DIANNE KELDERMAN
Chief Executive Officer
An entrepreneur by nature, Dianne has owned and operated three businesses over the past 15 years. She has worked extensively in community economic development in Atlantic Canada, and has been the lead advisor on assignments across Canada, the New England States, and as far afield as India. She is a published author and well known speaker on economic development issues.
She holds a B.A. and B.Ed. from Memorial University of Newfoundland, a Masters in Education from St. Mary's University, and a Masters in Economic Development from the Southern New Hampshire University Graduate School of Business. She is currently President of Atlantic Economics, a firm that specializes in economic analysis and development, related public policy, and alternative finance. Dianne has been involved with the co-operative movement since the mid-90s and has served as Chief Executive Officer for the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council since 2002.
FRANK HENDERSON,
Director of Finance
Frank Henderson spent 26 years working in various senior accounting positions with the Canadian Armed Forces. In 1990 he left the military and joined a Masstown business as Comptroller. He took over responsibility for the marketing and promotion of the business, eventually becoming owner-operator. After several successful years, he sold the business and took on the role of Executive Director of the Truckers Association of Nova Scotia, a group representing more than 600 truck owners and operators.
Throughout his career he has sat on numerous government and industry committees and devoted hundreds of hours to working with others in a variety of community service endeavours. He joined the Council as Director of Finance in early 2009.
JONATHAN MCCLELLAND
Business Development Officer (Western Region)
Jonathan is an Agricultural Economist, experienced in community economic development. Before joining the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council in 2005, he worked with the Western Valley Development Authority in various positions. He has a strong interest in policy development and played and active role in the development and implementation of the Learn$ave Research Project. He also was an ISO Auditor for the Western Valley Development Authority.
FRED PIERCE
Business Development Officer (Central Region)
Following his graduation from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College and McGill University (Macdonald College) he was employed for 12 years in marketing and management positions in Ontario Agricultural Co-operatives. He then joined the Nova Scotia Department of Agricultural where he was a marketing specialist and Director of Co-operatives for the province, a position he held for 30 years. On retirement he was employed with the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council as a Development Officer. Fred has also conducted university management seminars and workshops across the Maritimes, consulted in overseas assignments and written extensively on co-operative legal and management subjects. Fred is very pleased to rejoin the Council to work with co-operatives in the central region of Nova Scotia.
MARK SPARROW
Business Development Officer (Eastern Region)
Sydney resident Mark Sparrow is a graduate of Cape Breton University's BBA program and holds a concentration in Marketing. He is passionate about making Cape Breton a better place in which to live, work, and thrive. Mark has worked with organizations like Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation, Cape Breton County Economic Development Authority, Cape Breton Centre for Craft and Design, Coastal Business CBDC, and the NS Association of CBDCs.
Mark is an avid volunteer and a proud supporter of Junior Achievement Nova Scotia. He currently sits as Executive Vice President on the Board of Directors JCI Cape Breton.
ANDREA JACKSON
Office Manager
Andrea runs the council's main office in Truro and keeps everyone on schedule and on budget. She is a graduate of the Office Information Technology program at the NSCC (Truro Campus). Prior to joining the Council in July 2005, she worked as a program officer with the Department of Agriculture.
MEGHAN FARRELL
Youth Coordinator
Sydney resident Meghan Farrell has been involved with co-operative movement since 1999. An Alumni from ACYL, she has worked with youth from all across Nova Scotia and Canada. In 2006 she represented Nova Scotia at the Building Co-operative Futures Seminar in Manchester U.K.
In her role as leader of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Youth Alliance, she works to educate young people about the co-operative movement, its principles and values. She reaches out to young people through development sessions and youth internship programs. She has been with NSCC since 2006.
