Board of Directors
Executive Committee
President: Greg Groen
Post Note Communications Greg was an insurance broker for about 6 years, starting with PC insurance in Windsor Ontario, and currently working with Huronia Insurance Group. Active in many community groups, he serves on the Board of Directors for the Huronia Symphony Orchestra, The City of Barrie Year-Round/Farmer’s Market Steering committee, Friends of Burl’s Creek, and other groups. Greg also writes, contributing to his own blog at Bandfan Universe as well as writing the column “Expressions” for North Simcoe Life Magazine. |
VP: Rick Schell
Ye Old Country Store Inn Thank You for this opportunity to help serve the members of this board along with all the Members. I have been a property owner and business operator living in Oro-Medonte for over 20 years. I am a Master Plumber by trade with over 40 years' experience in Mechanical, Industrial, Institutional and Residential plumbing and heating installations. Specializing in Radiant Floor Heating design and installations. I have a teaching degree from Queens University and actively taught shop courses at Eastview Secondary School in Barrie for 26 years. I also have had the privilege of coaching many teams at our school and lead the Outing Club for 20 years, retiring in 2006. I Coached Rep. Hockey in Coldwater for 15 seasons. My past involvement with the Coldwater Telephone System as a Board Member and Chairman for 5 years, along with Chairman of the Coldwater Rate Payers Association for 3 years has given me experience of responsibility for this position. I look forward to working with everyone and meeting many more people of Oro-Medonte. Thank you. |
Directors
Lynda Chan
Lynda J. Chan Photography |
Nancy Powell
Mortgage Sense Nancy is an independent Mortgage Agent with Mortgage Sense and works throughout Simcoe County and the surrounding areas. She has an extensive background in mortgages, real estate and property appraisals. Prior to joining Real Mortgage Associates, Nancy was a financial advisor/manager with National Bank and Meridian Credit Union for over 26 years. One of her greatest passions is helping people. Nancy provides personalized service and works closely with her clients to provide solid advice based on their specific needs and goals and build a plan with the right financial products. Nancy was born and raised in Toronto and moved to the Barrie area in 1990. She has been a Member of the Oro-Medonte Chamber for 7 years thorough Meridian Credit and recently joined with Real Mortgage Associates. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking, gardening and listening to live music at local venues. |
Sylvia Stark
Making a Difference PR & Marketing Born and raised in Township of Oro-Medonte. A Philanthropist with a passion to make a positive difference in people’s lives at home and abroad, promoting ethnic diversity within her own career as well as prompting a greater understanding of diversity around the world. Her vast experience and travel include working with the Canadian Forces, the Diplomatic Core and Celebrities of many countries. Sylvia is a renowned internationally speaker, with a degree in marketing and public relations. She started her own company Making a Difference PR. Returning home to Oro-Medonte in 2014 to care for her Mom. Charity work is her passion and includes a variety of projects for Habitat for Humanity, World Vision, Shriners, McMaster, Stollery’s Hospital in Canada, Mother’s Day Telethon, Jerry Lewis Telethon for Easter Seals. Named an Honorary Member of The Royal Canadian Forces in Wainwright Alberta in 2003 and International Woman of the Year in 2014. In 2003 Sylvia launched a petition across Canada that received international status and was instrumental to save a woman’s life in Nigeria. Amina Lawal was sentenced to death by stoning for having a child out of wedlock after being raped. Working closely with Canadian Foreign Affairs, the Nigerian and Canadian Ambassador her and her little girls’ lives was spared by the Shariah Court of Appeal, they no longer live in Nigeria. In 2005 Sylvia Founded the Teddy Bears of Hope Foundation (A Not for Profit), a campaign of Love and Hope from Children in Canada to Children around the world. Children who are lonely, underprivileged, and caught in a web of poverty and despair due to no fault of their own. In 10 years 100,000’s of teddy bears has been sent around the world, including 24,000 to Thailand, 20,000 to Sri Lanka, 74,000 to Afghanistan. She was part of the team on horseback recreating The Pony Express to raise funds for children in Philippines and Cambodia Orphanages. For 18 years Founded and Produced the largest scholarship program in Canada the Miss Canada and Miss Teen Canada International. A program recognized for its service on the National and International Stage. These women made a positive impact on the lives of those they touched as they strived to attain their personal and professional goals through education. In 2019 Publicist Contract for Canadas Walk for Diabetes Canada and JDRF Juvenile Diabetes for Jeff Laybolt who hiked across Canada to raise awareness and funds for the above organizations. In 2019 Project Manager contract for the Walter and Giant Campaign for Parkinson’s Canada. Walter Reich 71 years old cycled across Canada from Tofino BC to Newfoundland. In 2018 Publicist and Project Manager for COPE Service Dogs “Buddy Paddles Simcoe” where a retiring service dog rode a paddle board around lake Simcoe raising funds for Canines in the Classroom program. In 2017 was Publicist for Zach Makes Tracks Campaign for RVH Youth Mental Health a 13-year-old boy who walked from Barrie to Ottawa. |
Oro-Medonte Chamber of Commerce Executive Director and Board of Directors have completed training to comply with the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service Ontario Regulation 429-07