mandy rennehan

Mandy Rennehan was born in 1975 and raised in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. From an early age, she demonstrated an entrepreneurial spirit, with childhood experiences including selling bait to local fishermen to support her family. At 18, Rennehan left home without a formal education. In 1995, at the age of 19, she founded Freshco, a full-service, 24/7, multi-site retail maintenance provider with complete coverage across Canada and the United States. She built the company into a multi-million-dollar enterprise with a client list that includes Fortune 500 retail giants. Rennehan’s decision to self-finance Freshco in its early years, coupled with her strategic accumulation of collateral, was crucial to its growth.

Throughout her career, Rennehan has championed diversity and inclusivity within the trades and facilities industries. She has advocated for greater respect and recognition of blue-collar professions, challenging stereotypes and working to redefine the perception of skilled trades. This commitment extends to her company culture at Freshco, where inclusivity has been a core value since its inception. Rennehan is also a published author of the award-winning book “The Blue Collar CEO” and has hosted HGTV’s “Trading Up with Mandy Rennehan.”

Beyond her business endeavors, Rennehan is a motivational speaker who addresses audiences globally on leadership, entrepreneurship, and the importance of the blue-collar workforce. She is a proponent of initiatives like Jill of All Trades, which encourages girls to explore skilled trades, and supports various mentorship programs for youth, LGBTQ2S+, and skilled trades. Her philanthropic efforts focus on empowering individuals and building people who might otherwise be overlooked, often stating that her philanthropy is teaching others to realize their potential.