Conference 2006: AGM Business

Ed Driedger, President

Second Year of a Two-Year Term

Ed Driedger has a long-standing interest and involvement in museums that has included work in both small and large organizations throughout the province. Over the years, this range of experience has included both front line, collections, administrative and management responsibilities in both the public and not-for-profit sectors. In addition to his current position as Director of @discoverynorthbay, Ed is also actively involved in a number of other local community based organizations.

“It has been a pleasure to serve the OMA over the years and I look forward to the coming year. Doubtlessly it will be a year of challenges as we move forward in some key areas including ongoing efforts to enhance the CMOG program, address our long term sustainability and continue to lay the foundation for a successful future. I look forward to serving the Association, its members and the broader museum community in the coming year as we continue to move forward in a challenging environment.”

Tammy Adkin, Vice-President

Second Year of Two-Year Term

Tammy is the Executive Director at the London Regional Children’s Museum where she has worked for 11 years. Prior to joining the Children’s Museum team. Tammy worked as a journalist and in senior communications roles within the non-profit and corporate sectors. Tammy co-chaired the 2000 OMA conference committee, served on the 2002 conference committee, and is currently the chair of the Membership Involvement Task Force. She is also serves on the board of the Canadian Association of Science Centres.

“The Ontario Museum Association is such a valuable resource to the Children’s Museum and to me personally. I feel very fortunate to work as part of the great community of museums in Ontario, and I hope to be able to contribute back to the Association and to the museum community through my involvement on the OMA Council.”

Tom Lewis, Treasurer

Second Year of a Two-Year Term

Tom Lewis has a Commerce degree from McGill University, his Chartered Accountant's designation and an MBA from the University of Western Ontario's Richard Ivey School. He spent eight and a half years as the senior financial manager at the AGO. In 1998, he left to teach and found Sector Three Management Counsel, a Toronto-based consulting company specializing in not-for-profit organizations. He has taught in the not-for-profit study programs at the University of Toronto, York University and Ryerson University. In January 2001, he joined Royal Botanical Gardens as Director Financial Services and Business Development and, in 2003, become Director of Finance at Parc Downsview Park Inc.

Carrie Brooks-Joiner, Past President

Second Year of a Two-Year Term

Carrie Brooks-Joiner returns to Council as Past President. Carrie is the owner of the consulting firm Carrie Brooks-Joiner & Associates. The firm specializes in management and research in the non-profit sector. Carrie has been active in the culture and heritage community for over two decades.

"I am honoured to serve on OMA Council as Past President and to continue the focus on the sustainability of the Ontario museum sector. I look forward to working with the members, funding partners, and my colleagues at the Secretariat and on Council”.

David Adames, Councillor

Second Year of a Two-Year Term

David Adames is the Executive Director of Tourism Hamilton, the tourism marketing agency for Hamilton, a position he has held for the past four years. He has also worked for the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. For twelve years, from 1988 to 2000, David worked for the City of Hamilton's Culture and Recreation Department, including the positions of Head Historical Interpreter at Dundurn Castle and Cultural Marketing Coordinator for the civic museums. He brings a passion for museums and an appreciation of the link between museums and tourism markets, which presents tremendous opportunities.

"The Ontario Museum Association has provided leadership in cultural tourism by creating 'May is Museum Month' and I look forward to the opportunity of working with the OMA and its members to grow this initiative and look for additional ways for museums to benefit even more from the tourism industry."

Marty Brent, Councillor

Second Year of a Second Two-Year Term

Marty Brent has been involved in the business of history for 30 years. She has installed collections at the UBC Museum of Anthropology, co-ordinated museum training and education programs for the OMA, advised boards and staff of community museums throughout the Province of Ontario; developed government museum policy, granting programs, and operated a conservation lab; and served on provincial cultural committees and federal peer review grant assessment teams. Since 1991 she has held the position of Manager of Black Creek Pioneer Village and is responsible for strategic planning, capital development, and operations. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University, an M.A. in Museum Studies from the University of Toronto, and a Certificate in Voluntary Sector / Arts Management from York University. She has been a member of OMA since 1976.

"As museums face greater challenge in today's changing environment, I see increasing need for wide-ranging skills and advocacy by the Ontario Museum Association. I hope to assist OMA continue to move the museum advocacy agenda forward."

John Dalrymple, Councillor

First Year of a Two-Year Term

Jan E. Gray, Councillor

First Year of a Two-Year Term

Katherine McCracken, Councillor

Second Year of a Two-Year Term

Katherine McCracken has been working full-time in museums since 1986. She has an Honours BA in History from Huron College, University of Western Ontario, and a MA in Public History from the University of Waterloo. She first discovered that museum work could be a career while working for four summers as a student at the Historic Naval and Military Establishments in Penetanguishene. Since then she has worked at Historic Sites Service in Alberta, the Michigan Bureau of History, the R.E. Olds Transportation Museum in Lansing, Michigan, the National Heisey Glass Museum in Newark, Ohio and Joseph Schneider Haus Museum in Kitchener. Since May 2004 she has been Director of Guelph Museums.

“I have enjoyed my first year on OMA Council and the experience of acquiring some new perspectives on the Ontario museum community. I look forward to continuing in this capacity and hope that I can make a contribution to this profession which I still find to be incredibly challenging and rewarding on a daily basis."

Kathleen Powell, Councillor

Second Year of a Two-Year Term

Kathleen Powell has been the Manager, City of Niagara Falls Museums, managing the three City owned museums and the Niagara Falls Armoury building for the past three-and-a-half years. Prior to this she was with the Niagara Parks Commission for more than 10 years as Manager of three of their historic sites. Kathleen is a strong advocate of the value of heritage in building strong communities as well as the value of community partnerships in creating a stronger heritage community. Kathleen has a BA in History from Brock University as well as a Certificate in Museums Studies with the Ontario Museum Association.

Gilles Seguin, Councillor

Second Year of a Second Two-Year Term

Gilles Séguin is with the Cultural Services Division, Community and Protective Services, City of Ottawa. His responsibilities as Manager, Heritage Development, include strategic planning for heritage across the City, heritage community support and development, city-wide heritage events, the City operated museums and the City Archives program. Over the past 25 years, Gilles has worked in the archival, information management, and information technology fields.

“The City of Ottawa and its museums benefited from the great success of the City Council approved 2003 Heritage Plan and the 2005 Museum Sustainability Plan. As a heritage planner within a municipal structure, I look forward to bringing my experience to the work of the Association.”