Kate views the world through a lens of possibilities looking at many sides of a situation to create as full a picture as possible. This view does not slow her down, as she is driven to action and outcomes. Employing a holistic view when interacting with people, she understands that choices will affect outcomes; and that the person must make intentional choices when ready to avoid ricocheting through life.
 

Kate has been involved with MACD since her return to Canada in 2014, sitting as the inaugural Secretary, then Member-At-Large, Vice-Chair and Chair. She has also Co-Chair/Chaired four successful Let’s Get To Work (LGTW) Conferences (2018, 2019, 2022 & 2023), and the Communications & Marketing Committee. Continuing in the role as Chair of MACD, she wants to continue the work of reaching into rural Manitoba to expand the career development practices to many populations including rural entrepreneurs, Indigenous communities, and the agricultural industry. She wants to see greater communication and sharing of career and employment information between practitioners, locally and nationally. Manitoba can be better with intentional career choices and development to maximize every individual’s potential within the borders of this great province.
 

Deanna has a B.A. (Hons) in Psychology and an M.A. in Cultural Studies from The University of Winnipeg; she works as an Academic and Career Advisor at The University of Winnipeg, and volunteers as the Chair of the provincial Career and Workforce Development Month Planning Committee. Previously, she has held roles as a Board Member (2017-2022) and Chair of the Advocacy committee (2021-2022) for MACD, as well as Co-Chair for Manitoba’s annual “Let’s Get to Work” Conference in 2018 & 2019. 

Deanna has delivered professional development sessions for MACD in 2023 & 2024 on the topics of Quality Career Service Delivery and an interrogation of the notion of “Following your Bliss”. She has also participated in national initiatives with the Canadian Career Development Foundation including participating on the Item-Review Team for the national certification exam and as a Reviewer/Validator for the pan-Canadian Competency Framework for CDPs.

Prior to joining the credit union system, Michelle worked for 15 years at a global aerospace company. During her tenure, she developed expertise in program and project management, regulatory compliance, risk management, internal audit processes, lean manufacturing practices, quality control protocols, and proposal development.

Michelle is invigorated by new challenges and opportunities and continually seeks to expand her knowledge through formal education and self-directed learning. Michelle earned an MBA from the University of Manitoba, and has certifications in strategy execution, leadership, governance, relational skills, and internal audit. She is also a Fellow of the Credit Union Institute of Canada and is currently working towards her attaining the Governance Professionals of Canada designation.

Her true passion lies in career development and empowering professionals to reach their full potential. Deb brings deep expertise in workforce development, career coaching, and program design, consistently creating innovative pathways that connect talent with opportunity. Her collaborative approach to building partnerships across sectors, combined with a genuine commitment to empowering others in their professional journeys, has established her as a trusted voice in career development.

and currently holds the role of Career Development Consultant in the Louise Riel School Division. He is the creator of the LEAD Career Design Canvas which he delivers annual through the school division. He created the Career Internship Program in two divisions which morphed into multiple hybrid career programs. 

Adriano has also held numerous committee positions including the CERIC National Committees on "Research" and "Community Advocacy" for 8 years. He has volunteered with Junior Achievement since 1985 receiving their volunteer award in 2024. Adriano is a member of the Labour Market Information Council (LMIC) Career/LMI Advisory/Stakeholder Committee since 2022. He has also dipped his hand into the upcoming national certification program, as a writer of questions for the pilot. This is just a fraction of Adriano's resume.

Adriano brings incredible energy and knowledge to the board.

Volunteering career services to members of the Urban Indigenous Theater Company led to the creation of a work readiness program for Indigenous youth in the Performing Arts. Amber then completed her Employment Counselor certification (University of Winnipeg via Winnipeg Transition Centre) and opened a private practice. Currently, she is the RINT Project Coordinator at Reaching E- Quality Employment Services (REES) in Winnipeg where she helps clients with physical disabilities/health conditions and employers create sustainable and inclusive work environments together. She also serves on Manitoba Supported Employment Network’s Disability Employment Awareness Month (DEAM) committee.

​Amber believes in lifelong learning (be it traditional education or experiential) and that all of life’s experiences are valuable in the workplace. Every journey is unique and a story to share! She welcomes this exciting opportunity with MACD to exchange knowledge with peers and further the career development of practitioners, workers, and jobseekers in Manitoba.

Kim Grenier Mintenko is an ICF certified leadership coach and former executive leader with over 20 years of experience advising, coaching, and leading in the post-secondary environment in Manitoba. She has dedicated her career to empowering individuals to achieve their full potential, from students embarking on their academic journeys to leaders navigating complex professional landscapes. 

Kim's extensive experience in higher education gives her a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in career development. Her commitment to supporting personal and professional growth is evident in her work with students and leaders, helping them to clarify their goals, build essential skills, and confidently pursue their career aspirations. 

As a leadership coach, Kim’s philosophy centers on fostering self-awareness and personal leadership, enabling her clients to excel in their roles and make meaningful contributions to their organizations. 

Kim is eager to bring her expertise, innovative ideas, and unwavering dedication to the association, supporting its work to advance the practice of career development professionals in Manitoba and inspire life-long career growth for Manitobans.

She has been an avid advocate within the field of Career Development and Work-Integrated Learning and in supporting meaningful education and training opportunities over the past 22 years during her work with University College of the North and other community-based programs.  Presently, Krystle is a Teacher and Career Development Coordinator with Frontier School Division's Career Studies Department and is completing a Masters of Education in Educational Leadership.

She holds the professional designation of Certified Career Development Practitioner and Work-Life Strategist. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology; a Bachelor of Education; a valid Manitoba Teaching Certificate; a Certificate in Adult Education (CAE); and a Certificate in Career and Employment Coaching. Lastly, she is an established entrepreneur and proud hobby-based business owner.

As a past Member at Large with MACD from 2021-2024, she is excited to rejoin this community of practice.

As an Educational Psychologist, Ruth has worked in a variety of work environments. These various work environments as well as her own life experiences helped her to see the importance of career development. Ruth began her professional career at the Brodsky Institute as a Counsellor, Educational Consultant and Supervisor for the Halstead Reitan Neuropsychological Battery and Training Program.

Ruth continued as a secondary school counsellor and Student Services Department Head for 27 years at numerous schools through the Winnipeg area. Ruth also worked at the Faculty of Education, University of Manitoba, as a sessional instructor in Secondary School Counselling and Career Development Information. Ruth was also the Career Development Specialist at Career Trek Inc. for three years as part of a grant from the Canadian Counselling Foundation.

Ruth served as the Manitoba Education Career Development Consultant developing curriculum and promoting career development in Manitoba’s 37 school divisions. She strongly believes in comprehensive, developmental career programming for all to empower individuals, find purpose in their lives and help them to strive to make a difference in our world.

Sylvia Martin is the Divisional Principal of the R.B. Russell Career Lab. She is working with educational and industry partners to create new educational and training opportunities for the R.B. Russell community. 

Sylvia’s previous roles included being the divisional career education and technology education coordinator. She was also the coordinator of the post-high aerospace program AMMOP (Aerospace Maintenance and Manufacturing Orientation Program), that provided training and employment opportunities in the aerospace industry. As a career education teacher at Technical-Vocational High School, she enjoyed networking with other colleagues and learning from an amazing network of career educators. As a former guidance counsellor and teacher, she is passionate about programming that provide opportunities for people to gain new skills, take on new career pathways and change their lives.

Vasyl arrived in Manitoba, Canada in the fall of 2022. Immediately he embarked on a professional journey of serving the immigrant newcomer community with one of the local settlement provider organizations. His key focus has been helping newcomers understand and transition to the Canadian labour market through the topics of local job market research, resume and cover letter writing, as well as interview preparation and networking. He also conducted career-related info sessions to international students at one of the post-secondary institutions in Winnipeg.

Fun fact:  Vasyl has lived and worked on three different continents. This has provided the exposure to and enabled the understanding and acknowledgment of cultural diversities and led him to going through the program in Reconciliation Education at First Nations University of Canada. His dedication to the profession of career development resulted in earning a Career and Employment Coach Certificate from the University of Winnipeg in 2023.

Vasyl is passionate about the industry and is seeking ways to becoming an asset to the professional community.

Vera’s expertise includes empowering career professionals to excel in their fields, organizing and facilitating conferences, and creating opportunities for professional growth. Vera currently teaches at Red River College, MITT, and other post-secondary institutions across Canada. In addition, she serves as the Director of Jooov VS Inc. - an organization that offers consulting services to corporate professionals, business owners, and non-profits.

Vera holds a PhD in Management and serves as an executive coach for the United Nations/ILA We Empower program. Having served on three international boards and published extensively, she is passionate about fostering collaboration, professional development, and mentorship among Career Development Professionals.

Her professional journey in career development began in 2012, driven by a strong desire to support others. This passion led her to volunteer and embrace planned happenstance, guiding her to career development work at the University of Manitoba (UM). At UM, Stefanie serves as the Indigenous Student Support Coordinator and Counsellor in the Engineer Access Program, where she works collaboratively with Indigenous engineering students and engages in various professional responsibilities including career development.

Beyond her commitment to career development, Stefanie is deeply involved in comunity health. She actively volunteers and chairs the board of directors for a community health centre, working alongside community members and organizations. Her focus on fostering a sense of belonging for all community members is central to her approach.

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