Mandy Rennehan (a.k.a. Bear) is called the Blue-Collar CEO™ for her ability to seamlessly navigate between the white- and blue-collar worlds, and to respectfully ‘tell it like it is’. Mandy is a sought-after speaker, multiple award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, and trade industry ambassador.
She left her hometown of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, at 18 with a dirty hockey bag and an audacious dream. By 19, she founded Freshco, Canada’s #1, full-service, reconstruction and retail maintenance provider operating across Canada and the eastern United States serving clients like Anthropologie, Apple, Banana Republic, Home Depot, Lululemon, Nike, Restoration Hardware, Sephora, The Gap, Tiffany & Co., plus many more.
Mandy’s vision goes well beyond building successful businesses. She is redefining the collar, blue™ to help solve the massive skilled trade shortage in North America. It is a profound economic and social issue that affects everyone. Consumers are paying more and waiting longer for services, companies aren’t able to scale, and important infrastructure projects, like roads, transit and hospitals are being delayed. Mandy is challenging the misconception that white-collar jobs are “better” or “more desirable” than blue-collar ones. Society needs both collars, and if we do not change this, the crippling effects of the skilled labour shortage will only get worse.
Mandy defies labels. The description she often gets is “refreshing.” Her (respectfully) uncensored honesty is matched by her quick wit, East Coast humour, and big heart. It is impossible to remain unchanged after coming into contact with this authentic, self-taught and self-made powerhouse.
Mandy candidly shares her journey from a small fishing town to becoming one of North America’s most powerful entrepreneurs. Mandy built a multi-million-dollar empire from the ground up by turning her passion into ingenuity and her personal brand into an award-winning business model. Born and raised in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, the daughter of a lobster fisherman, Mandy left home at the age of 18 with an old hockey bag, an audacious dream, and her cheeky smile, and the rest is history. Expect candid anecdotes and practical, straight-forward advice, from Mandy on:
Wow! Ive been doing this for 25 years, that was best speech ever, EVER!
Mandy defines what it means to be authentic. She is an engaging, honest and inspiring speakerand I cant forget, entertaining!
Mandy Rennehan speaks personally and from the heart, engaging audiences on an unprecedented levelan inspirational tour de force.
Getting to witness the #MandyMovement firsthand, for the first time. I was completely inspired and engaged.
Mandy is definitely a force to be reckoned with.
Mandy is honest, open and accepting which allows her to connect and engage with audiences of all ages. She inspires people to be themselves and pursue their passions. She is the real deal.