
Kanchan Wankhede
Kanchan earned her Masters in Human Resource Management and has worked with Engineering, Automotive, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), Retail and Non-Profit Organizations. She has extensive experience working across cultures, including the US, UK, China, Spain, Italy, and India.
She is driven by strong ethical values, focused on making businesses more efficient and effective through sustainable people strategies and solutions, behavioral development and advocating the value of diversity and inclusion.
After working 18 years in corporate HR and community development projects in India and other countries, Kanchan moved to the Blue Water Area five years ago. At that time, she knew nobody besides her husband and two kids. Since then, she has started three business.

Matt Brooks
Matt is a lifelong resident of this community, raised in Marine City and living in St. Clair for over 20 years with his wife and three teenage kids.
He is the founder of multiple companies serving thousands of customers every year from all 50 states and around the globe.
Matt serves on boards and advisory groups for the Blue Water Area Chamber of Commerce, Chemical Bank, St. Clair County RESA, and The Keel. He is also an on-camera host for EBW.tv’s show, Spotlight.
Matt has a passion for helping entrepreneurs get their start and reach their next level. This passion led him to start Blue Water Startups & Entrepreneurs, working to cultivate an ecosystem of entrepreneurship in this community.

Shannon Schwabe
Shannon is a photographer, hop farmer, wedding specialist and owner of Hoppily Ever After Farms. Simply put, she says, "I shoot people and I grow beer and help others as crazy as I am to be on this entrepreneurial journey.
Also a business consultant with the Michigan Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Shannon has a passion for working with small business owners in the areas of start-up assistance, marketing, management, and operations.
Interested in Stepping Up?
We’re looking for excited entrepreneurs to take the lead in the following roles:
- Members Services
- New member welcoming activities
- Reach-outs to current members
- Promotions
- Social media posts
- Email newsletter
- Website Content
- Member directory
- Resources, links, etc.
- Sponsorships