Board of Directors

Mr. Eddie Francis, Chair

 

The youngest Mayor in the history of the City of Windsor, Eddie Francis was first elected Mayor in November 2003. From bringing accountability and openness back to City Hall, to ensuring that Windsor and Canada had a major role in events like Super Bowl XL, and the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix, as well as being the first Canadian city to host the prestigious Red Bull Air Race World Championship, Eddie Francis and Windsor City Council have achieved a record of ambitious accomplishments.

Under the Mayor's leadership, City Council commissioned a groundbreaking report which assessed and promoted the need for new inter-modal transportation systems and border crossings that are fully integrated with trade routes across North America and beyond. This report has helped generate debate regarding how to best move goods and people not only across the Detroit-Windsor border, but also across North America.

Before the people of Windsor made Eddie Francis their Mayor, he ran a very successful small family business with his brothers. He was awarded the Windsor Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award as the Young Entrepreneur of the Year. Eddie graduated with a combined undergraduate degree in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Western Ontario. He went on to graduate from the University of Windsor Law School and was called to the Bar in 2002. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada. He completed his articles with international law firm, Miller Canfield Paddock and Stone.

Eddie Francis is married to Dr. Michelle Prince, a Doctor of Chiropractic who has a family wellness practice in Windsor. They have two children, daughter Sienna and son Phoenix, and they reside in South Windsor.

 

Mr. Renato Discenza

 

Renato Discenza is the President and CEO of Invest Toronto, Toronto's foreign direct investment marketing and sales Corporation.

 

Invest Toronto is rooted in one of the fastest-growing metropolises in North America. Invest Toronto's mission is to promote Toronto as a prime destination for businesses to invest and grow. This goal is realized by securing corporate expansions and relocations and driving the marketing and positioning of Toronto in global corporate investment markets. In his role as President and CEO, Renato Discenza will strive to build relationships with international partners and businesses, to sell the benefits of this great City.

 

Discenza's background both in the private and public sectors as a senior executive and leader, has allowed him to gain valuable experience in economic development, public-private partnerships, sales, corporate functions, technology and operations. He was educated at the University of Toronto as a n electrical engineer and received his MBA from York University.

 

Prior to joining Invest Toronto, Discenza was the Senior Vice President of Technology and IT Projects at Infrastructure Ontario. Discenza also brings extensive private sector corporate experience from Bell Canada and AT&T where he held several senior officer level functions in Business Sales, Wholesale, Operations, Customer Service, Capital Management, Engineering, Procurement and Chain and Business Transformation.

 

Mr. Robert Payne

 

Mr. Payne has almost 20 years experience in the international air transportation industry with Fraport AG, the publicly-traded Frankfurt Airport company and one of the leading players in the global airport management industry. Frankfurt Airport ranks among the top 10 airports in the world for both passenger and cargo traffic. Fraport is a pioneer of intermodal concepts (especially air/rail connections) and airport city and sustainablity concepts. He serves as international spokesman and Senior Manager of International Press and Public Relations for Fraport AG. His activities range from corporate media relations and corporate copy writing, to public relations, strategic communications, marketing communications and support, international projects, and strategic development. His work experience outside the aviation industry covers broadcasting as well as high-tech market research and consulting. He brings to YQG strong business knowledge of aviation, Canadian and international gateway initiatives and trends, science and technology, green developments and sustainability, as well as other social and business trends affecting travel and toursim, transportation and logistics, and the European, North Ameican and global marketplaces. He has been widely published in a wide range of international airport, cargo, transportation, travel, and other publications, including in Japan and China.

 

Ms. Deborah Dent

 

Ms. Dent is the Manager for Border Connect Inc., providers of forwarding and logistics services, specializing in intercontinental air freight and ocean freight shipments and associated supply chain management solutions. She brings over 31 years of experience in customs brokerage, transportation and logistic business and is active in the community serving on the Board of Directors of The Windsor Transportation Club and member of several customs and transportation associations and committees. Over the years, Ms. Dent served on the Board of Directors of the Association of International Border Agencies (AIBA) and President of the local chapter.  

 

Mr. Jack Fraser

 

Jack Fraser was appointed as Group Chief Operating Officer and Finance director in May 2009. Prior to this, Jack was Chief Financial Officer and Head of Corporate Development for itravel2000 and led the sale of itravel2000 to Travelzest in 2006. Prior to joining itravel2000 in February 2005, Jack spent over 10 years with RBC Financial Group and BMO Financial Group primarily in the mid-market corporate finance groups. Jack also spent 5 years in corporate development and senior operational roles with two early stage internet media companies, CMGi/Activate located in Seattle (acquired by Loudeye/ Nokia Corp.) and Fastvibe located in Toronto (acquired by Telus Corp.). Jack also advises various early stage media and technology start-ups, and sits on the Board of directors for the Windsor International Airport.

 

Mr. Ronald Holden

 

Mr. Holden is the former President and member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Historical Aircraft Association and Chief Flying Instructor at the Windsor Flying Club, an airport stakeholder. He has over 20,000 hours of flying experience, having also served with the Canadian Forces and retired in 1982 with the rank of LCol. He is a qualified accident investigator and served as Deputy Director Flight Safety for the Canadian Forces. In his career, Mr. Holden was responsible for all air operations and airfield maintenance as the Base Operations Officer CFB Summerside in PEI.

 

Mr. Drew Dilkens

Councillor Drew Dilkens has an extensive history of community involvement in Windsor. He spent 15 years with the Windsor Police Auxiliary where he was a Staff Sergeant. He was a founding Board Member for the Canadian Manufacturing Hall of Fame. He is also an annual Area Captain in the Windsor Goodfellows Paper Drive. Drew has served as President to both the Windsor and Essex County Crime Stoppers and Windsor Road Watch programs. Councillor Dilkens is also a past Executive Board Member of Windsor Regional Hospital, a Past Vice President of the Windsor Jaycees and former Chair of the Windsor Red Cross Emergency Services Unit. He currently sits on the provincial board of the Human Resource Professional Association - the Ontario regulating body for the HR profession serving 18,000 members.

Councillor Drew Dilkens is a lifelong Ward 1 resident. He has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Windsor and a Master of Business Administration from Wayne State University. Drew is currently completing his Doctorate of Business Administration as well as his law degree from the University of Windsor and holds the professional designation of a Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP), along with training certificates from the Canadian Foreign Service Institute, Canadian Securities Institute and Federal Bureau of Investigations in the United States.

While on council, Drew has pushed for a more regional approach to government in Windsor and Essex County. He has spearheaded the creation and implementaiton of the new Tourism Winsor Essex Pelee Island. He also serves on the boards of Windsor Airport, Enwin Energy and Essex Windsor Solid Waste Authority, as well as chairing the International Relations Committee.

Drew is married to Jane Deneau and has two young children.

 

Mr. Mike Raymond

 

Mr. Raymond is the former Warden of Essex County and former Chairperson of the Western Ontario Warden's Caucus. He has held various political positions inside the Town of LaSalle including Councilor, Deputy Reeve and Mayor. Mr. Raymond's public service includes serving on every committee of the Town of LaSalle and the County of Essex, as well as acting as Chair of the LaSalle Utilities Commission and the LaSalle Police Service Board.

 

Mr. Raymond is a retiree from Chrysler Canada and has held numerous positions within the CAW including National Health and Safety Coordinator for both Chrysler and Casino Windsor and being a member of the CAW Master Bargaining Committee. He was also co-chair of the National Health and Safety Joint Committee, the National Joint Environmental Committee and the National Joint Training Committee.

 

Mr. Raymond has served as a Board member with Essex Power, the Essex County Roman Catholic Children's Aid Society, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Windsor Essex Development Commission.

Officers

Ms. Federica Nazzani, President and CEO

 

Federica is currently the President and CEO of the Windsor International Airport which is operated by a federally incorporated municipal corporation, Your Quick Gateway (Windsor) Inc. since November 2007.

 

Federica returned to Windsor in 2003 and has actively contributed to the community with enthusiasm and dedication. Her involvement within the community includes currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the Canadian Airports Council, The Windsor Club, as well as the Past Chair of Finance and Tax Committee for the Windsor Regional Chamber of Commerce. In addition, she has served as a Board Director for The Windsor Family Credit Union, Regional Chamber, Enwin Energy, as a Commissioner for the Windsor Utilities Commission, Vice Chair of the Audit Committee for the City of Windsor, and former Vice Chair and Treasurer of the Women's Economic Forum.

 

Federica is both a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator and has an Honours Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Accountancy from the University of Waterloo.

Executive Management Team

Ms. Federica Nazzani, President and CEO

Mr. Phil Roberts, Director of Operations

Mr. Al Bradshaw, Director of Safety and Security

Mr. Jim McCormack, Director of Finance
 

Board Administrator

Ms. Jennifer White

Auditors

KPMG, LLP