Current Members of the Executive and Board


Steve Power

Steve Power is a Managing Partner with Grant Thornton LLP NL Business Unit in St. John’s. Steve is in the firm’s assurance and business advisory practice where he leads assurance engagements and other consulting assignments such as due diligence on business acquisitions and complex accounting and finance matters.

Steve graduated from Memorial University in 1997 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and obtained his Chartered Account (CA) designation in 1999.

In addition to his role with the Board of Trade, Steve is very active in other community based activities. Steve is the treasurer of the Kids Eat Smart Foundation and is a coach for minor soccer. Steve is married to Sue Power and they have two children.


Denis Mahoney, Senior Vice-Chair

Denis Mahoney is a Partner with McInnes Cooper in labour and employment law. Through the strong working relations with the employers he represents, Denis advises and helps his clients find solutions for a wide range of labour and employment matters in many sectors including mining, oil and gas, service and construction.

Denis is the firm’s manager of employment legal group, is a director with the St. John’s Board of Trade and Canadian Association of Council for Employers. He currently serves as business representative on the Employment Relations Committee and is the past Chair of the Newfoundland and Labrador Business Coalition. Denis holds membership in the Canadian Bar Association and the Law Society of Newfoundland and Labrador and sits on the Law Society Awards committee.

He holds a law degree (LL.B) from Queen’s University (1993) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) from Memorial University (1987).


Sharon Horan, 1st Vice-Chair

Sharon Horan is the President and Founder of a number of small business enterprises. FIT For Work is a multidisciplinary health center operating from four locations in the province offering injury prevention and injury management services. Atlantic Orthotics Ltd is a full service Pedorthic center focusing on sports injuries and biomechanics of the foot and ankle. Schooner Holdings is a real estate holding company with property ownership in St. John’s and the Humber Valley. Dory Holdings is an Investment Company participating in venture capital initiatives.

Sharon has an Occupational Therapy Degree from Dalhousie University and a Post Graduate Certification as a Pedorthist from the College of Pedorthics of Canada. She also has a number of post graduate certificates related to injury prevention and injury management interventions.

Sharon is also a committed volunteer, participating in several local and national professional organizations. She is currently Chair of the Capital Campaign to build the new YMCA in St. Johns and has been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow for her work with Rotary in St. John’s East.


Kim Keating, 2nd Vice-Chair

Kim Keating has over 15 years experience in the Newfoundland and Labrador offshore oil and gas industry. She started work on the Hibernia project and, in 1997, joined the Terra Nova project design team, located in the United Kingdom, with Petro-Canada (now Suncor Energy Inc.). Since joining Suncor, Kim has held a variety of positions throughout the Terra Nova Development from engineering design through to construction, commissioning and finally production operations. Kim’s current position as Engineering & Technology Team Leader allows her the opportunity to support other East Coast developments including White Rose, Hibernia and Hebron. Kim is also responsible for the execution of Suncor’s East Coast Research & Development strategy.

Kim holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Memorial University and is a registered member of the Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Newfoundland and Labrador (PEGNL). She also holds her Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation and has completed her Masters in Business Administration.

Kim is on the MUN Board of Regents, a member of the Rhodes Scholarship in Canada regional selection committee and a past president of WISE NL (Women in Science & Engineering). Kim also participates on several advisory committees to both PEGNL and Memorial University.

Kim is married to Jim Keating and has three daughters Karoline, Ava and Madeline.


Paul Janes, Secretary/Treasurer

Paul Janes is an Associate Partner with Deloitte. He has over 13 years of public accounting experience which includes providing internal audits, internal control, due diligence and financial statement audit to clients in various sectors including public sector, insurance, technology, and manufacturing and processing.

Paul is very involved in the community including leading some of Deloitte’s community activities such as United Way Giving Campaign and Deloitte’s Impact Day. Paul has volunteered with not-for-profit groups in the past and is currently Chair of Community Youth Network in St. John’s. Paul volunteers with various other charitable organizations and business based groups throughout the City.


Jo Mark Zurel, Immediate Past-Chair

Jo Mark Zurel is a Chartered Accountant and from 2006 has been President of Stonebridge Capital Inc., a private (family) investment company that invests in a variety of businesses, including Atlantic Canadian start-up and high-growth companies. From 1998 to 2006, Mr. Zurel was Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of CHC Helicopter Corporation, helping to build it into the world's largest helicopter operating company. He is also a director of Major Drilling, Newfoundland Power, and, until its recent sale, Fronteer Gold, as well as a board member of several private companies. Mr. Zurel holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dalhousie University.

Jo Mark is very active in the community, supporting many charities and non-profit organizations. Mr. Zurel’s not-for-profit activities include chair of the St. John’s Board of Trade, immediate past chair of Junior Achievement of Newfoundland and Labrador and chair of its Newfoundland and Labrador Business Hall of Fame Committee. He is also chair of the Canadian Red Cross “Prepared” capital campaign, board member, and active angel investor with the Newfoundland and Labrador Angel Network (NLAN), and on the founding executive of the Newfoundland and Labrador affiliate of the Institute of Corporate Directors.

Jo Mark was honoured as one of Canada’s Top 40 under 40 in 2000.
 

Des Whelan, Director

Des Whelan is President and CEO of Keyin College Inc. He has over 15 years of experience in sales with a strong background in technology, management and human resources. Des has brought a strong business planning focus to the College and is part of a team driving the College's development efforts in South-Central Asia.

Des is a Graduate of Memorial University, with a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Economics and is a holder of the Professional Manager designation from the Canadian Institute of Management.

In addition to the Board of Trade, Des is currently serving as the Chairperson of the Elizabeth Park Elementary School Council, the President of the Newfoundland Labrador Association of Career Colleges, and is a member of the Finance Committee for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards for Newfoundland and Labrador.
 

Dorothy Keating, Director

Dorothy Keating is a Partner with Noseworthy Chapman Chartered Accountants in St. John’s. Dorothy started her career with Noseworthy Chapman in 1988 and left the firm in 1993 to pursue other challenges in industry and professional practice. Prior to returning to Noseworthy Chapman in 2008, Dorothy was the Corporate Controller and Vice President of Finance-Primary Group with Fishery Products International. Dorothy's clientele are primarily comprised of Newfoundland and Labrador owned and operated businesses and her areas of service to this clientele include audit and assurance, taxation and business advisory services.

Dorothy graduated from Memorial University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Commerce degree and obtained her Chartered Account (CA) designation in 1992.

Dorothy is currently a Board Member and Vice Chair of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Newfoundland and Labrador and also serves as the Chair of their Strategic Planning Committee. Dorothy has been involved in many community activities including serving for eight years as a municipal councilor with the Town of Torbay.


Dallas Mercer, Director

Dallas Mercer, a native of Harbour Grace South, is President and owner of DMC – Dallas Mercer Consulting (2010) Inc., a consulting company specializing in disability and safety management for employers. Dallas’ in-depth knowledge comes from twenty years experience in the worker’s compensation field including working in various positions in claim’s management at the WHSCC and as the Employer Advisor at the NLEC. Now entering her ninth year in business, DMC has experienced continuous growth and provides coaching, advisory, liaison, and appeal representation services to unionized and non-unionized clients in NL, and a growing number in Atlantic Canada, Quebec, Ontario and Alberta.

Dallas, a Memorial University graduate has completed many courses in Safety Engineering and holds a certificate in Alternate Dispute Resolution from the Windsor Law School. She is also pursuing her Masters in Disability Management.
 

Andrea Brocklehurst, Director

Andrea Brocklehurst is Manager, Business Development with Plato Consulting Inc. With over ten years experience in technology and telecommunications industries, Andrea spent seven years as Account Manager at Rogers Communications until joining Plato Consulting in 2009 as a Business Analyst. In 2011, Andrea was promoted to Manager, Business Development, merging her background in both IT and sales to broaden her management skills and utilize her innate ability to network and maintain client relationships.

Andrea is an active volunteer in her community including two years on the CIPS Women in IT Organizing Committee and the St. John’s Board of Trade, where she has been an Ambassador for two terms, and is currently serving as Events Chair. A proactive and enthusiastic team member and leader, Andrea offers macro vision and genuine commitment to the goals of the organizations she represents. Andrea is a graduate of Memorial University and resides in St. John’s.


Heather Bruce-Veitch, Director

Currently in her 25th year with the Iron Ore Company, Heather Bruce-Veitch is the Director External Relations based in St. John’s, NL, having recently returned from over twenty years in Labrador West. Heather has primary responsibility for engaging and building relationships with external stakeholders who include communities, government, business partners and media. Prior to her recent appointment Heather was the Manager Human Resources with responsibility for the two operating sites -Labrador City, and Sept. Iles with a workforce of approximately 2000 employees. In this role, she led a team of 35 HR practitioners in the areas of employee recruitment and retention, industrial relations as well as employee development. Heather has progressed through a series of leadership roles within IOC and has a wide variety of experience in both industry and federal government and is bilingual.
Heather graduated from Memorial University with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in French and is currently a Director of Mining NL, Director of the NL Employers Council and Vice–President Canadian Institute of Mining NL Branch.


Wayne Bruce, Director

Wayne Bruce is a Partner with Stewart McKelvey. Having appeared before all levels of court in Canada, including two appearances before the Supreme Court of Canada, Wayne helps clients in areas such as family counsel, business or marital separations, ownership disputes and personal injury, among others. Having received his education from Dalhousie University in Halifax Nova Scotia, he was admitted to the bar in 1988. Since then Wayne’s contributions to the community include:
• Member, Canadian Bar Association
• Past chair, Family Law Subsection, Canadian Bar Association, Newfoundland, 1994-1996
• Director, Newfoundland & Labrador Occupational Therapists Board, 1987-1994
• Instructor, Newfoundland and Labrador Bar Admission Courses (Civil Litigation)
• Presenter, various Stewart McKelvey Insurance Day seminars
“When I’m not working, I particularly enjoy travelling internationally off the beaten path.”


Karen McCarthy, Director

Karen McCarthy is President of m5pr, a leading public relations agency on Canada’s east coast which is also affiliated with the international public affairs firm, Hill & Knowlton. She directs offices in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador, and is set next to establish operations in New Hampshire, USA. While today Karen enjoys a client base from the oil and gas, mining, health, transportation, gaming, retail, labour and public sectors in the UK, Canada and the US, she also spent 15 years in the Newfoundland and Labrador provincial public service in both the communications and policy capacities. It was here that she cut her teeth on the many issues which continue to impact our province’s economic and social sectors.

Karen is an avid volunteer, complementing her work on the Board of trade with positions in the cultural, education and public relations fields. She has a master of education from Memorial University; a bachelor of public relations from Mount Saint Vincent University; and received a Certificate of Achievement from the University of Windsor Law School in Alternative Dispute Resolution. She is currently enrolled in a post-graduate law program at the University of London in the United Kingdom where her focus is women and international human rights. In her spare time, she rides motorcycle and plays her Baby Grand.


Lynn Sullivan, Director

Lynn Sullivan is Chief Operating Officer for the St. John’s office of Cox & Palmer. She is responsible for overall business operations of the firm including strategic planning, human resources, finance, marketing, and information technology. Lynn currently serves as Chair of Cox & Palmer’s Regional Operations Committee, as Treasurer of a local not-for-profit, and was an Ambassador with the Board of Trade in 2009.

Prior to joining Cox & Palmer, Lynn obtained her Chartered Accountant designation with Pricewaterhouse Coopers and worked in oil and gas with Maersk Contractors in a contract and cost management role.
As a Director with the St. John’s Board of Trade, Lynn looks forward to bringing her ideas and enthusiasm to deliver value to members as they attempt to take advantage of opportunities in our growing economy.
Lynn lives in St. John’s with her husband Glenn Sullivan, CA. Together they have four children, ranging in ages from 2 to 14.