GET TO KNOW US

Michelle is a Co-Owner and Principal in AOR Solutions and is a strategist at heart. As a small business owner, the former Executive Director of CFN (a National Centres of Excellence non-profit research network) and former Chief of Staff to a federal cabinet minister, Michelle has wide experience in setting and meeting strategic goals, strategic planning and in working with government, academia, and both not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.

As a consultant since 2003 working with many not-for-profits locally, regionally and nationally under many governance models, Michelle has supported, guided, and coached volunteer board directors and senior staff in strategic planning, board development, CEO development, policy development and governance reporting. She enjoys working together with the client on projects that connect the strategic needs of an organization to the practical needs of delivering on the mission while ensuring accountability.

Michelle is a skilled facilitator and is experienced with environmental scans, key informant interviews, stakeholder engagement, situational analysis, communications analysis and project management. When not working, Michelle is an avid sailor and voracious reader.

Jay is a principal and Co-Owner at AOR Solutions. He has a PhD in Mathematics, with a focus on quantitative methods and applied math.

Jay’s expertise is in the understanding of business requirements and developing data and analysis to support business goals. He has been a specialist in analytics, data analysis and optimization for 20 years. He has provided data analysis and modeling to a broad range of clients and sectors, including defence and security, health, retail, mining, and tourism.

Before becoming a consultant, Jay was a Defence Scientist with the Department of National Defence, an Assistant Professor at the University of Prince Edward Island, and a Cryptomathematician with the Government of Canada.

He has been studying the Google search algorithm for over 15 years and is Google AdWords and Google Analytics Certified. In his free time, Jay loves to sail and travel.

Wendy is a Human Resources Consultant who brings experience, knowledge and ambition to every client. Her experience includes working in private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Wendy has been practicing HR since 2003, holding positions including HR Consultant, HR Manager, HR Advisor and Business Owner. Her work experience with clients has focused on organizational design, position and workflow reviews, compensation studies, management development, policy development, leadership/management training, workplace bullying and harassment, and conducting workplace investigations.

As an Associate with AOR for the past five years, Wendy has worked as part of the AOR team on a number of projects. As an independent business owner and HR Consultant she has brought her consulting practice with her to start the business entity resolveHR in July 2015. Wendy is a member of the Stratford Business Group, member of the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Committee and soon to chair their Ambassador Program Committee, and member of the HR Association of Nova Scotia – PEI Chapter. She was also the Past President of the PEI Humane Society, former Professional Development Committee Chair for the PEI Chapter of the Institute of Public Administration in Canada and holds the national designation of Chartered Professional in Human Resources (formerly Certified Human Resources Professional).

Vicki has been a program and policy consultant since 2007 and has over 25 years experience working with not-for-profit organizations. Her experience includes program design, development and evaluation; analysis and translation of information for program and policy development; board governance development; and public engagement. Working with staff and volunteers, Vicki provides practical solutions for clients based on strategic processes to realize needs and goals. Her facilitation of strategic planning processes is based on sound frameworks for success, modified to meet client needs and infused (where appropriate) with a touch of humour. Nationally, Vicki has worked as a consultant for the Canadian Lung Association, the National Lung Health Framework, and the Canadian Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse. As an Associate with AOR for the past six years, Vicki has worked with Jay and Michelle on a number of projects, both provincially and nationally.

Nanci is a seasoned communications strategist with over 25 years of expertise in the development and execution of knowledge transformation plans for a wide spectrum of clients. Working collaboratively, she specializes in providing strategic communications planning, knowledge translation services and process optimization solutions that align with organizational goals and transform vision into reality. After beginning her career in advertising and corporate communications, Nanci founded Channel 3 Communications in 1997, collaborating with clients in both the private and public sectors and fine-tuning her services and expertise to meet the needs of clients in the research, health care and education sectors.

Nanci has also hosted webinars and led workshops and presentations on social networking and knowledge translation at a number of national and international conferences, including the International Congress on Palliative Care, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Annual Conference, the Nova Scotia Hospice Palliative Care Annual Conference, the Canadian College and University Food Services Association (CCUFSA) Annual Meeting and the Quality End of Life Care Coalition of Canada Annual Meeting. A graduate of Carleton University, she has also earned a Knowledge Translation Professional Certificate from the University of Toronto / Sick Kids Learning Institute, and is engaged in Strategic Coach, an organization designed to nurture entrepreneurial ventures. Nanci has been an Associate with AOR for five years.

Dottie graduated from McGill University with a B.A. in French Linguistics and Modern Languages (Spanish and Italian). She also has an M.A. in Intercultural Communication (Cross-cultural Training).

Prior to relocating to Prince Edward Island, Dottie served as the primary liaison officer assigned to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), NATO, Belgium.  She established, promoted, and maintained reciprocal exchange programs with senior allied officials.  She also provided translation and protocol support to commanders, and was responsible for liaison with host nation services, numerous international agencies (e.g., UN and OSCE), and the European Union Task Force in Macedonia.  She also provided command briefings to NATO and EU employees, and conducted activities in accordance with applicable international regulations.

Since living in Prince Edward Island, Dottie has worked as Settlement and Community Outreach Coordinator where she coordinated training and employment opportunities for French-speaking newcomers, and liaised with community organizations to promote welcoming approaches throughout the region. Dottie organized and promoted a Francophone Festival in Prince Edward Island, and created cross-cultural training courses for international students on PEI.

Dottie has been responsible for communications and event management throughout her career, including organizing the Concours d’art oratoire several years for Canadian Parents for French PEI.

Dottie has worked as an an Associate with AOR on association management and management consulting projects since 2016.

Erin brings to the AOR team a wide range of logistical and procurement experience. She has extensive experience in contract management, negotiations and in small business development. From small events to large, Erin is able to keep a strong focus on the details to keep everyone organized while providing the best possible client experience.

Outside of events and planning, she’s focused on her dream team of three amazing children on beautiful Prince Edward Island.

Natalie is a communications and marketing professional with experience working for private and not-for-profit organizations. After completing degrees in Psychology and English Language and Literature, Natalie worked across Canada in the agricultural industry. Currently, she is pursuing a Public Relations certificate and looks forward to future learning opportunities.

Colleen has spent most of her career working in leadership roles in the health, higher education and not for profit sectors. She has managed projects of varying size and scope for governments, institutions, not for profits and agencies of the United Nations. She has experience in project management, event management, needs assessments, strategic planning, policy development, and not for profit governance.

Most recently, Colleen was executive director of a provincial organization where she developed a national profile as an expert in partnership development, community engagement, and community-focused education.  Her professional career has included the management and direction of initiatives which support the needs of vulnerable populations provincially, nationally, and internationally. A competent and experienced presenter, Colleen has represented organizations at events, policy dialogues, in the media and with the public.

Now a full-time staff person with AOR Solutions, Colleen supports our non-profit association clients.

When not working, Colleen loves to cook (and eat) and spending time with family in beautiful Nova Scotia.