Applications are now closed for the 2024-2025 Cohort. Thank you for your interest.
Board Of Directors
We build leaders. Leaders build community.
Julian Demkiw (he/him, ENTP)
Board Chair
About
Julian is currently the Senior Strategist to the President at the University of Saskatchewan and is responsible for senior management oversight and leadership to institutional-level projects of the president and his executive team. Julian’s superpowers include an ability to see patterns in chaos and an ability to understand the needs of a wide variety of audiences.
Outside of work Julian spends time with his daughters and wife playing cards, watching movies, and having fun. Julian is proud to have been involved with Leadership Saskatoon since its inception 20 years ago and is dedicated to helping the organization achieve its important mandate well into it’s next 20.
Ken McCullough
Vice-Chair
About
Ken McCullough is a retired senior retail professional with over 30+ years wholesale and retail experience in the food, petroleum, liquor, pharmacy, general merchandise, home health care and travel businesses. During his career in the Co-operative Retailing System, Ken was known for high standards in merchandising, customer service and employee engagement. Ken is proud to serve on the Boards of Leadership Saskatoon and Ebenezer Baptist Church. He enjoys being a mentor for Leadership Saskatoon and offers his leadership expertise to former Leadership Saskatoon participants and congregants of his church. Ken also likes golfing, cottage time and cheering on the Saskatoon Hilltops and U of Sk. Huskies football teams.
Willie Birss, CPA, CA (ISTJ)
Treasurer
About
Willie is a Principal at Baker Tilly SK LLP, a public accounting firm, where he focuses on audit and assurance engagements. Outside of work, Willie’s favourite thing is to go golfing and spend time with family and friends. Willie believes that leadership is imperative to creating a strong community and that Leadership Saskatoon has had a substantial positive impact in the Saskatoon area.
Rhonda Speiss (she/her)
Secretary
About
Rhonda is a Senior Advisor with Western Economic Diversification Canada and past senior leader of a major corporation, leading a best-in-class global corporate Community Investment program. With the ability to combine strategic and entrepreneurial thinking, her superpower is her ability to identify, develop and execute innovation solutions to complex problems with creative flair. Outside the workplace, her favorite thing to do is travel and enjoy new experiences. With 15 years experience funding non-profits, she worked with hundreds of community organizations and gained a true appreciation for great community leadership. She was excited to join Leadership Saskatoon and play a role in developing great leaders who will masterfully lead the way toward a strong, healthy community and economy in Saskatoon.
Don Ewles (he/him, INTJ)
About
Don is Grants Manager for Saskatoon Community Foundation. Don’s superpowers are community investment, communications, and, unfortunately, puns. Outside of work, his favourite pastimes are making music and cooking. Don is proud to represent Saskatoon Community Foundation as one of the founding partners of Leadership Saskatoon because he has seen the transformative power of compassionate and thoughtful leadership time and again during his career working with community-based organizations.
Blaine Phillips, MBA, PTS
About
Blaine was employed with CN Rail for 37 years, retiring in 2011. The majority of his time was spent as an Account Manager in Sales & Marketing. In this capacity, Blaine was responsible for all aspects of rail transportation for his customers. After completing his MBA in 2006, Blaine was Account Manager for one of CN’s top 10 accounts. To finish out his CN career, Blaine was a Trainmaster and managed inbound and outbound trains working closely with over 150 unionized rail workers. In 2011, Blaine starting his own company, “Blaine Phillips Health & Fitness” where he has been a Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach for over 120 people. His clientele ranges from corporate clients, competitive athletes, in-home training and clients living throughout Western Canada. Blaine also volunteers as a Board member on the “CN Community Board”, which grants funding to CN-served communities in Saskatchewan. In addition, he has been a mentor with Leadership Saskatoon since 2014 and served on the Mentorship Subcommittee since 2019.
Abdur Rehman Ahmad (ENFP)
About
Salam and greetings! I am originally from Pakistan and Turtle Island, Treaty six territory, Saskatoon has been home to me since 2012.
Boring Part: I did my MBA from Pakistan and my Master of Public Health Course (MPH) in 2016 from the University of Saskatchewan (USask). I had the privilege of working on public health and inclusive development projects in the global south, namely Pakistan, and with international development agencies based in Austria, Germany and The Netherlands.
Fun Part: In 2022, I joined USask as a Talent and EDI consultant. I am thrilled every day to work for an institution that is an innovative, accessible, and welcoming place for students, educators, and researchers from around the world and serves the public good by promoting diversity, reconciliation and meaningful change and by preparing students for enriching careers and fulfilling lives as engaged global citizens.
My WHY is to create healthy and anti-racist workplace ecosystems that are diverse, inclusive, safe and fun to work in. Where individuals are inspired and fulfilled by creating a positive impact in Saskatchewan and globally.
Leon Ferguson
About
Leon Ferguson is the President and CEO of Stream Business Advisory. Leon’s 20+ years of experience in high level strategy development, leadership, internal/external collaborations, and partnerships developing high performance and strong cultures has an award-winning proven track record providing teams to grow in strength and profitability. Leon’s superpowers are leadership specializing in Workplace Psychological Health and Safety, and Mental Health combined with his unique harmonious approach to overall peak performance. Leon is passionate and proud to be a part of Leadership Saskatoon as he is a big ambassador of Saskatoon and the Community and believes Saskatoon is a beacon of community strength and possibilities.
Tammy Sweeney (she/her, INFP)
About
Tammy is the CEO at TCU Place, Saskatoon’s premiere convention, meeting and performing arts space. She is also a passionate leader and speaker, helping companies across North America and Europe to develop stronger leaders. Tammy’s superpowers are a passionate desire to create a better world around her paired with the vision to ask what’s possible and inspire people to join the cause. She cares passionately about creating a culture where people can thrive and be their best selves. Outside of work, Tammy enjoys reading, music, singing, and attending events (because her work IS her play!). She is an avid cook and loves to make and enjoy delicious food with family and friends. Tammy is excited to be part of Leadership Saskatoon to provide a safe place to grow leadership skills, confidence and the desire to serve…because that truly makes our world and community a better place.
Lawrence Pinter
About
Lawrence Pinter has an eclectic working and career path background but since 1987 he has provided consulting services fields of environmental, municipal/infrastructure, and geotechnical engineering and safety consulting. For the past 25+ years, Lawrence has been the President and CEO of PINTER & Associates Ltd. (PINTER) with 25 to 35 technical staff. He was responsible for all aspects of the Company; — administration, finances, and operations. Under his guidance, PINTER received 15 awards of excellence from provincial and national associations and bodies. Recently, he became semi-retired but still advises PINTER and sits on the Board. He retains the position of president and CEO of Prairie Waste Management Ltd.
In 2018 Lawrence was awarded Mentor of the Year by the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies – Saskatchewan. Lawrence has volunteered for many organizations including the Innovators in Schools Program, RoadMap 2020, the City of Saskatoon Environmental Advisory Committee, etc. In the 1990s and early 2000s, Lawrence was a volunteer in Scouts Canada holding positions of Beaver Leader (Rainbow), Cub Leader (Akela), District Commissioner, and Assistant Provincial Commissioner. At Leadership Saskatoon 20232024 will be his fourth year as a mentor.
In his free time, Lawrence reads, travels, plays at golf, is an OK fisher, does woodworking in his purpose-built shop, and spends time with family and friends.
Staff
Community Leadership Award
Annual Report