WHO WE ARE

For over 10 years, Beanstalk has been developing leaders people love working with! We are proud to deliver fun and meaningful training experiences with a team of exceptional speakers.

our TEAM

Joel Hilchey
CEO
ABOUT
​Joel is an ideas guy. His gift seems to stem from a strange combination of observation, insight, and blatant disregard for conventional thinking.

He's also a juggler (literally and figuratively). In addition to leading the Beanstalk team, he maintains a busy schedule as a keynote speaker, creating unforgettable spectacles on stage. He's the father of 3 kids, 2 of whom co-habitated a uterus, and he attempts to be a good husband. Joel has authored 3 books, (2 of them with Brandon), and he taught engineering for over a decade at McMaster University, where he was named one of the Top 150+ Alumni. He formerly chaired the board of the world-renowned Hamilton Children’s Choir, and he's a semi-competitive joggler (that's right... juggling whilst jogging). 

Joel is almost certainly the best barbershop quartet singer on the team.
Chelsea Duckworth
GENERAL MANAGER
ABOUT
Chelsea keeps things running smoothly at Beanstalk. She comes from a big family, which is probably why she's so good at being helpful. In fact, if you find yourself talking with her, consider yourself lucky, because a) she's really kind, and b) you can rest assured that she'll help you get what you need.

On a personal note, Chelsea likes golf, and she dreams of hitting a hole in one. But for now, client feedback saying "she knocked it out of the park" will have to suffice. (...even though in golf, that's usually bad.)

​According to her 5-month old nephew, she's the coolest aunt on the team.
Emma-Lee Bernais
Manager of Programs & Partnerships
ABOUT
Emma-Lee is usually people's first point of contact with Beanstalk. She helps you find exactly the right fit for your goals and connects inspiring partners to the right opportunities! She’s also the friendly face (and inbox) helping turn big ideas into real experiences.

Before joining Beanstalk, Emma-Lee spent years in the theatre world, where she learned the art of coordinating actors... a skill that turns out to be surprisingly transferable. As a proud French Canadian, she’s helped Beanstalk connect with more French schools across the province, proving that good ideas are even better en deux langues.
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Unofficially, Emma-Lee holds the title of “Most Likely to Have Already Made a Colour-Coded Plan.”
Angela Halbert
Office & Operations Manager
ABOUT
Angela is the calm at the centre of Beanstalk’s creative storm. She keeps the schedules organized, the invoices flowing, and the rest of us wonderfully on track. Whether it’s a payment, a project, or a last-minute curveball, Angela handles it all with grace, good humour, and her signature Scottish charm.
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She’s the one we all turn to when things get busy, confusing, or just plain weird - and somehow, she always makes it feel easy.

When she’s not keeping Beanstalk running smoothly, Angela’s either spending time with her family or on a snowboard somewhere, proving that balance isn’t just for spreadsheets.

Angela is the undisputed queen of payable and polite reminders.​

our SPEAKERS

JOEL HILCHEY

CEO & Professional Speaker

Amy Tepperman

Dancer & Movement-Based Curriculum Designer

ANTO CHAN

Comedian & Expressive Art Therapist
Français

MICKAËL GIROUARD

Professional Actor

Nick Adams

Juno Award Winning  Children's Entertainment Icon
Français

Étienne Vendette

Professional Magician & Speaker

BRANDON LOVE

Magician & Mind Bender

KATHLEEN HILCHEY

Conflict Specialist

And that's not all!

To help us deliver inspiring, relevant content, Beanstalk builds partnerships with exciting organizations.
Here are just some of the dynamic companies and non-profits that we are honoured to call collaborators: