2017 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur RBC Momentum Award Winner: Mandy Rennehan

Mandy Rennehan

Founder and CEO, Freshco

Winner, RBC Momentum Award

Freshco is a boutique, trend-setting, construction and retail facilities maintenance firm comprised of three divisions: Maintenance, Projects and Reconstruction, offering customized, coast-to-coast, first point of contact service to clients across Canada and the Eastern United States. Its founder and CEO, Mandy Rennehan, left home at 18 years old with nothing but an old hockey bag and a smile, knowing that she loved to work with wood and was a quick learner, but had no formal experience or post secondary education. A natural urge to lead and hard working attitude inspired many entrepreneurial projects in my youth which ultimately lead her to start Freshco in 1995. Freshco approaches every job with creativity, integrity and transparency. With business relationships based on respect, hard work and loyalty, Mandy believes in really listening to clients and creating an honest partnership, in person, the ‘old fashioned’ way. This personal touch, coupled with Freshco’s modern technology offerings, talented staff and fun corporate culture are the keys to this thriving organization.

What do you wish you knew at the beginning?

It is okay (and often welcomed) to speak up to your male/female superiors (respectfully!) when you’ve done your homework and have serious value to add.

How can a company prepare for the challenges that come with rapid growth? Hockey gear! Just joking.

This is one of the trickiest areas to navigate — growing and expanding smoothly while still remaining consistent with execution and client service. My philosophy is plan for a tsunami, knowing that 9 times out of 10 you’ll only face a big tidal wave. Over prepare, anticipate the worst, then everything else is smooth sailing.

See all of the 2017 RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award finalists.