|
President's Club - Strategic Leadership Forum (SLF) |
We are pleased to honour the men and women who served with distinction as President of the SLF.
In earlier years we were known as Planning Executives Institute (PEI) and the North American Society for Corporate Planning (NASCP). In 1985 these two organizations merged under the banner of The Planning Forum, which remained our name until 1998 when we became the Strategic Leadership Forum
Gord Orlikow
Strategic Leadership Forum, 2009/10
Gord became President of the Strategic Leadership Forum on April 28, 2009. He succeeds Tom Carter, who served as SLF President for three terms, from 2006 to 2009. Gord is a Senior Client Partner based in Korn/Ferry International’s Toronto office where he leads the firm’s industrial sector in Central Canada, as well as the firm’s Human Resources Centre of Excellence in Canada. His clients include many of Canada’s leading companies in infrastructure, mining, nuclear and renewables and manufacturing.
Before joining Korn/Ferry, Gord served in executive human resources roles in diverse sectors including automotive, transportation, agri-business, professional services, and telecommunications. In addition to his volunteer activities on behalf of the SLF, he serves on the Board of Athletics Canada, where he is the incoming Chair. He holds an MA in Economics from Queen’s University and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Manitoba.
Tom Carter
Strategic Leadership Forum, 2006/07, 2007/08, 2008/09
Tom served as President for three seasons from 2006 to 2008 and as immediate Past President in 2009/10. Prior to this Tom served as Co-chair of the SLF's Program Planning Committee. Always active in the community, he was Governor and Chair of Centennial College for six years and also served on the East York Planning Board for six years. For many years he was Chair of the Finance Committee and later Chair of the Deacons Board of a large Toronto church.
Tom retired from CIBC in 2005. During his 20-year career at CIBC he worked in Corporate, Commercial, and Small Business areas. He was Director of Strategy, Director of Finance, Business Manager, and Director of Small Business Risk Management. Tom introduced customer profitability management to the bank and managed a variety of information projects. As CFO for Commercial, he was part of the management team that dramatically increased the organization's profitability. Before joining the banking community, Tom worked in strategy, acquisitions, finance, and marketing for firms including Harlequin, Consumers Gas, Brascan, Colgate, and Procter & Gamble. He holds an MBA from Dalhousie and CMA and FCIB designations.
tgcarter@sympatico.ca
Donald E. Baer, Ph.D.
Strategic Leadership Forum, 2005/06
Don is a Strategy Consultant with Incite Leadership. He retired from RBC in 2004 after a 23-year career that began at the Royal Bank’s Latin American & Caribbean headquarters. Before that, he was an Assistant Professor of Economics at the University of Illinois at Chicago; a visiting professor at the Catholic University of Venezuela Andres Bello; and a Research Officer at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. In 2005, Don spent six weeks in Bolivia as a volunteer with the Canadian Executive Service Organization where he conducted a series of workshops (in Spanish) on leadership and strategic planning. In the fall of 2008, Don conducted strategic planning sessions at Vision Fund International’s Leadership Conference in Cambodia, and he continues to serve on the Sheridan College Program Advisory Committee for International Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Illinois.
dbbaer@rogers.com
Randal Heide
Strategic Leadership Forum, 2004/05
Randal is an independent consultant specializing in the execution and implementation of strategy in the non-profit sector. From 1988 to 2003 he worked in marketing, sales, logistics, and planning with the Santa Fe and Canadian National railways. Prior to that he had five years experience in management positions in the charitable non-profit sector. His non-profit experience also includes a variety of volunteer positions, including a recently completed term on the board of Wildlife Preservation Canada. He holds an MBA from the University of Tennessee.
randalheide@rogers.com
George Arras, Ph.D.
Strategic Leadership Forum, 2003/04
George is Manager of Planning & Analysis in the Policy & Planning Co-ordination Branch of the Ontario Ministry of National Resources. Prior to this recent appointment, he worked for many years in the Ministry of the Environment. He served the SLF in several volunteer and Board capacities including VP Programming and he chaired a number of programs including Strategy on the Run and several events on sustainability in business and the environment. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of Toronto.
george.arras@ontario.ca
Steven Cross
Strategic Leadership Forum, 2002/03
Steven is the Founder of Threads Lifestyle, a leading retailer in Canada for the top brands in sport and travel clothing and gear. Prior to launching Threads Lifestyle, Steven was General Manager for many years of Mountain Equipment Co-op’s Toronto operation. He and his wife Carolyn Gibson also operate Crossroads, a consulting enterprise specializing in assisting entrepreneurs with specific problems relating to start-ups, management and leadership. He holds an MBA from Queen’s University, where he is also on staff as an advisor to the Executive MBA program. In the past, Steven has also served as CEO of the Canadian Centre for Ethics and Corporate Policy, and as advisor to the Queen’s Centre for Enterprise Development.
scross@threadslifestyle.com
Julie May
Strategic Leadership Forum, 2001/02
Julie is Manager, Human Capital, Deloitte where she focuses on business-driven HR. Julie has more than a decade of consulting experience with Watson Wyatt, KPMG and smaller firms. She holds a B.Comm. from Queen’s and an MBA from Nijenrode University in The Netherlands. She also holds CMC and PMP designations.
jumay@deloitte.ca
Ray Wheeler
Strategic Leadership Forum, 2000/01
Prior to his retirement in 2004, Ray was a Partner in the Financial Services Group of Grant Thornton, LLP. He holds a B.Comm. from Mount Allison University, an MBA from the University of Toronto, and a CA designation. He is currently living in BC.
Bill Liabotis
Strategic Leadership Forum, 1999/2000
Bill is a Partner with Incite Leadership© where he is responsible for the success of the firm’s growth strategies business. He has had considerable experience in teaching, primarily at Mohawk College where he specialized in Strategy and International Business, and at European University (Brussels, Antwerp and The Hague) where he was Visiting Professor of Strategy. He has also spent many years in the manufacturing sector as a Project Engineer and Director of Research in the paper and packaging materials industry and as Manager of Corporate Business Development in the petroleum specialties business. He holds a B. Chem. Eng. from Queen’s and an MBA from McMaster University.
bill.liabotis@sympatico.ca
Ross Stockwell, Ph.D.
Strategic Leadership Forum, 1998/99
Ross is an Organizational Psychologist and he is currently a Principal with Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions (Toronto), leading their executive assessment practice. For many years Ross worked independently as a consulting psychologist. He previously worked at the Chicago-based firm of RHR International and before that at The Labatt Brewing Company. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario.
stockwellr@rogers.com
Karen Gorsline
The Planning Forum, 1997/98
Karen is Managing Director of HR Initiatives. For over 20 years, Karen has been helping businesses with tailored approaches to: facilitated sessions, leading projects, coaching HR, developing strategy, and innovative HR programs/solutions. She has taught HR Planning and has published on competency-based approaches to HR management. Previously, she held a strategy and policy position at Bank of Montreal and was director of a large decentralized HR group at the University of Toronto. She holds a B. Ed. And an M.A. from Ohio University and an EMBA from University of Toronto.
gorslin@pathcom.com
Gay Gooderham
The Planning Forum, 1996-97
Until her retirement, Gay was President of Doneco Limited, and before that she was a Consultant with KPMG. She is currently active with coachingyouth.net. She holds an MBA from the Ivey School of Business and a CMA designation.
Georgina Kossivas
The Planning Forum, 1995-96
Georgina is a finance and strategy executive with broad experience in retail/wholesale, manufacturing and financial services. She is currently VP Finance and Controller, TELUS Network Operations. Prior to this she held senior finance positions with BMO, Canadian Tire Corporation, and Steelcase Canada Ltd. Georgina holds an HBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario and a CA designation.
Georgina.Kossivas@telus.com
Doug Ross
The Planning Forum, 1994-95
Based in Europe, Doug is Managing Director of Square Peg International, a consultancy that has supported clients in over 20 countries. Doug has been recognized as one of the top ten management consultants in the UK and he tries to balance his work with his passion as a keen polo player. Prior to this, he was with Watson Wyatt in the UK and in Canada, and before that he held positions with the Heart & Stroke Foundation and The Berkeley Consulting Group. He holds a BA from York University and an MBA from the University of Windsor.
doug.ross@squarepeg.com
Anne Lotz-Turner
The Planning Forum, 1993-94
Anne has held senior management positions with a variety of organizations including Northern Telecom, CIBC, DVI, and Hill and Knowlton Canada Limited. She holds a an MBA from the University of Toronto and a M.Ed. from Dalhousie.
Greg Plonka
The Planning Forum, 1992-93
During the last 15 years, Greg has held a variety of marketing, product management, and IT positions in the Canadian and US telecommunications industry with Avaya and AT&T Canada. Previously he was a Partner with Compass Management Group, and before that he held IT consulting and planning positions with Peat Marwick Stevenson & Kellogg, Digital Equipment of Canada, the Workers Compensation Board, and the Ontario Lottery Corporation. He holds a BA and an MBA from York University.
gplonka87@schulich.yorku.ca
Mark Van Clieaf
The Planning Forum, 1991-92
Mark is Managing Director of MVC Associates International, based in Tampa and Toronto. Previously he was with Price Waterhouse in their Business Strategy and Executive Search Consulting Practices. Mark’s research and consulting on Work Levels, Lean Management Structure Design, and the Five Levels of CEO Work, Five Levels of CEO Capability, and the link to shareholder and societal value are recognized worldwide by boards, institutional investors, and the business media. He holds a BA in Economics and Business from York and a post-graduate diploma in International Business.
mark@mvcinternational.com
Stephen A. W. Drew, Ph.D.
The Planning Forum, 1999-91
Steve is Professor of Business Strategy at the Lutgert College of Business of Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, Florida. He has taught for nearly 20 years at leading business schools in Canada, the US, the UK and Europe including University of Washington, McMaster University, Henley Management College, and University of East Anglia. He has also served as Academic Dean at schools in Switzerland and the UK. His consulting and research interests presently focus on strategic decision making by boards of directors. Prior to launching his academic career Stephen worked in strategic planning functions for several major corporations including Royal Dutch Shell and Bank of Montreal. He holds a BA and a Ph.D. from Trinity College Cambridge.
sawdrew@btinternet.com
Janice Laureen
The Planning Forum, 1989-90
Janice is the Executive Director of the Association for Strategic Planning (ASP) based in Los Angeles, CA. In addition, she is a management consultant focusing on qualitative market research and strategy. Her projects include work in high-tech, entertainment, retail, hospitality and financial sectors. Prior to this she served as VP Chapter & Member Relations at the international headquarters of The Planning Forum in Oxford, OH. She holds undergraduate degrees from the University of Manitoba and the University of Regina, as well as an MBA.
executivedirector@strategyplus.org
Lyn Zurbrigg
The Planning Forum, 1988-89
Since 2002, Lyn has been co-owner and Managing Partner of The KELYN Group, LLC in Concord, MA, a strategic marketing firm working with broker/dealers, financial advisors and service providers to this segment of the market. Previous positions include: Chief Marketing Officer with ByAllAccounts, an advisor-based technology firm; Managing Director with Abt Associates, a strategic consulting group focused on the financial services industry; and, Managing Director with Standard & Poor’s responsible for the firm’s Global Analytic Consulting Group. Lyn was general manager for DRI Canada before moving to the U.S. in 1995. She holds an MA in Economics from the University of Western Ontario and has participated in numerous executive programs, including the Darden School of Business.
lyn@thekelyngroup.com
Gloria Lindsay Luby
The Planning Forum, 1987-88
Gloria has been elected for a fourth term as a Toronto City Councillor and currently serves as Deputy Speaker of Council and Chair of Government Management Committee. She has also served as Trustee for the Etobicoke Board of Education, Director of Strategic Planning for the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, worked as a Senior Consulting Associate with Coopers and Lybrand, and writes and speaks on municipal and public issues. She is also President of Gloria Lindsay Luby Enterprises, a strategic management consulting company working with both the private and public sectors. Gloria holds an honours degree from the University of Western Ontario and a Masters of Education from the University of Toronto.
Councillor_Lindsay_Luby@toronto.ca
Alan Pearson
The Planning Forum, 1986-87
Since 1981 Alan has been President of Alan Pearson Associates Inc., a consulting firm specializing in consensus-based strategic management, Board governance, and organization design. After two years as an infantry officer (drafted), he spent five years with The Economist Intelligence Unit in London before moving to Canada in the mid-1960s. He then worked for a dozen years as a federal public servant, mostly as director, studies and research, in the Privy Council Office/Federal-Provincial Relations Office in Ottawa. In addition, he has served as President of the Couchiching Institute on Public Affairs, and remains involved in organizing the annual Couchiching Conference.
alanpearson@rogers.com
Bob Cholette (deceased)
The Planning Forum, 1985-86
Bob was President of Robert Cholette & Associates Inc.
Helen Hayward
Planning Executives Institute, 1984-85
Helen is currently a partner with Western Management Consultants, Toronto office, where she specializes in transformative change, governance, strategic planning and organizational effectiveness. She is the newlyappointed Chair of the Board of Governors for Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology and current Chair of the Board of Directors, Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care. While she was President of the Toronto Chapter of PEI, she grew the chapter to 500 members, the largest in North America, surpassing the New York chapter. She also led the change implementation of the merger of PEI with NASCP.
helen@wmc.on.ca
Brian T. Smith
North American Society for Corporate Planning, 1984-85
Brian is retired and living in Australia. For many years he served as Director of Planning for Diversey Corporation and (concurrently) he raised Black Angus beef on a farm near Terra Cotta, Ontario. Prior to this, he was a consultant with Urwick Currie. He holds a B.Comm. from Sir George Williams University and an MBA from York University.
Ben Ciprietti
North American Society for Corporate Planning, 1983-84
For many years Ben was Director of Corporate Planning at Dofasco Inc. in Hamilton. After his retirement from Dofasco, he became President & CEO of the Toronto Chapter of The Japan Society.
ben@japansocietycanada.com
Richard F. Street
North American Society for Corporate Planning, 1982-83
During a career spanning 40 years, Rick has held the finance and corporate development portfolios for companies in Canada and Europe, established and directed a new ventures group for Petro-Canada, and held positions in operations, planning, and treasury with firms such as DuPont, Imperial Oil, and Sunoco. He is president of Pyne Management, a consulting practice founded in 1983, specializing in strategic venture management and in working with business owners and boards to articulate and execute their corporate development, business transition and financial objectives. Rick holds a B. Chem. Eng. from McGill and an MBA from Queen’s and is a Certified Management Consultant. He has taught courses in business at York University, has served on the boards of several companies in Canada and abroad, and has worked with executive teams in nine European countries and Japan. Rick was instrumental in the 1985 NASCP/PEI merger which resulted in the formation of The Planning Forum and eventually the SLF.
rfstreet@rogers.com
W. H. Robert MacBean
North American Society for Corporate Planning, 1981-82
Bob is VP & CFO with Energy Advantage in Burlington. Prior to this he served as CFO of CURO, a division of Aegon NV which now owns Selient Inc. He holds an MBA and a degree in engineering from the University of Toronto, as well as a CMA designation.
max@skylinc.net
We welcome information about those who served as President of PEI and NASCAP in earlier years.
Please phone 416 628-8262 or email membership@slftoronto.com and site "President's Club" in the subject line.