OUR TEAM

Gerry Taylor, PMP, Executive Director
taylor@predc.ca
LinkedIn.com Profile

Gerry Taylor has more than 30 years of blended experience in the fields of Economic Development, Project Management, Urban Design and Group Facilitation.

As an Urban Designer, Gerry was employed for 18 years by the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Engineering and Planning Department. He initiated and advanced the City's first GIS system. As the project grew, he worked with the City's Mayor of the day to co-found the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre and undertook the responsibilities of President & CEO for 5 years. Under his supervision and direction, the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre was instrumental in securing GM's Emergency Roadside Assistance Centre, creating approximately 300 jobs for the Municipality. He received ESRI Canada's award of "Excellence in the Field of Geographic Information Systems". The Sault Ste. Marie Innovation team subsequently developed a multi award winning Geomatics Service for the region.

Gerry understands the value of combining economic development with project management strategies. In 2004 he earned the globally recognized credential of Project Management Professional (PMP) and is a registered global member of the Project Management Institute (PMI). He was the principle of SMART Project Management, a consulting firm assisting rural communities with economic development, project management training, and community strategic and economic planning.

Being originally from southern Ontario, Gerry and his family decided to relocate from Sault Ste. Marie to Kincardine in 2005. He took a contract position as Manager of Community Economic Development with the Bruce Community Futures Corporation which provided him a greater understanding of economic issues facing communities in Bruce County.

Gerry worked with the Municipality of Kincardine's Economic Development Committee for two years prior to facilitating the transition of the Committee to the Penetangore Regional Economic Development Corporation (PREDC) to which he serves as Executive Director.

Mense (Jim) Prenger, President
prenger@predc.ca
LinkedIn.com Profile

Jim is the President of Penetangore Regional Economic Development Corporation.

He is retired from banking, having worked 38 years in the Canadian Banking industry with Royal Bank. He grew up in an entrepreneurial family where he worked in his father's business while studying at Mohawk College where he graduated from the Business Administration course specializing in Accounting.

During College and after a short stint at Dofasco, he spent many years working in banking both on the administrative side, including Internal Audit, as well as the customer face side in Business Lending and Personal Lending and Investing. Most of his positions were in supervisory and coaching roles including Branch Management.

Always active in the community as a sports coach, President of the Chamber of Commerce, President of the Curling Club and President of the Lions Club, Jim still found time to work with the Municipal Economic Development Committee for over 12 years. He has extensive knowledge in finance and good judgment in reviewing the viability of propositions.

Jim is a 15 year resident of Kincardine, he is very aware of the economic climate and is sought out for his input by many in the community.

Jim's strong suit is the development, leadership, and growth of cohesive, cooperative teams for completion of stretch goals.

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Robert Cottrill, Vice President
cottrill@predc.ca

Born and raised in Kincardine, Robert has owned and operated two successful family businesses, Cottrill Fuels and Cottrill Paving.Currently, he is working with his son, Matt, running Cottrill Heavy Equipment, a heavy truck repair and fabrication business.

As a community project activist, Robert was instrumental in the restoration of Walker House by volunteers and he currently sits on the Board of Directors.He has also been the chairperson of the Cruise Night committee since its inception.

Robert brings his own experience and understanding of what a business needs to function and grow, as well as an ability to negotiate with partners to find common ground to move projects ahead.

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Linda Bowers, Secretary-Treasurer
bowers@predc.ca

After enjoying many summer vacations in Point Clark, located minutes south of Kincardine, Linda made Kincardine her full time residence in 2005.As a highly active community supporter, Linda became a member of Grey Bruce Crime Stoppers and the Bluewater Summer Playhouse.Linda also extended her community involvement assisting the Kincardine Bulldogs hockey team and the Women's House of Grey Bruce as well as the Kincardine Scottish Festival.

Appointed as the first Project Manager serving the South Dundas Economic Development Commission in 1989 Linda also became an active member of the Ontario East Economic Development Commission with a focus to improve the lack of awareness of the area's economic diversity and creating awareness linking local business to utilize services of other local business.

In 1996, along with other Chambers of Commerce representatives serving communities within Eastern Ontario, she became a founding member of Cornwall & Seaway Valley Tourism(C&SVT).C&SVT is now a progressively recognized industry driven tourism association supported the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and the City of Cornwall.

Linda also served on the Board of Directors to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) from 1999 to 2004.She served as Vice Chair and Chairperson of the Quality Improvement Committee and member of the Finance Committee.She was a member of both the Hospital Corporation and the WDMH Foundation.During that time she also became Chair of the Seaway Valley Crime Stoppers.

In 2002, during the fiftieth year of celebrations of Queen Elizabeth II reign, Linda received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal from the Governor General in recognition of her commitment to her community.
Just prior to moving to Kincardine in 2005, Linda was honoured to have been appointed to the Champlain District Grant Selection Team for Trillium Grants and the SD& G Community Futures Development Corporation.Sadly, moving to Western Ontario meant leaving those two Boards.

In 2006, Linda was appointed by Kincardine Municipal Council to the Kincardine Economic Development Committee.She also joined and currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Kincardine & District Chamber of Commerce and represents the Ward of South Bruce County on the Board of Directors of the REALTORS® Association of Grey Bruce Owen Sound.

Utilizing her past experience in economic development and tourism and her awareness of the socio-economic diversity of the Kincardine area she is excited to be part of the Penetangore Regional Economic Development Corporation (PREDC).Linda's commitment to the community provides a valued contribution towards the efforts of the PREDC.

Guy Anderson, Director
anderson@predc.ca

Guy Anderson is a lifelong resident of Kincardine.An entrepreneur by nature, Guy started out his career as a licensed carpenter and a residential contractor for six years.He then became an owner/operator of a restaurant and then owner/operator of a local sporting goods store.

Serving the Municipality of Kincardine, Guy became the Chief Building Official for a 20 year period.As part of that role, he administered the RRAP and OHRP federal and provincial programs.

Guy's career path escalated as he became more involved with the decision making activities of the Municipality, whereby, he served as a Municipal Councillor for a 10 year period.He expanded his community service and became involved with the Economic Development Committee for a 13 year period.During that time, Guy also chaired the newly formed and presently thriving Grey/Bruce Culinary Association.

During the last 12 years, Guy has successfully turned around a 35 beehive honey hobby into a flourishing 1200 beehive commercial operation.Guy's balance of a common sense approach to business development and entrepreneurship is a welcomed contribution to the Penetangore Regional Economic Development Board of Directors.

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Allan Ribbink, Director
ribbink@predc.ca

Allan is a lifelong resident of Bruce County and he was raised on a dairy farm located in the Tiverton area. In 1979, he completed his studies at Centralia College of Agriculture and earned his diploma in Agricultural Business Management.

Upon completing his studies, Allan began a sheep farming operation which has since grown to a capacity of 1000 breeding ewes and 2000 feeder lambs serving markets throughout North America. Allan's acquired agricultural expertise has taken him to provide consulting services within the international community, serving regions in North and South America, Middle East and the Isle of Mann, located in the Irish Sea.
Locally, Allan has served on the Ontario Sheep and Services Committee and the Board of Directors for the Bruce County Federation of Agriculture.

Allan's agriculture background has been a welcomed contribution to the 12 years of service that he provided to the former Municipality of Kincardine's Economic Development Committee. He brings extensive knowledge and advice pertaining to agricultural and business development related matters.

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Don Jones, P.Eng, Director
jones@predc.ca

Don has over 30 years experience in the nuclear and agricultural industries.

In the nuclear industry, Don has been employed with Ontario Power Generation and has had responsibilities for management of nuclear waste, project management and development of reliable, safe nuclear systems. Don has also had experience in the agricultural industry as a project manager, designer of agricultural equipment and retail sales for John Deere, a large World-wide agricultural, commercial and consumer products manufacturer and retailer.

Project Management has been the basis for his career development. It is important to develop a key understanding of the project goal and vision prior to initiating a team to design and implement the Project Plan. The stakeholders of the project need to be defined early, effective teams put in place with defined roles and responsibilities and a project schedule and budget defined. The merger of Project Management and economic development will ensure a strong and valuable economic development program for the Kincardine area.

Don has been a resident of the Kincardine area for over 20 years. His involvement with the development of the Kincardine Airport Strategic Business Plan outlines the importance of having a strategic vision for the community and then developing and implementing a plan to achieve these goals.

Don is a graduate of the University of Guelph and is a registered Professional Engineer in the province of Ontario.

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Ron W. Coristine, Municipal Councillor,
EDC & Tourism Policy Chair
ronc@brucetelecom.com
LinkedIn.com Profile

Ron Coristine M.P.A. is the Principal of Coristine & Associates Consulting, specializing in strategic management services: strategic planning, project management, research and evaluation, customized training and policy development. Ron established his consultancy in Kincardine in 1998. Prior to that Ron's career spanned positions as Executive Director with a range of organizations as well as Regional Planning Officer and Program Supervisor with the Government of Ontario.

Ron's career work has focused on organizational change and renewal including board governance training; leveraging resources through partnership initiatives; sound financial management; labour relations; strategic human resource management; public education program development; website development and management; and extensive work with Boards of Directors, committees and planning bodies.

Ron was elected to his first term as Councillor at Large for the Municipality of Kincardine in October 2011. Ron believes diversification of our local economy is a key direction and promoted the idea of a Partnership Table of local economic/business groups to develop an integrated economic development strategy. Ron brings this perspective to his support of PREDC.

Ron is the Economic Development and Tourism Policy Chair for Kincardine and the municipal representative to the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority. Since taking office Ron has been engaged with various local initiatives including supporting the establishment of PREDC.

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Linda Munro, Executive Assistant
munro@predc.ca
LinkedIn.com Profile

Linda is the Executive Assistant for PREDC. She was born and raised on a farm outside of Walkerton. Linda's career took her around the world with her participation in Marketing. She has many years experience in various office duties and adds a variety of knowledge to the Team. Since moving to Tiverton in 1996, she volunteers at the Tiverton Fall Fair and is very involved with her family.

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