Profile: Martine St-Germain

Business advisor helps firms hit the ground running

Martine St-Germain makes sure businesses in Canada stay fresh, innovative and competitive in markets around the globe.

As an employee of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for Quebec Regions, Martine is an advisor at the Montérégie Business Office on Montréal’s South Shore. She provides assistance to fledgling enterprises in the area, including both financial aid and business counselling.

“We help businesses that are mostly in the manufacturing sector,” says Martine. “We help them market or export their products, or improve their business processes and become more productive. It’s financial aid to help them become more innovative.”

Close contact

Martine comes in direct contact with private firms. On a typical day, she’ll field calls from interested businesses, meet with them in person and analyze detailed information they send her.

“Sometimes we receive direct calls from people wanting to know about what sorts of finance programs we offer,” she says. “Other times it’s our partners or other government organizations who call us to refer businesses.”

“My work is to go and meet the businesses, find out their situation and assess it. They send us all the documentation on their market and financial situation, and I have to assess it according to our economic criteria to see if it fits in with our programs.”

“For example, we analyze their management structure, their market potential and their commercialization or development strategies.”

Sowing seeds of success

Martine says one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is seeing Canadian enterprises succeed before her eyes. Some have done very well, she says.

“What’s interesting to me is to see a business grow. Let’s say they needed financial aid to explore foreign markets. When we see a business triple its profits in three years, that’s gratifying.”

Business spirit

Martine is blessed with a natural talent for running an enterprise. Both her parents owned their own companies, something the young Martine wanted to do as well. But ultimately, a series of internships for the Montérégie Business Office convinced her otherwise.

“I did an internship here and I found it very interesting,” she says. “We deliver programs and contact businesses. For me, it was something concrete.”

The job offers a nice combination of things that appeal to her, she adds. “My work as an advisor with the Agency lets me strike a balance between my interest in analyzing economic conditions and administration, and dealing with clients.”

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