He is also the President of the Niagara College Learning Enterprises Corporation (NCLEC), which includes overseeing the Niagara College Teaching Winery, Teaching Brewery, Teaching Cidery, Teaching Distillery, and Cannabis Institute. Marc joined Niagara College in July 2011; prior to that, he had been involved with the college as a Board Member (2006-11) and as the Project Manager/Director from the Ontario Centres of Excellence. He helped introduce the Photonics programs at the Welland Campus. Marc is a Physics graduate from McGill University (BSc 1987, MSc 1990) and from the Institut National pour la Recherche Scientifique – Energie et Matériaux (PhD 1994). He spent four postdoc years in France and at the University of Michigan, pursuing ever shorter laser-produced visible and x-ray pulses and their applications; he was an Adjunct Professor of Physics at the University of Toronto from 1998 to 2008. He has published more than 90 papers and given more than 200 academic and industrial presentations. Marc is a Senior Member of SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics.

Krystle’s experience with the division also includes being the Research Project Manager for the Agriculture and Environment portfolio. Prior to undertaking her role as project manager, Krystle started with the department as Coordinator of the Niagara Environmental Corps organizing community events and educational outreach initiatives in elementary, secondary and post-secondary schools. Krystle brings to her role experience working with Niagara organizations through her involvement with Niagara Sustainability Initiative where she assists organizations in improving both their environmental and economic performance through carbon management. Krystle holds an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Brock University and a post-graduate certificate in Environmental Management and Assessment from Niagara College.

She also oversees the two multi-institution networks led by Niagara College – the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation (SONAMI), and the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN). She joined Research and Innovation in 2012 after several years in the communications industry, including many as a newspaper reporter and editor, and an award-winning freelance writer for publications across the country. More recently, Carolyn has worked as a communications specialist in the non-profit and government sector, based in the Niagara region. Carolyn is a graduate of the Journalism program at Niagara College, and holds an Honours BA and an MA, both in English Language and Literature, from Brock University.

Lyndon also leads relationship development at the ecosystem level and works collaboratively on the development of new RandI initiatives with a goal of implementing innovation services that meet industry demand for workforce, economic, and talent development.

Lyndon joined RandI in 2017 building on a diversified career, beginning in the culinary arts and eventually leading to economic development, management consulting and business planning. He earned his Culinary Red Seal, and he holds a combined degree in Political Sciences and Labour Studies from Brock University, and a certificate in Economic Development from the University of Waterloo. He is a professional Economic Developer, and prior to joining RandI has supported multiple municipalities, regions, and various provincial ministries and agencies as a practitioner in the field and as a strategic planning and management consultant. Lyndon is also an elected member of the Board of Directors of Tech-Access Canada.

Prior to this, Rachel worked for 13 years with the division, most of that time as the Research Grants and Contracts Officer, sharing her in-depth knowledge of the comprehensive array of grant agency programs, and supporting the research management team in coordinating all submissions, overseeing grant compliance and eligibility and liaises with funders and key stakeholders. She is a graduate of Niagara College’s Business Administration – Operations Management program.

In her current role she also supports the networks (Greenhouse Technology Network and the Southern Ontario Network for Advanced Manufacturing Innovation), ensuring continuity and continued excellence.

Jesse has over 10 years of experience working in the consulting industry managing small-scale projects, providing quality management administration, and writing technical reports within the construction aggregate industry. A Niagara resident, Jesse holds an Honours BSc from Brock University, as well as a Business Administration diploma from McMaster University.

Christine graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology) degree from the University of Western Ontario, later pursuing a Human Resources Management (Postgraduate) diploma from Fanshawe College and a Master of Science in Education from Medaille College. Christine has extensive experience planning events and implementing human resources functions within several organizations.

As the main liaison for course-based project support, he also works with faculty and academic schools to bring meaningful engagement in course-based research opportunities into the classroom. With the development of the college’s Dream Big fund, David will play a similar liaising role with our academic partners and NC staff in making their exploratory research project plans a reality.

David started his career at NC as the Course-Based Coordinator with R&I, before moving to Brock University in 2016 to take on roles centered on experiential learning opportunities, including Experiential Education Coordinator, and most recently Senior Experiential Education Coordinator. He has also taught part-time in a capstone course with the (former) Canadian Food and Wine Institute and worked as acting co-op employer relations consultant for technology programs for one term.

David graduated from the Business Administration – Marketing Co-op program at Niagara College and has completed a Social Media Marketing post-graduate certificate from George Brown College. He is currently working on his BA in Business Communications at Brock University.

Tess graduated from Humber College with an Advanced Diploma in Public Relations. Prior to her role with R&I, Tess worked alongside some of Canada’s most notable and impactful charities such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Free the Children and Environment Defence Canada. Most recently, she worked with Cyber-Seniors Inc. where she played a key role in successfully growing the organizations’ community engagement and expansion across North America. With more than 10 years in the field, Tess has assisted in the execution of various national marketing campaigns and promotional events, established strategic alliances with Fortune 100 companies, and implemented several highly successful partnership programs.

Prior to this role, Amanda held the title of Executive Director or Director at various prominent municipal and not-for-profit organizations. An alumnus of McMaster, Durham College, Canadore College, and Brock University, Amanda also has a Master of Management from Trent University. She is affiliated with the Human Resources Professionals Association and is working towards completing her Master of Public Administration at Dalhouise University.

She implements communication plans to support projects, events, publications and media relations. Her role also allows her to be the primary staff member responsible for creating, writing and editing internal and external communication pieces (including gathering facts, planning and research). Shelby began her career at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre as the Communications and Public Relations Coordinator, where she focused on social media, VIP tours/delegations, special events and internal communications. Following her time at Vineland, Shelby worked at Niagara Region as the Corporate Communications Advisor. Shelby provided critical support to the Communications team in developing and implementing internal and external marketing communications plans. At the Region, she also found herself being the go-to contact for planning and implementing special events and government announcements. She also supported with managing social media and web updates for the organization.

Shelby graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts, Honours in Popular Music and Film Studies. She also attended Mohawk College, where she graduated from the Public Relations post-graduate certificate program.

Stephanie is a graduate of Niagara College’s New Media Web Design program, where she learned about the design and development of websites, photography and video editing, the design of promotional materials, 3D animation and marketing skills. She has further developed her skills by designing and maintaining websites and promotional materials on her own for small- and medium-sized businesses in Niagara, including volunteer work for the Pelham Art Festival.

Armed with a diploma in Sales and Marketing and an Advanced Diploma in Marketing Administration from Niagara College, Paula also holds a Bachelor of Commerce from Nipissing University. Her academic background is a testament to her commitment to mastering the nuances of marketing and business development.

Before stepping into her current role as Associate Director of the Business and Commercialization Innovation Centre, Paule honed her skills as an entrepreneur. She successfully ran her own marketing firm, specializing in accelerating the success of small businesses. Her hands-on experience with startups and establishes enterprises alike has equipped her with a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities that small businesses face.

Paula leverages her expertise to guide a team of marketing and branding professionals, offering solutions to small- and medium-sized enterprises in the areas of marketing strategy, and media services.

Helen holds a post graduate certificate in Public Relations and Events Management through the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, a Master’s degree in Community and International Development and a BA degree in Economic and Social Policy which are both awarded by the National University of Ireland, Galway.  

She has worked for several years with various business ranging from Fortune 500 companies, media organizations, start-ups, research organizations and social enterprises. Prior to her current role as a Research Lead, she worked in communications and marketing roles primarily with a focus on marketing strategy. 

Drawing on years of marketing experience, she supports student and post-graduate research assistants in offering real world solutions to businesses seeking to solve various business challenges. Sarah is a marketing director and consultant who focuses on supporting small businesses in their digital marketing and branding efforts. 

She graduated from the University of Guelph with a Bachelor and Masters of Landscape Architecture. Her path into communications began in design school as she built her creative skills and engaged with students and community stakeholders through research and teaching. During this time Sarah also shared her fine art practice through social media, leading to exciting opportunities such as an instructional video with NBC Universal streaming service Bluprint (now Craftsy) in 2019, her residency and solo exhibit with National Historic Site, Schneider Haus in 2020 and the release of her first book in 2021.

Kristine joined the division in 2013, working as the Industry Liaison Officer and has been with the FBIC since 2015. She has taught Marketing for Niagara College’s Continuing Education and brings to her role more than 20 years of project management experience in various sectors, including consumer packaged goods and food innovation.

Kristine holds an undergraduate degree in Communications from Brock University and studied food science at University of Guelph and Niagara College. In her spare time, she volunteers for the David Suzuki Foundation by promoting environmental stewardship.

A trained food engineer and scientist with a PhD degree in food science, Ana Cristina has 10 years’ experience in food science and commercialization, including in development, troubleshooting and applicable packaging science and technology. Her most recent position was with Hela Spice Canada as a senior product developer.

This includes delivering, maintaining and training of good manufacturing practices; accountability for regulatory compliance (including recordkeeping and audits); budgeting; maintaining Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), technical quotations; supervision, supervising Pilot Plant staff and students; procurement of ingredients and supplies; sanitation of Pilot Plant and equipment; and the physical delivery of all Food and Beverage Innovation Centre beverage and liquid food production requirements.

Brad has a long-standing relationship with NC, as both an instructor, and most recently as the Lead Brewer with the Niagara College Teaching Brewery, a position he held for six years. Besides training more than 300 brewers at NC during his tenure here, he has also hosted countless sensory/tasting sessions, hosted the public “Brew Academy” sessions, and taught several courses, including Sensory Evaluation of Beer; History of Brewing; and Brewing Equipment. From 2016 to 2019, he was the founder and principal brewer at Wooden Horse Brewing Company. He regularly consults on beer development for outside companies; and he was a brewer for the Whitewater Brewing Company in the Ottawa Valley. Brad, who earned his Brewmaster and Brewery Management Diploma from Niagara College in 2016, also has a management background in the hospitality and service industry.

The labs are equipped with leading-edge technology; all part of the extensive services, from new recipe development to regulatory assistance and nutritional labelling, which are offered to food and beverage industry partners in need of research, innovation and commercialization assistance. 

Kelly has spent most of her career either in the field or in a lab coat, in biological control of weeds, first at the University of Guelph and then at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Saskatchewan. In addition to extensive research activities at AAFC, she oversaw all aspects of lab management and found time to write, edit and review numerous scientific publications and research reports. She also brings previous experience in quality and food safety programs; compliance with regulatory programs and standards; and new product development.

She has an Honours Biology degree with a minor in Biochemistry from the University of Guelph and also has HACCP and SQF certifications. In addition to her role at RandI, Kelly is a part-time professor of NC’s Applied Plant Pathology course in the School of Environmental and Horticultural Studies.

Stephanie also works collaboratively with industry partners, faculty, students and graduates in the FBIC food and beverage labs. 

Stephanie has a background in chemistry, biology, analytical instrumentation, product development and food safety protocols. She brings to her role more than a decade of experience in her sector, including a position as RandD Food Technologist with Sensient Flavors Canada and as an Assistant Winemaker with Andrew Peller Ltd. She holds a Bachelor in Life Sciences from McMaster University and a diploma in Food and Drug Technology from Durham College.

Kimberley has held such roles as Special Project Manager at Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Senior Research Associate at the University of California, Davis, and has also held research positions at The University of Guelph and at the National Research Council’s Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatoon.

Kimberley holds a Master of Science in Biological Sciences, specializing in Plant Sciences, from Brock University, and was the 2017 Winner of the Distinguished Graduate Award for the highest overall program average. She also holds an Honours Bachelor of Science, with Distinction, in Plant Biology from the University of Guelph, and was awarded the Sharon Marshall Memorial Prize in Plant Biology for the highest cumulative average. She has over 19 years of experience working in an applied horticulture research environment. Kimberley was named as one of the 2024 Influential Women in Agriculture and was a 2022 Women in Business Awards finalist. She also holds a Governance Professionals of Canada Designation (GPC.D). She has served as Corporate Secretary for several Niagara-based corporations and is Past Chair for the charity Community Crew, which provides healthy lunches to kids across Niagara.

She has worked in the horticulture and agriculture industries for over twenty years. Prior roles have focused on developing and monitoring growing media, composts, and healthy soils with sustainability as the driving force. Her passion for this industry has taken her across Canada and into the US working with and learning from leaders in soil microbiology, health, and regeneration, and sharing this knowledge with growers, farmers, and master gardeners at workshops, conferences and general meetings. After receiving her Master’s degree in Land Resource Science from the University of Guelph in 2013, Christine helped build and manage a soil health laboratory and operated as a private soil health consultant in southern Ontario, working with research or grant-driven projects focused on improved water and land stewardship. Since 2019, Christine has also been a part-time professor teaching in the School of Environment and Horticulture at Niagara College.

In addition to his managerial duties, Scott provides his expertise in plant biology and horticulture to support staff, faculty, students, and visitors in teaching and research activities. He assists HESIC’s Research Leads in developing new and existing research projects and also leads research project work himself.

Prior to this role, Scott served as a Research Lead at HESIC, where he spearheaded cannabis and hemp projects, as well as projects under the Greenhouse Technology Network (GTN). With more than 14 years of experience in teaching and research, he possesses a diverse background in plant science, genetics, and both indoor and outdoor greenhouse cultivation. As a former Master Grower and Plant Scientist for major cannabis companies, Scott has led numerous projects aimed at optimizing crop production and developing new cultivars. 

Scott holds a BSc in Forensic Science from Trent University, an MSc in Biotechnology from Brock University, and a Post-graduate Certificate in Commercial Cannabis Production from Niagara College. He continues to share his knowledge as a part-time faculty member at Niagara College, teaching in the Commercial Cannabis Production Program, and at Brock University in the Biological Sciences Department.

Neil’s passions are supporting small- and medium-sized businesses on their innovation journeys to commercial success and working with early career professionals and watching them grow into well-rounded leaders. 

Neil holds an MBA in Innovation Leadership from the Sandermoen School of Business at the University of Fredericton, an Ontario Graduate Certificate in Research Analysis from Georgian College, and a BSc in Applied Biochemistry from Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom.

During his time at Nidec Mobility Canada, Dave acted as the industry partner on collaborative research projects with the University of Waterloo and mentored student teams, so he will bring the customer/client perspective to WAMIC as well as his ability to help students gain real-world knowledge in the industry. Dave holds a diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology (Design Option) from Mohawk College, as well as several other certificates in various leadership, training, and business courses.

Brian trains students and graduate employees, along with staff and researchers, on standard and specialized equipment and processes, and is responsible for creating, maintaining and updating maintenance-related standard operating procedures (SOPs).  

Brian is a graduate of Niagara College’s Electronics Engineering Technology (Co-op) program and has worked in the research labs at both WAMIC and the Agriculture & Environmental Technologies Innovation Centre (AETIC). He has also been a partial-load professor teaching electronic fabrication skills.

Joshua is a graduate of Niagara College’s Mechanical Engineering Technologist program, and Brock University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. With more than 12 years in the field, Josh has extensive experience in mechanical engineering, quality control, and managing teams to establish a lean manufacturing culture.

Rita has managed businesses and research labs and has applied her management knowledge as a business strategy consultant to small businesses and social enterprises. She earned her Master of Business Administration and Doctoral degrees in Management at the University of Guelph.

Rita took a deep dive into the greenhouse industry during postdoctoral work in 2017 that looked at value creation opportunities from the adoption of robotics by Ontario vegetable greenhouse growers. Rita enjoys the work of building the GTN and the challenges of bringing together greenhouse-related technology businesses with research experts and specialized research facilities in a rapidly changing, innovation ecosystem.

Kithio spent several years in Niagara working on governance issues with the St. Catharines – Thorold Chamber of Commerce and later the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce (GNCC). He was also interim CEO at GNCC and then President and CEO of the Guelph Chamber of Commerce. He holds a Bachelor and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Brock University, and he has earned his Certificate in Public Governance from the Institute on Governance.

She brings expertise in communications, marketing, project management, and event planning to the role. Before joining Niagara College, Elina was the Communications Manager at The Forge, McMaster’s business incubator, where she promoted programs and events focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. With over twelve years of experience in higher education and innovative companies in Canada and the United States, Elina has a strong background in developing effective communication strategies and managing diverse projects. She completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in communication studies from The College of Wooster and a master’s degree in business administration from Cleveland State University, both located in Ohio.

Mitchell is also responsible for supporting the commercialization efforts of industry and community partners by advancing their intellectual property (IP) through informed guidance, strategic planning, and introducing funding opportunities related to IP protection. Mitchell’s career journey includes working abroad as a Marketing Specialist for a distribution company in Kingston, Jamaica, and developing his business skills as an Assistant Manager at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. He later spent several years as a Training Resource at Canadian Tire Financial Services, where he designed and developed blended learning solutions by leveraging data, insights, and strategic planning to achieve business goals.

A proud alumnus, Mitchell holds a Post-Graduate Certificate in Human Resources Management, a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration[ML7] – International Commerce and Global Development, and a Diploma in International Business, from Niagara College.

Kevin also assists Research & Innovation staff, faculty and students with the technology aspects of their various projects to help them meet their goals. He maintains sensor networks, computers, servers, and is quick to adapt and implement any new technology required. He joined the division in August 2004. Kevin is a graduate of Niagara College’s Computer Programming and Network System Operations. He has more than 20 years of experience in the Information Technology field.