A CPA, CA Mark was a partner in a public accounting firm many years ago. During his time in public accounting, Mark honed his wholesale/distribution industry skills by specializing in owner-managed product-driven businesses. From there it was a logical progression to become the architect of a wholesale distribution software solution.
There are few things that Mark enjoys more than helping business owners reap the benefits of improved business processes, but when not running Blue Link ERP, you can find Mark cheering on his favorite soccer team Everton or out on the field himself.
Darren holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, is an entrepreneur in his own right and holds a number of Microsoft Certifications. At Blue Link, Darren works directly with customers on architecting software solutions that support their business operations. Darren is a customer-focused individual with a talent for quickly understanding how businesses work, identifying competitive advantages, and translating that understanding into software designs that support those advantages. In his spare time Darren pursues his passion for photography through his own photography business.
After much research to find the right ERP system for our industrial products company we decided to switch to Blue Link Elite. One of the founders, Mark Canes was instrumental in our decision process. He did several demos to ensure that the software would meet all of our needs and also added some custom features so the system would fit our business model. The technical team led by Darren Myher helped ensure a seamless transition from QuickBooks to Blue Link and while we had some small issues along the way (which is to be expected for such an undertaking) the team was always available for questions. I would highly recommend this software. We are using the hosted version and have not had any issues with connection or down time. And not having to host the server in house has enabled us to focus on growing our business instead of dealing with IT issues.
As a Blue Link software developer for over 20 years, Lidia has contributed to developing the system from a simple inventory and accounting solution to a robust ERP system designed to manage all aspects of a company’s operations. Lidia enjoys the challenges and satisfaction of designing and creating code that helps to make the lives of Blue Link’s customers easier by coming up with creative solutions for their needs. She enjoys collaborating with other members of the team and passing her vast knowledge of the system to other employees. When not at Blue Link, Lidia can be found travelling in Europe and North America and she enjoys reading and cooking gourmet meals (some of which she even shares with the Blue Link team!)
Monique holds an Honours Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a double major in Mathematics from York University. Since 1993, she has worked as a developer, system and business analyst, implementation consultant and now Quality Assurance (QA) Manager. Monique is intuitive and logical and enjoys working in QA as it allows her to think outside the box – her motto at work is “everything has a solution”. Outside of work, Monique is a mother of 3 girls and loves family life, especially baking cookies. She also enjoys nature drives with her husband and discovering new towns and cities in Canada.
Paulo has worked for 15 years as a software developer and programmer ever since graduating from Westervelt College in London, Ontario. While still in school, Paulo worked in several different warehouses and factories doing hands-on work that is also performed by many of Blue Link’s customers. This inside experience provides Paulo with a better understanding of how inventory moves, an asset when helping customers improve their processes. Paulo is a family man with 2 young children and when not at work enjoys spending time with them building sandcastles in the summer and snowmen in the winter.
Gonzalo has been working at Blue Link since 2006 and has enjoyed seeing the company grow over the years. As the Help Desk Manager, Gonzalo works hard to ensure Blue Link customers are using the software to its full advantage. Gonzalo truly knows the software inside out and has had the pleasure of seeing customers use the system to grow and expand their business. When not in the office, Gonzalo enjoys cheering on his favourite soccer team and hanging out with his son.
A fellow WLU alumnus, Samantha Da Silva received her Honors Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University with a focus on Marketing. Samantha’s ability to manage multiple projects at once and her dedication to making customers happy has allowed her to successfully wear many hats while working in marketing and sales at Blue Link. With a focus on inbound marketing strategies and SEO, Samantha has managed and completed many projects using her creative skills around website design, tradeshows, content creation and more. Outside of work Samantha enjoys travelling, spending time with her family, outdoor activities, and doing yoga.
Joanne has worked in the software industry for 17 years across a variety of departments including support, product specialization, sales, product management, implementations and customer service. Joanne is able to easily connect with other people and understands the ins and outs of running a business which makes her a great asset to the Blue Link ERP team as Customer Service Manager. Outside of work, Joanne has been able to build on her management skills keeping tabs of her 3 children and family dog (all boys…even the dog) and even though she is completely outnumbered, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Alana is an integral part of the Blue Link leadership team and always knows what is going on with each department at the company. As Operations Manager, her role is to work with each department, coordinating efforts between teams and customers, and keep projects on schedule. Alana has seen the company grow from day one, and enjoys working with a diverse group of people, customers and partners. When not in the office, Alana enjoys spending time with her family, traveling and going to the theatre.
As a previous co-op student, Lucas was able to learn the ins and outs of Blue Link while working and studying at Laurier. Once he graduated, it was a no-brainer to hire him to join the team full-time where he quickly moved up the ranks to Consultant Manager. As Consultant Manager, Lucas works with the team of Blue Link consultants on new implementations, custom work, training and support. His leadership skills, personable attitude and deep understanding of the software and Blue Link customers makes him an asset to the team. When not working, Lucas enjoys spending time with his family, enjoying the great outdoors and playing with his Golden Retriever, Wrenley.
“I love working with the clients – that’s my favorite part. When I call the customers, I have not only a business relationship, but we take the time to ask each other how our weekends were, how we are, what’s new. So that’s important, not only on a business level but even just building that relationship with the customer and knowing that you’re not just an employee at Blue Link, you’re also someone that they can turn to for anything that they might need.”