About Us
Our Board
Business Orange represents the business community within the Orange Region in Central Western NSW.
An elected board meets formally once a month to manage Business Orange matters and initiatives. Business Orange holds an alliance with Business NSW, which provides additional benefits to our members.
We work hard to collaborate and build relationships with other local stake holders including Orange 360, Business HQ, RDA Central West and the 3 Councils of Orange City, Cabonne Shire and Blayney Shire.
Daniel Sutton
President / Treasurer
Daniel has lived in the Central West for over a decade after travelling the country in his younger years. He has worked with businesses in the Central West to help identify the most effective business structures and sustainable business decisions for their thriving success.
Working with Morse Group for 10 years, and having been a Partner since 2017, Daniel works with clients right through the NSW Central West, Sydney, and across Australia.
Daniel joined the board in 2016, and became Treasurer in 2017. Daniel is also a representative of the Business NSW Regional Advisory Committee which enables Business orange to have a direct line of access to State and Federal policy makers.
Mitch Colton
Vice President
It’s November 2005 and a 15-year-old Mitch Colton is in his parents’ basement fixing computers for his friends. Before long, his friends’ friends are seeking his assistance. Mitch and his Mum have organised an ABN and business name, because 15-year-olds can’t run their own businesses!
As Mitch’s HSC came around, in addition to studying, Mitch was installing PCs and a server into a medical centre. In 2010, Colton Computers grew to the point where staff were added. Subsequently in 2012 we moved from the basement to our first rented premises.
Colton Computers’ success continued because Mitch didn’t specialise in any specific industry, instead focusing on knowing where to find the correct solutions for each unique customer problem. In 2014 Mitch’s basement business purchased its current premises and as a result, now employs 15 full-time staff and operates throughout Sydney as well as the Central West.
Amy van de Ven
Secretary
Amy is a natural born networker and leader and is extremely passionate about her community and the people in it.
Relocating from Albury Wodonga to Orange In 2019, Amy ticked off her biggest achievement yet when she opened her first business; a Quest franchise located in Orange, NSW. This effort saw Amy become the youngest franchisee ever in the history of Quest.
Amy has built her successes from the ground up and shows no signs of slowing any time soon, Amy has a fierce drive and incredible work ethic, which sees her make calculated and prudent business decisions. She is consistently implementing initiatives to boost the morale and efficiency of Quest Orange and support those around her.
Amy is a mentor and committee member for Regional Development Australia & is a brand ambassador for Quest Apartment Hotels.
Jessica Hickman
Board Member
Jessica lives in Orange and is a passionate advocate for all things workplace culture and business success. Originally from Wales, Jessica has been working with businesses across Australia for the last decade.
Since moving to the Central West, Jessica has built a strong network of clients across industries developing coaching, training, and education programs to help business leaders succeed.
As the founder of Bullyology and The Upstand Academy she has provided training and keynote presentations in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the UK and is frequently quoted in the media.
Jessica is the published author of two books: Bullyology: Breaking the Silence on Bullying and The Upstander Leader: How to develop a speak-up culture. She is a mentor and committee member for Regional Development Australia and on the judging panel for the Business NSW Awards and Australian Admin Awards.
Charles Henley
Board Member
Charles is a Solicitor and Public Notary with Blackwell Short Lawyers where he specialises in business & property transactions as well as commercial litigation. While working with Blackwell Short, Charles has been exposed to numerous local businesses and has assisted with transactions that directly benefit the local orange community.
Charles has joined the board in 2022 to continue working closely with local businesses to improve engagement and cooperation between businesses in the Orange region. Business Orange is well placed to provide support to benefit local businesses and promote growth in our region.
In 2019, Charles made the tree change and moved to Orange after a successful 5 year stint as an insurance litigator in Sydney.
Since moving to Orange, Charles has entrenched himself in the local Sporting Community where he is the captain of the Orange Emus first grade rugby side and is Secretary of the Emus Board. Charles is also on the committee of the Central West Law Society.
Sarah Crowley
Board Member
Sarah returned to Orange in 2019 after working in the hospitality industry for 12 years.
In late 2019 Sarah, and her partner Dom opened The Union Bank Restaurant and Bar (The UB). where their core focus is bringing people together.
Within the business, Sarah is committed to giving her staff a professional training environment to develop great people and communication skills. Sarah believes that genuine engagement is where you can create authentic connection and strives on implementing this in the workplace, for both guests and colleagues. Being at the forefront of a customer service-based roll, especially as a young person, can be intimidating. Sarah strives to provide a strong training platform to help young people not only interact and engage with others in a positive manner but also tools to deal with confrontation in a proactive way by problem solving in an ever-changing, fast paced environment.
Sarah is always looking forward with bold, creative ideas and joined Business Orange to ensure Orange continues to grow and thrive as a community.
Kristen Nock
Board Member
Kristen Nock is an accomplished hospitality professional with 30 years of experience in the industry and formal qualifications in Hotel Management. She has travelled extensively around the world and has worked in multiple hotels, in Australia and in Europe. She was also the Senior Manager of Catering at ANZ Stadium in Sydney, where she led a large team to plan and deliver corporate catering requirements for major sporting and concert events.
In late 2019, Kristen and her husband Thomas opened the Byng Street Boutique Hotel in Orange. This 4.5 star luxury hotel was awarded GOLD at the NSW Tourism Awards in 2021 and 2022 in the Deluxe Accommodation Category and is undoubtedly Kristen’s greatest professional achievement to date. Kristen is dedicated in providing guests with an exceptional, personalised experience and continues to strive for excellence in the hospitality industry.
Kristen has a commitment to supporting local business and making a positive impact in the Orange region. In her role as a newly appointed board member, she is passionate about making a valuable contribution towards ensuring that Orange maintains a thriving and growing business community.
ALICE JARRET
Board Member
Born and raised in Orange NSW, Alice returned home in 2020 after a 10-year stint in Western NSW working in stakeholder management and negotiation across the NSW River, Water and Agriculture sectors.
Moving home Alice joined her family’s wine business, See Saw where she leads their sales, marketing, and events team, including the opening of their new cellar door in February 2023.
Alice is passionate about Orange NSW, particularly building a thriving and supportive business community that ensures sustainable growth for the region and keeps Orange on the map.
KEN FREEDMAN
Board Member
Born and raised in Orange, Ken has always had a strong bond with the vibrant town.
The warm sunsets and the crisp frosty mornings, and the friendly faces of the community are a part of him. No matter where his career has taken him, Orange has always been “home”.
With over twenty years’ experience in regulatory and compliance roles, Ken has developed a passion for risk management, work health and safety, human resources, and business systems and efficiency.
He has worked with various organisations such as SafeWork NSW, the Ministry of Health in regional and metropolitan Health Districts, and Minter Ellison Risk and Regulatory Consulting. These experiences have provided Ken with a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise along the way.
Currently, Ken splits his time between working in Risk Management and Human Resources for Western NSW Local Health District and co-owning a local salon, Atelier Hair Orange. He also has Board experience within the financial sector, more recently within Newcastle, but it is his ties to Orange that he holds dear.
“I am so excited to be a part of an organisation like Business Orange,” Ken says. “This town is truly where my heart and home is, and I am eager to contribute to its growth and success alongside the other talented Board Members.”
With his dedication and passion for his community, Ken’s unwavering love for Orange shines through in everything he does.
Danielle Haase
Board Member
After being raised in the red dirt of the Pilbara in the north-west of Western Australia, Danielle spent over 16 years in senior sales and marketing within the pharmaceutical industry, before completing her MBA and transitioning into consulting. In 2017 Danielle wanted to get back to her country roots and relocated to Orange with her son Jesse and Staffy Blue Dog where she quickly became part of the community.
Danielle is a seasoned business professional and is the award-winning founder of Diesel & Blue Doggie Daycare and Grooming, with consecutive wins in the State Australian Achievers Award since 2020; a National Australian Achievers Award in 2022; and in 2023, the Business Orange Excellence in Innovation and Orange Outstanding Business of The Year awards.
Danielle is passionate about superior customer service and creating local work and training opportunities, an innovator, and a fierce advocate for business support in regional areas. Danielle is excited to work on the board of Business Orange to continue this work, foster collaboration and support the business community.
