Building Resilience and Embracing Growth: A 2025 Vision for Small Businesses

As we step into 2025, I’m inspired by the remarkable resilience and ingenuity of Canada’s small business owners. At Co-operators, we’re committed to providing personalized advice and solutions that empower small businesses to thrive in the face of uncertainty. We’re more than an insurer — we’re partners in resilience for Canada’s small business community.

We understand that losses are profoundly impactful events for business owners. That’s why we focus on going beyond insurance, working alongside our clients to help prevent incidents before they happen or minimize their effects when they do. Whether it’s reducing risks through personalized advice or offering innovative solutions tailored to specific business needs, our goal is to empower entrepreneurs to protect what matters most and build long-term resilience.

Resilience is at the heart of success, and that begins with preparedness. It’s about knowing where risks lie and taking steps to minimize them — whether that’s preventing cyber threats, addressing climate-related risks, or safeguarding your operations against disruption and the unexpected. Working with our clients as partners, we help create customized strategies that reduce the likelihood of loss and strengthen their ability to recover when challenges arise.

Small and independent businesses are the backbone of communities, driving innovation and opportunity for us all. At Co-operators, we’re committed to supporting your journey – as your insurer and financial advisor, as a trusted partner invested in your long-term success, and as a peer. In fact, one of the many reasons our advisors have such a unique understanding and care of the challenges small and private business’ face, is because they’re small business owners too.

As we enter this new year, I encourage small business owners to embrace opportunities for growth and build resilience into every step of their operations. Lean on your networks, seek expert advice, and embrace the opportunities change brings. The path to success isn’t travelled alone, and together, we can make 2025 a year of thriving, not just surviving.

Mark Feeney

VP, Central Ontario Region at Co-operators

Mark has 35 years of experience in the insurance industry and Co-operators. His career began in sales, working his way up to sales management. In late 2006, Mark became the National VP of Personal Lines (Home and Auto insurance) for Co-operators. In 2010 Mark moved into his current role – VP of the Ontario Region – where he is responsible for 255 advisor agencies and their staff.

Mark holds his BA in Economics from the University of Waterloo, his Certified Insurance Professional (CIP) designation, Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designation, Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation, Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation, LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellowship (LLIF) designation, his Chartered Director (C. Dir) designation, his Certified Executor Advisor designation and his life, other than life and mutual funds licenses.

Mark is married to his lovely wife Sonia. They have four sometimes wonderful children (3 boys and 1 girl) ranging between 26 and 30. They live north of Guelph, Ontario outside of the village of Elora.