Our Members' Experience
Tom Cochran
Tom has over 30 years' experience in strategic planning and general management in industrial commodities and packaging industries. He has an engineering degree and a MBA. His career has been dedicated to growing businesses through innovation in manufacturing and marketing. Much of his experience is in improving profits and problem-solving and he has worked in virtually all areas of marketing, operations, finance and administration. He has also led company reorganizations, financing, and strategic planning efforts as well as acquisitions and divestitures, some including international companies.
Ernst (Ernie) Domet
Member of BAG since 1994. Served as Director and President for many years. Senior Banker. 8 years with British and German Banks. 37 years with Bank of Montreal in Canada as well as in Europe and the Middle East. Expertise in Organization and Operations, Marketing and Relationship Management. After retirement, 6 years as Consultant and Advisor to President of medium-sized wholesale import/export company with manufacturing entity. Fluent in German and French. Fellow, Institute of Canadian Bankers.
Donald Jarrett
A Chartered Accountant with 42 years experience in finance and administration. He has been controller of a metropolitan daily newspaper, chief of internal audit of a public communications company, secretary/treasurer of a business/trade show company and CFO of a national news organization. He has also had government experience as controller of rental housing and capital construction. He is a former member of Arbitration and Mediation Institute of Ontario and a past president of the Oakville YMCA. He is Vice-President of BAG.
Norman Johnston
Norman is a Chartered Accountant with senior management experience with a number of companies (small, medium and large organizations) in a variety of industries. His expertise includes general, financial and human resources management. He is the immediate past-president of BAG. Norman is a current director and a past president of Equity Financial Services Inc. He is also a former director of Lever Brothers Limited, a former trustee and a current member of the Audit Committee of the J P Morgan Fleming Overseas Investment Trust. He is also a former chair of The Halton-Peel Enterprise Development Centre Inc.
Larry Low
Larry is a Certified Management Accountant with 35 years experience in the financial industry. He has had extensive experience in the area of financial management and reporting. He has held several senior management positions relating to management and control of financial information, planning and forecasting. Subsequent to his retirement he has provided consulting support to large financial institutions in the development and design of implementation of performance measurement systems and processes.
Mel Matthias
A Professional Engineer with more than thirty years of experience in the management, operations & commissioning of thermal and nuclear power plants, including the design, safety analysis, licensing, training, quality assurance and auditing. This experience has been supplemented by five years of post graduate study, research, teaching and academic administration with the University of Toronto, Ryerson Polytechnic Institute, Canadian School of Management and the Technical University of Nova Scotia.
David Powell
David is the principal of Creekwood Digital Solutions. He has an extensive background in Information Technology and since 1970 has held various technical, development and management IT positions. Most recently he was the IT Manager for the Toronto Fire Department, and then for the Ontario Zone of the Canadian Red Cross. Through Creekwood Digital Solutions he provides custom development services, cosmetic surgery for computerized documents and images, and consulting on IT management issues. He is the webmaster for the Group's website, writes articles for the Microsoft Small Business Forum and enjoys digital photography.
John Stevenson
John formerly served as President of H.H. Brown Shoe Company and later, Alberto Culver (Canada) Ltd. John has over 30 years of accumulated general management experience, primarily in the consumer packaged goods industry within North America and Europe. Recently, he has been a volunteer consultant to several non profit social service organizations throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
Ollie Thomson
Ollie has had an extensive career in the small business sector. From a partnership in a consulting company, where her strength was in marketing, to managing a retail store. She has been actively involved in the business community. A member of the local Chamber of Commerce, Ollie serves on various committees, and chairs the Chamber's Ambassador Committee to promote small business. A long history of community work has provided her with a wealth of knowledge working with various business and environmental organizations.
Bill Vickers
Bill worked for Zellers Inc. for 22 years, 2 years in store management and 20 years in Corporate Finance , progressing to the level of Comptroller and Treasurer. He has experience in cash management, banking, general accounting, budgeting, general insurance, payroll, group benefits and incentive compensation. Over the subsequent 22 years Bill designed compensation & benefits programs in support of the strategic direction of a multi-divisional, wholesale food company and a large municipality. Bill is a Certified Human Resource Professional and taught Compensation Management at the University of Toronto School Of Continuing Studies for 8 years. Bill is the BAG President.
Robert White
Robert is a Chartered Accountant and senior financial executive with solid skills in accounting procedures, internal controls, financial management, treasury services, computer based information systems, operations and administration. He has diversified experience with importers, distributors, manufacturers and service organizations. He is also a business coach to small and medium sized organizations and a certified consultant of various accounting software. He is Treasurer of this Advisory Group.