West Vancouver resident elected to chair of the board at ALS Canada

Michael Gardner brings his expertise to the ALS Society of Canada to increase awareness of the disease, support its provincial partners in providing assistance to people living with ALS, and fund research towards a cure for this disease.
By: Bobbi Greenberg
 
May 14, 2009 - PRLog -- TORONTO, CANADA- Michael Gardner was elected to the position of chair of the board of the ALS Society of Canada on May 2, 2009.

Gardner has more than 15 years of leadership experience in software development, transportation and distribution, and retail e-commerce. He brings this expertise to the ALS Society of Canada in its efforts to increase awareness of the disease, support its provincial partners in providing assistance to people living with ALS, and fund research towards a cure for this devastating disease.

Gardner’s involvement with the ALS community goes back 9 years: he is a past president of the board of directors of the ALS Society of British Columbia. In 2006, he was the recipient of ALS Society of Canada’s William Fraser Leadership Development award. He has been a member of the board of ALS Canada since 2003 and has served as chair of the advocacy committee, the strategic planning committee and the national partner advisory committee. He is also a member of the nominating committee, and the executive committee.

Gardner is currently CEO of Recombo, a leading provider of interactive online agreement and secure electronic signature/digital signature software. He is past president of ERP software manufacturer Cayenta, where he was responsible for developing the strategic vision for the company and its products. Gardner played a large part in the growth of Cayenta during his six years with the company, achieving significant financial results and customer satisfaction.

As CEO of Recombo, Gardner has partnered with BC Transplant, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority of British Columbia, to introduce digital signature technology to the online organ donation registry.

Gardner’s goal as chair of the board is two pronged: “It is critical that we further increase ALS Canada’s funding for research, but while we are seeking a cure for this disease we must also maintain our focus on our provincial partners who are providing daily support for those living with ALS.”

Gardner studied economics and statistics at Ryerson University in Toronto and international business at Hanzehogeschool in the Netherlands. He has an MBA from Queen’s University in Kingston.  In addition to his charitable board work, Gardner holds board positions with Axia Software Corporation and Bluetide Management.

Gardner, originally from Orangeville, Ontario, lives with his wife and two young daughters in West Vancouver, British Columbia.

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ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a rapidly progressive and fatal neuromuscular disorder that causes the degeneration of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. ALS can affect men and women from any ethnic origin at any age. Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 Canadians are living with the disease. Eighty per cent of those affected will die within two to five years of diagnosis.

The ALS Society of Canada, founded in 1977, is the only national voluntary health organization dedicated solely to the fight against ALS and support for those living with ALS. ALS Canada funds research towards a cure for ALS, supports the provincial ALS societies in the provision of quality care for those living with ALS, and provides information to build public awareness about the disease. The vision of the ALS Society of Canada is to find a cure for ALS.
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Source:Bobbi Greenberg
Email:***@als.ca Email Verified
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Tags:Als, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Lou Gehrigs, Ryerson
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Location:Toronto - Ontario - Canada
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