About Us

We care for your business essentials so you can amplify your mission.

Our Story

In 2009, during an economic crisis, our founder John Bakker moved from a fruitful 25-year career in automotive manufacturing to launch a niche staffing and recruiting company. The seeds of this vision to start a values-based business known as Bakker Tailored Staffing were sown on a mission trip to Africa a year earlier. The company soon earned a strong reputation for service, professionalism and reliability.

John and key leaders in the company have always…

had a history of giving back. We’ve been investing time, expertise and finances in local and international communities through our work with non-profits and charities since the start. And we began to see our role more and more as good stewards than owners.

In 2020 the world faced a new crisis – a global pandemic. Alongside the disruption we and other business and non-profit leaders were facing, our company was hearing a new call to action. This was an opportunity to steward the expertise and skills we had developed as a company, to serve in a whole new way. To answer the call, we began offering professional services such as back-office operations, bookkeeping, and payroll to small and medium sized businesses and non-profits under the banner of Bakker Business Services (BBS).

As the pandemic dragged on, John heard a talk by Michael Messenger, President of World Vision, in which he referenced a quote that had been circulating within that organization: ‘It’s zero % business as usual, and 100% mission as usual.”

It catalysed an idea that in order to help mission-driven organizations thrive in the chaos, the best people in those organizations must be free to focus on the execution of their mission. This would allow them to meet the increasing needs of those they served, especially those who were experiencing challenges due to the pandemic. The other business essentials could better be left to trusted partners like BBS.

As BBS began delivering services, it was a thrill to start building a network of trusted service providers who resonated with our stewardship view of resources, and our mission and values. This allowed us to extend our scope and experiment with services like digital transformation, virtual event execution, and human resources.

We were eager to do more. And we were eager to give back more. With an influx of non-profits and charities wanting to know how our services could help them, the vision for Amplify Mission became a reality in 2022. Amplify Mission is a venture to put our passion for serving within community, as well as our skills and finances, to work to advance mission-driven causes and their people.

Today our gifted team has grown to include many professionals experienced in the non-profit sector. Amplify Mission serves charities and non-profits in back-office operations, bookkeeping, human resources, grant writing, strategic planning and advisory. And we’re always experimenting with new ways to add value and services to help organizations so they can amplify their missions.

How might we serve you?

Leadership Team

After many years in the automotive industry leading engineering, operations and large projects, John became an entrepreneur founding several companies providing recruiting and business services. John is a Professional Engineer, a graduate of Queen’s University, and holds an Executive MBA from the Rotman School of Management in Toronto. He has worked for many years with local, national and international not-for-profit organizations and has served as mentor, advisor, speaker, board director and board chair. He is known for his thoughtful, caring and strategic advice.

I am passionate about advancing positive change by helping to develop healthy, innovative cultures that are creative, bless people and bring good to our communities and workplaces. Outside the office, I love cycling, kayaking, diving and spending time with family and friends at the lake.

John Bakker

FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND VISIONARY

Jacquie is a seasoned financial practitioner in the non-profit space, providing leadership and support in regulatory compliance, risk management, and administration. A paramount guiding principle for Jacquie is integrity – in her work, intention, and actions.

My passion for non-profits and charities stems from my desire to help make a difference in our communities and watch these great organizations flourish and fulfil their mission.

Jacquie Horvat

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR

Silas plays a variety of roles and is a diversified people and systems thinker — providing support for the team in various areas including developing processes, learning new systems, and developing a strong team.

My personal mission is to put others ahead of myself, whether it is team members or clients. My own values align with providing a simple, relational, and excellent experience for everyone. My work is fuelled by the stories of mission and impact from our clients.

Silas Wong

CLIENT ENGAGEMENT AND BACK-OFFICE PRACTICE LEAD

Simi brings 15+ years of global experience in talent strategy and venture design. She believes the success of any organization hinges on the success of its people.

My Why: I have a passion to see people and organizations thrive.

Simi Lawoyin

PEOPLE & CULTURE PRACTICE LEAD

Let's Start a Conversation

Mission, Vision and Values

At Amplify Mission, our core focus is to care for your business essentials, so you can amplify your mission.

Our Vision is to be the trusted go-to partner for all essential support services outside of delivering on your mission, for the non-profit organizations and charities we aim to serve.

Amplify Mission is inspired by redemptive entrepreneurship. Working redemptively, for us, means we creatively seek to bless others, renew culture and give of ourselves to serve others. *

This guides how we do business. Strategically, our approach is simple. We value relationships over transactions. We believe that by putting relationships first the impact of our work is humanizing, cooperative, builds trust, and has staying power. Operationally, Amplify Mission aims to bless people rather than treat them as resources. We value grace, humility, empathy and making things better. And finally, our leadership, motivated by a desire to serve, defines success as increasing in generosity, accountability, excellence, and the sharing of power.

*Definitions based on the work of Praxis Labs.org

Contact Us Now

About Us

We care for your business essentials so you can amplify your mission.

Our Story

Leadership Team

John Bakker

FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND VISIONARY

Jacquie Horvat

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR

Silas Wong

CLIENT ENGAGEMENT AND BACK-OFFICE PRACTICE LEAD

Simi Lawoyin

PEOPLE & CULTURE PRACTICE LEAD

Mission, Vision and Values

At Amplify Mission, our core focus is to care for your business essentials, so you can amplify your mission.

Our Vision is to be the trusted go-to partner for all essential support services outside of delivering on your mission, for the non-profit organizations and charities we aim to serve.

Trusted by many non-profits like you:

How We Can Help You

Back Office
Operations

People &
Culture

Strategic Planning and Advisory

Contact Us

About Us

We care for your business essentials so you can amplify your mission.

Our Story

Leadership Team

John Bakker

FOUNDER, PRESIDENT AND VISIONARY

Jacquie Horvat

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION DIRECTOR

Silas Wong

CLIENT ENGAGEMENT AND BACK-OFFICE PRACTICE LEAD

Simi Lawoyin

PEOPLE & CULTURE PRACTICE LEAD

Mission, Vision and Values

At Amplify Mission, our core focus is to care for your business essentials, so you can amplify your mission.

Our Vision is to be the trusted go-to partner for all essential support services outside of delivering on your mission, for the non-profit organizations and charities we aim to serve.

Trusted by many non-profits like you:

How We Can Help You

Back OfficeOperations

People & Culture

Strategic Planning and Advisory

Back Office
Operations

People &
Culture