Driven by a lifelong desire to create, Eberhard Von Huene left Germany, his home country, to settle in Montreal in 1965. A young Eberhard launched his entrepreneurial career by founding his first company, OSC Partitions Ltd., in 1971. Thanks to his technical skills and vision, the company quickly became the largest architectural wall manufacturer in Canada.

By the end of 1984, Eberhard had sold his majority stake to Knoll International and became the President of Knoll Canada. In May 1987, he left Knoll to start Eberhard von Huene & Associates Inc., an investment firm specializing in product design and management consulting. In 1995, EVH & Associates acquired the fledgling Contessa Inc.’s assets with the goal of turning the manufacturer into one of the most successful cabinet makers in Quebec.

Boasting more than 10 years of manufacturing experience in the kitchen cabinet industry, Annie Lajeunesse joined Eberhard as a shareholder and Vice-President of Contessa in 1995, right as the company was being acquired.

In addition to her managerial responsibilities, Annie is in charge of continuously optimizing the production chain and managing the technical team. She also oversees our technical cutting operations and strategic buying initiatives. Thanks to her thoroughness and consistency, we are perfectly positioned to continuously improve our processes and maintain Contessa’s competitive edge in the market.

After serving as a VP and SVP for various Banks and Asset Based Lenders, Dennis de Braga joined his longtime friend Eberhard Von Huene.

His extensive experience made him the ideal partner to support the management team through Contessa’s strategic and financial development. Dennis always ensures that the company’s strategy is aligned with Eberhard’s specific objectives, which he communicates to his entire team, guaranteeing Contessa’s financial stability and optimizing its performance.

Josée Gagnon kicked off her career by launching her own accounting business. This valuable experience has since allowed her to provide tailored accounting training and coaching to many businesses. Josée is incredibly proud of the way she has helped these companies achieve their growth objectives.

Josée joined EVH & Associates in 1997 as a controller before being promoted to CFO of EVH Group of companies in 2010. In this role, she is responsible for all duties related to corporate finance, compliance, and treasury. Her involvement and expertise at all levels has been critical to Contessa’s growth and success over the years.

Following the completion of her studies, Mylène Gagnon started working as an interior designer for real estate developers in 2010. In 2016, she joined Contessa as a project manager. Mylène was involved in a number of construction projects before getting promoted to Director of Sales in 2021.

Mylène actively contributes to Contessa’s growth and success by developing the brand and overseeing the sales team. Mylène also manages the product planning process to ensure costs are optimized and Contessa’s pricing remains competitive. Her passion for design, dynamic nature, and interpersonal skills are key in uniting the operational and strategic arms of the business.

Stefan Leterme began his career as a cabinetmaker in 2014 before joining the Contessa family in the same role in 2016. His dedication, leadership, and ability to find innovative solutions to improve company processes have helped him climb the ranks to his current position of Plant Manager.

Stefan is responsible for planning and organizing production, as well as managing plant employees, quality control, equipment maintenance, and facility maintenance to ensure productivity targets are achieved.

Karine joined the Contessa team in 2009 as an estimator. For 11 years, she devoted her expertise to the kitchen industry, gaining in-dept knowledge of the sector. After this enriching period, Karine decided to explore the manufacturing field to broaden her professional horizons, an experience which allowed her to acquire new tools and skills essential to her professional development.

In 2023, Karine returns to take up the position of Vice President of Operations at Contessa. Her return demonstrates her commitment to the company and her desire to contribute to its mission. As a leader in her field, Karine aspires to continue the company’s mission. Her passion for the industry drives her to stay at the forefront of developments and emerging trends, ensuring inspiring leadership and continued contribution to the industry.