Company

Chad has spent the past 20 years leading change and continuous improvement in the private and public sector as a business leader, technology and management consultant, trainer, and speaker. As one of the architects of Ontario Northland’s transformation program, Chad has led and enabled the 100+ year old transportation company to adopt modern technology, continuous improvement practices and integrate performance measurement into daily operations.

He is certified as an ITIL Expert, ISO20000 Practitioner, Lean Six Sigma Green Belt and holds an MBA from the University of London, England.

A fifth-generation railroader, Drew brings 37 years of operational expertise from Canadian Pacific. His focus is to augment safety and operational excellence across the Remanufacturing and Repair Centre and Rail Mechanical while responding to an increase in demand for external work.

Drew grew up in Northern Ontario and after travelling throughout Canada building his railroading experience and knowledge, he returned to his roots. He enjoys the outdoors and is looking forward to contributing to a region that has always been important to him.

Tracy is an expert in fostering relationships with stakeholder groups across industries and government. Tracy’s authentic leadership style has enhanced operations due to her diligence in areas such as conflict resolution, accessibility standards, diversity and building a culture of care and accountability. Known for taking action to make a tangible difference, Tracy creates meaningful transportation solutions for passengers, customers and community partners. 

Her unique perspective empowers the executive team in finding efficiencies, generating revenue and strategically growing the organization’s operations, routes and services.

As a multi-generational railroader, Jonathan brings a wealth of organizational knowledge, combined with a value of innovation and continuous improvement. With over 21 years of railroading experience, he began as a brakeman and progressed through various roles at Ontario Northland. Jonathan's efforts have streamlined freight services in Northern Ontario by introducing transload services, optimizing schedules and increasing revenue. In his current role, Jonathan focuses on improving rail infrastructure, enhancing rail freight commercial capabilities and supporting the launch of the Northlander. Jonathan holds a B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Queen's University, Kingston, Ont., and was honoured with a spot in Railway Age's 2019 "10 Under 40."
 

Donna joined Ontario Northland in 2017 and has more than 35 years of experience, primarily in the areas of procurement, construction, governance and commercial law. Donna received her law degree from Western University and was called to the bar of the Law Society of Ontario in 1985. Her current focus as part of the Ontario Northland leadership team is to encourage and implement adaptations in processes to address changes in law, and modernize the organization through training, education and policy development.

With over 22 years of experience in the public sector, Chester is a seasoned IT and project management professional. Currently, he serves as the Executive Lead for Agency Modernization at Ontario Northland, guiding the development and execution of modernization efforts. His expertise spans technology, business planning, project delivery, continuous improvement and performance measurement. Previously, he held roles such as Director of Technology and Innovation at Ontario Northland. Recognized for leading highly effective teams and optimizing organizational processes, Chester holds multiple professional certificates and diplomas in project management, IT leadership and electronics engineering technology.

A veteran marketer, Rebecca has spent over a decade successfully modernizing and enhancing Ontario Northland’s brand and visual identity. In her current role, Rebecca oversees the organization’s marketing, communications, public relations and Indigenous engagement. She serves as a valuable mentor in her community, adept in crisis management and effectively engaging stakeholders on items specific to Northern Ontario. Rebecca’s welcoming personality and commitment to community shines in her role on the Canadore College Board of Governors, and she formerly served as the Chair of the North Bay Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors.