for Grant Haven Media, also spoke at the event. Nelson discussed her transition from nursing to journalism and the challenges she faced growing up. She said nursing felt like the right path at the time, but she always felt drawn to something more. After discovering her passion for writing, she began working for Grant Haven Media and quickly fell in love with covering local stories and connecting with the community.
Dunstall is encouraging women from across the region to become members of the The New Hamburg Board of Trade. Membership includes monthly meetings as well as opportunities for support and community connections.
Editor’s note: In addition to writing this article, Amanda Nelson spoke at the New Hamburg Board of Trade’s International Women’s Day event.
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