Jamie Nichols is the CEO and founder of Rose N Crantz Roasting Co., a Thunder Bay-based coffee roastery and café he started in 2013. Since then, the business has grown from a small, garage-based operation into a regional company serving both retail customers and wholesale partners. Jamie’s background in geography and mapping, combined with experience in municipal and federal roles, informs a practical, systems-focused approach to food, infrastructure, and local economies. His work has consistently centred on understanding how complex systems function—and how to make them work better.

Through his business and community involvement, Jamie has built strong connections across Northwestern Ontario, with a focus on supporting local supply chains and collaborative growth. He is particularly interested in how food systems, small business, and regional development intersect to create more resilient and self-sustaining communities.