If there's one thing that Steve Charest believes, it's that doing well in business doesn't mean anything if there isn't some kind of good that comes out of it. Lucky for Brantford.

Charest, who is the president and founder of King & Benton, a local development corporation,has played a significant role in the revitalization of several businesses and organizations.

The projects that King & Benton are involved in — from the transformation of local buildings such as the former Work Wear site (now the new YM-YWCA Family Program Centre) and an abandoned factory on Morrell Street (into a thriving business complex) to financial investments in organizations (the Brant County SPCA) and events (Brantford Canada Day Festival) — are all indicative of the company's emergence as a key player in our city.

"The assistance of King & Benton on behalf of the Y was the stabilizing factor that we needed. It enabled the Y to move forward in a new building, with new equipment, and new programs that have been a great success," said YM-YWCA CEO Nancy Romanenko,in a recent interview.