The expertise of people in the food and beverage manufacturing industry is at the heart of FPSC’s success in delivering on point programs, resources and information. We appreciate the industry professionals and stakeholders that give generously of their time. Interested in learning more or getting involved? Email us.
Barbara A. Adams
Managing Director
HR Architects
BC
Helen Tiritidis
Human Resources Manager & Special Projects
Expresco Foods
QC
Paulene Zweirs
Vice President of Human Resources
Conestoga Meats
ON
Rob Brooks
Quality Assurance Manager
Healthcare Food Services
ON
Jonathan Morgan
Manager of Professional & Technical Development
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
ON
Amy Proulx
Professor and Academic Program Coordinator,
Culinary Innovation and Food Technology
Niagara College & Canadian Wine Institute
ON
Wayne Morgan
Occupational Health and Safety Manager
The Great Western Brewing Company
SK
Jodie Cloutier
Supply Chain Controller
Hemp Oil Canada
MB
Heather Manuel
Director of the Centre for Aquaculture and
Seafood Development (CASD)
Fisheries and Marine Institute
NL
Kim Lesser
Director of Talent Management
Saputo Inc.
AB
Joëlle Dousedan
Director of Human Resources
Lassonde
QC
Erin Friesen
Associate Dean for Lab and Allied Health
School of Health Sciences, BCIT
BC
Lorne Piercey
Director of Training Development for Food & Beverage
Sani Marc
NS
Kerry Towle
Director of Industry and Government Relations
Sofina Foods Inc.
AB
Osborne Burke
General Manager
Victoria Co-Op Fisheries
NS
Lynn Marie Rayner
Operations Manager
Acadian Supreme Inc.
PE
Jeff Purcell
Senior Vice-President of Operations
Organigram
NB
Katelin Mailer
Director of Talent Management
Parmalat
ON
Tim Byrne
Director of Operations & Quality
Ganong Bros.
NB
Julie Parenteau
Program Officer
FPDI- First Peoples Development Inc.
MB
Louise Jacques-O’Hare
Director of Research and Development
Dare Foods
ON
Yonathan Negussie
Head of Human Resources
JBS Food Canada
AB
Derek Johnstone
Special Assistant to the National President
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada
ON
Stephen Evans
Executive Director
Mission Community Skills Centre
BC
Melissa Briones
Consultant
Organika Health Products Inc.
BC
Fariborz Birjandian
Chief Executive Officer
Calgary Catholic Immigration Society
AB
Rhonda Marano
Sr Human Resources Manager – Canada
Little Potato Company
BC
Yonathan Negussie
Head of Human Resources
JBS – Brooks Beef
AB
Cathy Spence
Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation ASETS Program Director
Aboriginal Skills & Employment Training Strategy
MB
Jeremy Janzen
Senior Director
HyLife Foods LP
MB
Derek Johnstone
Special Assistant to the National President
United Food & Commercial Workers
ON
Pauline Zwiers
HR Director
Conestoga Meat Packers
ON
Mack Rogers
Executive Director
ABC Life Literacy Canada
ON
Martin Racine
Directeur Adjoint
Collège La Cité
ON
Dale Schefter
Owner
Schefter Poultry Processing
ON
Shanna Adair
HR/Purchasing Manager
Fancy Pokket Bakery
NB
Mohja Ali
Manager, Employment and Bridging
Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS)
NS
Edith Laplante
Directrice des RH
Aliments Asta Inc.
QC
Sean Kelly
Owner
Black Angus Fine Meats and Game
ON
Paul Wannet
HR Manager
Cargill Limited
AB
Pauline Zwiers
VP HR
Conestoga Meat Packers Ltd.
ON
Donna Pomeroy
Director HR
Country Ribbon Inc.
NL
Arthur Batista
General Manager
Écolait Ltée
QC
Nicolas Bilodeau
Directeur des RH
Exceldor Coopérative
QC
Jeremy Janzen
Senior Director, HR
Hylife Foods LP
MB
Yonathan Negussie
Human Resource Director
JBS Food Canada Inc.
AB
Bonnie Windsor
Assistant Plant Manager
Johnston Packers LTD
BC
Maggie Pearce
Coordinator
Newmarket Meat Packers LTD
ON
Isabelle Leblond
Directrice Corporative RH
Olymel Société en Commandite LP
QC
Derek Johnstone
Special Assistant to the National President
United Food and Commercial Workers Canada
ON
Nova Woodbury
Executive Director
BC Association of Abattoirs
BC
Chris White
President and CEO
Canadian Meat Council
HQ QC
Robin Horel
President and CEO
Canadian Poultry & Egg Processors Council
ON
Sylvie Cloutier
Présidente-directrice générale | CEO
Conseil de la transformation alimentaire du Québec
QC
Daphne Nuys-Hall
Technical Director
Ontario Independent Meat Processors
ON
Benoit Tessier
Executive Director, Employer Liaison Services
Employment & Social Development Canada
HQ QC
Philippe Masse
Director General, TFW Program
Employment & Social Development Canada
QC
Shelly Binch
Analyst Sectoral Initiatives Program
Employment & Social Development Canada
HQ QC
Bob Sleva
Director of Human Resources
Connors Bros. Clover Leaf Seafoods Company
NB
Simon Jarding
Managing Director
Quin-Sea Fisheries – Royal Greenland A/S
NL
Osborne Burke
General Manager
Victoria Co-operative Fisheries Limited
NS
Adlai Cunningham
President
Sea Star Seafoods
NS
Paula Kieley
Corporate Affairs
Ocean Choice International
NL
Lynn Rayner
Operations Manager
Acadian Supreme Inc.
PE
Pam Perrot
General Manager
Beach Point Processing Company
PE
Heather Manuel
Director, Centre for Aquaculture & Seafood Development (CASD)
Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University
NL
Ray Hayter
Instructor
Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University
NL
Gerald (Jerry) Amirault
President
Lobster Processors of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
NS
Liza Fitzgerald
Executive Director
Nova Scotia Fisheries Sector Council
NS
Steven West
Director, TFW Program
Employment & Social Development Canada
HQ QC
Annie Morrison
Special Assistant for Atlantic Canada
Employment & Social Development Canada
HQ QC
Joel Bowen
Member’s Assistant
House of Commons – Rodger Cuzner’s office
ON
Joelle LaFond
Administrative Coordinator – TFW Program
Employment & Social Development Canada
ON
Jennefer Griffith
Executive Director
Food Processing Skills Canada
ON
Adriana Saenz
Senior Project Manager
Food Processing Skills Canada
ON
Kevin Elder
Project Coordinator
Food Processing Skills Canada
ON
Celine Pinsent
Lead Consultant
Goss Gilroy Inc. / DPM Research
PE
Victoria Diaz
Consultant
Goss Gilroy Inc. / DPM Research
ON
Adam Cywinski
Partner
Prism Economics and Analysis
ON
Martin Hrobsky
Vice-President
Ipsos Public Affairs
ON
Robert Fairholm
Partner
Centre for Spatial Economics
ON
Eliot Gauthier
Vice-president, National director Research and Analytics
Hill + Knowlton Strategies
ON
Pat Beauchamp
Senior Research Director
Hill + Knowlton Strategies
ON
Aileen Astudillo
Human Resources Program Manager
Cargill Limited
AB
Kelly Johnson
Recruiting and Immigration Manager
JBS Food Canada Inc.
AB
Andrea Warren
Human Resources Manager – Land Based Operations
Clearwater Seafoods LP
NS
Baerbel Langner
In House Immigration lawyer
Hylife Foods LP
MB
Lee Hodgins
Vice President of Human Resources
Champion Petfoods LP
AB
Linda Hutchison
Director of Human Resources
Clearwater Seafoods LP
NS
Barbara Adams
Director of Human Resources
Vitalus Nutrition
BC
Rob Brooks
Quality Assurance Manager
Healthcare Food Services
ON
Helen Tiritidis
Human Resources Director
Expresco Foods
QC
Jonathan Morgan
Manager, Professional and Technical Development
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
ON
Pauline Zwiers
Human Resources Manager
Conestoga Meat Packers Ltd.
ON
Jo-Anne Christensen
Human Resources Supervisor
Lantic Inc.
AB
Jodi Haggith
Human Resources Coordinator
Bonduelle
ON
Heather Manuel
Director, Centre Aquaculture and Seafood Development (CASD)
Marine Institute
NL
Amy Proulx
Coordinator, Professor
Niagara College
ON
Kim Lesser
Director Human Resources Prairies
Saputo
AB
Wayne Morgan
Human Resources and Compliance Manager
Great Western Brewing Company
SK
Mathieu Simard
Director Human Resources
Industries Lassonde Inc.
QC
Jodi Cloutier
VP Operations
Hemp Oil Canada
MB
Suzanne Morais-Vienneau
General Manager
St. Paul Fisheries LTD
NB
Mike Timani
President
Fancy Pokket Corporation
NB
Jennefer Griffith
Executive Director
Food Processing Skills Canada
ON
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Aliya Jiwani
Manager, Systems Training & Development
Aliya’s Foods Limited
Alberta
Aliya is an enthusiastic, creative, and seasoned educator with 10+ years of transforming learning into an exciting inquiry and critical thinking journey through a holistic approach. She is recognized for demonstrating a natural aptitude for designing curriculums with relevant and engaging content and implementing remote learning programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Recently, Aliya was the Vice Principal and head of the Middle School at Blyth Academy. Under her leadership, the institute spearheaded the development of the first virtual middle school, including forming a curriculum that took a project-based approach to allow flexibility and mental wellness. She also cultivated a collaborative environment for educators to share best practices to overcome evolving obstacles. Aliya currently works at Aliya’s Food where she evaluates existing processes to identify limitations, research potential resources, and proposes strategic plans to implement a customized Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. During her over 10 years at the company, she also mentored and trained more than 200 employees to employ technology and best practices in production environments.
Suman Cocoran
Suman Cocoran is a multi-talented, strategic leader with a proven record of driving transformational change within organizations. She contributes to corporate strategy and results by ensuring the organization has the right people, processes, and tools necessary to meet client needs and corporate growth expectations. She has successfully managed organizations in periods of major business and personnel changes while translating strategic objectives into actionable plans, ensuring financial feasibility, and establishing internal systems and processes to ensure business continuity. Spanning a variety of industries, the value she brings is her strength in people leadership, operational excellence, and ability to galvanize organizational change to drive bottom-line results. Regardless of industry or company, Suman has a passion for progress. Coupled with her diverse industry and functional experience, she is a valuable fit for a variety of organizations.
Jeff Purcell
VP of Operations, Vice Chair
Champlain Seafood
Pending Update
CHAIR
Mike Timani,
President
Fancy Pokket Corp.
New Brunswick
Mike Timani is a native of Lebanon and was born in Venezuela. He arrived in Toronto during the Lebanese civil war. He is president and CEO of Fancy Pokket Corporation in Moncton which was established in June 1989 in a 1,000 sq foot facility with three employees. Today, the bakery consists of 45,000 sq. ft. and employs 80 people. Fancy Pokket is the largest producer of pita bread, bagels, tortilla wraps and flatbread in Atlantic Canada.
Mike constructed a 58,000 sq. ft. dedicated Gluten Free facility in Lancaster County, South Carolina which produces a variety of gluten free products. The new facility began operations in August 2019.
TREASURER
Darlene Macdonald
Food Industry Expert
Ontario
Darlene brings more than 20 years experience in organizational development and change management, having worked in North America and Europe with food and research companies. She holds a Master’s Degree in Intercultural Communication and is a self-confessed “foodie”.
VICE CHAIR
Mark Pickard,
President
InfraReady Products Ltd
Saskatchewan
InfraReady Products was started in 1994 by the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool (SWP) in an attempt to add value to cereal grains before they left the province. With only the equipment, no products and no clients, Mark Pickard, the SWP’s project champion and 2 employees, started to carve out a unique niche in the food ingredients market, aiming to be the secret ingredient in many different food applications. In 1998, the company had grown to 13 employees, 100 products, and exported ingredients around the world. Accounting for a minute portion of the balance book, the SWP decided to divest itself of InfraReady, and offered Mark the opportunity to carry out a management buyout to ensure the company’s work would continue. With the help of 2 investors, Mark was able to continue his dream of offering wholesome food ingredients to the world’s food processors.
Jennefer Griffith
Executive Director
Food Processing Skills Canada
Ontario
Jennefer has been a leader in skills development and training for the Canadian food and beverage manufacturing sector for over 20 years. As Executive Director of Food Processing Skills Canada, she has led ground breaking initiatives including development of the Canadian Food Processors InstituteTM, FoodSkills LibraryTM and FoodCertTM – resources that support education and career pathways for businesses and people. Recently, Jennefer and her team finalized Canada’s first Learning Recognition Framework for the industry and are in the process of completing national labour market analysis and an accreditation process for colleges, universities and private trainers. Jennefer is passionate about supporting new Canadians, Indigenous People, women and youth in finding rewarding careers. Prior to joining Food Processing Skills Canada, she held roles in government and the non-profit sector.
Jacqueline-Pelletier
Directrice générale chez Comité sectoriel de main-d’oeuvre en
Transformation alimentaire-CSMOTA
Pending Update
Elliott J Gauthier
Senior Vice President
Hill + Knowlton Strategies
Ontario
Elliott Gauthier has a close connection to Food Processing Skills Canada and the broader sector. For many years he has worked with FPSC on many strategic initiatives, from representation at industry events, to authoring and strategically communicating FPSC’s cornerstone Labour Market Information Studies (LMI’s), moderating Board growth and strategic initiative sessions, refining the membership strategy and emceeing and presenting at the annual FPSC industry conference. Elliott a Senior Vice-President at Hill+Knowlton Strategies (H+K), one of world’s leading communications firms. He is a member of H+K’s Canadian Leadership Team, leads the reputation measurement practice in the Global Corporate Affairs + Advisory group, sits on H+K’s Global Technology Solutions Committee and is a senior leader in the Global Data + Analytics group. With more than 15 years’ experience in senior-level research positions in the communications industry Elliott leads the Canadian Data + Analytics team, a team of skilled researchers and measurement experts located in Ottawa, Toronto, and Vancouver.
Lynn Rayner
Operations Manager
Acadian Supreme Inc.
Prince Edward Island
After graduating from the Holland College Fisheries Technology Program Lynn has worked in the seafood industry for over 25 years in various positions. Lynn has spent most of her career with Acadian Fishermen’s Co-operative as Quality Manager and then moving into Production. In 2016 Acadian Fishermen’s Co-operative was bought by Acadian Supreme and at this time she moved to the position of Operation’s Manager for the company. She is directly involved with Quality, Production, HR and Financing within the company. Lynn works closely with members of the Federal and Provincial governments on issue to do with HR, TFW as well as product development and automation. She also works with Holland College, UPEI and other industry members to develop products and equipment to help with staffing issues in the seafood industry. Both to keep plants producing for a longer period of time by extending our season as well development of automation to help with staff shortages.
Yonathan Negussie
Director of HR
JBS Food Canada
Alberta
Yonathan Negussi has been Human Resource Director for JBS Food Canada for the last 8 years. Yonathan has successfully managed the JBS acquisitions of XL Foods in Brooks, Alberta. He has done extensive work in the area of international labour mobility, by successfully recruiting international skilled and semi-skilled workers from UK, USA, Philippines, Mexico, El Salvador, and Brazil. Inaddition, Yonathan has been an active supporter of industry Initiatives to attach and retain talent, including an advisor at Succeeding at Work, a project spearheaded by FPSC.
PARTNER
Amy Proulx, PhD.
Professor and Coordinator
Culinary Innovation & Food Technology, Niagara College
Ontario
Amy Proulx, is a professor at Niagara College, Canada, and coordinator of the Culinary Innovation and Food Technology Program at the Canadian Food and Wine Institute. She acts as research leader at the Niagara College Food Innovation Centre, where she and her colleagues provide technical, regulatory and product development support to the food and beverage manufacturing sector, and conduct research in culinary, food science, brewing and winemaking.
Steve Martin
Retail Sales Manager
Martin’s Family Fruit Farm
Ontario
Steve Martin is the retail manager at Martin’s Family Fruit Farm – a family run ‘labour of love’ for almost two centuries. While apples are their main product and are shipped Canada-wide, Martin’s also works with other local producers to provide additional fruits and vegetables in its retail store, and for customers. The Martin family has farmed these Ontario lands since 1820. The apple growing part of our history began with a suggestion from Branko Premlec, a Yugoslavian exchange student with a background in horticulture. Branko and Leighton Martin agreed that the region’s combination of warm summer sunshine, adequate rainfall, rich soil and cool autumn nights would be perfect for producing the sweet, juicy apples that the Martin’s Family has become famous for. With a future full of fine apple varieties in mind, they planted their first trees and waited patiently for them to mature.
Brad McKay
President of McKay Consulting
Ontario
Brad McKay is President of McKay Consulting. Prior to this, he was President of Wholesome Kids Catering, a leading supplier of nutritious meals to day care centers, and before that was Chief Executive Officer of Healthcare Food Services, a leading marketer of meals for the healthcare sector. Prior to this Brad was Vice President Ingredients and Export for Parmalat Canada and before that held progressively senior marketing positions at Procter & Gamble, Kraft/Nabisco, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Brad is a Board member of Food Processing Skills Canada and has been a Board member of the Yves Landry Foundation, the International Union of Food Science and Technology, and the Canadian Institute of Food Science and Technology where he was also President. He is a graduate of the University of Waterloo in Systems Engineering.
David Lippert
Vice President of Human Resources
Ontario
With six manufacturing plants, over 1,300 employees and after 125 years in operation, Dare has become part of the fabric of Canada. Following is a chronological history of Dare starting with our humble origins as a grocery store, tracing all the way up to our current, exciting times. After over 125 years, Dare remains dedicated to producing innovative, high-quality food. Manufactured in Canada and the U.S., our range of cookies, crackers, fine breads and candy is available throughout North America and in more than 50 other countries around the world.
