Our consultants, advisors and sector subject matter experts have an average of over twenty two years experience, twice the consulting industry average. Arcus understands that clients want small, nimble consulting teams of seasoned people who have years of knowledge and experience. And they want practical, highly targeted information and insights to address their needs. They have served in C-Level or senior management positions at leading organizations.
Transformational change consultants
Rochelle Stenzler, ICD.D.
Corporate, Growth and Retail strategy
Rochelle Stenzler has extensive experience as a senior operating executive in retailing and consumer packaged goods. Rochelle was President of Revlon Canada Inc. As President of that company, she played a key role in the company’s restructuring including the rebuilding of its management team and implementing major cultural changes. She was also President and General Manager of Pharma Plus Drugmarts Ltd., a position she held for over five years. Later she took on the President and CEO position of Touchlogic Corporation, a leader in the IVR industry. As President, International Operations for TLC Laser Eye Centers Inc., she served as co-COO of a $300 million laser vision correction business with responsibility for helping reposition the company, while ensuring senior and middle management support for the firm’s rapidly expanding North American Business.
Rochelle began her pharmacy career at Tamblyn Drugmarts Ltd., the predecessor company to Boots Drug Stores (Canada) Ltd and Pharma Plus Drugmarts Ltd. Rochelle held increasingly more responsible & senior positions before becoming Senior Vice President Operations. During her extensive career in the retail drugstore industry, Rochelle was instrumental in championing or playing a key role in numerous significant initiatives. Some of these included the integration of an acquired drug chain into the core business; the shutting down of it’s own distribution business and conversion to a 3rd party logistics arrangement; the development & management of a discount drug business model; the design, development & deployment of numerous technological platforms; the implementation of an ‘Activity Value Analysis’ to reduce overheads; a total re-evaluation of the business strategy & business processes working with management and design consultants to develop a brand new drug store business model with improved margins and sustainability.
Rochelle has held a number of corporate directorships and currently is a Director of Cannasat Therapeutics Inc. serving on both its Audit and Governance Committees. She is the former Chair of Enwave Energy Corporation; a former Director, Executive Committee member and Committee Chairman of the OPA (Ontario Pharmacists’ Association); Director of Council of Delegates and Member of the Provincial Negotiators Committee of the Canadian Pharmacists Association; and Chairman, Executive Committee member of the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores. Her extensive involvement in the community includes roles as a Member of the Advisory Board of the B’nai Brith Foundation and a long standing Executive Committee role with YPO/WPO (Young Presidents’ Organization/World Presidents’ Organization), where she is currently Treasurer of WPO Ontario. Rochelle is recognized as an innovative and energetic leader who empowers and inspires others through strong interpersonal communications, organization and planning skills. She is respected for the ability to create the vision, achieve the buy-in, implement the strategy, and harvest the results. Rochelle is a pharmacist, by education and training. She is a graduate of the University of Toronto holding a BSc.Phm and the Rotman School of Management (U of T)/Institute of Corporate Directors holding an ICD.D.
Merril Mascarenhas, CMC, ICD-NFP, Strategy and Change Management
A Certified Management Consultant, Merril Mascarenhas is a Managing Partner at Arcus Consulting Group. He is also a Certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming Practitioner. Merril has directed a number of projects aimed at helping companies develop growth strategies and reorganize for improved effectiveness and operations capabilities. His work has encompassed over 36 industry segments including, automotive, food, healthcare, energy, pharmaceuticals and medical products, chemicals, banking, consumer products, high tech and industrial sectors. Merril’s experience in strategic consulting gives him a unique perspective on business challenges faced by senior executives. He is passionate about bringing fresh thinking to all business issues. He has advised senior executives at some of world’s greatest companies such as – Johnson and Johnson, Mercedes Benz, Procter and Gamble and GlaxoSmithKline in North America, Europe and Asia.
Merril is a trained facilitator and frequent speaker on business strategy, growth and organizational practices at industry events. He is regularly called upon by BNN, the Globe and Mail, Toronto Star and other leading news organizations as a commentator on change management and business strategy issues. He has presented to the MBA class at the Kellogg Schulich School of Business on topics such as sustainability and change management and has been an Instructor for the Harvard ManageMentor executive training program. He has completed several leadership and management programs, including the Governance Leaders Program at the Schulich Business School.
Merril has been an active participant in many leading organizations and has served on the Ontario Business Advisory Council, an organization that advises the Premier and Government of Ontario, the Sustainability and Energy Task Force of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and boards and councils of the Toronto Board of Trade, Market Research and Intelligence Association, Canadian Marketing Association and several other organizations. Merril has over 20 years of governance experience and has served on boards of organizations such as Toronto East General Hospital, High park Initiatives, Boardmatch.org, Osteoporosis Canada, Kiwanis Boys and Girls Clubs and Epilepsy Canada. Merril currently also serves on the Board of Quinte Health Care. QHC provides health care services through four hospitals – Belleville General Hospital, North Hastings Hospital, Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital and Trenton Memorial Hospital.
William H. Brown, BSc.Phm, RPh., Strategy and Organization
William Brown has held several leadership positions including President and CEO of Aetna Health Management Canada Inc. AHM was created by Aetna Life to introduce managed care principles to the benefit of large Canadian corporations. Concurrently Mr. Brown was President CEO of First Canadian Health, a company specifically created by Aetna to manage the Federal Benefits Program for the First Nations Peoples across Canada. This organization represented a unique relationship between the federal government (Dept. of Public Works), the Tribal Councils Investment Group of Winnipeg Manitoba, and Aetna Life.
Prior to the position with Aetna, Mr. Brown was President and C.E.O. of Columbia Health Care Inc. a company that expanded into the largest provider of private rehabilitation services with 33 clinics across Canada. Mr. Brown also served in other leadership positions at Medis Health and Pharmaceutical Inc. which was subsequently acquired by McKesson Corporation of California. Bill’s special interests have been in the pharmaceutical and pharmacy services industries. As governments struggle to address ever rising healthcare costs, Bill has gained unique experience and passion for the need to address the cost effectiveness of changing government policies and compensation models. Bill is a graduate of the University of Toronto where he earned the degree of Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. Bill also holds a current R.Ph designation.
Robert Coffey, CMC, Strategy and Organization
Robert Coffey is a Management Consultant, Advisor and Coach. He has held numerous executive and management positions including Managing Partner for Canada of the Management Consulting Services for Ernst & Whinney, Executive Partner, Thorne, Ernst and Whinney and Vice Chairman of KPMG. He is a past Vice President of Geneva Merger & Acquisition Services of Canada (Ont.) Inc. Mr. Coffey is a Chartered Accountant and senior business advisor and management consultant to industry and government. He has participated in a number of Royal Commissions and has lectured at McGill University and the University of Toronto on costing and budgeting. Mr. Coffey is active in the field of mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, corporate turnarounds, and is a co-author of Purchase and Sale of a Business. Mr. Coffey is the founder of The Canadian Association for Corporate Growth and the founder of the Toronto Chapter of The Turnaround Management Association. Mr. Coffey was advisor to Kinghaven Capital Corporation and was the Senior Vice-President, Commercial Lending, ABN AMRO Bank Canada. He is Chair of the Kiwanis Music Festival Foundation, director of the Toronto Kiwanis Foundation, President of the Kiwanis Club of Toronto, a member of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario, and a past member of the Advisory Board of ACE Canada. Mr. Coffey is a Director of the Afton Food Group (241 Pizza and Robins Donuts), and InterRent International Properties Inc. (low rise residential buildings). Vice Chair and Head Coach of Townson & Alexander.
Diane Beattie, MBA, Change Management, Governance and Technology
Diane Beattie was the CIO of both London Acute Care Teaching Hospitals and was responsible for all stages of the Regional Shared Exchange servicing evelen hospitals in Themes Valley. As the Integrated Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Health Information and Health Alliances – with the Strategic Alliances and Networks senior leadership role for London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and St. Joseph’s Health Care (SJHC) London, she was responsible for strategic leadership in all aspects of health information management and information technology, focusing on development of an IT strategic plans. The London Hospitals serve as the referral centre for SW Ontario (1.5 million people) and beyond, with a staff of 14,000 and an operating budget in excess of $1.4 Billion. Responsible for strategic leadership to both academic teaching hospitals in all aspects of strategic alliances, partnerships, health information management and information technology, focusing on the development and implementation of a strategic plan.Created and implemented a strategic plan with the central theme of “1 patient 1 record” which significantly improved the delivery of health care to more than 1.5 million residents of South Western Ontario.
She created a Regional Shared Services organization to oversee ongoing operations, based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by all parties. The ability to share key relevant information about a patient in many different organizations has changed the way Health Care is delivered. She led the groundbreaking Diagnostic Imaging Project which now provides shared digital images to over 40 South Western Ontario hospitals. These projects have changed the way care is delivered in Ontario and have been a corner stone to improving patient outcomes. The initial phase of the project received both a Showcase Ontario and a National CIPA award.
Diane also has over nineteen years experience in the energy sector, acquired while with Union Gas in leadership positions of Director of Business Development and General Manager, Central Region. She served on the board of Ontario’s SuperBuild Corporation, which is charged with reviewing the strategic and capital plan for the province. She has also served on the Ontario Hospital Association’s e-Health Council and the Knowledge Management Strategic Advisory Committee. Diane earned her bachelors degree in mathematics from the University of Waterloo and MBA from the University of Windsor.
William Shea, MBA, MA, Strategy and Leadership Performance
William Shea is a senior consultant in the strategy practice at Arcus. He works with organizations in the areas of personal effectiveness, strategy and leadership. He has deep knowledge of the development and implementation of online and blended learning thanks to his 12 years as the international Senior Strategic Relationship Manager for Harvard Business School Publishing (HBSP) Bill also held the position of Director, Executive Education Relations, for Harvard University’s Graduate School of Business Administration. Prior to joining Harvard, Bill worked at Coopers & Lybrand LLP as a senior consultant responsible for the development, marketing and presentation of leadership and executive development programs.
Bill also spent seven years with the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), where he established and served as Managing Director of CCL’s first European branch office in Brussels, Belgium. Earlier in his career, Bill had appointments in university admissions and financial aid both at the Harvard Business School and at the Babcock Graduate School of Management at Wake Forest University. Bill holds a BA degree from Hunter College (City University of New York); an MA degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and an MBA degree from Harvard Business School.
Bill is a long-standing member of the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) and has served on ASTD’s national board of directors. He has served as a member of the board of directors of the Hunter College Alumni Association and was inducted into the Hunter College Alumni Hall of Fame in 1998. He has also served on the board of directors of “Play for Peace,” an international not-for-profit organization which brings together children from communities in conflict to promote understanding through experiential exercises and play.
David Town, CHRP, Change Management and Training
For over 25 years David Town has been leading and executing Human Resource practices that support the overall strategy of organizations. He has worked with fast-paced, high-performance organizations such as Loblaw Companies Limited, Shoppers Drug Mart and Big V Pharmacies, overseeing multiple areas of Human Resources including: leadership development, performance management, change management, merger integration, succession planning and talent management, executive coaching, employee training and development and a host of other Human Resource services.
As a full-time business lecturer at the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario, David developed significant expertise in and a passion for training and development, particularly in the areas of leadership, supervision, performance management, communication and customer service. With a reputation for integrity and excellent relationship management skills, David has a track record of effectively executing programs that drive results. David is a graduate of the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario and has earned the Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) designation. He is a member of professional Associations in Business and Human Resources and is an active community volunteer, having held several volunteer leadership positions.
Serge Rainville, c.o., c.r.h.a., c.c.c., Change Management and Training
Serge Rainville has over twenty-five years of experience in human resources management resources for various organizations, and fifteen years in individual and organizational consulting. Consequently, his activities have allowed him to develop expertise in change management, organizational development, career management, human resource selection and planning, training, decisional coaching and professional guidance. He has worked with employers and employees from both extensive and limited educational backgrounds.
Serge Rainville has advised different audiences and private organizations confronted with the deployment of systems and/or changes. Previously, he handled different management positions with Bombardier Canadair, Noranda Inc., Fujitsu and the Public Service Commission of Canada. His past positions include Practice manager, Oracle Québec, Montréal and Practice manager, Telus Solutions d’affaires, Montréal. He is also a licensed psychotherapist focused on providing individual counselling services. His areas of specialization include Human resources management, change management, training, ERP implementation, communications and public relations, organisational development, business development, coaching and counselling.
Dr. Barbara Bunker, Ph.D., Organizational Change and Organizational Effectiveness
Barbara Benedict Bunker (Ph.D. Columbia University) is an organizational social psychologist and Professor of Psychology Emeritus at the University at Buffalo (SUNY). Her research and writing interests are diverse but focus in the area of organizational change and organizational effectiveness. She is a licensed Psychologist. Her activities in the area of planned organizational change span more than 25 years. As an organizational consultant, Barbara Bunker has assisted clients with individuals, teams, departments, and the whole organization. She has worked as a coach and consultant to individuals in areas of performance appraisal, career development and leadership skills. At the team or department level, she consults about long range vision and strategy, work analysis, organizational design, blocks to effective functioning. At the organization level, she has worked on interdepartmental issues, managing diversity and organizational culture change.
At the community level she has worked with churches and community church coordinating groups, mental health associations, the Red Cross and other agencies to plan their futures and increase their effectiveness. She has worked with major business, governmental, voluntary, educational, and professional organizations. Her clients have included Corning, Inc., The Bush Foundation Educators Program, Eastman Kodak, Cummins Engine, Lubrizol, ITT, IRS, NASA, British Air, The King’s Fund, Irwin Financial, Kaleida Health, The Erie County Mental Health Association, the Universities of Cincinnati and British Columbia, Canisisus College, Columbia, Stanford, and Zayed (United Arab Emirates) Universities. She participated in some of the first Organization Development(OD) projects. As an active member of NTL (National Training Laboratories) Institute, she was a Director for 7 years and Chairperson of the Board for 3 years.
For the past 15 years, Barbara Bunker has become nationally and internationally known for her work systematizing a number of new methods of organization and community change that work at the systems level. These Large Group Methods bring together stakeholders in a common enterprise to discuss, debate and search for common ground on which to move forward. She has written about them, used them in her own practice, and written two books and edited two journals about the exciting work that is being done in this area of practice. Barbara Bunker is a frequent lecturer in the executive development programs of Columbia, Harvard, and Pepperdine Universities. She has been an invited keynote speaker at numerous national conferences. She has presented invited seminars (with Billie Alban) on Large Group Interventions in England, Canada, Netherlands, Sweden, Singapore, New Zealand, and Korea.
In 1984 and again in 1990 she was selected as a Fulbright Lecturer to Japan. She taught at Keio University and at Kobe University in the School of Business Administration. In 1998, she was exchange professor at Konan University in Kobe, Japan and at Hangzhou University in China. During these exchanges, she has had the opportunity to study Asian organizations. She has also published a study of Senior Japanese women executives with data collected in the 1980s and in the late 1990s in Japan. Her books include Conflict, Cooperation, and Justice (1995) with Jeffery Rubin, and Large Group Interventions: Engaging the whole system for rapid change (1997) and The Handbook of Large Group Methods: Creating systemic change in organizations and communities. (June 2006) with Billie T. Alban.
Selma Djukic, Regulatory Compliance
Selma is an accomplished professional in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology arena; having worked for brand, generic and contract manufacturing companies. She has extensive experience and a sound knowledge of US, Canadian and EU regulatory (particularly CMC) and Quality Assurance regulations. Her proven ability to manage multi-disciplinary teams on projects ranges from formulation through registration, scale-up and validation (including analytical method development, transfers and validation); commercial successes include Xifaximin®, Lunesta®, Syphilis Antibody Confirmatory Kit, Generic equivalents to brand products. She worked with Patheon to promote the establishment of internal procedural systems: identified problematic areas and enhanced intra-site systems to ensure more timely achievement of milestones (i.e. streamlined documentation between sites).
She managed specific project management training to departments (i.e. project kick-off skills) and delivered professional client service and liaised between Patheon and 9 independent clients. She also managed R&D projects for Genpharm from formulation through validation; coordinated multi-disciplinary team meetings to plan and implement all deliverable project activities; provided regular updates to (i) departments through minutes and timelines (ii) senior managements through monthly reports. She improved GMP compliance on shop floor: performed daily audits of manufacturing and packaging facility; provided written reports detailing observations and corrective and preventative actions to departmental management; managed timelines to complete action items; implemented regular SOP training sessions. She also investigated and closed operational variance reports and customer complaints
Pierre Morin, CRHA, M.Sc., Organizational development and competency assessment
Pierre is a bilingual Training and Competency Development specialist with over thirty years experience in Training and Human Resource Development (HRD) Consulting. His areas of expertise include: Learning / training management, Occupational analysis, DACUM, competency-based program development and competency assessment, and performance management from an organizational and individual perspective, Succession and career planning, professional development, orientation and training programs for new employees and High level insight into occupational standards gained as a board member of the Canadian Vocational Association.
Pierre’s academic qualifications include post-graduate studies in Educational Technology from Concordia University and an M.Sc. from Université de Montréal. He was a faculty lecturer for performance and training needs assessment at McGill University for over three years. His experience also includes over eight years as training and HRD manager at Fédération des caisses populaires, Desjardins de Montréal et de l’Ouest-du-Québec. His services also included roles as a training analyst, responsible for training needs assessments and program evaluation. Prior to these engagements, Pierre was a project manager at the Department of Social Affairs (Government of Quebec).
Pierre’s international experience also includes Missions in Brazil (1999, 2000, 2001), Bénin (2003), Burkina Faso (2000, 2005), Finland (2003), Mali (2001) and Qatar (2006-2007) for the Canadian Vocational Association. His professional activities include positions such as board member of the Canadian Vocational Association, Member of l’Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines et en relations industrielles agréés du Québec and Member of the Canadian Society for Training and Development.
David Johnston, Change Management and Communications
David has over 25 years of change management experience in diverse industries, countries and skill areas. His international experience will provide a unique perspective on best practices in change and strategy programs worldwide. He has participated in the design and was the on-site facilitator for the delivery of a course dealing with leadership, policy making, change management and teambuilding for the Civil Service Training Development Institute of the government of Hong Kong, the Canadian Centre for Management Development in the
areas of Policydevelopment. He has also given these courses to senior civil servants on-site in Jamaica and in Brazil. David regularly facilitates organizational development workshops for the Canadian civil service, notably for Public Works and Government Services, Transport Canada, the Department of Justice and the Canadian Security Establishment, and others. He has delivered programs to personnel from Bombardier in their Leadership Certification Program and with management staff from Alcatel Canada and Nissan Canada.
He currently delivers courses to ExxonMobil Business Service Centres in North America in the areas of Communication, customer service and team dynamics. He is a certified administrator of the Myers Briggs Type indicator and certified Neuro-Linguistic Programming practitioner. His professional experience include work for the Government of Canada- Department of Transport, Department of Justice, Department of Public Works and Government services, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Indian and Northern Affairs, Canadian School of the Public Service, Alcatel Canada, Bombardier, Nissan Canada, Lexus-Nexus, ExxonMobil, International, the Civil service training and development institute of Hong Kong, the National School for Public Administration of Brazil, the government of Jamaica.
Anita Levine Dahlin, M.A., Workplace issues and and conflict resolution
Anita Levine Dahlin possesses over 25 years of experience as a mediator, investigator and educator in the areas of human rights, workplace discrimination and harassment and conflict resolution. She has conducted numerous training sessions and presented at many conferences and international human rights forums. She is a specialist in workplace respect and restoration. She held a senior executive position in the Ontario Public Service as a director of the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), with progressive responsibility for several portfolios including case management, and systemic discrimination/special programs.
Her mission is to help her clients ensure a respectful workplace and avoid the costly litigation resulting from workplace complaints by implementing effective prevention and resolution strategies. Her services include workplace policy development, training in human rights and conflict resolution skills as well as neutral third party investigation and mediation. She is on a number of mediation rosters including several law firms, Peacebuilders International, and the Mandatory Mediation Program, Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General, where she serves as a court-appointed mediator for a variety of civil matters. She was a human rights officer in Northern Ontario and regional manager for the OHRC in Southwestern Ontario. Prior to that, she was a journalist and continues writing on a freelance basis.
Ms Dahlin is accredited in Mediation (University of Windsor Law School, Osgoode Hall Law School, Ontario Bar Association, ADR Institute of Ontario, Peacebuilders International); Investigation (Ontario Human Rights Commission, Ontario Police College) and Adult Education (Niagara College), and has trained in Solution-Focused Therapy through the University of Toronto School of Social Work. Her academic studies include History and Sociology at York University (Honours BA) and the University of Waterloo (MA Program). She is a member of the Ontario Bar Association – ADR Section – and the ADR Institute of Ontario.
Aldo Braccio, MBA, Consumer Research and Insight
Aldo Braccio has over 18 years of hands on experience in consumer research and insight. He began his career as an academic researcher in psychology and has had the privilege of sitting on different sides of the marketing table working as a moderator, quantitative researcher, client side researcher and strategic planner.
Aldo has an incurable curiosity and drive to understand what makes people tick i.e., what’s inside people’s minds and hearts that make them think, feel, believe and behave the way they do. His varied background gives him the inside track in understanding the needs and aspirations of agencies, client researchers and marketers. While Aldo’s competencies are broad and deep in scope, he focuses his business on 4 key areas of marketing: (1) Creative development: planning, briefing, qualitative exploration/testing (2) New product development: ideation facilitation, concept development and qualitative testing (3) Positioning and essence: development and qualitative testing (4) Insight workshop facilitation.
His passion for understanding consumers is equal to his passion for brands. He has a mix of small and large; iconic, image driven and functional brands in his portfolio. He has worked with leading companies in the past few years: Molson, Nike, Coca Cola, General Mills, Canadian Tire, Ontario Ministry of Health, Ford, Johnson + Johnson, Conagra, CIBC, Bacardi, Cadillac Fairview. Prior to joining the workforce Aldo was a professional student. He holds a BA and MA in Psychology and carries an MBA as a sidearm.
Francine Burel, Public Sector, Program Audit, Operations Management
Ms. Burel offers an operational management background combined with over 20 years of consulting and auditing experience in the Public Service of Canada. Ms. Burel was Chief of Human Resources at Revenue Canada. She managed a large number of projects requiring in-depth analysis of complex issues and creative problem solving. She has served several organizations in a consulting role, including Transport Canada (Project Manager, Audit & Advisory Services), Veterans Affairs: Chief, Veterans Allowances & Pension Payment, Labour Canada: Special Advisor to the ADM, Operations, Public Service Commission: Senior Policy Advisor, Treasury Board: Evaluation Officer, Personnel Policy Branch, Supply & Services: Management Auditor. Ms. Burel has worked in a variety of projects ranging from organizational studies to the development of performance measures for senior executives. Ms. Burel’s superior communication and presentation skills in both official languages combined with her broad experience serve to establish a climate of confidence with clients bringing parties together to develop common solutions.
Faye Perkins, Customer Engagement and Marketing Strategy
Faye Perkins is a senior level marketing and telecom consultant with over 20 years experience at global corporations. Her most recent position was as VP International Marketing at Sony BMG Music Entertainment in New York. She has extensive experience in global best practices in Product Management and strategies in high growth markets like wireless where content, culture and commerce intersect. She has led markets in their adaptation of internet and online technologies by creating new information systems and strategies to increase adoption rates, strengthen customer loyalty and grow business units. Faye directed worldwide marketing strategy for products of Sony BMG and managed emerging online initiatives were part of the corporate strategy. Her experience included all major international markets for priority artists. She advised artists and managers on promotional and publicity activities around the world. Her experience in turning around businesses with substantial consumer, cross-functional and industry knowledge will add substantial value on consulting engagements for Telecom clients with a growing wireless business in diverse customer segments.Faye has a Master of Arts Courses in Ethnomusicology, Business and Sociology from York University and an Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music degree from the University of Western Ontario.
Jo Verde, Change Management and Training
Jo Verde brings over two decades of expertise and experience as a consultant, facilitator and trainer for both private and public sector organizations in Canada, England, Ireland and Portugal. Ms. Verde specializes in interpersonal skills development, leadership skills, change management, customer relationship management and BCP recovery team training and has offered her training to a diverse clientele, ranging from front line employees to senior management teams. Distinguished by the International Business Training Association as a Master Trainer Certified Business Professional (C.B.P.), Jo thrives on challenging conventional assumptions about Human Resources. She has focused her energies on providing counseling, coaching, training and facilitation and in the course of these assignments; she has both designed and deployed human resources interventions and trained thousands of individuals from a broad spectrum of industries.
Given the depth and breadth of client engagements, Ms. Verde has a broad range of experiences from which business cases are extracted, and individual components of those cases applied in order to formulate optimal solutions. Her business experience is comprehensive which allows her to relate to the client’s unique needs and link the learning to their business issues. Her industry background includes telecommunications, finance, utilities, not for profit, and hospitality (a sampling of clients includes Bell Canada, The Royal Bank of Canada, BBC, Yorkshire Water (UK), Mercury Communications (UK), Portugal Telecom and The Bank of Canada. The unique niche Ms. Verde has created is a strategy where she has created a methodology linking the learning and transfer of skills to the client’s personal development. Her unwavering commitment to developing human resources makes a lasting and meaningful impact on the corporate bottom-line.
Charles E. Coté CMC, PMP, P.Eng., Information and Communication Technology, Business Transformation
Over 10 years of senior-level management experience in Consulting, Outsourcing and Communications organizations, in addition to 8 years IT experience in transportation, finance, government, utility and telecommunications industries.Charles focuses on high-tech and telecom industries with functional consulting specialization in enterprise architecture, network architecture, software systems, contact centers, product/marketing management and project management. Results-oriented with a strong technical, business and people management background; highly effective strategic planner focused on enterprise & telecom architectures and software product management. Developed solutions and managed clients through direct and outsourcing relationships.
Fluently bilingual in English and French. Led IT Strategy consulting projects for Hydro One and OPG focused on enterprise IT and network architectural evolution. Developed strategic recommendations on governance models, network enhancements, network-based services, infrastructure, security and service management tools, along with multi-year programs for their implementation. Built roadmaps, developed solutions, launched releases and owned product Profit and Loss responsibility for four major product portfolios: 1) J2EE-based Business Process Management Language (BPML) software vendor product line; 2) Canadian long-distance voice and fax services products; 3) International wholesale VoIP services; 4) Global consulting firm Business and Operational Support Systems service line offerings.
Philip M. Howard, IT Systems Strategy, Enterprise Content Management, and Web 2.0
Enterprise Architect, Technical Strategist, and Project Manager specializing in the design and deployment of web-based Internet and intranet/extranet eBusiness systems: strategy, architectural design, vendor selection, and deployment planning. With over sixteen years experience in technical management and consulting, Philip has contributed to eBusiness systems technical strategy, design, and deployment for government as well as global enterprises in the financial, media, telecommunications, manufacturing, and retail sectors. Formerly a Senior Consultant with a Big Four consulting firm, Philip has a strong background in collaboration portal and ECM solutions.
Recent engagements include preparations for the acquisition and implementation of Provincial Archives Records & Document Management System (R/DMS) and vendor selection & implementation planning for ECM at a mid-sized insurance company. Philip has undertaken major projects in Canada, the US, Brazil, and Japan – for clients such as Eaton Corporation (Cleveland), Editora Abril (Sao Paulo), and Toyota Motors (Tokyo) – leading technical teams in network & systems infrastructure deployment, IT solution fit & gap analysis, and technical strategy/emerging technologies. Philip is a published author of technical research white papers on Enterprise Content Management and closely follows trends and issues in Web 2.0, open standards, and emerging open source technologies.
Robert Benson Lilly, Corporate Strategy and Business Transformation
Benson leads contact worldwide at the chief executive level with leading organizations in the public and private sectors such as London Underground, HP/Compaq, Metronet Rail, Tampa Tribune, MDC Communications, Thomson Learning, GO Transit and British Airways. From 1996 to 1998, Benson led Brand Potentials, a consulting company which he founded, specializing in branding architecture, new business development and channel management. There he created Pathway, a business development tool and consulted with industry and leading business schools on “go-to-market” strategies. As Director Brand Development, at Allied Domecq, Benson generated six key product launches internationally generating $70 million in new business. He led the brand acquisition program in Canada and negotiated a multimillion dollar distribution agreement with Russian suppliers. In the US market he managed the development of mature brands and devised strategy and plans for new business. Additionally, he negotiated exclusive production and distribution agreements to support subsidiaries in Europe, Japan and the US. Benson also has a broad base of consumer marketing experience in growth oriented environments, including Product Management responsibilities at General Foods (Jell-O, Maxwell House, New Product Development), Bristol Myers (Windex, Fleecy, Household Cleaners), through Marketing Management and General Management positions in developing Canadian companies.
David Terry, Corporate Strategy and Business Transformation
David’s experience includes work in the public sector in the UK to bring about a more commercial focus to these client organizations including London Underground and British Rail. He has led the business process initiatives with a number of clients including British Rail, TTC, Sun Life, Rome Metro, Barclays Bank, SITA and Pennzoil. Mr. Terry was one of the principal architects of the COTRAL transit project in Rome Italy. David has over 22 year’s industry and consulting experience. He has an MBA Warwick University, Diploma in Transportation Studies London University UK and a Diploma in Management Studies University of Westminster UK.
David Anderson, Governance
David holds a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from The University of Western Ontario, where he instructed Organizational Behaviour and led numerous research initiatives with industry for the Research Unit on Work and Productivity. David works closely with executive management teams and corporate directors to define and measure progress against strategic objectives. He has served as Senior Consultant and National Practice Leader for a global HR consultancy and has advised Canadian and US clients across industry sectors on key human capital management policies, practices and metrics. Directors and executives value his candid and challenging presentation of fact, perception and insight. David has served upon request as Special Advisor to three Blue Ribbon Commissions of the National Association of Corporate Directors: Executive Compensation and the Role of the Compensation Committee (2003); Risk oversight: Board lessons for turbulent times (2002), and; Board Evaluation: Improving Director Effectiveness (2001). In addition, David is an active member of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, the American Psychological Association, the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Canadian Institute of Strategic Studies.
Healthcare sector expertise
John McKinley, Senior Consultant, Community Health Services
John is a seasoned health care executive who combined a 30+ year career in the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care with a two year assignment at Lakeridge Health, a large multi-site hospital east of Toronto. During his tenure at the Ministry, he managed a wide range of portfolios including policy, financial analysis, operations and information management. He has experience in many sectors of Ontario’s healthcare system including emergency health services, acute care, rehab, community mental health, long-term and community care.
John was the executive lead for the eHealth file during eHealth Ontario’s (eHO) creation and transfer from a government run branch to an independent organization. He led the government’s change management approach for eHO staff and processes and developed the original set of performance expectations and governance/reporting processes for the organization.
John was responsible for creating the Community Care Information Management (CCIM) program which developed standardized financial and clinical information across the community health domain including CCACs, LTC Homes, CSS agencies and Mental Health agencies. For Community Mental Health services, he led the process to select OCAN (Ontario Common Assessment of Need) as the clinical standard for client information and MIS as the financial standard. These two standards were implemented over a several year phased-in approach as agencies readied themselves for the change process at their own speed. This clinical information used in the Integrated Assessment Record and was the first successful implementation of a province-wide approach for sharing clinical information in Ontario. John’s work included the design, implementation and management of a governance structure that was instrumental in completing the program of projects over a multi-year span.
More recently, John held the position of Executive Vice President at Lakeridge Health where he was responsible for corporate functions including finance, information management and technology, human resources, planning, facilities management, laboratory, diagnostic imaging and pharmacy. Lakeridge Health is a substantial mental health service provider in Durham. John designed and led the development of a master and facilities plan for the four Lakeridge sites. During his time at Lakeridge, John also led the integration of the laboratory department with the University Health Network’s laboratories, including developing the associated governance structure.
Rob Crawford, Senior Consultant, Planning, Evaluations, Engagement and Communications
Rob Crawford has a long and successful track record of providing evidence informed consulting services to the healthcare sector in Canada. For fifteen years, Rob has been working with a wide range of clients, including community-based providers, LHINs, regional health authorities, community and teaching hospitals and governments. Rob is focused on creating value for clients in areas such as strategic systems based planning, health policy, health information management, performance measurement and evaluation. A creative and innovative consultant, Rob brings his extensive experience in stakeholder engagement, facilitation, policy and information analysis, project management and risk management to every assignment.
Rob has progressively senior positions at a large multinational consulting firm, followed by a smaller independent firm. In those roles, Rob led and managed a variety of engagements including program, corporate and regional strategic planning and evaluation, hospital operations improvement, health data analysis, and national staffing and compensation surveys. He was also responsible for recruiting and mentoring new talent, developing professional education programs and overseeing the firm’s information management and technology functions. Rob has recently completed number of international assignments in the Middle East and the Caribbean, assisting governments to plan and implement significant national initiatives. Rob is appointed as Adjunct Faculty in the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto and is a member of the Board of Directors at the Four Villages Community Health Centre. He is also a Healthcare Quarterly Review Editor at Longwoods Publishing and has been published in Hospital Quarterly and the Canadian Journal of Quality in Health Care.
Lynda Hessey, Senior Consultant, Health Systems Planning
Lynda has an MSc in Health Services Planning and Administration and an under graduate degree in nursing. She has held senior management positions in the former Ontario Ministry of Health. As the Executive Director of a District Health Council for 13 years, she worked successfully with engaging a wide range of health care and related stakeholder organizations in local and regional planning initiatives across the full continuum of services from prevention to palliation. As well Lynda has been involved a number of consulting projects involving service reviews that required qualitative research methods particularly focusing on data gathering through key informant interviews and consultation with relevant stakeholders. These projects include: a review of the Ontario Health Promotion Resource Centres; a review of shared services delivered by the North Simcoe Muskoka CCAC to community support and health care agencies; and the development of a national snapshot of the relationship between community mental health programs and Regional Health Authorities in Canada.
She has an in depth understanding of the mental health system having worked in direct service delivery, policy development, planning and management in this sector. In particular, her experience has been concentrated in community mental health and addiction services. She has a good understanding of the roles of various players in delivering mental health services in urban, rural and northern communities. Through her considerable planning experience in this sector, she understands the need for meaningful collaboration across professions and service delivery organizations to effectively serve clients. Finally, Lynda has been involved in many aspects of change management from planning for comprehensive transformation of the mental health system to restructuring organizations. Consequently, she understands the importance of monitoring the effects of change on clients, on service providers and on systems to ensure there is alignment between intended service changes and actual service delivery.
Judith Moses, Senior Consultant, Transformational change
Judith has held top leadership positions in government, private and non-profit sector for many years, most recently as Vice President, Institute on Governance where she worked in Iraq, Botswana and with the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Natural Resources, Halton Region and University of Guelph. Previously she led a task force on central agency reform in the Ontario Cabinet Office and on horizontal management of federal activities in the regions in the federal Privy Council Office. She is a former federal senior assistant deputy minister, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, ADM Policy/CEO Training and Development Canada, director general Labour Market Outlook and Sector Analysis. HRDC and director of intergovernmental affairs at DIAND. Her areas of specialty include: Public governance and accountability, Machinery of government, Policy development and strategy, Strategic planning and review, Transformational change, Project development, Government relations and strategy advice, Partnership development and Leadership development and facilitation.
Judith is a Guelph grad and attended the Oxford Centre for Management Development. She has been active in federal and provincial politics and numerous boards, currently on the board as past chair of HIPPY Canada where she is passionate about early childhood learning. She advises resource development companies on Aboriginal community relations strategies, serves on the Ontario Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Minister’s Partnership Forum and is a CivicAction DiverseCity Fellow. She serves as Public Witness for Ecological and Social Justice with the Anglican Church of Canada and is the Aboriginal outreach chair at Grace Church-on-the-Hill.
Dr. Eric Fonberg, MD MPH MBA CCFP(EM) C.Dir
Dr. Eric Fonberg is a health care consultant, with over 15 years of experience. He is a practicing emergency physician, and, until recently, was Vice President, Strategic Development and Clinical Integration at Rouge Valley Health System, a multi-site acute care hospital. He has been Medical Director and Chief, Emergency Medicine at three emergency departments. He received his medical degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters Degree in Public Health from Harvard University and a master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Toronto. He has certification from the College of Family Physicians of Canada in Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine.
Eric specializes strategic planning and analysis and in working with physicians. He has led and participated in a number of strategic and clinical planning and physician related projects for physician groups, hospitals, regional health authorities and provincial governments. He is respected among physician groups in the areas of planning, facilitation, negotiation and dispute resolution and is an expert in quality management. He is currently on the Board of Whitby Mental Health Centre. Eric has extensive knowledge in the areas of health systems integration, emergency services, strategic planning and community based service delivery. He also has extensive coaching and mentoring experience with physician leaders. He has excellent facilitation and project management skills leading to outstanding results for his clients.
Among his Ontario-based hospital clients are the Hospital for Sick Children, Sunnybrook Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Rouge Valley Health System, York Central Hospital, Southlake Health Centre, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Credit Valley Hospital, William Osler Health Centre and Humber River Regional Hospital. He has also worked with regional health authorities in Newfoundland, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. Eric was a member of the teams for operational reviews of medical staff at Sunnybrook Hospital, Rouge Valley Health System and Joseph Brant Hospital. He was also a member of the panel for the MOHLTC Third Party Review of Hospitals, where he addressed medical staff and physician leadership issues. He was a member of the OMA Committee on Economics which developed and deployed methodologies for resource-based relative value fee schedules.