Community Builders Awards: Dawna Kinnunen plays significant role in advancing local employment opportunities

Dawna Kinnunen is an active leader in Sault Ste. Marie’s business community.

In 2002, she founded Yes You Can Employment Consulting, a company that assists people who face barriers to employment in finding and keeping meaningful job opportunities. 

By working with provincial agencies, assisting with resume writing and interview preparation, offering coaching, mentoring and workshop services, connecting clients with the right employers and offering on-the-job support, Dawna has helped numerous community members with Yes You Can.

Dawna also offers private consulting, seminars, workshops, and coaching in the business community, helping employers to improve their accessibility and inclusion practices, and providing professional growth opportunities for leaders. Through her training efforts, local companies have seen an increase in employee productivity, engagement, satisfaction and retention. 

Dawna is truly passionate about investing in people's personal development. She often donates her time and expertise to mentor people who don’t meet the criteria for funded services so that they can pursue their employment dreams, positioning them to be more independent and prosperous. 

A true advocate for accessible employment, Dawna has also sat on numerous boards and volunteered with local service groups in an effort to give back.

The positive impact of Dawna's work is immeasurable. By helping people into secure employment, Dawna and Yes You Can empowers them to change their own lives, therefore improving circumstances for their families and support network. This ripple effect means that it's impossible to count the number of people whose lives have been touched by Dawna's efforts. 

This award goes to an individual or group that has had an important impact on the economic well-being of the community. 

Congratulations, Dawna!

This award is proudly sponsored by LBMX.

SooToday is proud to make a difference in our community by highlighting extraordinary individuals and organizations with our Community Builders Awards, a foundational piece of our SooToday Cares program.

Our mission is to create meaningful change in Sault Ste. Marie — and inspire others to do the same.