Chair
* Bryan C Webb, P. Eng. - Norton Scientific Inc
Bryan Webb is the current Chair of the Board of the Niagara Industrial Association (NIA) - 2010-2012. The NIA has over 105 members and continues to grow as it engages in topics that are important to manufacturers in Niagara. Bryan is a Professional Engineer with over 30 years of sales and marketing of highly technical products. He holds a BASc in Electronics Engineering from the University of Waterloo. He has completed the 4-year Canadian Institute of Management (CIM) program at York University. Bryan mentors professional engineers, new to Canada, in conjunction with the NIEC in St Catharines. He is also on the Board of Governors for the newly established CommonWealth Science and Technology Institute in Kandy, Sri Lanka.
He is a technical product sales and marketing professional. His expertise includes instrumentation, industrial and test automation in both hardware and software (control, capture, display, analysis and storage). Companies that have enjoyed the benefits of his efforts to provide solutions to their customers include National Instruments, Allan Crawford Assoc., Microsys Technologies and AZZ Blenkhorn & Sawle.
In April 2010, he and his partner started Norton Scientific Inc, a biotechnology company designing and manufacturing analytical instruments used in early stage drug discovery chemistry labs.
Bryan was born in St Catharines and raised in Niagara Falls (NFCVI). He married Nancy in 1973 and they have 2 grown daughters and 2 grandchildren.
Past Chair
* Mike Whatling - Niagara Precision Ltd
A lifelong resident of Niagara, Mike was married in 1985 and has 2 children. Mike graduated from St. Catharines Collegiate in 1981 and began working at Niagara Precision Ltd in 1984 where he completed an apprenticeship as a Tool & Die maker while studying at Niagara College. A red seal tradesman for 25 years Mike is also responsible for the training of apprentices at Niagara Precision Ltd. In 1992 Mike became plant manager at Niagara Precision. In the past Mike has been a member of the parent sponsor committee Royal Canadian Air Cadets and a member of technical advisory committee at Niagara College. He is also a founding member & past chairman of the Niagara Industrial Association. In 2002, Mike became a volunteer firefighter with the City of Thorold and in 2009 attained the rank of captain. Mike also operates a home based business for manufacturing design. He also owns and operates a small horse farm.
Treasurer
* Christina Milan, CMA,CMC - Mangement Business Services (MBS)
A graduate of Brock University with a honours degree in Finance and Accounting, a certified Management Accountant(CMA) and a certified management consultant(CMC). Broad background encompassing Business Management and international business development. Christina was instrumental and the driving force in developing Napier Enterprises into a multimillion international corporation. Currently, a management consultant specializing in the design, implementation and evaluation of Quality Management Systems that support and enhance the client’s business, integrated with Environmental and Safety Management programs. Providing quality management services to small and medium sized businesses in identifying opportunities and implementing continuous improvement or fundamental change. Christina is a founding member of the Niagara Industrial Association for which she has served as treasurer since its inception and a board member.
Board Members
* Joe DeMan - ED Products
As a lifelong entrepreneur, Joe has been involved in the startup of seven companies, two of which have combined for well over 9 figures in total revenue. Joe has been a resident of Niagara his entire life. He grew up in Vineland, studying electrical and electronics technology at Beamsville High School and later Business Administration at Brock University. Joe’s technical background includes past certifications in automation, controls, fibre optics technology as well as other trade related training. Joe is a founding member of both the Niagara Angel Network as well as the Niagara Industrial Association for which he has served as past vice chairman and board member since its inception. Joe has extensive experience in international business development and has represented both the NIA and his company, E.D. Products, in places such as the Netherlands, China, Mexico and throughout the USA and Canada. Joe is married to Cindy, has one daughter Marina, and carries both Canadian and EU citizenships.
* Nick Dawson - Asset Finance Solutions Inc
Nick graduated from Seneca College in Toronto in 1974 after completing the 3 year programming & Analysis program. He worked in the IT industry with manufactures and resellers in various sales and marketing roles. In 1994 he moved into the financing area, establishing and managing IT vendor finance programs throughout Canada and the United States.
Since 2002, with the exception of a 3 year period with Scotiabank, Nick has been an independent financial intermediary arranging financing for businesses in the Niagara Region. He provides these services through Asset Finance Solutions Inc. Nick has been a member of the NIA since 2007 and has been a board member for the past 2 years, active in the finance committee.
* Kevin Hewitt - Niagara College
Kevin Hewitt has more than 18 years experience in the High Technology Semiconductor Manufacturing Industry in Montreal and Ottawa working for RCA Canada, GE Canada, PerkinElmer, Nortel Networks and Bookham Technologies. During this time he has gained a vast amount of experience as a Process Engineer and Engineering Manager working in a research manufacturing environment working on state-of-the-art products for the telecom industry. Most recently Kevin has worked the last 8 years at Niagara College and is currently the Manager of Apprenticeship and Technical Training.
* Roy Timms - Timbro Design Build Contractors
Roy is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and a registered Professional Engineer. Currently, he is the President of Timbro Design Build Contractors. Timbro has been recognized as a Leader in designing and building commercial and industrial buildings. Timbro has been very active in attracting new industry to Niagara and in expanding, renovating and updating existing industries. They've worked closely with local Economic Development Offices, Municipal Planning Departments and Municipal Building Departments and have a good understanding of what it takes to attract new industry and expand existing industry. He is a past President of the Welland and Niagara Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Ontario General Contractors Association. Currently, he is a Director of the Design Build Institute of Canada, the Niagara Industrial Association, the Welland Recreational Canal Corporation and an active member of Blue Scope Steels North American Advisory Council. Roy considers it to be a privilege to continue working on behalf of the NIA ensuring membership growth and an active, effective voice with local governments and the Region of Niagara.
* Tracy Hopkins - BDC
Tracy has been a Senior Account Manager at the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) for 8 years where she provides term financing for businesses with a focus on manufacturers. Her previous experience includes consulting, capital sourcing and human resources in variety of sectors. She received an entrepreneurial upbringing and has worked in several family businesses. Tracy has been a member of the NIA for three years, two of which she has served on the Board. In that capacity, she has served on the Tax Sub Committee and is currently the Chair of the Membership Committee. She welcomes the challenge of serving on the Board for the NIA for another two years.
* Fabian Hoggard - Seaway Marine & Industrial
A Professional Engineer and MBA graduate, Fabian has international experience in the steel, mining, marine, food and manufacturing sectors. For the over 20 years that he has been a resident of Niagara, his roles have included engineer for Rich Products in Fort Erie, manager of the multidisciplinary project and engineering division of SLSMC (Welland Canal), and currently Manager Special Projects at Seaway Marine & Industrial (SMI) at Port Weller, St Catharines. In his role at the shipyard, Fabian is helping to grow SMI’s industrial base at a time when the forecast for marine opportunities is not promising. A key element of this strategy is for SMI to strengthen its association and synergy with other companies in Niagara, primarily through active involvement in the NIA. This involvement has included Fabian’s participation as a Board member for the past two years, during which time he has contributed to the achievements of the Business Development and Membership committees. He looks forward to the prospect of continuing this level of involvement and helping the NIA to flourish.
* Ed Baldassi - Off-Site Industries
After graduating high school, Ed apprenticed and spent eight years as a ‘Tool & Die’ maker after which he returned to Mohawk College to receive his Mechanical Engineering degree. He spent the next 8 years with John Deere Welland Works as a ‘Tool Designer’. Very shortly thereafter he was promoted to purchase all tooling for their new product lines. He parted ways with John Deere to set up pad printing of customer’s products in his basement which was the beginning of Offsite Industries.
Offsite has grown and just moved into a new 50,000 sq. ft. plant with another 20,000 added in June 2011. Offsite presently employs 50 skilled and semi-skilled staff with another 25 temporary. The new location has the highest technology in the powder coating industry with three production lines. Diversity and innovation has been the key to OSI’s success. Ed has been an out-spoken critic of how industrial lands and building have been turned over to commercial and residential use.
* Peter Vieveen - North America Traffic
Peter graduated from Seneca College in Toronto in 1971 and completed 3 years of studies in Civil Technology. He received the "Quarter Century" award in 1999 as a 25 year member of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists. In 1994 He invented the Remote Controlled Flagman (RC Flagman) making construction sites safer while saving contractors money. With grit and determination he received nation-wide approval in the US for the RC Flagman after fourteen years of trials. Peter has been in Business since 1994, starting his business in Welland and in 1996 moving to Port Colborne. The business has grown to twenty two employees in a 12,000 SF building. In the summer of 2011 the building expansion grew to 18,500 SF. In January of 2011 Peter formed a new company "Ontario Solar FIT" to service the solar MicroFIT industry. This new business will be located at 9 Petersburg Circle in Port Colborne. In 2009 Peter was presented with the Technological Innovation Award by the Niagara College Business Development Centre. He has been living in the Niagara Region for almost 40 years and now resides in Port Colborne with wife Judy. Together they have four children and ten
grand children.
* Gus DeMan - G De Man Consulting
Ex-Officio - EDOs & Advisors
* Brian York - City of St Catharines
* Marco Marino - City of St Catharines
* Val Kuhns - Niagara Economic Development Corp.
* Doug Johnson