BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Joe Mergl
Chair

Joe became a member of our Board of Trustees on April 25, 1996, and has served as chair since 2000. Joe is also a member of the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling.) He was a former member and chair of the board of Adolescent Support Services, served on the board of Niagara South Board of Education, and was also a member of the Board of Directors for his church. Joe served as a public school educator for a total of thirty-five years as a teacher, vice-principal, principal, superintendent of schools, and in teacher training at the Toronto Teachers' College. Following his educational career, he worked for sixteen years selling real estate. Joe and his wife, Sylvia, have five children and twelve grandchildren.

Peter Hayes
Vice Chair

Peter was a member of NTEC's founding committee in 1969, and served as Chairman of the Board of Management of NTEC in the 1970's. He is active in his community in service club and church organizations, and is a member and past director of the Kiwanis Club of Stamford, Past President of the Council of Catholic Men, and Member of the Canadian Industrial Advertisers. Mr. Hayes joined Renown Printing shortly after graduating from Niagara University with a B.Sc. in Economics, eventually becoming co-owner and general manager. He obtained a variety of experience in the field of graphic arts while dealing with clients ranging from one-man stores to the largest multinational corporations. Throughout his many years of service on the board, he has served as Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, and is also on the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling.)

Gary W. Gunning
Secretary/Finance Chair

Gary joined NTEC's Board of Trustees on April 28, 1993. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling), and has been on the Board of Directors of Niagara Support Services since 1998. He is currently Secretary and Finance Chair of NTEC and Niagara Recycling, and has been Secretary/Treasurer of Niagara Support Services since 2001. Gary is also a member of the Joint Board Alliance Committee of NSS and NTEC. As well, he is a charter life member, past secretary and past president of Stamford Kiwanis, and has been a member of the business community throughout his career. Gary is also President and Treasurer of the Friends of Lundy's Lane Battlefield.

Carolynne Canham
Trustee

Carolynne has been a member of the NTEC Board of Trustees since November 24, 2005. She also serves as President on the Board of Directors of Niagara Support Services, is a member of the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling), and of the Joint Board Alliance Committee of NSS and NTEC. Carolynne is a former teacher and principal with the District School Board of Niagara. She taught for two years at Bedford Park School, and for three years Carolynne was the resource teacher for the existing programs for students with a developmental disability, where she facilitated the integration process in a variety of schools within the board. Carolynne was principal of King George V public school, where they began a very successful integration program, and then moved to Princess Margaret where she retired after a 38-year career in education.

Maureen Connolly
Trustee

Maureen joined our Board of Trustees on May 31, 2001. She is a university professor with over 30 years in the field of physical education as a teacher, researcher, trainer, and disability advocate. Her involvement in disability issues and programs in the Niagara Region is well-known. In 2002, Maureen was presented with the Brock Award for Distinguished Teaching, was awarded the 3M Teaching Fellowship Award in 2003, and in 2005 was awarded a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award. Currently, Maureen fills the role of Director of the Centre for Teaching, Learning and Educational Technologies and Director of the Institute for the Study of Exceptional Development (ISED) at Brock University. Maureen also serves on the Board of Directors of Niagara Support Services and the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling.)

Rob Culliton
Trustee

Rob has been on NTEC’s Board of Trustees since 1984, and has served as Secretary and Finance Chair. He has been in private practice since his call to the bar in 1984, and has been a partner with the firm of Sullivan, Mahoney LLP since 1994, specializing in Business Taxation Law. He is a member of the Lincoln County Law Association, Law Society of Upper Canada, Canadian Bar Association, and the Canadian Tax Foundation; is a director of Niagara Canada Community Investment Program, Canadian Association of Family Enterprise (Niagara Chapter), and honorary counsel of the St. Catharines Chamber of Commerce. He frequently speaks and presents papers on tax and estate planning.

Gerry Higenell
Trustee

Gerry is a graduate of the University of Toronto. He taught in a number of secondary schools in St. Catharines and retired as principal of Kernahan Park Secondary School in 1984. Gerry joined the boards of Niagara Training & Employment Agency and Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling) in 1984, and has served as Secretary, Vice-Chair, and Chair (from 1994 to 1998) on the NTEC Board of Trustees. Over the years, Gerry has served as chair of a number of boards, including Grantham Family YMCA, Luther Manor Retirement Apartments, and Haiti Lutheran Mission Society. His main interests are his ten grandchildren, curling in the winter, and gardening in the summer.

William (Bill) McMullan
Trustee

Bill joined the Board of Trustees of NTEC and the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recyling) on May 26, 1994, and assumed the role of Chair of the Board of Directors of Niagara Recyling in 1995. Bill was appointed to the Joint Board Alliance Committee of NSS and NTEC in 1998, and currently serves as member-at-large on this committee. In 2001-02, Bill also served on the Board of Directors of Niagara Support Services. Bill resides in St. Catharines with his wife Marjorie and has three married children, two of whom live in Vancouver, and one in St. Catharines. Bill retired in 1996 after 40 years in the procurement, merchandising, and management of consumer-related products, including CEO and operating partner of Sierra Canada Ltd., which was sold to Coleman Canada Ltd. in 1995.

Bert Murphy
Trustee

Bert has been on the boards of Niagara Training & Employment Agency and Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling) since 1997. He is a former program consultant with the District School Board of Niagara and is presently a lecturer at Brock Faculty of Education. Bert is also a Project WILD facilitator with the Canadian Wildlife Federation, and a member of the Friends of Short Hills Park and the Friends of Leslie M. Frost Centre. He is very interested in environmental issues and offers workshops to seniors groups and school classes. He lives in Fort Erie with his wife, Colleen.

Colleen Murphy
Trustee

Colleen has been involved with Niagara Training & Employment Agency since its inception. The daughter of the late John Brennan, the driving force behind NTEC, Colleen joined the board in 1991. As well, she has been involved in many fundraising ventures for the organization. The Niagara South Board of Education employed Colleen for over thirty years before her retirement. She is also a member of the Fort Erie Palliative Care Association. Colleen lives in Fort Erie with her husband, Bert, and spends much of her free time with her grandchildren.


Judith K. (Judy) Reid
Trustee

Judy joined the NTEC Board of Trustees on November 30, 2000, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling.) She has served as Chair of the Joint Board Alliance Committee of NSS and NTEC since May 2001, and has been a member of the Board of Directors of Niagara Support Services since June 16, 1999. In May 2008, Judy was re-elected to the Board of Directors of OASIS (Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs) as vice-president. Presently residing in Fonthill, Ontario, Judy is a lifelong resident of the Niagara Peninsula. She retired in 1998 following a 30-year career as an educator with the District School Board of Niagara. Judy continues her interest in education working with the Business Education Council of Niagara as the Manager, Labour Force Development and Early Years Niagara.

Al Shynal
Trustee

Al has been a member of the NTEC Board of Trustees since February 4, 1988, and is also a member of the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling.) Al is a Teacher of Business Studies and Computer Site Manager with the District School Board of Niagara.

 

Ralph Sutton
Trustee

Nearing retirement from a career as a Professional Engineer, Ralph was interested in becoming involved with an organization in which he could make a contribution to those who needed support in their everyday lives. Having met with the Chair of NTEC, he was impressed to learn of the goals and achievements of the organization, and on November 30, 2006 he became a member of the Board of Trustees of NTEC and a board member of Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling.) Ralph spent most of his working life living with his family in Africa and Asia, managing the design and construction of hydroelectric projects, where he experienced first-hand the needs required by the local people to improve their quality of life. Ralph now hopes he can apply his unique experience to his responsibilities as a board member. In 2004, Ralph relocated to Welland, where he now lives with his wife Jean, enjoying their retirement while spending time traveling and with the families of his two children who live in Niagara Falls.

Marion Woodcock
Trustee

Marion returned to the Board of Trustees on October 30, 2008. Except for six years spent in Calgary developing grandparenting skills, Marion is a lifelong resident of the Niagara area. She also serves on the boards of Niagara Support Services and Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling.) Marion has an extensive educational background, and her experience and expertise make her a valuable asset to the board.