The Board

Paul Faguy is an experienced business executive and consultant with over forty years of Healthcare and Human Resources experience. He currently is the executive leader for one of Ontario’s largest Diagnostic Imaging clinics serving the Hamilton, Burlington and Oakville areas.  Over his extensive career, Paul has worked with many organizations as their Chief Human Resources Officer. Paul was born and raised in the city of Hamilton. Since his first Human Resources role as the Personnel Manager for the Windsor Post Office Paul has been involved in the community, working with learning institutions and community agencies to develop programs and initiatives which act to improve the school to work transition and which improve the local labour market knowledge.

Paul has been a member of not-for-profit Boards for a number of organizations. As an independent consultant, he has assisted clients on a consulting basis and has had assignments in Dubai UAE, Doha Qatar, Moncton New Brunswick, Toronto, South-Western and Northern Ontario.  Paul continues to utilize his professional training and his significant experience in Labour Relations as a management nominee for interest and rights-based Boards of Arbitration.

Currently employed as the coordinator for The Hamilton Area Steelworkers Adjustment Committee where I assist unemployed Steelworkers and community members adjust to job loss. I work closely with the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development as well as several organizations and committees to enhance both our participants and the citizens of Hamilton’s employability.

This is my second term on the Workforce Planning Hamilton board representing the Hamilton and District Labour Council.

Maria Zegarac joined the Board in January 2021 and enjoys giving back to community organizations like Workforce Planning Hamilton.  Maria is the Executive Director of Hopewell Children’s Homes, an organization serving those living with a developmental disability.  Maria is a Chartered Professional Accountant and has held many senior financial positions in not-for-profit organizations.  In her free time, Maria  enjoys the theatre and spending time outdoors.

Internationally trained professional and proud immigrant to Canada, Baptiste Alain Bourquardez is the Director, Immigration Programs and Services at Collège Boréal of Applied Arts and Technology. In this role, he implements strategic planning and oversees the delivery of programs, courses and services offered to newcomers by the College in 12 sites in Ontario: assessment centre and language courses, bridge training programs, settlement and employment services. Prior to the College, Baptiste Alain was a Campus Principal of the Alliance Française in the Greater Toronto Area. He holds a Master’s degree in International Relations from Lille University (France). He serves as Chair of the Ontario College Sector Immigrant Programs and Services Committee, a Director representing Francophones on the Board of Workforce Planning Hamilton, and is a council member of the Hamilton Immigration Partnership Council.

As the City’s Director of Economic Development, Norm Schleehahn leads an exceptional team whose mission is to serve as a catalyst for continued economic growth, job creation, and revitalization in Hamilton.

In a career that spans over 30 years with the City of Hamilton, Norm’s passion for his city has helped him build key relationships with local, national and international real estate and development partners which has led to the creation of thousands of jobs and business investment that continue to move Hamilton’s economy forward.

Norm proudly presides over four talented City building teams that strive to ensure Hamilton is open for business – Corporate Real Estate, Business Investment & Sector Development, Commercial Districts & Small Business and Municipal Land Development. Throughout his career, Norm has been a champion for the economic development profession. He is a Past President of the Economic Developers Council of Ontario and served as a Director on the board of the Economic Developers Association of Canada. Today, he is an active member of the International Economic Development Council that evaluates and provides accreditations to best practice economic development organizations. Norm is proud to call Hamilton home. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University in Hamilton and is accredited by both the Economic Development Association of Canada and the International Economic Development Council as a certified economic development professional.

Patti is a senior Operations professional with over 20 years of wide-ranging industry experience leading various Operations, Quality, Engineering and Manufacturing teams. She completed her Materials Engineering Technology diploma at Mohawk College and followed that with a BASc. in Industrial Engineering and Management, Masters Certificate in Supply Chain and Logistics, and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA). Her wide range of experiences coupled with her education has given her a unique outlook on various types of businesses and what can lead them to thrive. Patti is thrilled to be working in the very city where she was raised and looks to instil an innovative and collaborative approach with Stoney Creek’s many Chamber members; she wants to help ensure its future sustainability and prosperity by building a strong Chamber network that can serve its members in various positive ways. When Patti is not working, she enjoys spending time with her family (a daughter and twin sons), playing tennis, skating, watching movies, and entertaining poolside.

For over 20 years, Gabriela has been volunteering with settlement agencies, sitting on women’s group boards, and participating in events that support newcomers and women as panellists or speakers. In her roles as a Career Specialist, Training Specialist and Instructor with Mohawk College and Hamilton and Halton School Boards, she assisted with the career planning and assessments, oversaw program activity, facilitated workshops, and participated in various conferences and summits. For her commitment and leadership in helping the community to grow and for positive contributions she has won many accolades, including Halton’s Newcomer Strategy Award, Canada Top 25 Newcomers, and Sesquicentennial Citizenship Award- Government of Canada and Mohawk College Alumni of Distinctions Award to name a few. Gabriela is currently a Retention Specialist of Community Employment Services with Mohawk College.

Gabriela joined the board last year, in 2021, but I have been sitting around the table with WPH for over ten years.

Mark Ellerker sat previously on the WPH Board in the early 2000s and returned in 2015/2016.

Mark is Business Manager – Financial Secretary-Treasurer of the Hamilton – Brantford Building Trades Council (2015 to Present) representing 16 affiliates and 10,000 skilled trade members and apprentices.

He spent 6 years overseeing the establishment and the operation of the Technical Trades Academy in Brantford (2009 – 2015). The TTA worked successfully with the MCAHN, MLTSD and the Federal Government as a TDA, specializing in pathways to apprenticeship in the residential, commercial and industrial piping sectors.

He currently sits as Labour Co-Chair on the Hamilton IHSA Labour Management Committee (2015 to Present) and has been a Red Seal Steamfitter and Welder for 24 years.