OACC Board Bios - OACC

Background Information on the
Officers and Directors for 2009 – 10

• Vice President of Operations for Medix Schools
• Holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from the University of Ottawa and a Project Management Certificate from George Washington University
• Started his career in private education as an admissions representative first with CDI College and then with Herzing College; achieving top rep status.
• Served on OACC Board of Directors since 2006
• Peter is a supporter of quality and is committed to carrying forward the initiatives of the membership and promoting a strong, healthy private career college industry for years to come.

• George H. Hood is the President of Herzing College Toronto. Mr. Hood has a long and distinguished career in both education and business with more than 20 years experience in leadership roles at career colleges.
• Prior to joining Herzing College, Mr. Hood was President of International Academy of Design and Technology, Toronto.
• From 1998 Mr. Hood served as Director on the board of the National Association of Career Colleges and served as Vice President and President of NACC. He has served on the OACC board for the past 12 years as Director, Vice President, President and Past President. Mr. Hood has served on several educational sector committees including the Deputy Minister’s Working Group, International Committee and TCAF.
• Prior to International Academy, Mr. Hood was Director and National Director of Trebas Institute where he worked since 1989. Prior to the career college sector, Mr. Hood was a business owner, operating Entertainment Centre, one of the largest and most successful entertainment agencies in Canada.
• George has a passion for the career college industry where changing people’s lives for the better and creatively overcoming business challenges are what he considers his greatest rewards.
• President of NACC for 2006/07 and 2007/08
• Currently Past President of NACC

•  B. Comm., University of Windsor in 1984
• Director of Academics, Everest College Canada
• Involved with NACC/OACC since 1987
• Strong passion for the industry and believe that we provide a great service to our communities
• Member of the OACC Board of Directors since 2005/06
• Chair of the KPI Committee, responsible for seeking moratorium on KPI’s
• Current President of OACC

Michael Bateman
Chief Executive Officer

Grade Expectations Learning Centres

• Between December 1994 and June 2004, Eddy was President and Director of Marketing for Novopro Inc. It was through the continuing education division that he discovered a passion for education.
• Eddy’s desire to continue working in the education field culminated in the opening of Oxford North Toronto in July 2005  specializing in dental hygiene education.  As President and Campus Director, Eddy was responsible for all areas of operation including policy, marketing, finance, human resource management and student relations.  His ownership position was sold in August 2007.
• From August 2007 to fall 2009, Eddy worked with Kent College in Toronto. As Vice-President of Operations with the college, he was responsible for overseeing all issues related to management, policy and operations.
• Eddy is currently the Director of Private Career Colleges with Grade Expectations Learning Centres.

Craig Donaldson
Director of Finance & Administration  triOS College Business Technology Healthcare

•  Director of Finance & Administration, triOS College
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA), 2004
• Bachelor of Commerce, Entrepreneurship Specialization, University of Victoria, 2001
• Craig joined triOS College in 2008, having formerly held District Controller roles with BFI Canada, a publicly traded waste and recycling company.
• Craig oversees all aspects of MTCU and OSAP regulatory affairs for all triOS College locations. Craig also oversees the Financial Aid Offices and leads the Accounting team at triOS. Craig lives in Burlington with his wife and daughter

• Rudy Florio was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario. After high school, Rudy was awarded a full athletic scholarship (football) to Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, USA; Rudy completed a Degree in Business Administration and immediately upon graduation was drafted to play for the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL.
• Rudy’s distinguished football career spanned 8 years and two teams as he finished at the BC Lions. During his pro football years, Rudy was the Special Teams Captain and a Montreal media darling. Rudy has a Grey Cup ring for his team’s win in 1974.
• In addition to football, Rudy owned and operated RWF Marketing, which specialized in team and licensed sportswear and promoted the Ravensknit product line.
• In 1984, Rudy returned to Ontario and took on part time coaching duties at the University of Guelph where his team, The Gryphons, won the national championship, the Vanier Cup, and another ring.
• 1986 was the first year that Rudy began part time instructing at The Toronto School of Business (TSB). As a marketing and business instructor, Rudy found a love for adult education and private career college industry.
• In 1988, Rudy acquired a TSB franchise and over the next few years, added two more locations.
• Liaison College was founded in 1996 when Rudy sought out additional training options and discovered a niche market in culinary arts. Since 1996, Rudy has franchised the concept of Liaison College and there are now 10 campus locations in Ontario making it the largest trainer of chefs in Canada. With many award-winning students, it is clear that Rudy has found the recipe for success.
• Rudy is a philanthropist and believes in giving back to the community he calls home. Following is a listing of boards and other volunteer activities that keep Rudy busy:
  
  • Assistant Coach – Winston Churchill High School Football Team - Hamilton
  • Board Member – John Howard Society – Hamilton
  • Chairman of the Board – Brantwood Foundation – Brantford
  • Director – Canadian Chef Educators Association
  • Board Member – CFL Alumni Golf Committee
  • Board Member – Ontario Association of Career Colleges
  • Member – Hamilton Club
  • Member – Hamilton Tiger Cats Alumni
• Rudy lives on a farm in rural Milton with his wife and an assortment of animals.

• 2005 – Present
  Archer Education Group – Diamond Institute Division
  Director of Registered Colleges, Responsible for overseeing all issues related to registered colleges including management, policy, operations, acquisitions and new startups.
• 1991 – 2005
  Diamond Institute of Business and Computer Technology
  President, Responsible for all areas of operation including program design, marketing, finance and human resource management
• 1975 - 1991
  Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology
  Senior Management, Hired initial as a technical instructor, held progressive positions including program consultant, department general manager, divisional dean, acting vice president and campus principal in the 16 year college tenure.
• 1974 – 1975
  Lovat Tunnel Equipment, Rexdale
  Machine Designer, Designed detail and assembly drawings for tunneling equipment used in such projects as sewers, subways and underground/water road systems.
• 1973 – 1974
  Dominion Aluminum (Indel Canada)
  Structural Designer, Designed detailed drawings of aluminum structures such as bridges, moving platforms, helicopter hangers, and lighting structures
• EDUCATION
  University of Toronto
  Master of Business Administration
  Trent University
  Administrative Studies
  Durham College of Applied Arts and Technology
  Mechanical Engineering Techniques (Diploma)
  Business Administration (Certificate)

• Frank has served on the OACC Board for the past 9 years as Board Member, Vice President, President (2003/4 & 2004/5) and Past President and is active in government relations through various Working Groups and currently as the Chair of the Strong Voice Committee and Employment Ontario Skills Development sub-committee.
• Frank Gerencser is the Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of triOS Corporation, the parent company of triOS College Business Technology Healthcare.
• Frank has a Degree in Systems Design Engineering (minoring in business & entrepreneurship) from the University of Waterloo (1984) and has been running Information Technology companies ever since. triOS entered the career college sector in 1998 with the training completion of 300 students from the Career Academy, followed by several others over the next few years. Based on this experience, Frank became the Chair of the Training Completion Assurance Fund Committee (TCAF).

• Mazher attended South Thames College and studied Audio Visual Technology. He also studied Business at York University and attended business programs at Harvard Business School.

• He started his career working for Rogers Cable, with the marketing department and helped launch the Pay TV program. After leaving Rogers in 1984, he started his own marketing company and successfully started a distribution business.

• Mazher presently operates and owns Canadian Business College with branches in Toronto, and the GTA.

• He was appointed as one of the founding members of the Local Boards and then recommended to the Toronto Training Board, where he served as Co-Chair for Planning and was a Business Director from 1996 – 2004.

• He was appointed to the Board of Trade as a member of the Advisory Group for Municipal Affairs committee between 2004-2007.

• Presently, Mazher is an active member of the Program Committee for the Toronto Rotary Club. In 2007, he was also a founding member of the United Nations Ambassadors Emeritus in New York City and has been holding meetings at the City University of New York. He's been an active member for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and he's also the President and CEO for the Canadian Business College

• Cindy Muller has been working in the Private Career College Sector since October, 1987 starting with The Toronto School of Business after graduating as a student

• Toronto School of Business was later acquired by CDI College and then Corinthian Colleges now operating as Everest College of Business, Technology and Health Care.

• Michele Pressé has over twenty five years of professional, business, management, training and entrepreneurial experience. Since 1994, she has been actively engaged in the education and training sector. As Canadian Director of Education for Redken NYC (a professional products division of L”oreal) she developed, implemented and facilitated many extensive professional training programs. In addition, she has developed and executed training plans for large corporate organizations with locations and employees located across Canada.
• As a Business Management consultant within the Beauty Industry she has provided consulting services to independent spa and salon owners, to assist them in introducing best practices for optimum success in their business, including overall business and financial analysis, implementation of systems as well as coaching and management training for owners and their employees.
• Michele has been actively involved and serves as a member of the Board of Directors for French Connection a not for profit organization in the Toronto District. She is the owner of Salon & Spa Career College - a private career college in Toronto. She has a passion for lifelong learning and is committed to providing students with exceptional educational experiences.

• Marcello graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1991 with an Honours Degree in Mathematics specializing in Computer Science and Finance. Marcello received the Award of Distinction for Academic Excellence in the Faculty of Mathematics.
• Marcello is currently a Director with Trillium College assisting with the rapid growth of the College across Ontario.
• For the previous eight years, Marcello was a senior manager with US-based Career Education Corporation's Ontario based schools.
• At the International Academy of Design and Technology in Toronto, one of Canada's largest single campus Career Colleges, Marcello held the position of President of the IT Division (SoftTrain College) in 2000 and then Vice President of Operations for the larger Design Division (IADT) in 2002.
• In 1999, Marcello was employed by Canada's largest technology trainer, CDI Education Corporation, as Director for the Brampton Campus.
• From 1992 to 1998, Marcello led Canada's oldest career college, Shaw College, from a traditional business school into the growing field of technology. Starting as an instructor he quickly progressed into the management of the College as Campus Director of the Toronto location and then VP Operations for all 3 locations.
• In 1987 to 1992 as a coop student in University, Marcello was employed by Price Waterhouse Chartered Accountants as a senior public accountant and auditor.
• Throughout Marcello's 18 years in the sector, he has had extensive interaction with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Private Career Colleges Branch with respect to registering new schools, approval of new academic programs including both diploma and degree granting, managing student complaints, and more.
• For the past four years, Marcello has been on the OACC Board of Directors participating on the following committees: Student Protection, Transcript Storage, rollout of the new PCC Act 2005 and chaired the TCAF and Online student assistance committees.

 Maria Sun

Victoria International College of Business and Technology

• Maria is the President and Owner of Victoria International College of Business and Technology
• Bachelor Degree in Computer Science as well as a Master Degree in Tertiary Education Management.
• Maria studied in Australia in 1998 and immigrated to Canada in 2000.
• Victoria College with the lead of Maria provides new immigrants and overseas students with help in completing the education they need to obtain employment in Canada
• Maria has participated in various social groups and has sponsored and organized a great deal of social activities for the community. She became Chairwoman of “Canadian Women's Service Centre”, “Chinese Canadian Youth Union” and “Shandong Association of Canada” in 2005.
• Member of OACC since 2004
• Maria has received the following awards: a) Outstanding Chinese Entrepreneur Award of Year 2005 b) “Ontario Outstanding Contributor” Award by Ontario Immigration in 2007 c) “Best community service award” in 2007 outstanding Chinese entrepreneurs of Canada contest. This is one of the top honors awarded amongst Chinese entrepreneurs in Canada