Sharon Barnes is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 20 years of leadership in a variety of business environments including high technology sector. She has been recognized for her leadership in the implementation of solutions for several large manufacturing organizations. She has also worked with several start-up organizations to bring the organizations to a point of production readiness with their products. Sharon has an MBA from Athabasca University in Canada and an undergraduate degree in technology specializing in communications systems.

Early in her career, Sharon managed her own consulting firm working in the emerging multimedia sector of high technology. After completing her education from BCIT and Okanagan University, she worked with a young start-up organization in Kelowna to build their software development department and establish their customer support center.

A serial entrepreneur, she then launched out on her own. With the support of Women’s Enterprise Centre and Community Futures, she started a bridal shop in Kelowna. Because of her strong interest in emerging technologies, Sharon wanted to return to the high tech sector and decided to attend Athabasca University to earn her MBA in Project                       Sharon Barnes, Director
Management. The final project for her MBA was a business plan for a new company                           Women's Enterprise Centre
called RFind Systems, Inc. The business plan proved a success and Sharon was able to
raise financing for the company. As the CEO of this growing Okanagan organization, Sharon plans to establish its technology as a standard platform within the industry.

Passionate about supporting other entrepreneurs, Sharon is a mentor with Canadian Youth Business Foundation where she mentors young entrepreneurs. She is also an advisor and board member of GC Green Carbon, Inc. in Kamloops. GC Green Carbon is a woman owned business that is in the very early stages of development on green energy technology.

Sharon has a husband, Marty Brooks, who is the CTO of RFind and a 17-year old daughter named Baillie.