Board of Directors

Craig Lindsay, CSP
Chair

Craig Lindsay has been the President of Pacesetter Sales & Associates since 1992. Within his role, he is responsible for managing all aspects of an Independent Sales Agency including sales management, product mix, financials, as well as both short and long term strategic development. Having served on the board for 5 years, Craig brings tactical industry experience from 18 years of building and managing an Independent Sales Agency. For the preceding 14 years, he also held senior management roles in a safety distribution company. Craig also serves on the board of directors for the Manufacturers Agents National Association (MANA).

Alfred Whiffen, CSP
Vice-Chair

Alfred joined Avalon Microelectronics as Vice President of Sales and Marketing in 2009 and is responsible for leading the sales and marketing team toward growth and profitability. His key focus is building relationships and securing software engineering engagements with international optical telecom equipment manufacturers. Alfred is specifically responsible for building the sales and marketing team, developing a third-party distribution network, guiding product development based on customer research and feedback, and securing an unfair share of mind and market for Avalon within the optical equipment manufacturing industry. Having served on the board for 6 years, Alfred brings experience and expertise in sales, sales leadership, marketing, strategic planning, and technology development. Alfred is actively involved with the Kids Eat Smart Foundation, Junior Achievement, and the Business Advisory Board of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Debora Bloom, CSP
Chair

Debora Bloom is the Director of Sales Strategy at Coast Capital Savings. Having joined Coast Capital in August 2010, she is responsible for identifying sales methodology and for aligning Coast's customer experience with how Canadians feel about banking. She also manages the development, launch and integration of the sales approach across all business lines and monitors for effectiveness. Having served on the board for 6 years, Debora brings a wealth of industry experience including retail, manufacturing, wholesale, financial services, direct mail, and printing. Debora’s area of expertise include sales, sales strategy, customer experience, coaching, sales training, and segmentation.

Bob Medland
Treasurer

Bob Medland joined CNSX Markets Inc. as Chief Financial Officer in 2005. Within his role, Bob is responsible for financial reporting, budgeting, cash management, human resources, and facilities management. Having served on the board for 4 years, he brings insight from his many areas of expertise, including strategic planning, budgeting, financial controls, finance and corporate governance. Bob also has several years of experience as a Chartered Accountant with various private and entrepreneurial companies in the distribution, financial and software industries. Bob is a member of Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) and the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants (OICA).

Dr. Rhordon Wikkramatileke, PhD, MPA, BA
Chair of Sales Institute & Secretary

Rhordon has an extensive career as a professor and educational administrator at the University of Victoria. Amongst his accomplishments was the creation and development of the University of Victoria’s Certificate and Diploma in Business Administration programs. He is also active as a consultant of performance management in private and public sector settings as the President of Performance Planning Inc. His involvement in business associations includes terms as President of the Sales and Marketing Executives of Victoria and a Vice-President of Tourism Victoria. Having served on the board of CPSA for four years, Rhordon brings expertise in the areas of strategic management, leadership, governance, not-for-profit sector management, educational administration, as well as curriculum development and instruction in professional education and certification programs.

Sylvain Tousignant, CSP
Board Member

Sylvain Tousignant presently offers business solutions services, mainly in sales. He has held several positions within the multinational Maple Leaf Foods, having joined them in 1998 as a Key Account Manager. Sylvain worked his way up to the rank of Director of Quebec Sales at Canada Bread, where he managed the Key Accounts Team. He was subsequently promoted to the position of Manager of the Retail Team responsible for managing the Quebec retail sales’ force; a Six Sigma Black Belt allowed him to carry out many projects to improve processes within different departments, producing large annual savings to the company. Sylvain is active in local politics, elected for a 4th term as councillor in Terrebonne City.

Kevin Comrie, CSP
Board Member

Kevin Comrie is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at The Boyd Group Inc. Having joined The Boyd Group Inc. in 1997, he is responsible for providing executive leadership and coordination of the company’s sales and marketing functions. Kevin develops and implements sales and marketing strategies, and analyzes sales and marketing activities against corporate goals. Additional responsibilities include selling and negotiating preferred service agreements with national sales accounts, sales force management, operational service improvements, as well as media advertising and brand management.

Dave Fletcher
Board Member

Dave Fletcher joined Sakundiak/Meridian/Behlen in 2010 as the Director of International Sales, and is responsible for overseeing the sales, marketing and distribution function in the USA and all overseas markets. Dave brings with him 30 years of industry experience in sales, marketing, and product distribution in various industries within the North American and Global market place. Having served on the board for two years, he shares a wealth of expertise on subjects such as market expansion, strategic planning, and sales and marketing department management. Dave has previously served on the boards of numerous organizations such as STEP and the Regina Exhibition Association.

Michael L. Jackson
Board Member

Mike Jackson joined Dominion Grand Hotel Group Inc. in 2010 as President & Chief Operating Officer, and is a Director of the company. His responsibilities include leadership, direction and oversight of all aspects of the group’s growth and business operations including participation in acquisitions of new hotel assets and expanding relationships with financial partners. He has been in the hospitality industry for over 35 years, and has served as President and Chief Operating Officer of two Canadian public hotel companies, and was also the President of Choice Hotels Canada. He is a results driven senior executive with proven talents in brand management, asset management, financial management, franchising, strategic planning, public markets, labor relations, business process development, and project management. Mike served three years as Chairman of the Hotel Association of Canada and is currently a member of its Board of Directors as well as having served on numerous other industry related Boards.

Sandro Verrelli
Board Member

Sandro Verrelli is Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Acklands-Grainger Inc. Since being promoted to this role in January 2010, he’s led the company’s Sales Operations, eCommerce and Marketing groups. He is specifically responsible for customer segmentation, customer offer and value proposition, sales force effectiveness and sales leadership, technical sales support and inside sales centres, and eCommerce platforms including social media. Previously Sandro served as General Manager for Acklands-Grainger’s businesses in the British Columbia and Manitoba regions, responsible for both sales and customer service operations that included 46 branches, 220 team members and over 11,000 customers. His 20 year career with Acklands-Grainger has also included a diversity of other assignments such as Regional Director, National Account Manager and various sales and customer service roles in the branch organization. Sandro brings a wide range of expertise including sales leadership, customer service, talent development, eCommerce and B2B technologies, strategic planning and execution, and operations management. He has served on fundraising committees for the United Way of BC, Easter Seals 24 Hour Relay for the Kids, as a member of Rotary International and La Ciocara Societa Italian Cultural Society.

Kim Hansen
Board Member

Kim Hansen joined MI Petro Group as the Managing Partner and President in September 2000. Within this role he is responsible for overseeing MI Petro Group’s western Canada operations. Kim possess a wealth of experience having been involved in the industry with both manufacturers and distributors since 1974. He has a strong background in strategic sales, service and construction management, organizational development, corporate governance, strategic planning and government relations. Kim also serves on the Board of the Alberta Storage Systems Contractors Association (APSSCA).

Harvey Copeman, CSP
President & CEO

Harvey Copeman CSP, is president and CEO of the Canadian Professional Sales Association (CPSA). For over 35 years he has held senior sales and marketing positions in Canada and the USA for major international brands such as Michelin Tires, Holiday Inn and Hilton Hotels. Based out of Miami, Harvey was responsible for Hilton International’s marketing for North, Central and South America and the Caribbean in the late 90’s. Upon returning to Canada in 2001, he fulfilled a personal goal of applying his sales & marketing talents at a charitable organization, when he was appointed VP Marketing and Fund Development for Kids Help Phone, a widely respected Canadian children's charity. Of that experience Harvey states, “He has never worked harder, with brighter, more committed people, for less money in his life and felt more fulfilled”. That not for profit stint, coupled with his service industry and international business experience is what attracted CPSA to him. He was hired by CPSA in mid 2003, as part of a succession planning process and assumed the president and CEO duties in 2005. Harvey has won Canadian and International marketing awards and he has appeared on CTV National News, watch.ctv.ca and been quoted in various off line and on line publications like the Globe and Mail, National Post, Canadian Business and Profit Magazines, informationexec.ca, ITBUSINESS.ca and CrackBerry.com. He is currently a regular columnist for Profit Magazine.