ABOUT
Staff
TERRY DOW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Terry brings to the position more than 25 years of experience in not-for-profit management in the Chamber of Commerce and Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) industries in Southern Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Terry has held the position of Manager of Corporate Services, the Tourism Partnership of Niagara, Executive Director at the Simcoe & District Chamber of Commerce and Thorold Chamber of Commerce as well as led DMO’s in Grande Prairie Alberta and Prince Albert Saskatchewan. She worked closely with community leaders to promote the businesses and tourism industry within those regions.
Other key positions in the not-for-profit industry include board member of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, President and Spokesperson for the Greater Thorold Business Council, board member Phillip J. Currie Museum, board member Grande Prairie Volunteer Services and was a member of the Alberta Caucus Tourism Recovery Covid 19 committee.
READ MORE Terry has a strong background in non-profit organizational management and has a proven track record of interacting with local boards, elected officials, community stakeholders and industry partners.
After spending a few years in western Canada, Terry is excited to return to Niagara where her passion for community leadership was born. She owned Destination Marketing Services in Thorold from 2004-2015 that provided contractual services to the City of Thorold to lead their tourism department.
Outside of the office, Terry enjoys time in the outdoors. She also relishes time with her three grown children and two fur babies, Charlie and Ollie.
TERRY DOW
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Terry brings to the position more than 25 years of experience in not-for-profit management in the Chamber of Commerce and Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) industries in Southern Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Terry has held the position of Manager of Corporate Services, the Tourism Partnership of Niagara, Executive Director at the Simcoe & District Chamber of Commerce and Thorold Chamber of Commerce as well as led DMO’s in Grande Prairie Alberta and Prince Albert Saskatchewan. She worked closely with community leaders to promote the businesses and tourism industry within those regions.
Other key positions in the not-for-profit industry include board member of the Prince Albert and District Chamber of Commerce, President and Spokesperson for the Greater Thorold Business Council, board member Phillip J. Currie Museum, board member Grande Prairie Volunteer Services and was a member of the Alberta Caucus Tourism Recovery Covid 19 committee.
READ MORE Terry has a strong background in non-profit organizational management and has a proven track record of interacting with local boards, elected officials, community stakeholders and industry partners.
After spending a few years in western Canada, Terry is excited to return to Niagara where her passion for community leadership was born. She owned Destination Marketing Services in Thorold from 2004-2015 that provided contractual services to the City of Thorold to lead their tourism department.
Outside of the office, Terry enjoys time in the outdoors. She also relishes time with her three grown children and two fur babies, Charlie and Ollie.
READ MORE
NOUR HAGE, CHAIR
CEO, CiviConnect
Nour Hage plays a role in youth empowerment as the CEO of Civiconnect, a non-profit focusing on skills training for young people.
His journey to leadership reflects a mix of professional skills, entrepreneurial drive, and a strong commitment to social impact. In 2021, Nour, alongside peers and a municipal partner, helped establish Civiconnect's Youth Skills Studio. Leading Civiconnect, Nour has worked on initiatives to equip young individuals with essential skills for today's world.
The organization has expanded its reach through partnerships with post-secondary institutions, community centers, and local businesses, tailoring programs to diverse youth needs. Nour's leadership has navigated Civiconnect through challenges towards sustainable growth, securing funding and partnerships.
Over the past three years, Civiconnect has trained over 710+ youth and completed 330+ projects for the community.
Sheldon King, IT Admin
Information Technology Professional
Being part of a non-visible minority provides me with a unique perspective on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging which I integrate and use to my advantage to be supportive and contribute to the communities in which I live and work. Through leadership and communication, we can bring change to the world. I love making a positive impact where ever I can and am often characterized as having a direct, forward, and go-getter-type of attitude.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldontking/
What do I bring to the team?
- I am an Information Technology Professional in Niagara for almost 20 years with a wide variety of expertise
- I bring a level of tenacity and enthusiasm with my go-getter type of personality
- As a member and advocate of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, I bring a unique perspective on the world
VALERIE SADLER
Associate Executive Director, Organizational Excellence
Valerie Sadler is an Associate Executive Director at Mission Services of Hamilton, a multi-service not for profit agency. She is responsible for organizational excellence, quality improvement, community-based research opportunities and helping to build a culture of performance and innovation. She holds a Master of Education degree and serves as a part-time faculty member for McMaster University/Mohawk College’s affiliated certificate in Leadership & Management in the Not for Profit Sector.
JESSICA COUTINHO
Community Market Manager
Jessica completed her B.A at the University of Toronto. She has also completed her HR Certification through Niagara college. Jessica and her family live in Grimsby since 2013.
With a passion of developing leaders, Jessica is looking forward to supporting the development of community leaders in Niagara.
MEREDITH MAXWELL
Project Manager, Population Health
Meredith brings 20 years of progressive community engagement, communications leadership, and project management experience to the Niagara Ontario Health Team-Équipe Santé Ontario Niagara.
She has held leadership roles in numerous organizations, including the Canadian Kennel Club, where she was the Director of Policy, Advocacy and Communications, Niagara Region Public Health, where she led communications and engagement for close to a decade, CAA Niagara, and the Niagara Falls International Marathon.
Meredith is passionate about health equity, community involvement, and mentorship and volunteers her time on the boards of Migraine Canada and Leadership Niagara.
She holds a Master of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University, a Bachelor of Arts in Business Communication from Brock University, and a Prosci Change Management Certificate.
DAN CHALMERS
Associate Director, Financial Reporting
Dan has been with Niagara College for over 12 years and is currently the Associate Director of Financial Reporting, where he and his team are responsible for budgeting, accounting and financial reporting. He has a passion for learning and teaching and moonlights as a Motorcycle Instructor for Niagara College on weekends in the summer time.
He resides with his wife and two young boys in Wainfleet. When he is not at the soccer field, swimming pool or hockey rink with his boys he enjoys being outdoors, biking and camping with his family. Dan is excited to be part of such an important organization that is shaping the current and future leaders of Niagara.
KIARA THEODOSOPOULOS
Manager, HR, AirBus
Kiara has recently held the position of Vice President of People and Culture at Stolk Construction where she is known for her ability to lead with empathy and build connection. In this position she plays a crucial role in contributing to the strategic plan and overall execution, while keeping people at the forefront.
Graduating from Niagara College’s Business Administration - HR Program in 2015, she now resides in Welland with her husband and two children.
Kiara has a passion for building strong communities and within them, strong individuals. She enjoys watching people reach their full potential and looks forward to supporting the development of community leaders.
AMANDA NICOL MACDONALD
Niagara College, Proposal Writer
KAREN OGIDIGBEN
Human Resources Manager
An advocate for culture and diversity and passionate about people development, Karen is a Global HR professional with more than 13 years experience across 5 continents with a strongly developed capacity in Strategic Human Resources Management: Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development, Learning and Development, Employee and Labor Relations, Employee Engagement, Workforce and Resource planning, HR Policy design and implementation, Compensation and Benefits, Performance Management, Mergers and Acquisitions, HR systems and Data Management, Stakeholder Management, Culture and Diversity Initiatives and Occupational Health, Safety and Environment.
Karen has worked for several multinational companies in the Transport and Logistics industry, in senior management and decision-making positions and managed over 1,600 employees from more than 26 nationalities, and 15 direct HR reports, mentoring and coaching them towards career development and progression.
Karen is a team player, very dedicated, organized, proactive, empathetic and understands the role of HR in an organization. Karen holds an MBA in business administration and has engaged in several conferences related to HR. She has also been a keynote speaker, sharing her knowledge and experience in human resources, learning and development, workforce engagement, and organizational leadership.
Karen is an advocate for mental health, children’s health, diversity, and equity. Karen has been with the PAC since 2023 and continues to look for more ways to create a positive impact within the Niagara Region.
Namrata Mahboobani
Strategy Management, Definity Financial
Namrata Mahboobani is a seasoned strategy professional with close to 20 years of experience in strategic planning and execution across diverse industries. She currently serves as AVP of Strategy Management within the Corporate Strategy Office at Definity Financial, a leading Canadian property and casualty insurance company. Namrata brings to the table a sound business acumen and an accountability mindset, with proven expertise in leading strategic initiatives and establishing effective governance to deliver sustained business outcomes.
Namrata is passionate about mentoring young leaders and fostering talent to reach their full potential, while staying authentic to themselves. She is looking forward to being involved in inspiring community leadership and contributing towards the development of a future generation of leaders. In addition to being a Board Member, Namrata also serves on the Leadership Niagara’s Program Advisory Sub Committee, overseeing and advising on its core offering – the Community Leadership Development Program.
Outside of her professional life, Namrata enjoys travel, staying fit and exploring the outdoors, often hiking the scenic trails in the Niagara and Halton regions.
Dan Fowler
Arterra Wines Canada, Vice President and General Manager of Operations
Daniel is an Ambitious, results-driven executive with more than 15 years of progressive leadership experience in the food manufacturing and wine industries.
Daniel has gathered his experience through the manufacturing sector with companies like Smucker's Foods, Unilever, Ventura Foods and Arterra Wines Canada.
At Arterra Wines Canada Daniel is responsible for 8 Manufacturing/ Winemaking Operations, Winemaking and Viticulture for the Ontario market.
He was born and raised in the Niagara Region and after years of moving around for his career, he is excited to be back home.
Daniel has a passion for getting the best out of people and helping them reach their full potential, so Leadership Niagara was a natural choice.
Giving back to the community he grew up in was always a top priority for Daniel and he looks forward to making an impact in any way he can for the leaders of tomorrow this region has to offer.
ANN HARRISON - CHAIR
Retired Educational Leader
I know that Niagara is stronger because of the diversity of people working collaboratively to improve every aspect of our lives. I am excited to be part of a dynamic team of community-minded individuals at Leadership Niagara. As we work together to create a responsive curriculum that engages participants and connects them with future volunteer opportunities, I find I learn from their wealth of knowledge which continually enhances my own leadership journey.
What do I bring to the team?
Professional career in educational leadership, pedagogical development, and program delivery Volunteer experience in leadership with service clubs and not-for-profits in Niagara Enthusiasm for continuing to learn and grow as a community leader in Niagara
CAITLIN ARMSTRONG, CO CHAIR
Human Resources Business Partner
I am involved with Leadership Niagara because I love being part of a group comprised of individuals who are just as passionate as I am about the communities we serve. I get energized by the ability to help shape the programs that contribute to the success if Niagara’s future leaders.
What do I bring to the team?
- An academic and career background in human behaviour, performance management and leadership development.
- A life long Niagara resident who has a deep understanding of the communities challenges and opportunities.
- Passion for Diversity & Inclusion
KATIE MCQUESTION, SECRETARY
Campus Safety and Emergency Management Coordinator
Why do I care / why I am I involved with Leadership Niagara?
Katie McQuestion is an emergency manager with over 16 years of experience in the field. She has spent much of her career working with the provinces of Ontario and Alberta and joined the Niagara College community as the Emergency Management Coordinator in February of 2019.
Katie’s primary focus is the development and implementation of plans, policies, procedures, and training relating to the safety of students, staff, and visitors at Niagara College’s campuses. She was a key member of the college’s COVID-19 response team where she provided situational awareness, interpretation of legislation, mandates, and orders, facilitated departmental risk assessments, and contributed to the development COVID-specific policies, procedures, and training.
Prior to joining Niagara College, Katie worked as the Manager of Stakeholder Relations and Learning Design with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and as the National/International Liaison Officer with Emergency Management Ontario. Throughout her career, Katie has had the opportunity to support many communities responding to significant emergency events, including the Fort McMurray wildfire, annual spring flooding, G8/G20, and severe weather events.
As a graduate of Leadership Niagara (class of 2021), Katie is pleased to join the PAC. She’s excited to work with the dedicated and talented Leadership Niagara team to continue to inspire and encourage Niagara’s future leaders.
SHELDON KING, IT ADMIN
Information Technology Professional
Being part of a non-visible minority provides me with a unique perspective on diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging which I integrate and use to my advantage to be supportive and contribute to the communities in which I live and work. Through leadership and communication, we can bring change to the world. I love making a positive impact where ever I can and am often characterized as having a direct, forward, and go-getter-type of attitude.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldontking/
What do I bring to the team?
- I am an Information Technology Professional in Niagara for almost 20 years with a wide variety of expertise
- I bring a level of tenacity and enthusiasm with my go-getter type of personality
- As a member and advocate of the 2SLGBTQ+ community, I bring a unique perspective on the world
MIKE BRITTON
Consultant
Why do I care / why I am I involved with Leadership Niagara?
Mike Britton was born and raised in the City of St Catharines where his family has lived for over 5 generations.
Mike graduated from the University of Western Ontario with a Double Major in Medical Science and Classical Studies.
At the age of 24, he was elected as the youngest City Councillor in St Catharines history.
Outside of government, Mike operated a Niagara property management business which oversaw buildings from across Niagara. He also works on political campaigns across the province. In 2020, Mike moved into the realm of digital media as an Associate Producer and Guest Relations Manager of a new national cable tv news show called ‘Canadian Justice’.
Mike is very involved in the community, serving on many local volunteer boards including Crime Stoppers of Niagara, Links for Greener Learning, The Facer District Merchants and Residents Association, the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 24, the Royal Canadian Naval Association, Horse Cents for Kids, and the Paderewski Society Home.
He’s also a member of the St. Catharines Rotary Club, Junior Chamber International (JCI) St. Catharines, United Way’s GenNext Cabinet, Seymour Masonic Lodge, and regularly volunteers for Habitat for Humanity’s salvage team.
In 2021, Mike joined Leadership Niagara’s Program Advisory Committee because he wants Niagara to win and knows we need good leaders in all areas of society to achieve that. Mike is always looking for opportunities to contribute to our Region’s continuing success and believes investing in our upcoming leaders is a vital component: that is Leadership Niagara’s mission.
What do I bring to the team?
- Community building, development, and collaboration experience from my time as an elected official.
- Strong, long-term relationships with many Niagara community groups, agencies, and governments.
- A great deal of board experience with many Niagara not-for-profits and charities covering a diverse range of topics and services.
- Passionate commitment to help make our Niagara community an incredible place to live, work, and play.
MICHELLE ROSS
Organizational Development Consultant
I am passionate about developing and empowering the emerging leaders in our community. The unique developmental experiences offered by Leadership Niagara are a wonderful way to invest in the people of Niagara while positively impacting the growth of our community.
What do I bring to the team?
- Background in Human Resources and Organizational Development with specific expertise in leadership development
- Experience in adult education, curriculum design and delivery
- A passion for inspiring learners through diverse experiences
- Commitment to building a community of leaders
JULIE GRECO
Communications Professional
Why do I care / why I am I involved with Leadership Niagara?
Julie Greco is a Niagara-based communications professional who is passionate about shining the spotlight on inspiring people, initiatives, and experiences.
She began her career in Journalism and has worked for print publications both in Toronto and Niagara for more than 13 years – as a reporter, writer, columnist and editor for newspapers and magazines. She worked her way up to senior editorial positions which included managing editor at Post City Magazines and editor-in-chief at Our Kids Publications.
After living and working in Toronto for about a decade, Julie returned to the Niagara region – where she grew up – in 2009. She worked at Niagara’s daily newspapers as an editor and as a reporter prior to transitioning to communications.
Since 2011, she has applied her expertise to communications roles at Niagara College, through periods of tremendous growth and change.
Julie is a proud graduate of Leadership Niagara’s Accelerate Civic Leadership program (Class of 2022) where she collaborated with a small team on a community project to assist the SPCA Niagara.
Her enthusiasm for the program sparked a desire to continue her involvement with Leadership Niagara and continue giving back. Soon after graduating from the program, she jumped at an opportunity to join LN’s dedicated PAC team. As a PAC member, Julie looks forward to the next chapter of her Leadership Niagara journey. She values the opportunity to be a part of the continued success of Leadership Niagara’s transformational programming and to help drive it forward into the future. Along the way, she hopes to inspire more local professionals to get involved in the Niagara community and to help make a difference.
KAREN OGIDIGBEN
Human Resources Manager
Passionate about people, a problem solver, and a critical thinker. An advocate of DEI, Global people and culture professional with more than 11 years’ experience across 5 continents with a strongly developed capacity in Strategic Human Resources Management: Recruitment and Training, Talent Development, Learning and Development, Employee Relations, Employee Engagement, Workforce and Resource planning, HR Policy design and implementation, Payroll, Compensation and Benefits, Performance Management, Union Negotiations, Labor Laws and Employment Regulatory Compliance, Mergers and Acquisitions, HR systems and Data Management, Stakeholder and Vendor Management, Culture and Diversity Initiatives and Occupational Health, Safety and Environment.
Karen has worked for several multinational companies in the Transport and Logistics industry, in senior management and decision-making positions and managed over 1,600 employees from more than 26 nationalities, and 15 direct HR reports, mentoring and coaching them towards career development and progression.
Karen is a team player, very dedicated, organized, proactive, empathetic, and understands the role of HR in an organization. Karen holds an MBA in business administration, has engaged in several conferences related to HR and has been a keynote speaker, sharing her knowledge and experience in Human Resources, Learning and Development, workforce engagement and Organizational Leadership.
Karen is an advocate for mental health and interested in culture, diversity, and equality. Karen is looking to bring her knowledge in the learning and development field both as a train the trainer, a training developer and facilitator to PAC with the intent to impact the Niagara Region.
BRIAN DISIMONI
Human Resources Generalist
My involvement with Leadership Niagara brings immense joy and fulfillment as I collaborate with a passionate group of individuals dedicated to making a positive impact on our communities. Together, we share a vision for the betterment of our region. What excites me is the opportunity to contribute to transformative programs that shape future leaders in Niagara. I leverage my skills and experiences to foster personal growth, leadership development, and community engagement among emerging leaders. Witnessing their transformation into confident and influential individuals fuels my passion. Being part of a collective effort that invests in individuals, equipping them with the necessary skills, knowledge, and networks to thrive, is an honor. Engaging with Leadership Niagara expands my perspective, challenging me to think innovatively and enhance my own leadership capabilities. My involvement signifies my commitment to the growth and success of our communities, striving to create empowered leaders who can address complex challenges with integrity and vision.
SUSAN REINHART
Registered Nurse (Public Health)
Susan is here because she has a passion for health equity and knows that improving social determinants of health is best done at a community level. As a lifelong resident of Niagara, she is committed to developing and working within community partnerships to help create a stronger and more diverse Niagara. Throughout a substantial and interesting career in healthcare, Susan has consistently engaged others and advocated for positive change. Having just emerged from frontline work throughout the Global COVID-19 Pandemic, she’s perfectly poised to inspire leaders and empower communities
What do I bring to the team?
- Leadership experience in a variety of healthcare settings, including committee work, policy and procedure development and quality improvement initiatives.
- Current perspectives and new creative ideas, always an out of the box thinker. Susan has a commitment to ongoing Adult Learning and as a nurse leader, wife and mother achieved a BScN (with distinction) in 2020.
- Critical thinking, an inclusive team approach and natural ability to mentor and support others. And always a positive can-do attitude!
Jim McEwen
Assistive Technology Specialist
Carrie Price
HR
Jennifer Passmore
Manager, Credit Card Ops
Board of Directors
NOUR HAGE, CHAIR
CEO, CiviConnect
READ MORE
Sheldon King, IT Admin
Information Technology Professional
READ MORE
VALERIE SADLER
Associate Executive Director, Organizational Excellence
READ MORE
JESSICA COUTINHO
Community Market Manager
READ MORE
MEREDITH MAXWELL
Project Manager, Population Health
READ MORE
DAN CHALMERS
Associate Director, Financial Reporting
READ MORE
KIARA THEODOSOPOULOS
Manager, HR, AirBus
READ MORE
AMANDA NICOL MACDONALD
Niagara College, Proposal Writer
READ MORE
KAREN OGIDIGBEN
Human Resources Manager
READ MORE
Namrata Mahboobani
Strategy Management, Definity Financial
READ MORE
Dan Fowler
Arterra Wines Canada, Vice President and General Manager of Operations
READ MORE
Program Advisory Committee
ANN HARRISON - CHAIR
Retired Educational Leader
READ MORE
CAITLIN ARMSTRONG, CO CHAIR
Human Resources Business Partner
READ MORE
KATIE MCQUESTION, SECRETARY
Campus Safety and Emergency Management Coordinator
READ MORE
SHELDON KING, IT ADMIN
Information Technology Professional
READ MORE
MIKE BRITTON
Consultant
READ MORE
MICHELLE ROSS
Organizational Development Consultant
READ MORE
JULIE GRECO
Communications Professional
READ MORE
KAREN OGIDIGBEN
Human Resources Manager
READ MORE
BRIAN DISIMONI
Human Resources Generalist
READ MORE
SUSAN REINHART
Registered Nurse (Public Health)
READ MORE
Jim McEwen
Assistive Technology Specialist
READ MORE
Carrie Price
HR
READ MORE
Jennifer Passmore
Manager, Credit Card Ops
READ MORE