Board of Directors

David is owner of Sapience.Care, offering a curated self-care experience in a relaxed yet luxurious ambiance both at his Bed and Breakfast type retreat in Niagara-on-the-Lake or at his Lake Erie shore beach house.''

Richard Liu is the proprietor of Ironwood Cider, a thriving Niagara-on-the-Lake business known for its commitment to craft, innovation, and local culture.

Melissa Novecosky is a respected and dedicated arts administrator with over 15 years of experience in arts and culture leadership. She joined the Shaw Festival’s executive team as Associate Executive Director in 2024 and oversees the general management of all areas at the Festival and publicly represents the organization.

Chris Colaneri is the Director of Operations at Colaneri Estate Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with over 15 years of experience in the wine and hospitality industry. A proud lifelong resident of the region, Chris is deeply invested in the growth and vitality of the local business community.

Jamie Drummond brings more than 25 years of hospitality experience to his role as General Manager of Niagara’s Finest Hotels

John immigrated to Canada from Greece in 1979 as a 16-year-old with little knowledge of English. Through hard work, perseverance, and determination, he began his career in the baking industry.

While Bryce cut his legal teeth practicing Mergers & Acquisitions on Bay Street at Osler LLP, one of Canada's most prominent law firms, he was born and raised in Niagara and always wanted to return home to raise his family.

Kelly Exelby brings more than 15 years of industry experience in the high-end hospitality sector. Kelly commenced her career with Vintage Hotels as Senior Manager of Spa Operations in 2008, and under her leadership the spa was ranked as Number 1 Spa in North America.