May Chang X
Board Chair
May Chang is an executive who has spent 25 years in the healthcare sector in leadership roles at large community hospitals and major multi-site hospitals. She is currently the Principal of May Chang Consulting, offering executive leadership strategies.
Prior to starting her own consulting firm, May was the Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer at Markham Stouffville Hospital, where she strategically created and promoted the Office of Innovation, engaged partners for an Information Technology Hub and successfully mentored upcoming executives. May is sought after for her sound financial planning and fiscal expertise, as she is renowned for her ability to help organizations become financially successful.
Prior to joining Markham Stouffville, she served as Interim Chief Executive Officer at Shared Services West. May also held various senior executive portfolios at Trillium Health Partners and spent nine years in managerial positions in the private sector with Harry Rosen Inc.
She graduated with distinction from the University of Toronto and holds the prestigious Fellowship designations from both the CPA and CMA.
Tony Di Giovanni X
Board Vice Chair
Tony Di Giovanni retired from the role of Executive Director of Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association, one of the world’s largest and most active Horticultural Associations. He also serves as a Director of the Ontario Horticultural Trades Foundation and Executive Director of Canada Blooms Flower and Garden Show.
As of 2022, Tony is serving on a number of committees including Deans Advisory Committee at Humber College, Chair of Green Infrastructure Ontario, Chair of the Development Committee at Toronto Botanical Garden, Board member of the Toronto Botanical Gardens, Director Maple Leaves Forever, Director Highway of Heroes Living Tribute, Director Smart about Salt Council, Director IPM Council and Director Trees for Life.
He has also held advisory board positions at the University of Guelph, Seneca College, Ryerson University, Humber College and the Industry Advisory Committee of the Ministry of Colleges Training and Universities.
Tony received many awards including the Humber Alumnus of Distinction in 2002 and an Honorary Degree in 2011. He is thrilled to be an honorary member of the Niagara Parks School Alumni.
Ian Potter, PhD, FCAE X
President and CEO
Ian Potter is President & Chief Executive Officer of Vineland, as well as President and Chief Executive Officer of Platform Genetics, Inc.
Previous to Vineland, Ian served as Vice President, Engineering and Vice President, Business Management with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and previous to NRC as the Chief Operating Officer at Alberta Innovates – Technology Futures (AITF). During his 10 years at AITF and its predecessor, the Alberta Research Council (ARC), he held several leadership and management positions in energy, environment, greenhouse gas technology and human resources.
Dr. Potter has a successful track record in innovation and strong experience developing and collaborating with a broad network of stakeholders. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Calgary.
Kristin Ego MacPhail X
Board Director
Kristin Ego MacPhail and her husband own Ego’s Nurseries Ltd. located in Simcoe County, Ontario. The greenhouse and nursery business cultivates a wide variety of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs for their on-site retail garden centre and to supply the local landscape industry. Kristin and her family also operate a seasonal farm market for their field-grown strawberries, sweet corn, pumpkins and other farm fresh crops.
Ms. Ego MacPhail holds a BSc in agriculture from the University of Guelph. She is Director of the Ontario Farm Fresh Marketing Association and Past Chair of Agricultural Adaptation Council.
John Groenewegen, PhD X
Board Director
John operates JRG Consulting Group, a Guelph-based management consulting firm that has been in business for more than two decades. JRG Consulting Group focuses on the agriculture and food sector and provides consulting services in areas such as business strategy, sector competitiveness, economic assessments and policy. Dr. Groenewegen has conducted a number of projects in various segments of the horticulture sector.
Previously, John was a Partner in a major management consulting firm and was also employed by Agriculture Canada and worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the early part of his professional career.
Mr. Groenewegen has a doctorate in agricultural and applied economics from the University of Minnesota, with his first two degrees from the University of Guelph. In addition to his professional focus, John is a farm owner in a share-cropping operation in southwestern Ontario.
Lori Hall X
Board Director
Lori Hall is a partner at Gowling WLG, an international law firm with 18 offices across the globe.
Distinguished among the world’s top trademark professionals, Lori focuses her practice exclusively in the area of trademark prosecution. Over the course of her 14-year career, she has helped countless clients – from small startups to multi-billion dollar corporations – protect and maximize their brands at home and abroad.
A sought-after thought leader in her field, Lori is the author of the trademark prosecution section of LexisNexis Practice Advisor, one of Canada’s premier legal resources. Lori’s past board experience includes The Goodwill Amity Group (Hamilton and Halton) and The Innovation Factory at the McMaster Innovation Park.
Derek Lothian X
Board Director
Derek Lothian is the president and CEO of the Insurance Brokers Association of Saskatchewan (IBAS) and currently serves as a director on the boards of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Simpson Seeds Inc. He is also frequently tapped as an advisor to private, publicly-traded and not-for-profit entities spanning advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defence, agriculture and biosciences.
Prior to joining IBAS in 2017, Derek held posts as vice president for Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters, as executive director of the Saskatchewan Manufacturing Council and as founding chair of the Saskatchewan Manufacturing Centre of Excellence. He spearheaded the creation of the Manufacturing Management program at Athabasca University and has been recognized for his contributions to the sector with several awards and distinctions, such as being named to CBC’s Future 40, PR in Canada’s Top 30 Under 30 and as a Premier’s Award nominee in Ontario.
Derek previously served as chair of the Saskatchewan Business Council, as well as on the boards of Innovation Saskatchewan, SaskTel Centre, Platform Genetics Inc., Saskatoon Industry Education Council and Kahkewistahaw Economic Management Corporation. He holds a diploma in public relations from Ottawa’s Algonquin College and his ICD.D designation in corporate governance through the Institute of Corporate Directors and the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management.
Rick Mastronardi X
Board Director
Mark Picone X
Board Director
A consummate professional covering decades of service excellence with an eye for detail, Mark has leveraged his vast knowledge and passion by pursuing various roles in hospitality, education and entrepreneurship.
Social gastronomy has been a cornerstone of his mandate – one that encourages a constancy to purpose of learning, living and sharing. His reputation for celebrating Niagara and all that it has to offer is manifested in his approach to his vineyard and sustainable agriculture.
Mark is a graduate of the University of Guelph (B Comm) and Niagara University (MBA).
Glen Price X
Board Director
Glen Price is a co-founder of Sunterra Quality Food Markets Inc. where his career spanned more than 30 years.
Glen grew up on the Price family farm near Acme, Alberta. He obtained a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta. Upon graduation, he gained retail food experience working in Hong Kong for the Park n’ Shop supermarket group (part of the Li Ka-Shing Group). In 1989, Glen returned to Canada to pioneer a unique European-style fresh market concept along with other members of his family. The first Sunterra Market location opened in Calgary in 1990. The company has since expanded to five Calgary, two Edmonton and one market locations in Red Deer.
Glen has served on various boards including the Olds College Centre for Innovation, the University of Alberta Centre for Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise and Livestock Gentec. He is currently on the board of the Sunterra Group of Companies and VenturePark Labs and is a mentor at the CDL-Rockies AgriFood stream.
Liz Stokes Bajcar X
Board Director
Liz Stokes Bajcar is a specialist in the human resources field with over thirty years of experience in energy (Enbridge and IESO), insurance (Prudential of America and CGU) and media (TVO).
Previously, her roles included Senior Manager Total Compensation for Canada and Director Compensation for North America. Liz’s focus was on program design and development, employee services and compliance.
After retiring from corporate life, she and her husband joined the agricultural community and are now enjoying owning and operating Ridgecrest Vineyards located in Stoney Creek, ON. In addition to growing grapes, there is a pear orchard on the property.
Liz is a York University graduate, she holds CHRP, CHRL and CCP designations and has earned an MBA from Heriot-Watt University. She also has an Adult Education Certificate from Seneca College.
Angela Zangari X
Board Director
Angela Zangari is a lifelong Niagara resident with more than 30 years of healthcare leadership experience.
Angela was the Executive Vice President Finance, Development, Facilities and CFO at Niagara Health where she recently led the development of the new South Niagara hospital in Niagara Falls.
An energetic and passionate leader, Angela is known for her ability to build relationships while leading significant change.
