Board of Directors
Lee Anne Andriessen, North Perth
Lee Anne has a Master of Education Degree (OISE/UofT). She finished a career with the Waterloo Region District School Board as an elementary school administrator for 20 years. She also trained prospective principals as an instructor for the Ontario Principals’ Council. Currently, Lee Anne is serving in her second term as an elected North Perth Municipal Councillor. She also owns her own business, Simply Celebrate You Fashion Boutique.
Agriculture is a big part of Lee Anne’s life. Her husband Doug and their sons operate a dairy and chicken farm operation in North Perth.
Philanthropy is important to Lee Anne. She has been a member of the Listowel Agricultural Society for over 25 years. She chairs the North Perth Community Committee for United Way and was presented a Volunteer Spirit Award (2024). She created the annual North Perth Women of Distinction Awards and chairs this committee. Lee Anne is proud to be a Director of the Stratford Perth Community Foundation.
Mae Brooks, North Perth – Past Chair
Mae Brooks’ roots are deeply entrenched in Perth County, having been born and raised in a country setting just east of Listowel. Obtaining a Bachelor of Science from the University of Waterloo and a Human Resources Diploma from Conestoga College provided the foundation for her career. Her desire to help people as well as a keen interest in business management lead to the perfect match of a Human Resources career.
Mae has a wide range of business experience having been the lead Human Resources Professional within the Not-for-Profit, Manufacturing and Distribution sectors, within Canada and the United States.
From Chairing the Labour Force Reliability in North Perth task force, to volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and volunteering for a variety of school activities and sports teams, community involvement has always been important to Mae and her family.
Mae currently resides in North Perth with her husband and two children.
Sylvia Chrominska, Stratford – Vice Chair
Sylvia is a retired financial services executive and a respected human resources professional committed to building an engaged, adaptive, and high performing global workforce.
Sylvia is experienced in initiating and implementing transformational change with a solid financial background in corporate credit, strong analytical skills, and expertise in relationship building, strategic influencing and cross-cultural leadership.
Sylvia has held numerous Board positions in the private sector currently member of the Board with the CPP Investment and a member of the Board with Wajax, Inc. Active in Board leadership with various charities, locally Sylvia is a past Chair of the Stratford Shakespearean Festival Board of Governors.
Don Hathaway, Stratford
Don Hathaway’s career began in the Royal Canadian Air Force and continued as an electrical engineer before several years in academia. He became a partner in two business advisory firms followed by senior executive roles in technology firms. Latterly, he accepted development roles, e.g., President and CEO of the Ontario Centres of Excellence, an eighteen-month project to merge seven research centres into a single corporation and, similarly, the first President and CEO of the Global Risk Institute in Financial Services. He wrote the paper that led to the creation of Compute Canada-Calcul Canada, which provides advanced computer support for research at Canadian universities. He was its inaugural Board Chair, one of over 40 directorships.
He has a BSc in engineering and mathematics, an MBA, and the ICD.D designation. He is a fellow of the World Academy of Productivity Science and the Canadian Association of Management Consultants. He has written and published five books, three on corporate governance.
Lisa McClelland, St. Marys
Lisa was raised on the Richardson homestead, a cash crop, laying hen and broiler farm, located outside St. Paul’s. She credits her character and work ethic on her experiences growing up and the values her parents instilled in her at a young age.
Lisa graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo with a Bachelor of Arts-Major in French and Minor in Business. After university and a year abroad, Lisa began her career in the aftermarket automotive industry with NAPA Auto Parts, and currently holds the position of Manager of Associate Network for the Ontario region. NAPA Auto Parts is a strong brand and a leader in their industry and she enjoys working with many independent store and shop owners.
Lisa, with her husband John and two children, have lived in various cities across Canada but have called St. Marys their home for the past 17 years. Both Lisa and John have strong ties to Perth County and they are proud to live in such a vibrant, passionate community that cares deeply about one another. Lisa appreciates being involved with the Community Foundation as she sees the value and the difference that a foundation can make for our entire community.
Roy Norton PhD, Stratford – Secretary
Originally from Ottawa, Roy purchased a condo in Stratford in 2014, moving here in 2019 on retirement from the Canadian Foreign Service. His diplomatic postings were to Washington (including as Minister, Congressional Relations & Public Affairs), and as Consul General in each of Detroit and Chicago. His final government assignment was as Chief of Protocol of Canada.
From 2000-2006 Roy worked in the Ontario Public Service in two Assistant Deputy Minister capacities (ADM International Relations; ADM Export Development/President & CEO of Ontario Exports Inc.). He now teaches in the Master of Public Service Program at the University of Waterloo and is a (resident) Fellow at the Balsillie School of International Affairs, a Fellow of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute, and a Global Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. He holds a Ph.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (in Washington, D.C.), and Masters’ degrees from Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and Carleton University.
Roy volunteers as a member of the City of Stratford’s Investment Attraction Committee and as a Presiding Officer for Canadian Citizenship ceremonies. He’s an enthusiast for the region’s extensive cultural offerings, for local dining, for many sports (but especially baseball), and for Golden Retrievers.
Debb Ritchie, North Perth
Debb was born and raised in Listowel and returned to her hometown after a successful career in marketing and business development. She is a seasoned business professional with a proven track record in marketing and business development focused on the legal, investigative, and accounting sectors. In 2009 Debb started her own business, TalentUpfront with a focus on marketing and event consulting.
As a lifelong learner, she is a grad from WLU (BA and Marketing and Management Diplomas), Conestoga College (Business Diploma), York University (Media and PR Diploma) and from the University of Waterloo (Advanced Leadership Diploma).
Debb has held many Committee and Board positions including the North Perth Chamber of Commerce and is currently Chair of Libro’s Regional Council. She considers herself a serial volunteer and is the recipient of The Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award, The Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers (SWM) and in 2018 she was named Laurier’s first Alumnus of the Year for Community Service. In her spare time, she enjoys travelling, live theatre and golf.
Brent Shackleton, Perth South
Brent is the Broker of Record, Auctioneer and Owner of Shackleton’s Real Estate & Auction located in Perth South. He holds a degree in Economics and has a CRA designation.
Brent has been involved in numerous local and provincial organizations, most recently as a Director for The Local Community Food Centre and as Past President of the Rotary Club of Stratford. He is the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow, the highest honour the Rotary Club can bestow upon a person and represents a combination of fellowship and extraordinary service to the community.
Brent resides on his family farm with his wife Teri and their three children.
Rob Steinbach CPA CA, West Perth – Treasurer
Rob Steinbach, a graduate of Fanshawe College accounting program, has 30 years of experience in public accounting in London, Stratford, and Perth County. Most recently as Principal of McCutchen & Pearce Professional Corporation.
Rob was born and raised in Mitchell, where he continues to reside with his wife and two sons. He has been an avid community volunteer for many years, giving his time to coach local hockey and baseball teams and has been a part of a few All-Ontario Championship teams. But his true passion is golf, and he has been on the Board of Directors for the Mitchell Golf and Country Club for over 20 years.
Not only is Rob exceptional in providing tax advice to farm clients but takes that passion to the field and can be found in a harvester in the fall.
Marcel van Hulle, PhD, Stratford – Chair
Marcel van Hulle is a Senior Vice President with the Info-Tech Research Group, a London (Ontario) based research and advisory firm. In this role, Mr. van Hulle was responsible for Info-Tech’s revenue and business development with customers and business partners. Over the past 15 years, Marcel has delivered consistently substantial double-digit growth to Info-Tech and built a 4000+ account base worldwide. Under his leadership, Info-Tech was named the fastest growing Research Firm with a clear view on future developments while being the best on implementation guidance.
Marcel brings a wealth of knowledge gained during his 30-year international career with IBM, where he held various global executive positions in general management, consulting services, operations, and business development. Earlier in his career, Marcel was a Research Fellow for Agfa and a Scientific Advisor to the Belgian Prime Minister. During this time, Marcel has published dozens of scientific research papers in international magazines. Marcel obtained a Ph.D in Physics and received a Masters Degree in Education and a Bachelors Degree in Economics at the University of Ghent (Belgium).
Paul West, Stratford
Paul West provides strategic advice, leadership and stakeholder engagement in the emerging digital economy. His insights focus on stewardship, diversity and community driven solutions. He has held career leadership roles with GE, Bell Aliant, Motorola, Rhyzome Networks and various early-stage technology companies.
He has received global recognition for his work with Rhyzome Networks and the City of Stratford for placing Stratford in the Intelligent Community Forum Global Top 7 from 2011-2013. Among his accolades, he is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
Paul is an active volunteer having been involved with Innovate Cities, Camp Hermosa, Junior Achievement Southwestern Ontario, Knox Stratford, Stratford Summer Music and various private companies.
Paul and his family have resided in Stratford since 1987.
Honorary Chair
Tim MacDonald, C.M., Stratford
Tim MacDonald is a businessperson and philanthropist. After studying English and Political Science at Carleton University, Tim joined Ideal Supply in 1981, a Listowel, Ontario based wholesale distribution business owned by his family. He was appointed president in 1995, CEO in 2001, and retired from the company in June 2021.
Under his leadership Ideal Supply grew to 31 locations, 525 employees and was recognized for nine consecutive years as one of “Canada’s Best Managed Companies”. Tim and his siblings sold Ideal Supply to Groupe Deschenes Inc in 2016.
Tim has served on and Chaired several Boards, including the Listowel Chamber of Commerce (President), the Electro-Federation Canada (Chair), the Stratford Festival, TigerTel Communications (Chair), the Young President’s Organization (Chair), the Stratford Perth Community Foundation (Chair), and currently the Atlantic Salmon Federation.
He has received an Honorary Doctor of Laws (2005), the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012), named a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow (2018), the Stratford Business Leader of the Year (2019), and has been appointed to the Order of Canada (2019).
In 2011 Tim and Jim Balsillie co-founded the Arctic Research Foundation which supported Parks Canada in their successful search for the lost Franklin Ships. Today ARF leads numerous projects in Canada’s north from five vessels enabling universities, government agencies, and northern communities to study and adapt to a changing world (ArcticFocus.org).
A lifelong supporter of local conservation projects, in 2019 Tim initiated the Middle Maitland Restoration Fund, managed by the Stratford Perth Community Foundation, to support the work of Maitland Conservation in their work to restore the river, its banks, and the streams that flow into it.
Tim has hiked in every province of Canada, fished rivers and lakes from Coast to Coast to Coast and spends any available time in the outdoors enjoying nature.
Since the Stratford Perth Community Foundation’s founding, Tim has believed it is the most effective vehicle for philanthropy in our region and has initiated and supported several funds.
He and his wife Alexandra live in Stratford.