
About Us

Our Story
At Vellencia, our Strategies Team is composed of a diverse group of individuals who share a common goal of bridging the equity gap and helping small businesses succeed. Our team members bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table, allowing us to approach challenges and opportunities from a variety of angles.​
With a deep understanding of the unique needs and challenges facing small businesses, we work tirelessly to develop customized strategies that drive growth and promote equity. We believe that every business has the potential to succeed, and we are committed to empowering entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for all.​
Whether it's developing innovative marketing campaigns, optimizing business operations, or navigating complex regulatory environments, our Strategies Team is dedicated to providing the support and guidance small businesses need to thrive. At Vellencia, we are passionate about helping our clients achieve their goals, and helping our community create a more equitable, sustainable future.
Meet The Team
Founder and CEO
Growth and Organizational Performance
Merrique Richards​, MBA
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Merrique offers expertise spanning business administration and change management, achieving optimal results with thoughtful planning, research, organization and solution-oriented approaches. She is an analytical thinker bringing over a decade of experience aligning business goals and objectives with day-to-day administrative, financial and operational functions. An accomplished Telfer School of Management Executive MBA, Merrique possesses a true passion for working with grassroots and women’s rights organizations driving clear focus through a social equity lens inspiring and cultivating productive internal and external working processes and relationships.

Business Consultant
Risk and Transformation
Richa Kapila, MBA
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Richa believes that diversity and creativity is the basis for success. She is a results-oriented professional, experienced researcher, and management consultant with a demonstrated history of working with publicly traded and privately held enterprises. She is skilled in strategy, corporate planning, business analytics, and management consulting. Before leaving India in 2021, Richa completely transformed the leadership perspective at the multi-national corporate headquarters at which she worked by shifting the paradigm and integrating a diverse and equitable work culture. Richa migrated to Canada to complete her Executive MBA and pursue the Canadian dream.

Personal Consultant
Money Management, Health and Wellness
Jacqueline Richards, AMP, CSP, RYT, NLP
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Jacqueline has been committed to the community for over 25 years through her work as an education leader, wellness instructor and through her dynamic work supporting women in business.
When she's not travelling as an international speaker, this certified Life Coach, Yoga Instructor, and Financial Strategist blends spiritual growth and wealth solutions key to enriching physical well-being, personal wealth, goals, and dreams.
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Business Social Media Mentor
Launch Management and Social Media
Maria Cherkasskaya
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Maria specializes in business transformation strategies to create recurring revenue through social media and personal brand. She has over nine years of experience working in corporate IT and has lead numerous online product and service launches.
Maria strives to continuously grow her knowledge and capabilities through ongoing training programs such as Simon Sinek, Joe Vitale, and Sasha Belair as featured in Forbes from her home country of Russia. She is the founder of a personal growth and development community for women and is most passionate about empowering and educating those around her.
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Social Media Strategist
Digital Ad Marketing and Social Media
Antounia Saleh, MA
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Antounia is a driven individual with a Master's degree in Political Science and a successful entrepreneurial background in Digital Media. She has expertise in scaling up small businesses' social media presence and building a strong online presence. Antounia is a talented individual with diverse skills, self-starter attitude, and passion for success. Her political science background and online business experience make her a valuable asset to any project. She is known for taking on challenges with enthusiasm and eagerness to learn new things. Antounia is not afraid to step out of her comfort zone to achieve her goals.
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Social Media and Brand Manager, MMKG
Social Media, Content Creation and Brand
Amina Noor
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Amina holds a Master’s degree in marketing and has extensive experience working with a diverse portfolio of accounts. She has worked with large and small businesses in Toronto, driving growth to meet business objectives through impactful social media presences. Her expertise includes content creation, graphic design, copywriting, and brand and community management. Amina blends creativity with strategy. Her love for art and photography brings each project a fresh and unique perspective. Having been an entrepreneur herself, she is results-driven and believes that creative storytelling and experimentation are the secrets to successful marketing.

Content Creator
Social Media and Digital Marketing
Precious Simeon
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Precious holds a Bachelor's degree in Public Relations and excels in enhancing user engagement, steering innovative marketing campaigns. Her expertise spans website management, CRM deployment, and crafting engaging press releases and social media content. As a standout at CEED, she masterfully blends creativity with proficiency in tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, and Canva. Based in Halifax and hailing from Nigeria, Precious's fusion of technical skill and artistic insight make her an indispensable asset in resonating with contemporary audiences.
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Content Creator
Social Media and Digital Marketing
Nisha Kumari​
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Nisha's expertise forms a marketing trifecta, spanning the private, not-for-profit, and government sectors. Throughout her 8-year career, she has provided innovative social media management services and strategic communications counsel, always with an eye on the pulse of the industry. Having held distinguished positions across various sector companies, Nisha's understanding of market trendsetters, marketing strategies, and effective social media campaigns is unparalleled. Her acumen in identifying and leveraging unique market dynamics positions her as a thought leader, constantly pushing the boundaries of marketing excellence.
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Digital Marketing Strategist
Video, SEO and Website Development
Jordan Andrews
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Jordan brings a unique blend of creativity and business savvy to the table. With over a decade of experience in the creative and entertainment industries, he has honed his skills to gain deep knowledge of creative marketing and digital strategies. Specializing in cutting-edge design to deliver impactful branding, digital marketing, web design, and video content, Jordan Andrews has a proven track record of delivering results that exceed the standards of high-profile clients. From Universal Music Group, Gamelancer, and Sony Music, to A-list celebrities like Khloe Kardashian and Ronaldinho; Jordan leads and inspires through his talents, making a positive impact on millions of people worldwide.
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Digital Marketing Strategist
SEO, Digital and Website Development
Becky Parmiter
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Becky, a digital marketing veteran since the early 2000s, has expertly guided the field through over two decades of change. With a background in Psychology (BA Hons.), she's recognized as an SEO and website specialist. In her role at Vallencia Strategies, she crafts SEO copy to amplify client messages, focusing on purpose-driven organizations. With 20 years of experience in various roles including leadership, mentorship, and coaching within Digital Marketing teams, her unique blend of psychological insight and marketing expertise continues to shape the industry.

Visual Media Specialist
Photography, Printing and Framing
Ima Ortega​
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At age 9, Ima was given a Polaroid camera by her father, and it sparked her love for photography. The ability to capture a fleeting moment and preserve it forever fascinated her and from that moment, Ima knew photography would always be a part of her life. After working as a printer for professional photographers and studying graphic arts and multimedia, she developed her skills in photographing people in their natural environment. Today, Ima creates high-quality images for businesses, capturing the inspiration and energy of the community. Her goal is to continue telling stories through her photography and see where her passion takes her next.
What Our Clients Say

"SORORAL faced typical startup challenges before engaging Merrique and the team at Vellencia to support us. We needed specific market research tailored to our brand, which specializes in offering small-group travel experiences for women. From the moment we began working with Merrique, the experience was exceptionally positive. She was not only professional but also incredibly friendly and approachable, making the collaboration enjoyable. Most importantly, Merrique was genuinely dedicated to our mission and aligned tremendously with the values of SORORAL, which helped solidify our connection. The impact of our partnership was significant! Merrique delivered a comprehensive package of market research that proved invaluable to SORORAL, especially as we prepared to launch our business to the world. It provided us with a deep understanding of the market and its challenges and helped us focus on our client's needs and target destinations. Thanks to her support, we were better equipped to tailor our services and experiences to our target audience, ultimately contributing to our business's growth and success. We are extremely grateful for Merrique's expertise and commitment to our journey in the travel space."
Megan Ryder-Burbidge, Co-founder, SORORAL
Businesses and Clients We Work With





