JD Gaetan worked with Community Futures Entre-Corp 10 years ago, coordinating youth entrepreneurship programs, including the Youth Entrepreneurship Camp. With a business degree and a double major in marketing and human resources (HR), he then moved into an HR role with a greenhouse cooperative company that distributed throughout western Canada and, during peak seasons, had over 200 employees.
When the role of Human Resource Specialist with Community Futures Entre-Corp presented itself in 2023, Gaetan was invited onto the team. He provides Entre-Corp clients with human resource advice and support, whether it’s best practices for building a job description, how to attract staff, how to retain staff, how to educate staff through training, and offering other collaborative training opportunities.
“Entre-Corp was my first job out of University, and coming from an entrepreneurial family and working with my family business, it made sense to work with an organization focused on guiding businesses and encouraging entrepreneurship,” says Gaetan.
There is a lot to learn about HR. It’s always changing, and Gaetan wants business owners to know they’re not alone. He is here to help keep entrepreneurs updated with the latest legislative changes. And, in terms of retaining and attracting staff, as hiring becomes more difficult for owners, Gaetan can teach them how to properly and effectively promote their open positions. He’s a problem solver with education and experience, and he’s eager to support local entrepreneurs.
“I came from an entrepreneurial family and have a lot of respect for entrepreneurs. I’m looking forward to working with all the different small business owners. They are vital to our community,” says Gaetan. “HR is a people's position, and I like working with people.”
Gaetan is originally from Nova Scotia. When he visited Medicine Hat almost 15 years ago in the summer, he stayed. He really enjoyed the city, and it’s become his home — it’s where he raises his two daughters, and where he can fulfill his passion and connect with entrepreneurs in Medicine Hat to strengthen their business foundation.
