Len Crispino, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed Chair of the Niagara College Board of Governors.
Mr. Crispino has served as President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce since 2002. The Ontario Chamber represents more than 60,000 Ontario businesses through 160 local chambers of commerce and boards of trade. Before joining the Chamber, Mr. Crispino had a distinguished career with the Ontario government, where he served as the province’s trade representative in Italy and held management and Assistant Deputy Minister positions. Prior to his work overseas, he held senior management positions in policy, planning and operations with the government. He was appointed to the College’s Board of Governors in 2007.
“We are very fortunate to have such a distinguished and widely-respected business leader assume the Chair of our Board of Governors,” said Niagara College President Dan Patterson. “His broad experience and knowledge will be invaluable as the Board sets long-term strategic directions for the College.”
As an active community volunteer with a number of organizations, Len has served as Director of the Council of the Americas, Co-Chair of the William Osler Health Centre Foundation Board, past Chair of Seneca International, a member of the Governor General’s Study Group on private sector financing, a past President of the Etobicoke Parent-Teacher Association, and a member of the Advisory Committee for the Mowat Centre for Policy Innovation.
Mr. Crispino holds an MBA (Marketing) from York University and a Masters and BA from the University of Toronto. Len has received a professional ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He is also the owner of The Foreign Affair Winery in Vineland, Ontario.
“I am very pleased to take over leadership of the Board during one of the most exciting eras in the College’s history,” said Mr. Crispino. “We have record enrolments and are in the midst of a multi-million-dollar campus redevelopment. We have launched a distinct new brand, and we have clear strategic goals that will strengthen Niagara College’s role as an educator, partner and leader in our community.”
Mr. Crispino also announced the appointment of five new members to the Board of Governors, including: Larry Baraniuk, a third-year student in the College’s Business Administration – Human Resource (Co-op) Program, as the elected student representative; Tim Clutterbuck, Past President of Lakeside Steel Corporation in Welland; Bonnie Rose, Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Niagara University in Lewiston, New York; Allan Schmidt, President and CEO of Vineland Estates Winery; and Debbie Sevenpifer, President and CEO of the Niagara Health System. Dr. Rose, Mr. Schmidt, Ms Sevenpifer and Mr. Clutterbuck have been appointed to three-year terms, effective September, 2009. Mr. Baraniuk’s term is effective for the 2009-2010 academic year.
With 8,000 full-time students, Niagara College offers more than 90 diploma and advanced level programs at campuses in Welland, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Falls and St. Catharines. Areas of specialization include food and wine sciences, advanced technology, applied health and community safety, and the College is home to the globally-recognized Niagara Culinary Institute and Niagara College Teaching Winery. In 2008, Niagara College launched a $90 million campus redevelopment project, which is scheduled for completion in 2011. For more information, visit www.NiagaraCollege.ca.
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For more information, contact:
Gordon Hunchak
Director, Marketing & Communications
Niagara College
905-735-2211, ext 7567 (office)
905-650-7820 (cell)
ghunchak@niagaracollege.ca
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Larry Baraniuk is the elected student representative on the Board of Governors. Mr. Baraniuk is a third-year student in the College’s Business Administration – Human Resource (Co-op) Program and has been a member of the Student Administrative Council Executive since September 2007. Larry is recipient of a Recognition of Achievement for Student Leadership at Niagara College, was part of the team that received a Provincial Award for innovation, and has volunteered for a number of sport programs and College events.
Tim Clutterbuck is Past President of Lakeside Steel Corporation in Welland and has 28 years of steel industry experience. Prior to this, he held executive positions with Ryerson Canada, and Atlas Specialty Steels in Welland. In 1997, Tim was recognized by The Welland/Pelham Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to the restructuring of Atlas Specialty Steels with the Royal Bank Business Initiative Award. He currently chairs the Welland Hydro Electric Holding Corporation, and is a member of the Niagara Economic Development Corporation board. Mr. Clutterbuck holds a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from McMaster University and has continued post graduate education through the Ivey School of Business Executive Programs at the University of Western Ontario.
Bonnie Rose is Executive Vice President and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Niagara University, Lewiston, New York, where she has been employed since 2002. Previously she was Vice President Academic at Niagara College of Applied Arts and Technology and President of W.S. Kubiski & Associates Ltd., a consulting firm serving such clients as universities and colleges engaged in large-scale transformation efforts. Dr. Rose earned both her doctorate in sociology and her master’s degree in environmental studies from York University. She did undergraduate studies in psychology at Carleton University, and in the School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana.
Allan Schmidt is President and CEO of Vineland Estates Winery having previously held the position of Winemaker and General Manager for the establishment. Prior to this, he and his family were co-founders of Sumac Ridge Winery in the Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. Mr. Schmidt received oenological training in California at Heitz Cellars and viticulture training in the Nahe region of Germany. A true friend to Niagara College, Allan has given generously of his time and expertise in developing the Winery and Viticulture Technician program and the Niagara College Teaching Winery.
Debbie Sevenpifer is President and CEO of the Niagara Health System, Ontario’s largest multi-site hospital amalgamation overseeing six hospital sites and an ambulatory care centre with an annual budget of $370 million, serving 434,000 residents across Niagara. She began her career as Chief Financial Officer with the Niagara Health System in 2000, and served on the Niagara College Board of Governors from 1998 to 2003. Ms. Sevenpifer holds an Honours Degree in BA Accounting from Brock University and received her CA designation in 1988. She also obtained her designation as a Certified Health Executive in 1994 and is currently pursuing the designation of Certified Director through McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business.
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