Kevin Ford is a serial entrepreneur and retired P.Eng., recognized for building award-winning tech companies, crisis centers, education systems, and global telephony solutions.

Today, Kevin channels his expertise into leading the Ottawa Makers Shed, a scalable, sustainable non-profit initiative. He has assembled a dynamic team dedicated to creating community impact through real-world skills, STEM experiences, and low-overhead operations designed for flexibility and growth.

Career Highlights
Kevin began his career in Hamilton’s steel industry after graduating from Mohawk College’s Mechanical Engineering Technologist program. He managed blast furnace rebuilds at Stelco and contributed to maintenance, engineering, and R&D at Dofasco.

After earning his Engineering degree at Lakehead University, he joined Supply and Services Canada, negotiating high-value tech contracts for aerospace, armament, and marine sectors. He later worked as a Solar Systems Engineer at Public Works, training architects and HVAC engineers on solar-augmented heating systems.

Transitioning out of government into high tech, Kevin excelled in technical sales roles at Apollo, Hewlett Packard, and Silicon Graphics. Recognizing new opportunities, he founded ComputerActive Inc., which became Canada's largest NeXT Computer dealer and built several award winning projects. For example, Transport Canada's Crisis Management Centre.

Kevin’s firm also overhauled the National Gallery of Canada’s security systems, outperforming major vendors, and developed a fully web-based K–12 School Administration System. Apple sponsored his company to the Future of Education Technology Conference. Shortly afterward, a bidding war erupted among major education software vendors to acquire Kevin’s company, its products, team, and leadership — resulting in a highly successful exit for Kevin and his staff by Renaissance Learning, a billion dollar education software company where Kevin served as Director of School Technology.

Preferring smaller, agile teams, Kevin founded Parliant Corporation, a computer telephony company. Parliant shipped products to 68 countries, winning Best Product at MacWorld Expo twice, and later Best Product of the Year worldwide.

When Apple launched the iPhone, Parliant was uniquely prepared, leveraging years of NeXTStep development. Its first iPhone project was for General Motors, and Kevin was invited to keynote at MacWorld Expo Developers Conference.

He later pioneered paperless scientific conference management systems for organizations like the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) and IEEE, earning the 2010 Innovations Award.

Community Impact
Kevin actively supports onshoring manufacturing to Canada through Onshoring Ventures and fosters entrepreneurship and prototyping services. He is a national leader in the Men’s Shed movement, founding groups across Ottawa, Ontario, and Canada.

At the Ottawa Makers Shed, he focuses on providing advanced workshop facilities for community STEM engagement, woodworking, metalworking, and plastics projects.

Kevin has also contributed by:
Donating his Rotorway Exec 90 helicopter to Carleton University's Aerospace program
Coaching high school varsity water polo
Co-founding the National Capital SCUBA Advocates Conference

Honors and Awards
2012 Alumni of Distinction, Mohawk College
2014 Convocation Speaker, Mohawk College
2014 Premier’s Award Nominee for Outstanding College Graduate
2015 Alumni Honour Award, Lakehead University
Best Product of the Year, Ottawa's OCRI
Editor's Choice and Best of Show Awards, MacWorld Expo
2010 Innovation Award, AANS for Paperless Conference Deployment

Education
MSc, Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan
Bachelor of Engineering, Mechanical, Lakehead University
Mechanical Engineering Technologist, Mohawk College

Publications and Professional Contributions
Authored solar system simulation manuals and technical papers
Delivered conference papers on computer graphics and solar storage optimization
Published in Financial Times Canada on life cycle cost analysis

Professional Memberships:
Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario, American Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, and others related to underwater activities and medical diving research.

Stephen retired in 2008 from a 31 year career with First Air (now Canadian North), a regional airline primarily serving Canada's Northern Territories with both scheduled and charter passenger and freight service. During this time First Air operated a broad spectrum of aircraft from Beavers and DC3s to Boeing B727 and B737 Jet aircraft, ATR-42 and HS-748 Turbo-prop aircraft, and the Lockheed L382 Hercules heavy lift aircraft.

Stephen is a Transport Canada licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) and spent the first half of his career with First Air in the aircraft maintenance field. In the early nineties he took a lateral shift in his career moving from Director of Maintenance to a more corporate position, Director of Planning and Projects. Here he was responsible for company facilities, telecommunications, data networks, airport affairs, and environmental issues, along with the planning and implementation of major company programs that crossed departmental lines.

While with First Air Stephen was heavily involved in industry and government relations and participated in various Transport Canada, Air Transport Association of Canada (ATAC), and Northern Air Transport Association (NATA) committees. He also represented First Air in the Transport Canada CARAC regulatory review process. In addition he sat seven years on the NATA Board of Directors and served a term as the NATA President. This particular area of experience prepared him for his second career as the Executive Director of the Northern Air Transport Association (NATA) from April of 2009 until his retirement from the position in May of 2016. Upon his retirement Stephen was made an Honourary Life Member of NATA, the association’s highest honour.

After retiring from NATA Stephen was an independent consultant working with WSP Engineering as a Senior Aviation Advisor until 2022.

Stephen has been active with the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) Ottawa Centre for over 30 years. For much of that time he served on the Centre council in various roles, Director, Treasurer, National Council Representative, Vice President, and finally President.

He is also active as a director on the boards of the National Aviation Museum Society (NAMS) and Ottawa Wind Concerns.

Project and Work Experience
• Fleet Renewal Analysis including aircraft capability, airport performance, route optimization, and economics.
• Computer Reservations Systems Analysis and Implementation of Selected System including the Northern Data network.
• Facility planning, construction and renovation including high Arctic cargo and maintenance projects.
• Adviser on terminal, de-icing, and airport design issues for Ottawa, Yellowknife, Montreal, and Iqaluit Airports
• Safety Management System implementation
• Major Contract Proposal Writing and Coordination along with their Administration after award.
• Design and Coordination of Aircraft Modifications for special missions.
• Transport Canada Regulatory Review concerning airports (governance, gravel runways, environmental
issues, and standards), flight operations (aircraft performance, flight and duty time, de-icing, dangerous goods), maintenance (aging aircraft, certification standards) and security (airport security requirements standards and plans, CATSA issues, in particular passenger and baggage screening)
• Member of the CARAC Performance Based Navigation (PBN) working group (later the Canadian Performance based Aviation Action Team -CPAAT) developing the procedures and regulations for the implementation of the next generation of air navigation and airport approaches in Canada.
• Active participant in the Nav Canada Air Transport Operations Consultation Committee (ATOCC) and the Air Navigation System National Advisory Committee (ANSNAC).
• For many years at First Air responsible for the budgeting of the maintenance department, facilities department, and for major capital expenditures.

Select Projects
• Following the award of the contract to operate and maintain the Government of Canada DHC-7 Ice Patrol aircraft Stephen was responsible for all aspects of the project implementation and ongoing administration. Although as his career progressed he was no longer involved in the day to day maintenance of the aircraft he nevertheless retained overall responsibility for this multi-million dollar contract throughout the 18 years that First Air operated it. This included the contract administration with Public Works and Government Services Canada (PWGSC) and Atmospheric Environment Canada (AES) along with the successful bidding for, and award of, several contract renewals.
• Responsible for the design, engineering, contracting, and completion of a $14 Million dollar renovation to a combined cargo and maintenance facility located in Iqaluit, Nunavut.
• Responsible for the acquisition of a new $4 Million dollar corporate headquarters in Kanata Ontario including purchase, all necessary renovations, fit up, and move coordination.
• Responsible for all aspects of contracting and performance of services for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Aircraft Protective Officer (APO) Program. This included provision of hangar facilities, acquisition and modification of three aircraft for APO training purposes, provision of ongoing technical services, and the eventual sale of the Carp Ontario hangar and office complex to the RCMP.
While with WSP Engineering Stephen worked on the team assisting the Government of Manitoba in privatizing their Air Ambulance, Aerial Firefighting, and general transportation services.

Gerard grew up as an Army brat, stationed all over the world. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces where he learned to dive. Later he trained Reserve JAG officers in advocacy. He speaks Spanish, Italian, French and English like a native. Lawyer, master woodworker and all around nice guy.

A licenced lawyer in Ontario Gerard practiced law with a Calgary based virtual law firm where he was the head of the Employment and Human Rights practice as well as advising businesses as their fractional general counsel. Previously he had his own consulting practice specializing in crafting boards of directors and governance. From 2011 to 2014 he was a legal, development and computer-based education expert at a United Nations Specialized Agency in Switzerland.

He ran the international relations and international business functions at Canada Post, including a time as CEO of its Caribbean subsidiary. He represented Canada as plenipotentiary in international negotiations.

He served on the board of Purolator Courier where he chaired the occupational health, safety and environment committee and was a member of the audit committee.
Gerard was Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief of the Postal Inspection Service, Canada’s oldest federal investigative body.

As general counsel, Gerard set the strategy in negotiations and litigation including the UPS NAFTA complaint, appeals to the Supreme Court of Canada and the Federal Court and Court of Appeal.

Gerard has lectured at the International MBA program at York University (Schulich School of Business, at the Telfer School of Business (University of Ottawa) and the University of Ottawa School of Law. He has been a chair and discussant at Rutgers University as part of peer review. He also lectured and is a published author in academic journals.

In addition to his academic training as a lawyer and public administration, Gerard returned to study woodworking at Algonquin College in 2015 which he completed in 2018. He did an apprenticeship in restoration of antique furniture and traditional finishes in Florence, Italy.

In addition to woodworking Gerard practices photography and with his wife is restoring an 18th century home in Italy.

Ernest Patton OAA (retired) has 40+ years as a practicing Architect in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. The last 17 years as Partner IBI group Architect and Director IBI Group responsible for the Ottawa office.

Over these 40 years I have gained extensive experience in assisting clients, in both the private and public sectors, to achieve their goals and aspirations, through my expertise in programming, planning, physical design and subsequent realization of the design.

Experience in the public sector includes healthcare facilities, transportation facilities, education facilities and facilities for municipal, provincial and federal governments.

Experience in the private sector includes residential, commercial and industrial facilities.

Experience
DIRECTOR IN CHARGE OF OTTAWA OFFICE IBI GROUP PARTNER IBI GROUP ARCHITECT 2000-RETIREMENT 2017
As the Director in charge I was responsible for establishing the IBI Ottawa office and the integration of the architectural practice of Murray and Murray and the engineering practice of CCL in to the multidisciplinary practice of IBI Group. My responsibilities included all aspects of management of the 70 person office.

In addition to the management responsibilities, as lead architect / architect of record I was responsible for : The Preston Square Development ( Adobe Tower, Adelaide Apartments and 1000 space parking facility) ,700 Sussex Condominium in collaboration with Dan Hanganu Architect, Algonquin College Student Centre in collaboration with Teeple Architect, Master Planning / Programming of the Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre, several renovation projects for the Ottawa and Montfort Hospitals and for the Ottawa and Carleton Universities, and most recently for the design of the McGill University Hospital Glen Campus facility delivered through a public private partnership

DIRECTOR IBI GROUP PARTNER BEINHAKER ARCHITECT / IBI GROUP ARCHITECT 1990- 1999 TORONTO
As Lead Architect I was responsible for : the Master Planning and Programming of several Healthcare facilities in Southern Ontario; the Planning and Design of projects for York University, the University of Toronto, Seneca, George Brown, and Centennial Colleges.

As Project Manager I led the work for the Guarantee Trust Computer Centre and the $350 million revitalization of Lakeridge Health’s Oshawa Campus as well as as acting as Lakeridge’s Director of planning for a year.

Work in the Private Sector included the design of the Skywalk ( the pedestrian connection between Union Station and Skydome / Rogers Centre, TTC Pedestrian connections Scotia Plaza to the King Subway Station and from a Condominium Development to the Finch Subway station, Parking facilities for the Toronto Parking authority, Renovations and additions to the Bombardier rail car manufacturing plant in Thunderbay

ARCHITECT ROSS E HAYES ARCHITECT/ BEINHAKER ARCHITECT (PART OF IBI GROUP) 1977— 1989 CALGARY AND TORONTO
Project Architect for : a number of multifamily residential projects; the Lethbridge Hospital replacement facility, the Maintenance and Storage Facility and a number off stations for the southern and north western legs of Calgary’s LRT system.

Education
• University of Manitoba - Bachelor of Environmental Studies 1969
• University of Calgary - Masters of Environmental Design (Arch) 1977

Volunteer Experience
• Mentor OAA Intern Architect
• Mentor RAIC Sylabus Program
• President Erlton Community Association (Calgary) 1979-1985
• Community Board Member Lindsay Park Aquatic Centre 1980-82
• President Humberview Community Association (Toronto) 1990-1995
• Habitat For Humanity - Ottawa and International
• Heart and Stoke foundation Canvaser

Klaus Kollenberg, M.Sc, P.Eng (ret’d), PMP (ret’d), CD, comes from an immigrant family that arrived in Vancouver in 1967, carving out a new life through hard work and entrepreneurial grit. Growing up, he was drawn to a life of service, and through the influence of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, he found his path as an engineer first in the Royal Canadian Navy and then Defence Research and Development Canada .

That 40-year dual-career gave him not only a strong technical foundation—with degrees from the Royal Military College and Cranfield University—but also a lifelong appreciation for systems of systems thinking, teamwork, and leadership. Over four decades, He worked in a variety of roles, and always worked to provide clarity through collaboration and evidence-based problem solving.

Outside of work, he has always made time for community. His extensive earlier volunteer, non-profit board experiences had a community focus for youth organizations and a community association. In 2021, he joined the board of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 480 in Westboro. More recently, he is the founding Secretary of Ottawa Maker’s Shed and he was elected to the Board of Veterans' House Canada.

Retired from full-time work in 2022, he has focused his time and energy on volunteerism—particularly in areas supporting veterans, homelessness, and community development. He lives in Ottawa with his spouse Laura and they have two grown sons. When he’s not volunteering or building something in the Shed, you’ll probably find him at open water swimming events like Bring on the Bay; cycling the Ottawa recreational pathways; or dragon boating in Mooney’s Bay.