Committee Chairs
- Policy: Lana Cowling-Mason
- Communications: Vern May
- Awards: Tammy Dziadek
- Education: Marilyn Crewe
Board of Directors
Marilyn Crewe, Chair
Marilyn Crewe has been the Economic Development Officer in Neepawa since 2014. Marilyn is a certified practitioner through EDAM’s new Community Edge program and has completed both the Economic Developers Certification and Fellowship programs from University of Waterloo. She sits on several boards including the Neepawa Chamber of Commerce and the Beautiful Plains Community Foundation. She supports local businesses and organizations to drive community growth. Marilyn enjoys working with entrepreneurs, developing viable businesses that move the community forward and provide employment. She believes that sustainable economic development can be accomplished through clearly understanding the needs of the region and communicating those needs effectively.
Joel Lemoine, First Vice-Chair
Joel Lemoine has been a Financial Business Advisor and Immigration Integration Officer for the 17 years at the Economic Development Council of Manitoba (CDEM). During this time, I’ve also been an EDAM board member as well as the representative of the Economic Developers Association of Canada (EDAC). With a background in business, accounting, international business as well as an Economic Development certification, I really enjoy providing guidance to entrepreneurs and communities in achieving growth and success in the years to come.
Anna Mondor, 2nd Vice-Chair
Anna is the Marketing Director for the Beausejour Brokenhead Development Corporation (BBDC). Her extensive knowledge in International Branding, Economic Development, International Marketing Management, Project Management comes from over 10 years in the field of Brand Trade and Project Management and 7 years in Economic Development directly. After earning a MSc (Eng) in Management and Economics – University of Technology Gdansk, Poland, Anna furthered her education in Canada by pursing an MBA at the Asper School of Business, University of Manitoba, a Master Certificate in Project Management – Schulich Business School of Toronto and Immigration Consultant Practitioner Diploma from the Canadian Society of Immigration Consultants (CSIC). Anna enjoys travel, Antient Art, politics and outdoor activities.
Grant Carlson, Treasurer
Grant Carlson has been with Manitoba Agriculture for 13 years, currently as Industrial Development Leader. Prior to that, he was an EDO for 8 years and before that attended the University of North Dakota, completing both a B.S. and M.A. Grant has worked to successfully attract over $1 billion in FDI and 500 resulting jobs over his career and has worked on projects in the ag, forestry and communications sectors.
Tammy Dziadek, Past President
For the past 25 years Tammy has been working in the field of business and economic development. Tammy is the current manager of Community Futures East Interlake Inc., as position she has held since 2004. Tammy has experience working in client counseling, lending, proposal writing, strategic planning, HR management, development and implementation of training worships, financial statement analysis and bookkeeping.
Ben Brodeur
Traditionally educated in Business Management and Human Resources with sales and marketing experience in both the retail and hospitality environments before moving from volunteer development work for various non-profits to full-time as the Municipality of Roblin's Economic Development Officer. I am a highly creative and self-motivated individual with a genuine pioneering spirit who loves the diversity of minor challenges constantly being presented through rural development work. Personal hours are spent being a husband and father to my endearing wife and 3 young children, enjoying the outdoors, and volunteering as an emergency responder when I can.
Lana Cowling-Mason
Lana Cowling-Mason is the General Manager of Community Futures West Interlake. Prior to joining CFWI in 2014, Lana started her career in 1999 as the Economic Development Officer for the Rural Municipality of Woodlands. Growing up in rural Manitoba, in a family of volunteers, Lana attended Assiniboine Community College, receiving her Diploma in Rural Development, hoping to help communities survive and grow. The best part of her career has been supporting community volunteers, leaders and champions do amazing work to better their community.
Nicole Fontaine
Since 2014, Nicole Fontaine has been the Liaison Officer at the World Trade Centre Winnipeg and brings over 30 years of experience to the position. She has a passion for networking, team building and helping Manitobans succeed professionally. Connecting the dots is the name of her game! Nicole holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Psychology and Sociology and a minor in Political Sciences from the Université de Saint-Boniface. She also holds a Public Administration certificate from Red River College.
Vern May
Executive Director, Portage Regional Economic Development
Economic Development Certificate – University of Waterloo
University Management Certificate – University of Manitoba
Foreign Direct Investment, Level 1 / 2 – CAI Global
The real joy in economic development is that there is no pre-determined path to prosperity. The individual benchmarks and achievements are created through the strategic delivery of your program toward the communities identified needs. This allows you to bring your own experience from other sectors and implement your own creativity and insight into tackling a problem that while common with other jurisdictions, offers its own subtle nuances to achieve success.
Edward Suzuki
Edward served as Director of Market Intelligence with Economic Development Winnipeg (EDW). In this role, he managed and led a number of teams in providing all aspects of economic development (EDO, Project Manager, and Research Analyst), which taught him the importance of team work and communication. Before joining EDW, Edward worked for the Calgary Economic Development Authority and CMHC. He helped existing industry associations, public sector, companies directly on sector opportunities and existing barriers. He provided a wide range of services - from investment development, to information and research and partnership and capacity building. Edward has a Masters Degree in Urban Planning from the U of M, a Honors Degree in Urban Geography and Urban Studies from the University of Winnipeg, and a Civil Technology Diploma from Red River College.
Jordan Tidey
Jordan is a Senior Consultant with MDB Insight based out of Winnipeg. He has completed an MBA and MSc in International Business from Vancouver Island University. Before joining MDB Insight, Jordan was Manager of Market Intelligence with Economic Development Winnipeg. He has also worked with Northern Development Initiative Trust in Prince George supporting rural community economic development.
Jordan has had extensive experience in economic development, his projects have included proactive business development, FDI Strategies, sector research, trend identification, workforce development strategies, and designing business retention and expansion programs and connecting businesses to local opportunities.
Iris Vercaigne
Iris Vercaigne is the Economic Development Officer for the Town of Melita. A rural community located at the southwest corner of Manitoba with a population of 1,049 in 2016. Prior to this, she was a marketing executive for more than 10 years. She holds a Masters degree in Business Administration, Bachelor in Science degree in Geodetic Engineering, and post graduate units in Remote Sensing.