GORE BAY—LAMBAC announced last week it has hired a new general manager to replace the current GM, Mary Nelder, who retires on June 30 after 14 years with the company.
Michael Addison has been named to the position of general manager of the Community Futures Development Corporation, which serves all of Manitoulin Island, the LaCloche Foothills region and Killarney. Mr. Addison resides in Gore Bay and is well-known across the Manitoulin-LaCloche region. He has worked with Fontaine and Associates Inc in the Sudbury area, and with Xela International in Toronto and Gore Bay, as well as several years as Communications Manager with Manitoulin Transport. Currently he is Director of Corporate Services with the UCCM Anishnaabe Police Services in M’Chigeeng.
“We are very pleased to welcome Michael to the position of general manager,” stated Mack Emiry, chair of the LAMBAC board of directors. “His experience in management of both private and public sector companies will serve the people of this area well. As you know, LAMBAC provides business assistance and loans to entrepreneurs as well as community development support to municipalities and not for profit organizations, so it is important that the GM understands both sides of the equation and how each sector contributes to the economy of our region.”
Dennis Shepitka, chair of the HR committee, also commented on the hiring of Mr. Addison. “Michael Addison brings 30 years of demonstrated leadership and a talent for creatively addressing operational issues. His knowledge of our area was gained as a volunteer director of the East Algoma Community Industrial Training Corporation (CITC) and a member of the North Shore Search and Rescue. We are very happy to have him join the LAMBAC team and continue the great work of LAMBAC across this region.” Mr. Addison will begin work on June 9, 2014.
LAMBAC, which is funded by Industry Canada through FedNor, has been in existence since 1986, operating under a volunteer board of directors drawn from the communities it serves. In that time it has provided over $7 million in loans to local businesses. It has more than $5 million in active loans currently in its lending portfolio. LAMBAC has also been instrumental in several community development initiatives, including the Manitoulin Island Community Abattoir and the LaCloche Foothills Community Adjustment project.