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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 9, 2015 | 6 Networking guru believed in mentoring others by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff Spotlight "Connected to your Community" L ong-time Oakville resident and networking guru Donna Messer died on Friday, April 3 -- her birthday. Messer's son and former Kerr Street BIA director Richard Messer con rmed the renowned businesswoman died at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital early Friday. The date marked her 73rd birthday. Richard said his mother had fought "a valiant and digni ed battle with cancer," which had only been diagnosed March 21, and had died peacefully with her family by her side. "Those of us who were touched by, and had the opportunity to talk to, Donna are truly fortunate. We rejoice her presence on Earth and remember our time with her well. It is presumed that she is currently in charge of networking in heaven," said Richard. "Donna was a mother, grandmother, businesswoman, public speaker, accomplished writer, friend and mentor. She was a positive and welcomed impact on her community and a highly sought after source of knowledge and support." For more than two decades, Messer promoted the importance of personal relationships in business and held countless seminars and workshops on how to forge, nurture and leverage them to the mutual bene t of all involved. Messer founded networking company, ConnectUs Communications Canada in 1997 and as president spoke throughout North America, the Caribbean, Mexico, Europe and Iceland on a variety of topics dealing with the art of networking. Richard said his mother had a wide variety of careers over the course of her life with of ce work for the CIBC and a legal rm in Niagara Falls giving way to the co-founding of a gourmet herbs and spices company called the Orange Crate. "Donna was Canada's rst Spice Lady," said Richard. "That manifested itself into a fairly large organization that was across Canada and throughout the U.S. We were involved with all kinds of big-name companies such as Eaton's, Bowring, The Bay and we sold potpourri, gourmet herbs and spices all across Canada." The Orange Crate was sold in 1989 with Messer next turning her attention to the State of Illinois where she worked as an attaché with the state's agricultural department dealing with the exchange of food and agriculture between Ontario and Illinois. Following that period of her life, Messer turned to networking and founded a small networking group, which would ultimately evolve into ConnectUs. "Donna was an idea person. Donna never stopped coming up with creative ideas that would generate interest," said Richard, who worked with his mother growing ConnectUs. "Most of the ideas and concepts we came up with over the years were leading-edge and before their time...We had a website and email back in like 1997." Messer's public speaking talents led her to hold presentations on networking before federal, provincial, municipal and state governments and even saw her serve as an adviser to the Prime Minister's Of ce on issues relating to women in business. Donna was a mother, grandmother, businesswoman, public speaker, accomplished writer, friend and mentor. She was a positive and welcomed impact on her community and a highly sought-after source of knowledge and support. Richard Messer Donna Messer | Oakville Beaver le photo Other clients have included Scotiabank, Rogers Communications Inc., Petro Canada, Sun Life Financial and the Canadian Plastics Association. The former broadcast journalist and entrepreneur described herself as the "queen of networking," stating her skill as something akin to matchmaking. "I am a matchmaker," she wrote at donnamesser.wordpress. com. "I bring like-minded people together and watch history unfold. I am a catalyst for positive change in people's personal and professional lives. I am an expert in the art of effective networking." Messer wrote ve books, including Effective Networking Strategies, which her ConnectUs biography states sold more than 50,000 copies over the last 15 years. Another book, published in 2012 and titled Cycles of Life -- Keeping You on Track, was geared towards business owners and discussed how nothing in business or in life is new, but only the re-purposing of past ideas, trends, and styles. Messer was never shy about reaching out to the community, serving as the foster mom for Lions Foundation of Canada Dog Guides in training. In 2002, she showed her dedication to the environment by hosting Junior Worm Farmer Day, an event that taught local children how to raise red wigglers to make compost from organic waste. Three years ago, the entrepreneur helped organize a pre-pitch event for Halton entrepreneurs who were about to participate in Pythons' Pit, Halton's version of Dragons' Den. The contest gives local entrepreneurs and students a chance to pitch their business concepts and product ideas in front of a live audience and a panel of real business moguls from the community. Messer helped contestants re ne their pitches so they would have a better opportunity of winning the contest's start-up cash prizes. "Mentoring is the single most important thing that can help determine where we want to go and perhaps stop us from falling into a hole," she said in a previous interview with the Oakville Beaver . "The mentor we might nd has already been there. I've had mentors my whole life." A deep believer in organizations that elevate the status of women, Messer served on the executive board for Women in International Trade, a non-pro t professional organization designed to promote women doing business internationally; and chaired Women in Food Industry Management, a group dedicated to supporting the development of professional women. She also volunteered her time with the Mississauga Symphony Orchestra, served on the board of the United Way of Oakville (UWO) and supported Women in Motion, an organization supporting woman-owned businesses. Richard said his mother was also a dedicated Rotarian and supported the March of Dimes. Messer received a Woman of the Year Award from Women in Food Industry Management and an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Canadian Association of Career Educators and employers. "She was a genuine person. Donna was my best friend and she was my business partner and she was my mother," said Richard. "I worked with Donna as secretary treasurer when we had the Orange Crate. We have always had a mother-son business relationship...We would have a meal together every once in a while and try not to talk about business, but we would always end up talking about what was next. That was part of the fun." Messer is survived by her son Richard and his wife Debbie, her daughter Lauren, her brother Doug and his wife Sharon, her grandchildren Keegan and Madison, her niece Kim and nephew Brandon. A public visitation will take place Friday from 2-4 p.m. and from 6-9 p.m. at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Rd., W. NEIL OLIVER Vice­President and Group Publisher DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Halton Region Editor in Chief Volume 53 | Number 28 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Editorial Department (905) 845-3824 Advertising Department (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising (905) 632-4444 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 DANIEL BAIRD Director of Advertising ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor