Andy Chabassol, President

Andy is part of Hewlett Packard's Global Energy & Utility Consulting group. Over the past 18 years, Andy's career has included being part of the Renewable Energy & Sustainability team at Nova Scotia Power. He has also worked in Venture Capital, raising money for an electronics recycler (Artex Environmental) and Walton Capital. Andy has taught part-time at Ryerson University. Though the bulk of Andy's career has been spent working in San Jose, Chicago & Toronto for a mix of Information Technology & Management Consulting companies that included Capgemini & SAP.

Andy holds a B.Commerce from Saint Mary's University (1993) and a MBA from Dalhousie University (2002), that included taking multiple courses at DePaul's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business in Chicago.

Andy is the Chair & Founder of the Holiday on the Harbour Charity Ball in Halifax (est. 1997) and the East Coast Charity Ball in Toronto (est. 2004). He was born in Halifax, grew up in Charlottetown and has been screeched in on George Street more times than he cares to count.

Denise Allen

Denise Allen is a seasoned professional with more than a decade of experience in Finance, Operations, Merchandising, and Supply Chain Management across several well known Canadian retailers including Sobeys, Sears Canada and most recently, LW Stores. Denise has successfully launched commercial programs, implemented large scale projects, restructured and restaged various business segments; most recently completing the sale of LW Stores (Brantford, Ontario) to Big Lots, Columbus Ohio.

Denise holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mount Saint Vincent University, MBA, and Master of Management degrees from UNB at Lansbridge University.

Born and raised on Cape Breton Island, Denise now resides in Oakville and is proud to support the Humane Society of Toronto and Oakville, as well as other community based events through the charitable work of the Oakville Power Boat Club. Denise is passionate about home and travels east with husband, Chris, at every opportunity.

Bonnie Lyn de Bartok

Bonnie Lyn brings more than fifteen years of international business experience focused in the sectors of Mining & Metals, Industrial, Engineering, and Financial Services to the leadership of the MacCormick International Mining Consultancy firm.

During Bonnie Lyn’s international development contributions she lived in and worked in the West African countries of The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Senegal and rural Atlantic Canadian communities. Her development contributions span the arenas of socio-economics, in-migration, post-conflict child development, refugee observation, accessibility to healthcare and education programs and resources, micro-credit finance programs, entrepreneurship training, and aboriginal cultural studies.

Throughout her executive search career Bonnie Lyn has led hundreds of senior management executive search assignments globally and has conducted business in North and South Americas, Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia.

A graduate of Saint Mary’s University, Halifax Nova Scotia with a Bachelors Degree in International Development Studies and International Politics, she holds additional certification in Finance and Technology.

Katie Clark

For more than fifteen years, Katie has been advising clients on wide range of communications and business initiatives. At Edelman, she is responsible for setting the strategic direction and leading corporate programming on a diverse base of corporate accounts.  

Katie provides counsel in the areas of corporate reputation and strategy, crisis & issues management, financial communications and employee engagement. She serves as a specialist in crisis & issues and has counseled organizations on a number of high-profile incidents.  

Prior to Edelman, Katie worked for one of Canada’s largest communications firms where she was responsible for corporate communications, consumer PR and marketing; and implemented multi-faceted national programs. She has worked for several Halifax firms and has Bachelor of Public Relations from Mount Saint Vincent University.  

Katie is a proud Nova Scotian and Haligonian, and returns to the east coast regularly.

Jay Dingwall

Jay Dingwall is the founder and principal of Famous Folks Inc., a strategic marketing solutions company with offices in Toronto and Halifax. Jay has developed integrated communications plans and executed successful events in both the United States and Canada. He has worked on Major league Baseball home run record chasing campaigns, NFL Hall of Fame preparations, major Super Bowl events, and the day-to-day managing of many corporations' marketing efforts.

Jay holds a Commerce Degree (Marketing) from Saint Mary's University in Halifax and a Masters of Business Administration from Florida Atlantic University.

A native of Sydney River, Nova Scotia, Jay supports the Easter Seals Society in Toronto and is active in supporting grassroots sporting initiatives promoting healthy living.

Sarah Gilroy

Sarah arrived in Toronto 10 years ago from Nova Scotia. Originally from Truro, she spent most of her east coast career in the pharmaceutical business, covering almost all of the Maritime provinces in that role. She attended Dal (BSc. ’94), UNB (BEd. ’97) and SMU (MBA ’99).

Since moving to Toronto, Sarah has worked in the finance, working in Sales for a number of different banks and trust companies. Currently employed at Equity Financial Trust Company, she works with listed issuers and law firms. Sarah is working toward completion of her LLM in Securities Law at Osgoode Law School in Toronto. At home, she happily spends time with her partner Rory and her daughter Bridget. Together with her family, she gets involved in local community work and stays busy with local events.

Gregory Lam

Gregory brings expertise in developing community portals, IT infrastructure and online strategy to the organization. An alumni of McMaster University's Computer Engineering and Management program, he's had his hand at technology project management, digital media system integration and intellectual property identification and protection.

Notably, Gregory has coordinated the deployment of next-generation Internet technologies in a regional development project with Bell Canada under the Office of the President. Taking place within an isolated northern Ontario community, the express intent of the project was to create new economic, marketing and career opportunities within the local region.

Gregory has also lent a technical perspective on intellectual property matters in the organization and provided strategic insights on emerging technological trends. Gregory has been granted a USPTO patent on enhanced voicemail systems.

Gregory was born and raised in the Greater Toronto Area where he currently resides with his wife Heather and son.

Corey MacKinnon

Corey MacKinnon is a corporate lawyer at Heenan Blaikie, a national law firm with offices across Canada and internationally. His practice is predominantly transactional-based with a focus on corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities and private equity with considerable experience in the mining, oil and gas, technology and media industries. He joined Heenan Blaikie in 2002.

Corey completed his undergraduate degree at Mount Allison University where he was a member of the varisty soccer team. After attending Mount Allison, he obtained a graduate degree from Dalhousie University and a law degree from Osgoode Hall Law School.

Originally from North Sydney, Corey and his family return as frequently as possible to relax and visit friends and family in Cape Breton. Corey and his wife Sarah live in Toronto’s west end with their children Fiona and Alistair.

Jeff Muzzerall

Jeff Muzzerall is the Director of the Corporate Connections Centre at the Rotman School of Management. He and his team develop and maintain strategic recruiting relationships with senior executives globally in order to attract and connect employers seeking to hire MBA students and alumni from Rotman. Jeff also leads international recruiting treks and the mentor program as he coaches students and senior alumni to market them to the global business community.

Jeff has previously held positions with Brendan Wood International, The Ivey School of Business, and Moosehead Breweries, with responsibilities ranging from Sales and Marketing to Investment Research and Relationship Management. Jeff holds an Honours BA in English and Mass Communications and a Master of Environmental Studies from York University as well as an MBA from Wilfred Laurier.

Between fly-fishing retreats on the Miramichi, Jeff volunteers as an active member of the Academic Committee of the Toronto Financial Services Alliance and the Rotman Financial Services Advisory Board. He was instrumental in lobbying the federal government to initiate the new Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.

Erin Michael O'Toole, C.D.

Erin O’Toole is a corporate lawyer at Heenan Blaikie, a national law firm with offices across Canada and internationally. His practice focuses on competition law and general corporate law matters, but he also has experience in energy, litigation, infrastructure and corporate governance. Prior to joining Heenan Blaikie, Erin spent five years at Procter & Gamble, where he advised the company on a range of legal matters and managed litigation in Canada. Erin is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School.

Prior to a career in law, Erin served as an officer in the Canadian Forces. He flew as a tactical navigator on the Sea King helicopter and sailed with the east coast Canadian Navy.

Erin serves on several boards including the True Patriot Love Foundation and the Board of Governors of the Royal Military College of Canada, his alma mater. Erin and his wife Rebecca live in Courtice, Ontario with their children Mollie and Jack.

Jason Stone

Jason is a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia who came to Toronto in 2009 to pursue a career in the financial services industry. Currently, Jason is an Associate with AON and their Mergers & Acquisitions Group. Prior to this Jason worked for Everest Re Group, Seamark Asset Management, Scott Brison, P.C, M.P in Ottawa and for Clearwater Seafoods in their London, UK office.

Jason has a passion for the East Coast and the people from the area. Outside of his work and help with ECC Jason enjoys politics and making the most of what the city has to offer. Jason is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University (HBA) and Dalhousie University (MBA) and spends his free time with friends catching up and finding new ways to promote all things East Coast!