Halton Community Business Leaders to Join Board of Directors of HalTech Regional Innovation Centre

OAKVILLE, Ontario - June 13, 2013 - PRLog -- HalTech welcomes local business leaders: Derek Smyth, Ralph Benmergui, Robert Duvall, Tanya Leedale, and Anna Galoni to the HalTech team.  HalTech will be welcoming their new board members on June 17th  at the HalTech Recognition Night.

“HalTech Regional Innovation Centre is honored to have such prominent Halton business leaders join our Board.  They will add to and enrich our expertise and allow us to have greater impact in the West GTA,” says Karen Sievewright, President of HalTech.

Ralph Benmergui is Special Advisor to President Jeff Zabudsky, President of Sheridan College and is a key player in the transformation to a creative campus and from a College to a teaching University. Ralph is a seasoned senior communicator and innovator as well as a Gemini nominated Canadian (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada) television and radio personality for the CBC and political advisor. Most recently a morning host on JAZZ.FM91, he left the station in 2010 to become Director of Communications for Glen Murray (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glen_Murray_(politician), Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

Robert Duvall is President of RDC Networks, which he founded in 1998.  The company delivers custom solutions for customers and “simplifies IT”.  Active in the Milton Community, Robert is a well-known public figure in the community and as an authority on the technology industry, in particular, on the tech industry in Halton. Amongst his many volunteer activities, Robert is the Chair of Milton Small Business Week.  Robert also produces and hosts Cogeco’s “Halton Tech Today” highlighting Halton’s technology talent.

Anna Galoni  Vice Chair, Thomson-Gordon Group. Anna joined Thomson-Gordon Group in 2007 and represents the forth generation of family owners. Initially appointed as Human Resources Director in 2008 and Vice-Chair in 2009 and currently New Product Development Director. Anna has been a member of the Board of Advisors since 2006.  Most recently Anna led an expansion of the firm establishing a new manufacturing facility in Poland to serve the European market.

Tanya Leedale, Partner with O’Connor MacLeod Hanna LLP, practices corporate and commercial law. Tanya oversees a diverse client base encompassing small entrepreneurial business initiatives to large institutional enterprises.  Active in the Oakville community, Tanya currently serves as a Director and member of Governance Committee for the Oakville Hospital Foundation and has in the past served as Director and Vice-Chair for the Oakville Family YMCA, Governor and member of Audit and Finance Committee for the Sheridan College Board of Governors and Director and Executive Member for the Oakville Chamber of Commerce.

Derek Smyth is Managing Director of OMERS Ventures. Prior to joining OMERS Ventures, as Managing Director, Derek Smyth co-managed two VC funds in his role as Partner at Edgestone Capital Partners. He led numerous successful investments for Edgestone and acted as a board member for many of its funds' portfolio companies. His extensive operational experience also includes his former roles as President and CEO of solutions provider Bridgewater Systems, and as COO of California-based Ironside Technologies Inc.  Derek Smyth’s key accomplishments include guiding numerous companies to dramatic increases in sales, revenue and employees, and through international growth programs.

HalTech Regional Innovation Centre works with Growth, Pre-revenue and Start-Ups by assisting Halton’s entrepreneurs and technology companies to expand their start up, grow their businesses, develop their ideas and commercialize their products. By being able to offer a diverse range of programs and services, HalTech is able to drive entrepreneurial success with personalized support for small and medium sized technology based businesses.

HalTech is a member of the ONE Network. Funded by the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) is designed to help Ontario-based entrepreneurs rapidly grow their companies and create jobs.  The Ontario Network of Entrepreneurs (ONE) is funded by the Government of Ontario. For more information visit ONEbusiness.ca (http://www.oneinnovation.ca/).