Dennis Geelen

Coaching and mentoring to help you start and scale your one-person business.

Founder

Zero In

The mission of Zero In is to help as many businesses and leaders build a brand customers love and a company people are passionate to work for.  

So where do you need to focus (or Zero In)?
Solve the problem of INDIFFERENCE!

Indifferent customers have no compelling reason to purchase your product or service rather than your competitors' product or service. 

Indifferent employees are complacent because they are not passionate about coming to work each day.

Utilize the resources, books, and courses from Zero In to increase your customer retention, improve your customer experience, and build a passionate culture of innovation giving your team the ability to find new and better ways to serve your customers.

"Customers DO NOT buy your product or service, they buy what it can DO FOR THEM"
Customer-centricity means knowing your customers and giving them what they crave.  This helps you to build trust and loyalty, but also a solid reputation.  Loyal customers become fans of your brand and refer other customers to you.

"If you don't find new and better ways to serve your customers, SOMEONE ELSE WILL!"
Being Innovative brings new ideas, which is crucial to a business being able to find new and better ways to add value for your customers.  With innovation comes creative new products and services, increases in efficiency and, as a result, improved profitability.

BE THE BRAND CUSTOMERS LOVE AND THE COMPANY PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE TO WORK FOR

Founder and Chief Difference Maker

The Commonwell Mutual Insurance Group

About the Commonwell
We are committed to profitable growth, team development, ingenuity, while having fun at work.  We offer a complete range of insurance products including residential, automobile, commercial, farm and watercraft. We encourage a work-life balance and we are serious about what we do!

About my Role
As Manager of the PMO, I lead a group project managers and business analysts to implement the project management office from the ground up.

About the PMO
Projects at the Commonwell are measured against timelines, budget, delivery of scope, but most importantly the realization of the intended benefits of each project.  Over 85% of projects at the Commonwell were consistantly green throughout 2018.

Manager, Project and Portfolio Management Office

As Manager of Application Services, I am responsible for planning, coordinating and managing the activities of the Application Services team within the Information Systems (IS) Department. This includes leadership and development of the IS team members, as well as providing direction and support for IS solutions to meet the present and future needs of the organization.

Manager of Application Services

Kawartha Lakes Food Source

Kawartha Lakes Food Source is a community effort to reduce hunger in the City of Kawartha Lakes by:

1. Maintaining a central warehouse to supply food to organizations that provide food to individuals in need,
2. Raising public awareness, and
3. Working in concert with other local not-for-profit organizations.

Board Of Directors

Operitel Corporation (An OpenText Company) 

ABout OpenText
OpenText, The Information Company™, a market leader in Enterprise Information Management software and solutions, enables intelligent and connected enterprises by managing, leveraging, securing and gaining insight into enterprise information, on-premises or in the cloud. 

About my Role
Directed a team of PS and R&D resources to develop and implement the LearnFlex LMS platform for over 40 clients.

Director of R&D and Professional Services

TELUS

Manager - Payment Solutions Development and Support

Emergis - A Telus Company

Manager

Emergis Inc

Business Coach | Keynote Speaker | Author of The Happy Accidents newsletter and The Accidental Solopreneur book

What I Do
I help teams, organizations, and solopreneurs flourish by focusing on what really matters: people.

As a speaker, author, and consultant, I equip audiences with practical, human-centered strategies to thrive in uncertain times, build meaningful businesses, and create lasting impact.

Who I Work With
• Event organizers seeking keynote speakers on serendipity, growth, and personal transformation
• Businesses and nonprofits looking to create stronger cultures, customer experiences, and leadership teams
• Solopreneurs who want to design businesses that give them both income and freedom


What I’ve Created
• Author of The Zero In Formula and The Accidental Solopreneur (bestseller)
• Creator of top-rated online courses for solopreneurs and authors
• Host of the Happy Accidents podcast and newsletter
• Keynote talks including 'The Power of Serendipity', 'Start Before You’re Ready', and 'Rooted in Humans'


Want to Work Together?
Let’s talk if you’re looking for:
✅ A keynote speaker for your next event
✅ A workshop or webinar for your team
✅ A course to help you grow as a solopreneur or author


DM me if you’d like to connect about speaking, workshops, or collaborations.

Jennifer Garland Psychotherapy Professional Corp -- The Mane Intent 

At The Mane Intent, we offer virtual and on-site counselling, psychotherapy, and equine-assisted psychotherapy services for youth, adults and families in Ontario. 

We also help teams and individuals uncover the possibility within themselves using facilitated equine experiential learning, a leading edge way to develop human potential. We offer teambuilding, personal and professional development opportunities. By engaging in ground work with horses in a controlled setting, together we learn how our attitude, body language and intent impacts our relationships and the world around us. No previous horse experience is required. Check us out at www.themaneintent.ca

Registered Psychotherapist/Owner/Program Director, Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy & Psychotherapy

The Cactus Group

Consulting firm providing internal communications counsel and external marketing communications support to a variety of clients including Reliance Comfort LP/UE Waterheater Income Fund, TIM-BR Mart Group of Companies, Shikatani Lacroix, Highland TimBr-Mart Group of Stores, Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, Community for Excellence in Healthcare Governance, Marianhill Inc. Nursing Home and Community Support Services, Seniors Care Network, Regional Tourism Organization 8, County of Northumberland, Northumberland EMS, Norfolk General Hospital, Norfolk Health Link, Norfolk Hospital Nursing Home, Glengarry Memorial Hospital, Community Mental Health and Addictions of Norfolk and Simcoe County, Haliburton Highlands Health Services, Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board, Geomatics Institute at Fleming College, Peterborough Regional Health Centre, Campbellford Memorial Hospital, Siemens Milltronics, Trent University, EPCOR Utilities Inc., Aecon Group, Purolator, HydroOne, MDS Sciex, Charity.ca, Peterborough Family YMCA, Global TeleSales and Johnston Smith International

Owner/President

Reliance Comfort Limited Partnership

Established and grew the corporate communications role for this essential service and security service provider. Reporting directly to CEO and supporting executive team, have defined and delivered employee, customer, investor communications strategies to support and facilitate organizational change including: corporate acquisitions and sale; corporate re-branding; transition from utility/private business/ to publicly traded income fund to private equity ownership; Income Fund initial public offering launch; introduction and roll-out of strategic plans.

Director, Corporate Communications

The Syntegrity Group

Support facilitation of a process architecture of mixed stakeholder groups, allowing for maximum knowledge and idea sharing within a very short period of time.

Associate Facilitator

Johnston Smith International

Supported the establishment and growth of Change Communications Consulting Practice by working with senior level private and public sector clients to define and deliver employee, customer and stakeholder communications strategies and training to support and facilitate organizational change. Clients include: international manufacturer medical diagnostic equipment (software introduction), national petroleum supplier (change in business structure), national telecommunications organization (amalgamation), national financial institution (restructuring); community hospital (hospital merger) and international energy and resource provider (pilot of Frontline Leadership Development Program).
Voted 1999 “Rookie of the Year” by peers for overall firm support and new business development.

Associate/Principal, Change Conversations at Work

MDS Sciex

Developed corporate communications strategy and provided event planning support including 20TH Anniversary Event.

Communications Consultant

Harbinger Communications

Part of senior management team for this mid-sized Toronto-based, full-service consulting firm, providing marketing communications counsel and program development to blue chip accounts. Accountabilities focused primarily on consumer and packaged goods account projects as well as new business development.

Vice-President

Canadian Tire Corporation

Established and grew the external public relations function responsible for the direction, development and implementation of all public and community relations and cause-related marketing activities for Canada's largest hard goods retailer. Was a key player in providing instrumental strategic counsel and communications programs to support the overall business strategy, reposition the company & differentiate Canadian Tire from its competitors. 

Reporting directly to CT Social Responsibility Committee of Board of Directors, developed the concept of a Canadian Tire Child Protection Foundation into a national organization recognized by target stakeholders as a leader in the development and management of childhood injury prevention and public education programs. Negotiated successful partnerships with Stay Alert..Stay Safe, National Fire Protection Association, Fire Prevention Canada, and the Canadian Red Cross.

Director, Public Relations, Cdn. Tire; Founding Manager, Canadian Tire Foundation

Hill and Knowlton

Played instrumental role on team largely responsible for 110% growth in Hill and Knowlton's Pepsi-Cola Canada account through aggressive planning and executing complex projects including: Pepsi Phantom Black Tie Preview and Pepsi Run Against Drug Abuse, Diet Pepsi Taste Drive Train, Pepsi Substance Abuse Foundation, Pepsi/World Music Video Awards, Pepsi's Video Year in Review. 

Successfully managed day-to-day business of other Hill and Knowlton projects including: Quaker Oats Crisis Training Workshop, Tums Media Tour, Baskin-Robbins Lifestyle 2000 Product Introduction, JWT 125th Anniversary Event, Aqua Velva/Mario Lemieux Event, 7-Up Fido Dido launch.

Helped position H&K as a leader in public relations counsel through the receipt of business awards including Playback Strategy National Event Marketing Award and H&K Presidential Achievement Award.

Consultant

Sometimes we need more support to discover the next best expression of ourselves. I am a Registered Psychotherapist who invites clients to find new meaning in life experience, while drawing upon a variety of therapeutic resources. I offer virtual and in-person psychotherapy, equine therapy, counselling and coaching at our farm just east of Peterborough, Ontario at The Mane Intent. My approach is evidence- and strengths-based and informed by the neurobiology of stress and trauma. I draw upon the principles of positive psychology, attachment theory, solution-focused therapy and a variety of body-centered (somatic) and cognitive therapeutic approaches. 

I am passionate about sharing my genuine appreciation for the therapeutic benefits of working with horses in a natural setting. We can learn so much about our nervous system and how we experience the world simply by being in their presence. These benefits are heightened by the natural beauty of our farm and surrounding land, inviting us to exhale and simply appreciate the moment. 

I am trained in a wide range of evidence-based trauma therapies including: trauma counselling, Somatic Experiencing, and Trauma-Informed Stabilization  Treatment. I have completed a Masters in Counselling Psychology, participating in an 8 month practicum at the Pediatric Outpatient Unit and Family and Youth Clinic at Peterborough Regional Health Centre.  My Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy programming is informed by FEEL (Facilitated Equine Experiential Learning), EQUSOMA Somatic Experiencing Skills for Equine-Facilitated Practitioners and Fundamentals of Natural Lifemanship training in Trauma-Focused Equine-Assisted Psychotherapy. As the Program Manager/Owner of The Mane Intent Inc, I have worked with hundreds of individuals, teams and groups seeking greater peace, enhanced wellness, leadership and personal discovery. 

To my therapy and equine services, I bring over 30 years of leadership and award-winning experience in communications, community investment, marketing and change management supporting a variety of clients in corporate, health care and non-profit sectors. I have provided counsel to senior leaders to create opportunities to build productive relationships, facilitate learning and embrace change. My degree in Political Science is complemented by certificates in strategic change management and conflict resolution and mediation.

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Dennis Geelen

Jennifer Garland

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