Meet the judges
Meet our 2020 judging panel! More judge bios will be added in the coming weeks!
Heats (March 11, 2020)
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Holly Barkwell
Title
President & CEO
Organization
BH Group Inc
About Holly
Holly is the President & CEO of Barkwell Holland Group Inc., a successful Canadian based public safety business advisory group. BH Group Inc. provides a range of professional and technical services to government, public safety agencies (Police, Fire, Ambulance) and industry partners.
Holly is a public safety 9-1-1 emergency communications professional with 25+ years of experience in technology, innovation, and system interoperability. -
Wayne Mackwood
Title
Head of Detergent and Grease Technology
Organization
LANXESS Canada Co.
About Wayne
Wayne is currently the Head of Detergent and Grease Technology for LANXESS, managing a highly skilled, dynamic and dedicated team of chemists at its West Hill Application Technology Centre. He is a recognized expert in the design, manufacture and use of Calcium Sulfonate Complex Grease and has developed over 150 grease formulations for use a broad range of applications. He is now active in the development and introduction of new detergent formulations and technology for lubrication and corrosion inhibition. Wayne has spent the majority of his 25+ year career as a Scientist but has also held roles in marketing and asset management. He has authored more than a dozen technical papers, been quoted in several journal articles, holds two patents, and has given more than 20 presentations at leading conferences and seminars around the world. He has an Master’s in Materials Engineering Science, with a focus on Tribology, from the University of Western Ontario. Wayne has been a member of the NLGI (National Lubricating Grease Institute) Board since 2011 and is currently its Treasurer. He has also served on the STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers) Board of Directors from 2008 - 2011 and remains active at the local section level. In 2019 he was awarded the John A. Bellanti Sr. Memorial Award for meritorious service to the NLGI and the grease industry.
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John Remillard
Title
CEO (Acting)
Organization
Oshawa Community Credit Union
About John
John has been managing in the credit union system for 14 years acting as CEO since 2017. In 2013, in partnership with Dalhousie University, John received his Associate of the Credit Union Institute of Canada, the highest designation with the institute.
John was also involved in a small successful transportation firm prior to his career in financial services making him understanding of both being a seeker and provider of financial services. -
Jane Snyder
Title
Director of Operations/Co-Owner of Snyder Construction
Organization
Snyder Construction
About Jane
Jane Snyder studied fashion design at Ryerson University for 1.5 years and switched to York University to obtain her BA in Economics. While studying, Jane also joined a modelling agency and taught modelling while pursuing her degree. After studies were completed, Jane worked as an Account Executive in an Advertising Agency in Mississauga. In 1990, Jane started with Snyder Construction, a small construction company. With a business background, Jane worked together with the team, to make the company into a well-positioned construction company in the ICI, residential, and heritage sector, in Durham Region. Jane also obtained her Master's in Nutrition Education and Has consulted for 12 years in her own part-time business. With her wellness and nutrition, Jane leads the health & safety team at Snyder Construction and has over 30 courses in health & safety. Recently , Jane led the team to obtain COR, an ISO 8001 designation for Health & Safety.
Community work has involved, past Public appointment for College of Psychology, in 1995-1998, past board member on Whitby Historical Society, past member on Town of Whitby Sustainability Committee, present chair of PAC of health & safety at the Lambton College in Toronto, present public appointee on Durham Region Nuclear health & safety board, and present public appointee on College of Psychotherapy and Mental health professionals. Jane has also been nominated in the past few years by RBC Women of Influence, in the top 250 women in Canada. -
Dilesha Stelmach
Title
Founder/CEO
Organization
Oui STEM Academy
About Dilesha
Dilesha Stelmach is an analyst, founder, and STEMthusiat with a passion for the dissemination of education. As Founder/CEO of Oui STEM Academy Dilesha has facilitated several dozen workshops for you interested in connecting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics to their every day lives. Dilesha is passionate about empowering the youth to push through perceived failures in order to feed their curiosity. Her mission is to make science, technology, engineering and mathematics more familiar, colloquial, accessible and inclusive for all. As a Certified Blockchain Professional (CBPro), Dilesha promotes transformative technological solutions to everyday problems and encourages her students to always think innovatively.
Finals (March 12, 2020)
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Robert Lane
Title
President
Organization
Robert H Lane and Associates Inc
About Robert
Robert (Bob) Lane is the managing partner of Robert H Lane and Associates Inc., a business advisory organization headquartered in Toronto Canada. Formed in 1984, the group provides innovative and creative problem solving and operational assistance to senior management.
His business career began with (Spitzer & Mills) Ted Bates Advertising, followed by product management and field sales assignments with Thomas J. Lipton (Good Humor Division) and Coca- Cola. He joined Canadian General Electric, where he was involved with electronic component design, manufacturing and distribution for television and radio parts as well as construction products.
Northern Electric (NORTEL) recruited him as Chairman, President-CEO for NEDCO, Zentronics and Thomas Electric. After the divestiture of all electrical and electronic distribution activities, he managed the European Operations for Northern Telecom Systems and many activities related to the start-up of NORTEL in the USA. In 1980, he joined Commodore International as President Operations and successfully launched the Vic 20 and C64 home computers.
After establishing a business advisory practice in 1984, a major activity has been providing interim management and coaching skills. These have included General Manager – Clinical Reference Systems (a medical software group); Vice President KKI – a military restoration group for USA Department of Defence; President & CEO Acklands Ltd; General Manager – Ontario Flower Growers Cooperative; General Manager Vineland New Jersey Produce Cooperative; and President Signum Wireless Corporation.
Bob is an investor, Board Member or Advisor to a number of companies in the USA and Canada -
Heather McMillan
Title
Executive Director
Organization
Durham Workforce Authority
About Heather
Heather serves as an Executive Director for the Durham Workforce Authority (DWA). The DWA is a non-profit organization that facilitates labour market development at the community level. Her substantial community involvement includes a Member on the Local Diversity and Immigration Partnership Council Durham, President of the provincial organization – ONESTEP and a board member of Feed the Need Durham.
Her commitment to community involvement has been recognized and she is a recipient of Ontario’s Volunteer Service Award, has received a Business and Professional Woman of Durham Award for her work and accomplishments in the area of business. Heather was nominated for the 2015 Connect Woman of the year.
As a strong believer in continuous learning, she has continued her post-secondary studies at Ryerson University for Public Administration and Governance and received two Walter G. Pittman Scholarships for high academic achievement in her studies. She completed a certificate of not for profit management in 2015 and has previous education in philosophy and public relations at both the university and college level.Thank you to Durham Workforce Authority for being our Gold Sponsor!
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Mary Nurse
Title
Mary Nurse
Organization
Nurse Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd.
About Mary
Mary Nurse, Dealer Principal
Nurse Chevrolet Cadillac Ltd.
The ongoing commitment to provide an exceptional customer experience has brought industry and customer attention to Nurse Chevrolet Cadillac. Through continuous technological innovation, process analysis, customer amenities and amazing team members, Nurse delivers an environment that provides an easy-to-buy, pleasure-to-own experience for customers. The team’s dedication to “It’s the little things that count” focuses on value, convenience, professionalism and all the other little things during every visit.
Building on this philosophy, Mary and the team value giving back to the local community. This includes personal involvement and financial support with various local organizations in the health, educational, cultural, and youth sectors.
The team at Nurse Chevrolet Cadillac has won numerous recognition awards in recent years including the Canadian Automotive Dealer Association – Retailer of the year, North American Women’s Retail Network Performance Award, and several Whitby Chamber of Commerce acknowledgements.
Mary completed a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Guelph and Bachelor and Masters of Education degrees from the University of Toronto. She spent the first 20 years of her career as an educator, after which she joined the family business becoming Dealer in 2001. In 2015, Mary’s daughter joined her in the dealership, assisting in creating the future experience for present and potential customers. -
Gerry Owens
Title
CEO & Founder
Organization
GoTab IT Risk Services
About Gerry
Gerry Owens is a veteran IT Infrastructure, IT Risk Management and Cybersecurity executive who is passionate about the intersection of organizational change, employee engagement and technology. During his 30+ years in the Banking industry, he successfully led major security infrastructure transformations, implemented successful IT risk programs and architected enterprise-wide cybersecurity capabilities to protect the bank’s most critical assets and support its digital transformation journey.
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Jack Vincent
Title
Techincal Sales
Organization
Hoskin Scientific Ltd
About Jack
A Technical Sales Professional with over twenty (20) years of combined applied experience in Regional Direct Sales, Regional Sales Management and Inside Sales and Marketing.
Proud to be part of Hoskin Scientific Limited (Founded in 1946). Hoskin is a privately held sales firm supplying into the categories of Test and Measurement Instrumentation, Geo-technical/Materials Testing Products as well as Environmental Monitoring Solutions.
I have been privileged to have worked in the field of instrumentation and process automation for over three decades. I feel that with this experience I can bring a practical approach to solving our customer's application challenges. Solutions are provided by drawing on my own experience and by pulling in the resources of the manufacturers I represent.
I believe in business as in life, to treat others as you want to be treated. That is the treatment of courtesy, respect, fairness, honesty and integrity. -
Geoff Spence
Title
Director - Analytics Engineering
Organization
Scotiabank
About Geoff
Geoff is a Director of Analytics Engineering at Scotiabank. Over the past 10 years he has been a leader in transforming how the bank leverages data. He leads a team of experts specializing in end-to-end solutions for business driven analytics. Working with business partners to better understand their products & customers and with data science teams to create innovative AI/ML applications. He is passionate about big data, small data, automation, and visualization.
Geoff is a native of Calgary and holds a bachelors degree in Systems Design Engineering. In his spare time he enjoys testing his risk appetite by pushing limits in mountain biking and kite surfing.
