CONSULTANT BIOS

Suzie Addison-Toor
Suzie Addison-Toor has a non-profit head, heart and soul! Her well-balanced experience base has enabled her to tap into all facets of non-profit leadership and management. With over 15 years of successful career experience in executive leadership, she passionately enables organizations to lead  more effectively by balancing heart (mission) and head (business). Suzie runs a boutique consulting practice specializing in executive search and transition called Engage Consulting. In 2007, she was trained as an Executive Transition Practitioner at Compasspoint in San Francisco where she became part of a growing community of consultants that are supporting agencies and associations through the unique aspects of non profit executive search and transition. Suzie’s approach to executive search and transition helps organizations take advantage of the change as unique opportunity for reflection, change and growth.  Suzie is also certified OneSmartWorld's® facilitator and uses and advanced set of tools and processes to deliver practical solutions to support executive transitions, executive mentorship, supervisory training and teambuilding activities. 

Allan Arlett
Allan is one of the co-founders of the Centre for Canadian Philanthropy. He has extensive experience in fundraising and charitable nonprofit management and has led many successful fundraising initiatives throughout Canada and the United States. He also played a primary role in the conception and development of the nation-wide IMAGINE public awareness campaign. Among his many volunteer activities, Allan served for six years as a member of the Executive Committee of the Trillium Foundation and as the first Chair of its Policy Committee. He was one of three external advisors to the 1990 Auditor General's review of Revenue Canada's Charities Section and a member of the Advisory Committee to the Ontario Law Reform Commission on the law of charities. Allan is presently a Partner in the ArlettvanRotterdam Partnership, a member of Georgian College's Fundraising Resource Development Advisory Committee and sits on the Board of Huronia Communities Foundation.

Gordon Ball
Gordon has 25 years of freelance experience designing and facilitating adult learning in Canada and abroad, primarily with voluntary organizations. This work has included leadership development, organizational development, "Open Space Technology" events, cross-cultural briefing, evaluation design, team-building and a range of residential learning events. He has a doctoral degree (OISE/UofT in Adult Education), with a dissertation that explored transformative learning experiences of people committed to building a sustainable global future. "I am committed to transparency and collaboration in program design, leadership and evaluation, and believe that personal values and inspired visions are at the heart of leadership."

Theresa Dowsett, CHRP, CPCC
Theresa, President of Business Acceleration Inc., has over 20 years of business management experience. Educated in Business Administration, Human Resource Management, Business Law and Professional Coaching, Theresa is a Certified Human Resource Professional and Certified Professional Co-Active Coach. Having worked in a variety of industries, including the private and public sector, Theresa works with clients both one on one and in groups to help achieve their goals and create work environments that support growth, satisfaction and success.

Shawn Fendley, BScn, MEd.
Shawn has more that 25 years of experience in planning, designing and delivering public health programs and services. In her role as Health Promotion Consultant, Shawn works in collaboration with a wide variety of health professional teams and coalition groups. Shawn works with organizations in the areas of social marketing, communications, team building, strategic planning, community education (including presentation/facilitation skills), community partnerships and sponsorship. Shawn has a warm, people-centered professional style that is characterized by a collaborative team approach to addressing issues of any kind.

Bill Griffis, BSc, MA (Distance Learning)
Bill is the Learning and Organizational Development Advisor for Thales Canada. His experience in training development, instructional design, and organizational development began during his 21-year career with the Canadian Forces. Bill has successful experience with all aspects of the systems approach to training and its application within companies and organizations to support and develop employees. Since Bill's retirement in 2005, he has consulted for the following industries: aerospace, defense, energy, community services, manufacturing, production and distribution. Bill joined the United Way of Greater Simcoe County in 2005 as a volunteer consultant. He provides training and consulting services that range from public speaking workshops to project management, instructional design, needs analysis, eLearning solutions and beyond.

Rob Heming
Rob Heming is currently a Realtor with Prudential Sadie Moranis Realty specializing in home & recreational property as well as the sale of resorts, and children's camps. He has been the director of several not for profit organizations over the past 20 years including Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre, Bark Lake Leadership Centre, Y Camp Wanakita and the Creative Centre for Learning and Development. Rob also teaches part time for Sir Sandford Fleming College's post graduate Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Management Program and works with Georgian College in their Leadership Development & Corporate Training Programs. He has been involved with the Training and Consultant Services Program of the United Way for the past 3 years and specializes in facilitating board development, strategic planning, business vision, mission and goal development and staff leadership development workshops.

Albert Hensen
Albert is a diplomatic, profit oriented, and versatile professional with a strong financial and international background in manufacturing. He is considered a conceptual and strategic thinker and planner who has successfully established, managed and coordinated new business ventures; structured and negotiated agreements in collaboration with attorneys and accountants; and integrated newly acquired entities with local employees. Albert is an accredited coach and facilitator with CoachU and he is working towards a professional coaching certification, and coaches and mentors entrepreneurs, assisting them to drive their professional success. Albert has been a strong supporter of his community throughout his life, volunteering to serve on the following local and international boards - Tongbaek Rotary Club Korea, Barrie Huronia Rotary Club, International School of Pusan, Owen Sound Mental Health Association, Owen Sound Chamber of Commerce, and is currently on the board of Simcoe Community Services Foundation where he heads up the Planned Giving subcommittee. As part of the United Way Training & Consulting Services team, Albert has worked with nonprofit organizations on establishing their strategic direction and plans as well as board formation.

David Jeffery
David was most recently the National Director of Development for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS) effecting significant wilderness conservation gains in Canada. He spent seven years as the Executive Director of the United Way of Greater Simcoe County successfully growing the campaign by 60% and initiating or leading programs such as Success By 6, the 211 Project and the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness. During the ten years prior to the United Way he consulted extensively in both the private and voluntary sectors on topics such as organization effectiveness, structure and accountability and community development. He holds a Masters of Adult Education, specializing in work place change and community development from the University of Toronto. He is guest faculty at a counseling training center in Toronto and a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and a past member of the Association for Creative Change Organization Renewal and Development. He lives with his family near Moonstone in Simcoe County.

John Lister
John has a degree in Business Administration and has become a well-known development professional in Simcoe County. He has a unique approach to partnerships and community development. He developed his marketing skills working for IBM Canada and spent 3 years overseas as a volunteer for World University Services of Canada. He established his own consulting business in 1994 and provides public relations, community development and fundraising advice and services to nonprofit organizations.

Robb MacDonald
Robb is the owner of MacComm International Inc., a social marketing and communications consultancy based in Simcoe County. Since 1994, Robb has been working with all levels of government, the not-for-profit sector and businesses to effect social change. Robb is passionate about helping rural Ontario communities with their health and cultural promotion, literacy and employment issues. Robb's particular areas of interest are strategic planning, research, and design using a variety of social marketing and communication principles. Robb has been a volunteer with the United Way's Training & Consulting Services program since 1999. During this time, he has seen a decrease in operational funding to the not-for-profit sector, combined with increased expectations for program delivery and accountability. Within this new reality of "doing more with less," Robb is committed to helping organizations reach their own strategic goals using the most cost-effective methods available.

Kathryn Manners
Kathryn is an experienced executive with over 20 years practice in strategic planning and program delivery in both private and public sector. She is an innovative change leader with a strong background in organizational development, marketing and leadership development. She is presently Manager of Innovations Group for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Service where she manages a group of 16 consultants. She has a degree in Sociology, certificate from Canadian Institute of Management and a Certificate in Adult Education.

Linda Morgan
Linda Morgan (partnered with Erika Bailey at The Clic Effect Inc.) works in action research, dynamic change programs, communication, organizational culture, training, instructional design,  education, music,  facilitation, strategy,  organization/ team building, change management, and Human Systems Dynamics (Complexity and Chaos).  Her co-owned business, The Clic Effect Inc., has a unique business model focused on 3 areas of business: Corporate, Compassion, and Contribution (for profit, not for profit and research clientele).  A continual learner,  Linda’s most recent educational accomplishments include a Masters degree at Concordia University (Montreal), and Human Systems Dynamics Practitioner Certification.  Linda is truly passionate about helping people develop effective organizations using Complexity and Chaos Theory and practice as her guides.

Catherine Smart
Catherine has been working with persons with a disability for thirty years. Graduating as a Recreation Therapist, she started and directed the first school in Canada teaching children and adults with a disability how to sail. Catherine has worked with several organizations promoting of life for persons with a disability including Ontario March of Dimes. From early childhood, Catherine was encouraged by her family and community members to "get involved" and have some fun doing it! Catherine has worked with volunteers in the capacity of committees, boards of directors and special events. She is currently President, Town of Blue Mountain Chamber of Commerce where she continues to work with volunteers in the community. She now owns and operates her own consulting business called Smart Move Training and Development Inc. specializing in accessibility issues, leadership development and corporate coaching. 

Rebbeca Truax

Rebecca Truax has worked for over twelve years in Public Relations for both the corporate and non-profit sector.  She has demonstrated results in media relations; volunteer management; program development and implementation; fundraising; community relations; special event; and editing. She believes the best way to promote an organization is by being active in the community. There are a few text-book solutions to promoting an organization - being open to opportunities is the key to success.  She's passionate about partnerships -- people are stronger when they work together.   

Megan Williams

Laurie Hunt, M.A., C.P.C.C.

The culmination of Laurie’s varied and global corporate experience, her academic teaching and research, and her extensive training in the field of leadership and team coaching is what fuels her passion for her work as an agent of intercultural change in organizations and communities. Laurie takes a systems approach specializing in relational leadership skill building to bridge difference, to improve cultural intelligence and to develop diverse innovative teams and organizations. She considers herself a ‘system disrupter’. By raising an individual or team’s awareness of how they are operating, she supports clients in disrupting the patterns and habits that get in the way of achieving their desired outcomes.Laurie’s clients span the corporate, public benefit, government and education sectors. She has researched and co-authored a number of publications on leadership, mentoring and intercultural relationships. Laurie brings over 20 years of international marketing, communications, diversity and human resources experience in the high tech industry as well as teaching in the School of Management at the University of Massachusetts in Boston.

Laurie believes in fitness of the body and spirit as well as the mind. To this end, she is an avid runner having completed 16 marathons, is a dedicated yoga practitioner and considers herself a global explorer curious about the world and the people who inhabit it.

Lee Pigeau CFRE

Lee Pigeau i dedicated to community building and helping charities and youth organizations fundraise and manage their operations efficiently and effectively.Currently the owner of his own consulting firm, Lee was the Campaign Director for Trent University’s successful seventeen million dollar “Beyond Our Walls” campaign, Lakehead University’s Orillia Campus expansion campaign, and Executive Director of Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital Foundation in Orillia.He started his fundraising career at the United Way of Greater Toronto in the education and hospital portfolios and went on to the United Way of Edmonton as the senior campaign manager for business and education.Lee has been a keynote speaker at various Canadian and provincial conferences speaking on volunteer management and motivation, board and staff relations as well fundraising and goal setting. He teaches Volunteer Management in Georgian College’s Fundraising and Resource Development program.Lee has an Honours BA from Trent University and a Post-Graduate Certificate in Public Relations from Humber College. 

Debra Swan

Debra Swan has been assisting communities, organizations and individuals for more than 15 years.

A pioneer in the field of capacity building, she has traveled across Canada delivering professional development and training on a variety of topics. Debra's approach is innovative, yet simple. Service is unique to each customer, depending on the strengths and challenges faced. Customers are delighted by her strength-based methodology and, through it, see barriers to improvement become opportunities for progression. Debra's sense of humour and highly interactive, fun approach makes every project a great experience for all involved!