Jeff Bender — Director and Chief Executive Officer, Harris Operating Group
Mr. Bender joined CSI in 1999 after spending 7 years at Deloitte LLP. Mr. Bender has been the Chief Executive Officer for Constellation’s Harris Operating Group since 2002. Mr. Bender is a Chartered Professional Accountant and holds a BCom from Carleton University. Mr. Bender also serves on the Board of Directors of Aptean, a privately held vertical market software company and Topicus.com Inc.
Dexter Salna — Director and President, Perseus Operating Group
Mr. Salna joined CSI in 1995 and is currently the President of Perseus Operating Group. Prior to his current role, Mr. Salna held various senior executive positions with our Volaris Operating Group since 1995. From January 2000 to March 2001, Mr. Salna took a leave of absence from Volaris to pursue other business opportunities. Mr. Salna received a B.A.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the University of Toronto, an M.S. in Construction Management and Engineering from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Robert Kittel – Director and Lead Independent Director
Mr. Kittel joined the Board in 2013. Mr. Kittel has been the Chief Operating Officer of The Westaim Corporation since January 2013. The Westaim Corporation is a Canadian-based publicly traded financial and investment holding company. Previously he was a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Goodwood Inc., an investment management firm that he joined in 2002. From 2000 through 2002, he was Vice President and Analyst of a Canadian-based hedge fund investment firm. From 1997 through 2000, Mr. Kittel was employed by the Cadillac Fairview Corporation, a commercial real estate development company in the investments area. Prior to 1997, Mr. Kittel was a staff accountant at KPMG LLP. Mr. Kittel has served as a director on several public boards, both in Canada and the United States. Mr. Kittel holds a BBA Honours (Gold Medalist) from Wilfrid Laurier University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Mark Leonard — President
Mr. Leonard founded CSI in 1995. Prior to founding CSI, Mr. Leonard worked in the venture capital business for eleven years. Mr. Leonard holds a BSc. from the University of Guelph, and a MBA from the University of Western Ontario. Mr. Leonard is currently a director of Topicus.com Inc.
Lori O’Neill — Director
Ms. O’Neill joined the Board in March 2018. Ms. O’Neill is a FCPA, FCA, corporate director and independent financial consultant to growth companies, after serving over 24 years with Deloitte LLP. As a partner at Deloitte LLP with various national and industry leadership roles, she focused on advising growth companies from start-up to multinationals, supporting complex transactions, private and public equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions in Canada and the U.S. She currently serves as chair of the audit committee for Sierra Wireless, Inc. and has served on boards of numerous public and private technology companies, non-profit organizations and crown corporations. Ms. O’Neill graduated from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Commerce Highest Honors in 1988, achieved her CPA, CA designation in 1990, her U.S. CPA designation in 2003, and completed the ICD Director Education Program attaining the ICD.D.
John Billowits – Director and Chairman of the Board
Mr. Billowits was previously employed by CSI from 2003 until 2020, most recently as the Chief Executive Officer of the Vela Operating Group. Prior to being CEO of the Vela Operating Group, he was the Chief Financial Officer of CSI and was the President of Jonas Club division. Prior to joining CSI, Mr. Billowits held a number of roles with Bain & Company, Dell Computers and PwC. Mr. Billowits is a Chartered Professional Accountant, holds an MBA with Distinction from the London Business School and Honours BBA with Distinction from Wilfrid Laurier University. Mr. Billowits also serves on the Board of Directors of Togetherwork, a privately held vertical market software company, Topicus.com Inc., a European provider of vertical market software and vertical market platforms to clients in public and private sector markets, and Computer Modelling Group Ltd.
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