Alumna Entrepreneur, Community Builder Wins Business Excellence Award

Ashley Bonner ’11 (Lady Eaton College) wins top 4 under 40 award through Peterborough Chamber of Commerce

September 25, 2023

Ashley Bonner ’11 (Lady Eaton College) - a community builder and founder of the social media company Smarketing – has been named one of the top 4 under 40 award winners through the 2023 Peterborough Business Excellence Awards.

During the awards ceremony on October 18, Bonner will be one of four to take home the award that recognizes young business leaders in Peterborough who are making their mark through business success, community involvement and/or contributions to the not-for-profit sector.

Bonner won the award for founding the successful local social-media company Smarketing and for being an ardent community builder who organized neighbourhood groups throughout the isolation of the pandemic, and ongoing community events that promote neighbourhood connection and stimulate the local economy. She credits Trent for laying the foundation for her success.

“My Trent experience has been pivotal in shaping my career because my academic journey was not just about earning a degree but also about growing as an individual,” Bonner says.

MYRIAD WAYS OF SUPPORTING COMMUNITY

Bonner started Smarketing in 2016 and says she enjoys helping small businesses and community organizations develop and implement social media strategy to thrive in the digital landscape.

During the lockdown in Spring 2020, she also created a Facebook neighbourhood group as a forum for people who needed help and those offering help in areas such as delivering groceries. In 2023, the East City Neighbourhood Hub is still a highly active space that neighbours use to connect with one another.

In addition, Ashley has helped organize several community events including the Spring East City Neighbourhood Yard sale, East City Halloween Scavenger Haunt (now the Hunter St. Haunt), East City Holiday Hop, Ashburnham Ward All-Candidates Meeting, and a neighbour walking group.

TRENT EXPERIENCE A STRONG FOUNDATION FOR SUCCESS

Bonner, who earned a double major in International Development and Psychology at Trent University, says the foundation for her successful life and career started on the “beautiful” Symons campus and in her small, intimate classes that allowed her to make strong connections with peers and faculty.

The International Development program enabled her to delve deeply into the ways the world has evolved, she says, while Psychology helped her better understand human motivations, reactions, and interactions. Serving as president of the Trent Part-Time Student Union was life-changing, she says and gave her confidence in her abilities.

“Both my experience and education at Trent equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate the complexities of the world,” she says.