|
|
Blake Training & Consulting Inc
Gary Blake holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from McGill University and a Master of Business Administration from York University. Prior to his current engagement, he has held a wide variety of positions at Goodyear Canada Inc., such as Manager of Organizational Development & Training, Production Manager, Director of Corporate Engineering and was responsible for implementing conitnuous improvement processes at Goodyear. Gary is a member of the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario, l'Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and the Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario. He lectures at the University level on HR topics such as Recruiting & Selection, Training & Development, and Occupational Health & Safety. He has served on the Vehicle Sales & Service advisory board since 1999. Gary joined OSSA's Board in June 2004 and is currently the Chair of the Governance Committee of the Board.
President
Coursey Management Consultants Inc.
Pat has 31 years of service to the people of Ontario working in leadership and governance and groundbreaking roles in several ministries, predominantly the Ontario Ministry of Labour where she retired as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Operations responsible for the inspectorate program, critical in protecting workers, along with the responsibility for employment standards in Ontario. Pat's integrity and balanced leadership led her to continuing her inspirational work in health and safety as the founding President of the Safe Communities Foundation (SCF). Pat, upon retiring from SCF after 10 years, joined the OSSA Board in June 2006 with considerable experience in governance, leadership and stakeholder relations and now serves on the Governance Committee of the Board.
President & CEO
Auto World Import Network
Paul Cummings is President and CEO of HSC Holdings Limited o/a Auto World Import Network (AWIN), one of the largest automotive dealer groups in Canada. He is responsible for all financial aspects of the company specifically budgets, profitability, capital expenditures and acquisitions.
Paul has held leadership positions over the past eight years in large automobile OEM’s including the President and CEO responsibilities for Mitsubishi Motor Cars of Canada Ltd., Volvo Cars of Canada, Ltd. and Volvo Cars of Mexico. Some of his major career achievements include record growth in retail sales volumes, profitability improvement thru operating expense reduction and gross margin enhancement, successfully repositioning an automotive brand and establishing a network of retailers. During Paul’s leadership at Volvo both JD Powers and Canadian Automotive Dealers Association (CADA) recognized outstanding achievements in customer and dealer satisfaction.
He holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Toronto in addition to a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from McMaster University.
Acting Vice President, Specialized Claim Services
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
Paul is currently Acting Vice President of the Specialized Claims Services Division at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Since joining the WSIB in 1976, Paul has held diverse portfolios and has several key achievements to his credit. In 1986 he was part of the team involved in the decentralization of the adjudication function to the Hamilton Regional Office. In 1990 he returned to Toronto and spearheaded the delivery of the new Future Economic Loss (wage loss) program for 7 years. That was followed by two stints as Acting Director of the Appeals Branch in 1998-99 and 2003. He was subsequently appointed Director of the Appeals Branch. In June 2005 Paul established the new Adjudication Branch in the Program Development Division after which he returned to the Appeals Branch as Director.
Employment Counsel & Privacy Director
McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited
Grant Gleason is currently the Employment Counsel & Privacy Director at McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited and holds national accountability for all labour and employment matters including workplace safety and occupational health and safety compliance.
Prior to joining McDonald’s, Grant was part of the Labour, Employment and Administrative Law Group at Baker & McKenzie, LLP from 2000 to 2007. In addition, he has spent close to 12 years in the retail and hospitality industries before commencing his legal career.
Grant has served as an outside independent legal advisor to several Boards of Directors of public, private and not-for-profit firms. He now serves on various steering committees for McDonald’s as well as advises on internal governance issues.
Director, Services Health Care
Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB)
Jodi Higgins is currently the Director of Services and Healthcare in the Service Delivery Division at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. Jodi leads front-line teams who deliver integrated programs including: prevention, return to work, adjudicaton, health care, case and account management to a diverse customer base of businesses in the Services and Healthcare industry sectors in greater Toronto and surrounding areas. She is responsible for developing and fostering effective community and business relationships with those in the industry, workers, employers, stakeholders and Health and Safety system partners. In her more than 30 years at the WSIB Jodi has also lead and participated on a number of key operational and innovation projects to streamline and enhance services, design products and approaches. Jodi is on the Board of Directors for the Healthcare Health and Safety Association and has also served on the Board of the Transportation Health and Safety Association. She is currently an active member of the Human Resources Committee of the Board of Directors of OSSA.
Vice President & General Counsel
Acklands-Grainger Inc.
Mr. McClean obtained his B.A. (Honours, 1990) from UWO, his MBA (Dean's Honours, 1994) from the Schulich School of Business, and his LL.B. (Barlow Scholarship, 1994) from Osgoode Hall. He was admitted to the Ontario Bar in 1996 and is a Certified Management Accountant. Mr. McClean is currently Vice President and General Counsel at Acklands-Grainger where he is responsible for all legal matters, environment, health and safety, business continuity planning, risk management, and is Chief Privacy Officer. Mr. McClean was formerly Legal Counsel with GM Canada and member of the OnStar Canada Board of Directors, where his responsibilities included sales and marketing, dealer litigation and ADR, competition law compliance, franchise law, international transactions, pensions, finance, purchasing, alliances, IP and internet law. Mr. McClean was seconded to GM Defence (London, 1998) and Holden (Australia, 2003), was Director of Fleet and Commercial Sales for GM Canada (2005), and was named Top 40 under 40 Corporate Counsel in 2005. He is Chair of the Finance Committee of the Board of Directors of OSSA.
President & Chief Executive Officer
Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA)
Elizabeth Mills, President & CEO of the Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) founded the not-for-profit association on June 16th, 1997. OSSA was incorporated in August 1997, and designated as a Safe Workplace Association on January 1, 1998. A strategic thinker and leader of stakeholder coalitions, Elizabeth was Director, Government Relations of the Retail Council of Canada from May 1995 to June 1997. In representing and lobbying on behalf of the Council's 7000 retail companies, she spent the majority of her time on issues related to employment standards, health and safety, workers' compensation and the environment. Elizabeth's prior experience includes five years as an Ontario public servant working in policy related functions in both the Ministry of the Government Services and the Ministry of the Solicitor General. She left government to begin her career as a lobbyist in association management and with the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association in March of 1993. She currently is a Director on the Board of the OSSA, and holds positions as Vice Chair for both the Centre for Health and Safety Innovation and Prevention Dynamics Corporation. She is also member of the Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario, serving on its Executive Committee as well as a member of the Advisory Committee for the Centre for Research Expertise for Musculoskeletal Disorders. She was a publicly appointed member of the Board of Directors for the College of Opticians and served as a Director for the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation. She is a member of the Canadian Society of Association Executives. A native of Toronto, Elizabeth received her Bachelor of Arts, Political Science ('87) from Wilfrid Laurier University and her Master of Public Administration from Queen's University, ('89).
Associate Professor, Department of Population Medicine,
Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Andrew Papadopoulos holds a Master of Business Administration from York University and is a candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Guelph. He is currently Associate Professor, Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph where he provides students with a thorough understanding of strategic planning, health policy and administration of public health programs. During his 18 years of service in public health administration he also held the position of Executive Director at the Association of Local Public Health Agencies, Toronto. Prior to that he served as Public Health Inspector at Toronto Public Health where he received recognition from the Etobicoke City Council for exemplary work. Andrew has authored several documents as well as participated in research projects related to public health.
Executive Director
Camping In Ontario
Beth Potter is currently the Executive Director for Camping In Ontario, an association made up of more than 600 small businesses that actively represent the campground industry in Ontario. Under her leadership, she had led the organization through many changes including a governance change in 2004/05 and as a result of which the Board developed its first ever Strategic Plan. On the heels of that achievement, the organization went through a re-branding exercise in 2006/07. Beth also held the position of Second Vice Chair for the Tourism Federation of Ontario (TFO) where she assisted in the development and implementation of the new Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO). With 18 years of experience in the not-for-profit industry, Beth has worked with a variety of boards, committees and volunteers from all walks of life. Currently, she is a member of OSSA’s Finance Committee and of the Tourism & Hospitality Advisory Committee.
Manager, Health/Safety & Disability
The TDL Group Corp
Jill Ramseyer holds an Honours B.A. in Psychology, Carleton University and a Certificate in HR Management. She is the Health and Safety Manager at The TDL Group Corp.(Tim Horton's Head Office)where she oversees the disability mangement program including corporate short and long-term disability and WSIB/WCB claims at a national level. Jill also oversees the corporate wellness program and has primary responsibility for Health & Safety. She has worked in HR at TDL since 1999. Prior to her tenure with TDL, Ms.Ramseyer worked in Financial Services, Canada Trust. She is a member of the Human Resources Committee of the OSSA Board of Directors and is also a member of the Restaurant and Food Services Advisory Committee.
President
The Stone Crock, Inc.
Sandra Shantz has been President & General Manager of The Stone Crock Inc. since 1997. The Stone Crock Inc. operates Vidalia's and Stone Crock restaurants, Benjamin's Restaurant and Inn as well as the Village Bakery and Meats & Cheese, all located in St. Jacobs Ontario. Prior to taking on this role, she worked at Benjamin's Restaurant and Inn for nine years as Assistant Manager and then Manager. Sandra received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto. She is active in various community organizations in the St. Jacobs/Kitchener-Waterloo area. She is also a member of the Ontario Restaurant, Hotel & Motel Association and the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. Sandra joined the OSSA Board of Directors in June 2004 and is currently the Chair of the Board's Human Resources Committee.
National Director, Knowledge Management
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Gordon Vala-Webb is National Director, Knowledge Management, for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (Canada). He's responsible for the development and execution of PwC's internally-focused knowledge management strategy. Prior to joining PwC he was Director, Knowledge Services, for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board with responsibility for the WSIB's internal portal. That portal was named one of the "Top Ten Government Intranets" in 2004 and the work to create it was given a Ontario Showcase Merit Award for Organizational Transformation also in 2004. Previously Gordon had held various policy development positions with the Ontario government including Cabinet Office Policy Advisor and Director, Workplace Insurance and Health and Safety Policy Branch, Ministry of Labour. He sits on the Board of Directors for the Linden School (Toronto). Gordon joined the OSSA Board of Directors in January 2005 and currently serves as the Chair of the Board.
Please visit the recruitment section of our Web site to find out more about joining OSSA's Board of Directors.
You can consult your industry/sector professional association for input and advice when purchasing equipment and supplies.
