Sea to Sky - AC-ADA

Sea to Sky will be taking place August 9-11, 2022 at the Rodd Brudenell River Resort in PEI.

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Program

TO BE ANNOUNCED

Speakers

*Click on their photo to read their bio

Allan CampbellPEI Provincial Director, ACADA

Sean WiltshireChief Executive Officer, Avalon Employment Inc.

Eddie LeMoineAuthor, Executive Coach, Facilitator, Keynote Speaker, and Seminar Leader

Commander Rob AlainPrince Edward Island Liaison Officer, Directorate of Employer Support Programmes (D ES Progs) Canadian Armed Forces

Mark KotzerDirector of Business Transformation and Continuous Improvement, Ultra Maritime

Mark Kotzer is currently the Director of Business Transformation and Continuous Improvement at Ultra Maritime and is focused on establishing a Lean culture as well as supporting the strategic ONE Ultra initiative.

Mark started his career as an Aerospace Engineering Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), retiring after 20 years of service as the Senior Engineering Officer for 423 (Maritime Helicopter) Squadron in Halifax. Highlights of his military career include serving as a Systems Engineer on the Maritime Helicopter Project, managing the RCAF National Procurement (NP) budget, and leading the third line maintenance program for the UK’s EH101 Merlin Helicopter fleet while on exchange with the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Following his military service, Mark joined IMP Aerospace as the Director of Rotary Wing Programs, and was accountable for Canada’s first Depot Level Maintenance Program for the Cormorant SAR helicopter fleet. While at IMP, Mark transitioned to the Director of Production, leading over 200 Production team members in the planning and execution of 4 concurrent, 120,000 person-hour CP140 Aurora aircraft upgrade projects, comprised of a complete structural life extension and avionics upgrade. Following his work at IMP, Mark moved to Irving Shipbuilding, managing the Canadian Surface Combatant RFP and bid evaluation for the largest defence procurement project in Canada’s history. He then joined MDA in in 2018, leading a team of Software Developers, Systems Engineers and Program Managers delivering MDA’s Command and Control portfolio, including NATO’s next Maritime Command and Control solution (TRITON).

Mark also volunteers as the Chair of ACADA’s Workforce Development Committee, as well as volunteering as a mentor with Nova Scotia Study and Stay, both of which focus on helping people find rewarding and long-term employment in Atlantic Canada.

Mark graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada with a degree in Mechanical Engineering (1997), and holds a Masters of Business Administration in International Business from University of Ottawa’s Telfer School of Management (2006). He has been awarded the Canadian Forces Decoration as well as the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for significant contributions to Nova Scotia

The Honourable Matthew MacKayMinister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture

Paul LangdonStrategic Initiatives, Ulnooweg Development Group

Sub-Lieutenant Hugh MacDonaldLogistics Officer, HMCS Queen Charlotte

Francis P. McGuirePresident, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Francis P. McGuire assumed the position of President (Deputy Minister) of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency on June 12, 2017.

Mr. McGuire has served both in government and in the private sector. Having been educated in the French and English systems, and being a resident of New Brunswick, Canada’s only officially bilingual province, Mr. McGuire is completely at ease in working in either official language.

After stepping aside as President and CEO of Major Drilling Group International Inc., where he served from 2000 to 2015, Francis McGuire provided advice to companies and individuals on strategy, leadership and organizational design. Mr. McGuire also served on the Board of Directors of Major Drilling. Second largest mineral drilling company in the world, Major Drilling operates in over 20 countries and is listed on the TSX. In 2008, Atlantic Business Magazine named Mr. McGuire Atlantic Canada’s CEO of the Year. In 2012, Mr. McGuire was inducted into the New Brunswick Business Hall of Fame. Ernst & Young named him Atlantic Entrepreneur of the Year in 2013.

Mr. McGuire served on the Board of Directors of Industrial Alliance from 2001 to 2017. Headquartered in Québec, Que, Industrial Alliance is Canada’s 4th largest insurance company. Mr. McGuire also served as Chairman of the Board of NB Power from 2007 to 2010.

Francis McGuire was the Chair of the Wallace McCain Institute for Business Leadership at the University of New Brunswick, and is an emeritus member of the New Brunswick Business Council.

From 1985 to 1997, Mr. McGuire worked in Premier Frank McKenna’s administration, including as Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Tourism, and as the Leader of the Province’s Information Highway Secretariat. As Deputy Minister, he was responsible for attracting industry to the province, for assisting local companies in their growth, for establishing the IT industry in the province, and for growing its tourism industry. Mr. McGuire served as Vice President of Marketing and Business Development of MITI Information Technology Inc. from 1998 to 2000. In 1999, MITI was recognized as Atlantic Canada’s fastest growing company.

Francis McGuire holds a Master’s degree from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., (1974 – 1976), a Diploma in European Politics from the Institut d’études politiques de Paris, France, (1973 – 1974), and a Bachelor of Arts from Dalhousie University (1970 – 1973). Mr. McGuire also completed the Management Training program at the University of Western Ontario’s School of Business Administration (1984) and the Marketing Management program at Queen’s University (1991). He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of New Brunswick in 2017.

Mr. McGuire was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has two sons, Brendan and Dylan, and lives with his long-term partner, Elizabeth Webster.

Chief Roderick “Junior” GouldChief, Abegweit First Nation

Chief Gould is a strong Mi’kmaq leader who commenced his second term as Chief in June of 2019 and is dedicated to helping his community reach its full potential. A family-man that cherishes his wife, four children, and eight grandchildren, Chief Gould carries on the traditional teachings of his father as a pipe carrier and sundancer. His traditional teachings form the basis of his passion for his people as he strives to make meaningful and positive change for Abegweit First Nation. Chief Gould is a man of many talents and offers varying perspectives and experiences. He was a proud captain of one of the community’s fishing vessels for twelve years, a Tribal Police Officer, an RCMP Auxiliary Officer, and spent several years in construction and trades.

Since 2019, in his dual role as Chief and Band Administrator, Chief Gould has led the community through a robust period of growth, including: the formation of an Abegweit First Nation construction team; the construction of a new multiuse commercial building on the Scotchfort Reserve, along the Veterans Memorial Highway; the construction of twelve new residential units in the community, including passive solar units; the construction of a new early learning centre; the development of a new community cemetery and healing garden; the formation of public and private sector partnerships; the development of new tourism products and experiences; significant infrastructure upgrades, including a four million dollar active transportation network; and the expansion of successful existing businesses.

Chief Gould also sits on the Epekwitk Assembly of Councils – which leads the Mi’kmaq Confederacy of PEI and L’nuey – and was one of the key Chiefs in the Charter Renewal for the Assembly of First Nations. Further, Chief Gould was successful in securing a regional chief’s office for Prince Edward Island, and now serves as the Regional Chief for the province. He also served on the board of the Atlantic First Nations Water Authority and the Atlantic Health Partnership. Prior to this, he was President of Aboriginal Survivors for Healing (ASH), which was focused on reconciliation for Residential School Survivors.

An avid supporter of athletics, Chief Gould is also a strong athlete, coach, player, and volunteer within the sports of hockey and fastball for the past thirty years. His passion for sport is one of the reasons he helped develop the Aboriginal Sports Circle, which is still thriving today, and involved him in the partnership with the Toronto Blue Jays Care Foundation to build a new baseball field in his community. Chief Gould is a man of great heart, passion, and dedication. He applies himself whole-heartedly as he consistently endeavours to make improvements for his community, with focuses on economic development, job creation, housing, health and wellness, and government-to-government reconciliation.