Board of Directors
Darla Price, Chair
Darla Price is the Managing Director of the Northumberland Manufacturers’ Association (NMA). She is responsible for managing the operations and activities of the NMA and advancing the strategic directions of the Association, supporting the Board and general membership. Darla provides organizational leadership, vision, strategic thinking, risk assessment/management, and fiscal responsibility.
Darla has worked for over 16 years in the marketing and communications field, managing and maintaining marketing strategies to develop new/existing sales, brand evolution, and programs/services for the corporate and non-profit sectors. With over 10 years in the non-profit realm, specific to member management, Darla brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her current career and personal goals.
As a mother of three beautiful children, an avid volunteer in her community, and a travel junkie; Darla brings energy, passion, and commitment to all that she does.
Jamie Clysdale, Vice-Chair
Jamie Clysdale is a graduate of Trent University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in the Honours Program. Throughout his career, he has stayed committed to the principles of continuous learning; having pursued professional and leadership training through Loyalist College, as well as the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.
For more than 21 years, he has worked in the field of Social Services and employment programming. In that time, he has worked in Northumberland County, the City of Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton where, he has worked as a Caseworker, Intensive Caseworker and in a variety of Management Roles. Since 2017, he has worked as a Program Supervisor for Human Services in the City of Kawartha Lakes where he supports Ontario Works staff in both the Lindsay and Haliburton Offices. One of his key areas of specialty involves working with agency and Employment Ontario partners to develop employment and life stabilization programs, helping to enhance the employability of the participants in those programs.
An accomplished public speaker and presenter, Jamie has presented numerous times on a variety of subjects at the Ontario Works Forum, National Convention on Employment (CANNEXUS), Ontario Works SAIL Regatta, OMSSA Leadership Symposium and Ontario Works Human Services Integration forum. Committed to fostering and promoting programs and options that lead to real, substantive, and positive outcomes for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, Jamie has worked on a variety of committees and initiatives over the past two decades to achieve that goal. In that time, he has worked with a diverse group of community partners to achieve those goals including non-profit, government, and private sector groups.
Jamie is a lifelong resident of the City of Peterborough and is the fourth generation of his family to call such home. Along with his much-loved and committed wife Karen, they are proud to be the parents of three involved, gifted, and fantastically passionate teenagers.
Michelle Macklin, Secretary/Treasurer
Michelle has over 7 years of Human Resources experience, with a focus on recruitment and retention and holds her CHRP. Currently, Michelle works at Watton Employment Services Inc. (WES) as part of the Employer Liaison Team. During her employment with WES, Michelle has fostered relationships with many employers in Northumberland and is aware of the labour market concerns in this region.
She also has the opportunity to administer various Employment Ontario programs, assisting job seekers in finding meaningful, long-term employment. Michelle supports WES in their partnership role with the Northumberland Manufacturing Association and attends regular Chamber of Commerce meetings on behalf of WES.
Within the community, Michelle is involved with the “Youth Wellness Hub Research Project” which investigates the idea of universal access to services for youth in mainly rural areas such as Northumberland.
Dawn McColl, Past Chair
Dawn has worked in the employment services field for more than fourteen years. As a facilitator, employment counsellor, job coach, and job developer, she has worked directly with job seekers, and employers, and community stakeholders throughout the region. Presently, she is the Assistant Executive Director of VCCS Employment Services in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Dawn joined the WDB in 2013 because of her passion for building strong communities through her belief in the importance of education, training, and skills development to meet the needs of a changing labour market.
She participates in a number of community partnerships that support employment, apprenticeship and community development. She is proud to be involved in the W2 young women leaders of tomorrow annual event held within the Trillium Lakelands District School Board.
Prior to her current role, Dawn worked for fifteen years in various community development and management roles within the non-profit sector including health and long-term care, human resources, municipal and national heritage sectors. She grew up in the City of Kawartha Lakes, and for the past twenty-three years, has operated a construction company with her partner in the area.
Dane Bland, Director
Dane Bland is a non-profit leader with eight years of experience in the charitable and not-for-profit sector. Dane has previously worked in professional theatre, at the Michener Institute, TIFF, Trent University, the Providence Healthcare Foundation and most recently for the international LGBTQI+ organization Rainbow Railroad.
Dane is a Certified Fundraising Executive and a graduate of the Trent University Business Administration Program and Seneca College Fundraising Management postgraduate certificate program. Dane is a board member for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Canada’s national board, and a board member of the AFP Greater Toronto Area. Dane has been a CFRE Ambassador for Ontario since 2019.
Dane is proud to be a volunteer and supporter with numerous other community and activist causes, and brings a passion for community management, activism, and volunteer engagement. His involvement in the Peterborough-Kawartha area both professionally and personally runs deep, and he is proud to be a part of this community’s exciting non-profit sector.
When not working, Dane is a hockey fan, a dog lover (and owner), a once-decent golfer, a self-professed “culture vulture” and a lover of all things arts and heritage.
Robert Gaudette, Director
Robert has worked both on the front line and in leadership for many years in the Regent Park area of Toronto. A long history of entrepreneurship in the tech sector allowed Robert to contribute to this community through supporting social enterprise, employment and entrepreneurship programming for vulnerable populations.
Last year, Robert returned to his hometown of Lindsay to coordinate the John Howard Society’s Skills Development Department. This opportunity has allowed Robert to support the community through literacy, leadership training, and pre-employment programming in the City of Kawartha Lakes & Haliburton County.
Jennifer Glover, Director
Currently in the role of Ontario Works Manager for Northumberland County Community & Social Services, Jennifer has been working in Social Services since 2008. As Ontario Works Manager, she oversees both income and employment services through the Ontario Works program for the County. In addition to her experience in municipal government, she is a licensed Paralegal through the Law Society of Ontario (since 2009), and completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree at Trent University (2007) and Justice Studies Diploma (Paralegal Studies) from Loyalist College (2008). In her spare time, when she’s not on a golf course, Jennifer assists in her family’s agri-business ventures in Warkworth, ON, including attending a weekly Farmers’ Market on Sundays from May until October. She is also the current Secretary for the Codrington Farmers’ Market Board.
Developing strong relationships with the labour community and connecting job seekers to employment is foundational to Jennifer’s current role and what she looks forward to continuing and enhancing through her time with the Workforce Development Board.
Meaghan MacDonald, Director
Meaghan Macdonald is a resident of Northumberland County and her professional career has been primarily working for Habitat for Humanity both in Northumberland County and briefly in the Peterborough area. Meaghan has a Bachelors degree in History but as a Canada Summer Jobs student she found a passion for community development work, specifically focused on affordable housing. Meaghan started full-time as the Program Manager with Habitat Northumberland in April 2007.
After a brief time working for the Peterborough Habitat affiliate in 2010-2011, Meaghan returned to Northumberland as the Executive Director in July 2011 and continues in that position today. Meaghan is passionate about the positive impact that a safe and affordable home has for individuals. Through her time with Habitat for Humanity, Meaghan has also developed a passion for the important role that employment training and opportunities plays in building healthy communities. Meaghan is looking forward to pursuing this passion through her work with the Workforce Development Board.
Suzanne McCrimmon, Director
Suzanne McCrimmon is the Director of Business Development for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. PKED is the lead economic development organization for the City of Peterborough and the County of Peterborough. Before arriving in Peterborough, Suzanne was the Executive Director of the Squamish Chamber of Commerce.
Her volunteer portfolio consists of Vice Chairperson of the Squamish Food Bank, Director, Golden BC Chamber of Commerce, Director, Golden BC Tourism Board, Advisor, Columbia Basin Trust – Manufacture & Technology Sector Initiative and Director, Durham Region Strategic Energy Alliance.
Ryan Sisson, Director
Ryan Sisson is based in Peterborough, ON where he coordinates Trent University’s Community-Based Research Program and serves as Team Lead, Community + Workplace Partnerships for Trent University’s Department of Co-op, Careers and Experiential Learning. Ryan is a certified Environmental Professional (EP) through ECO Canada, and holds an M.Sc. from the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability.
He is a passionate educator of environmental science, and advocate for expanded experiential learning opportunities in academia. Ryan has served as a part-time faculty for Fleming College’s School of General Arts and Sciences and has previously taught with Aurora College, NWT, and the Canadian University of Dubai, U.A.E.