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6 PROFILES · Independent & Free Press,Thursday, October 27, 2011 SHOPLOCAL SHOP SMART... SHOP HALTON HILLS PEOPLE IN BUSINESS Lisa Hartsink (Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty, Brokerage) Lisa Hartsink's goal is to become a lifelong Realtor for her clients, someone they can turn to even after their purchase or sale is complete. The Royal LePage Meadowtowne Broker hopes her combination of honesty, knowledge and friendly customer service will encourage her clients to give her a call for any future real estate needs. "I try to go above and beyond to help my clients," says Lisa, who has worked in real estate for the past six years. "I want to help my clients find the right house as opposed to just any house." Lisa works in residential real estate, primarily in the Georgetown, Acton, Rockwood and Erin areas. The Georgetown resident's job involves much more than merely putting a sign on a lawn. She provides well-researched and detailed market evaluations as well as a multitude of other behind-the-scenes services to make the process as easy and stress-free as possible. Part of her commitment to customer service involves providing a list of trusted contacts for everything from painters to lawyers. For Lisa, living and working in the same community is a definite advantage. "You become very knowledgeable about the area, when you live in it as well" Lisa says. SHOPLOCAL SHOP SMART... SHOP HALTON HILLS Donna Becksted (Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce) Donna Becksted's slogan is simple: "My name is Donna, I work for the Chamber of Commerce and that means I work for you." As the sales representative for Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce, Donna is responsible for new members, advertising and sponsorships, and making sure members take advantage of the Chamber's many membership benefits, which range from group health insurance to discounted gas rates to networking opportunities. Membership is open to any business operating in Halton Hills or who would like to further their business in Halton Hills. Halton Hills Chamber of Commerce is well known for their networking breakfasts, lunches and after hour events, but these gatherings are just a small part of what they do. They also offer educational seminars, promote partnerships and act as an advocate for local businesses by supporting sound governmental policies and promoting economic development and business opportunities in the Halton Hills area. "We make a good team, we three," Donna says of her co-workers. "We are three very different women working for 500 very different businesses and we love it. I love meeting new people and I love the entrepreneurial spirit." Office: 905-877-8262 www.lisahartsink.com LisaHartsink@royallepage.ca 328 Guelph St., Georgetown Lisa Hartsink, Broker DONNA BECKSTED 905-877-7119 Wastewise Community Resource Centre In 1991, a group of concerned citizens banded together to show Halton Hills residents alternative ways to divert unwanted items from the landfill. Wastewise opened its doors in April of 1991 and, two decades later, the community resource centre is still going strong. Wastewise is a one-stop shop for all your recycling and reusing needs. The centre's reuse section takes in a variety of good-quality items - including books, clothing, dishes, small appliances, furniture and more - and resells them. Wastewise also has a recycling section for common items like paper and cardboard. While reusing and recycling are a major part of Wastewise's mandate, education is also very important. Local green clubs, school groups, Scout troops and Guide groups visit the centre to learn about recycling and the environment. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Wastewise gave away $20,000 to a variety of local organizations, including P.O.W.E.R., local high school scholarships and environmental programs, and the Acton BIA. "We're pleased to finally be in a position to give away money," says manager Debbie Smart. "At the beginning, our goal was just to be self-sustaining." Debbie wants to thank all the volunteers, board members, local businesses and staff members who have made Wastewise what it is today. Russell's Handyman Services When Russell Hillier starts his day, he knows he won't be doing the same thing he did the day before. As the owner and operator of Russell's Handyman Services, he helps clients with the home repair projects they aren't able to do themselves, such as trim work, custom closets, painting, tile work, crown molding and interior and exterior door installation. "I like the different jobs I get to do," Russell says. "Every day is a different thing: could be tile, could be drywall, could be carpentry work." The Georgetown native founded his business seven years ago after moving to Mobile, Alabama. Home repair had always piqued his interest and he soon found himself with a thriving business on his hands. "I only advertised once and I was busy for five years straight," Russell says. When he moved back to Halton Hills to be closer to family, he brought his business with him and word soon got out about his work. Russell attributes his business's success to his honesty, punctuality and commitment to getting the work done in a timely fashion. "I wouldn't do a repair on someone's house that I wouldn't do on my own," he says. BETH, ROSS & STEPHANIE Hours of Operation: Mon. - Sat. 9 am - 5 pm; Thurs. 9 am - 8 pm 36 Armstrong Ave., Georgetown 905-873-8122 RUSSELL HILLIER Just Teasin' When she was growing up, Ines Soares never liked the way other hairdressers did her hair. She would leave the salon unhappy and vowed to become a hairstylist so she could do her own hair. And that's exactly what happened. After becoming a hairstylist 15 years ago, Ines worked in Brampton before coming to Georgetown and opening a salon in Downtown Georgetown called Just Teasin'. This November, Ines will close her salon and begin working out of Studio 97, located at 10 Mountainview Road South, Georgetown. Although personal reasons led her to shut down her shop, Ines will continue to offer the same friendly services everything from colour and highlights to haircuts and updos - at the same reasonable prices. Ines has been overwhelmed by her clients' response to the news of her upcoming move. "They have been very supportive," she says. "They said, 'wherever you go, we're there!'" Continuing to work in Georgetown is a dream for Ines, who has grown fond of the community in the years she has worked here. "It's a quiet area and the people are nice here," says Ines. "I live in Brampton, but I really like working in Georgetown. It's nice and cozy." Cory Soal (Georgetown Hearing Clinic) Cory Soal has been changing lives since 1992. As the owner and operator of The Georgetown Hearing Clinic, Cory helps people of all ages hear better by fitting them with customized hearing aids. Communication is easier, relationships improve and, in the case of children, marks go up when a person can hear clearly. "Hearing aid technology is always improving so people can get better results faster," Cory says. "There are so many good products out there that provide a fine quality, high definition sound." The Georgetown Hearing Clinic provides a variety of hearing aid-related services, including fittings, testing, sales, repairs, maintenance and batteries for all makes and models. Cory has gotten to know his clients very well over the years, which is the key to his business's continued success. "For people coming to my clinic, they see the same face every time: me," he says. "Getting to know the person you're dealing with is so crucial. The more I know that person, the better service I can offer." For Cory, who was born and raised in Georgetown, working in his hometown is a dream come true. "This is a great town, a great place to grow up and a great place to raise a family, which is what I'm doing now," he says. 48 Main St. S., Downtown Georgetown INES SOARES Fluent in Portuguese & Spanish CORY SOAL The GEORGETOWN HEARING CLINIC 99 Sinclair Avenue, Suite 210 905-873-6642 Serving the community of Halton Hills and surrounding areas for 19 years