Community Futures Ontario appoints new Executive Director

November 7, 2024

Community Futures Ontario appoints new Executive Director

The Board of Directors of Community Futures Ontario (CFO) is pleased to announce the appointment of Susan Evans as Executive Director, effective November 12, 2024. “The Board is very excited to welcome Susan to our Association,” says Mitch Bloom, CFO Board President. “Susan brings a wealth of experience from the organizations that she has led in the past that will be of great benefit to the Association and all Ontario CFDCs.”

Susan is an accomplished executive known for her transparent and strategic leadership in finance, operations, stakeholder relations, and relationship building. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Toronto Metropolitan University. The first nine years of her career were spent working for a venture capital firm that supported startup organizations in the automotive and craft brewery industries. Susan then transitioned to a senior leadership role as CFO and COO in luxury retail manufacturing and distribution.

With the onset of the pandemic, she pivoted into tech, joining Forj at its inception as a leader in Finance, Operations, and Human Resources, and as a key member of the senior leadership team. Forj, a startup in the association space, developed a member experience platform to enhance engagement for associations. Susan’s expertise in financial reporting and budgeting was instrumental in helping Forj secure $4.5M in Seed 2 funding and $15M in Series A.

Most recently, Susan served as Co-Director at the Women’s Economic Council, a government-funded organization dedicated to empowering women in business and leadership across Canada. In this role, she led initiatives in finance, operations, external relations, and volunteer engagement, while strengthening board governance, government relations, and advocacy. Her efforts aligned strategic goals with impactful initiatives to support women’s economic empowerment across Canada.

Susan is also the founder and volunteer Director of Shift The Odds, a non-profit focused on expanding tech education.

Currently residing in her hometown of Uxbridge, Ontario, Susan has deep roots in Ontario’s rural communities. “I am committed to driving meaningful impact and supporting community-based organizations,” says Susan. Attuned to the unique challenges and opportunities in these regions, she is dedicated to fostering local entrepreneurship and creating lasting impact through her role at Community Futures Ontario.

Effective November 12, 2024, Susan can be reached at sevans@cfontario.ca; 519-633-2326 ext. 1.

Mitch Bloom, President Community Futures Ontario