Board of Directors
Kevin Ferrell
Chair
Kevin has more than 12 years of experience in executive and board roles with digital technology companies and more than 22 years of experience advising private and public companies primarily in the technology space in the areas of finance, operations, M&A and tax planning.
He is currently COO of PopReach Corporation (TSXV:POPR) following a reverse takeover in April 2022 by Federated Foundry, which he co-founded in 2021. Prior to that, Kevin was President of System1 Canada and President of System1’s global Publishing and Agency operations. System1 (NYSE:SST) went public via SPAC in January 2022.
Kevin was also President and co-founder of Qool Media, a performance publisher and agency which was acquired by System1 in March 2017.
Patrick Wardrop
Director & Advisor
Patrick Wardrop is a seasoned professional in the field of identity and access management (IAM). He currently serves as the Director of Engineering, Identity & Access Management at IBM.
His career at IBM spans over two decades, during which he has held various roles, including Chief Architect for IAM and Cloud Security Enforcer.
He has contributed significantly to the field, holding more than 20 US patents and over 40 worldwide patents. His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Information Science from the University of Guelph.
Christopher Bisson
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Chris started his mortgage career at RDM Financial after spending almost five years moving through the corporate ladder at Levi Strauss & Co. (Canada) Inc. He quickly put his sales and customer service skills to good use and grew his mortgage practice to become one of the largest in the region.
During his MBA at Notre Dame, he completed a project on Appraisal Management Companies based on his experience in the mortgage industry and is devoting 100% of his time to this new company. His mission is to change the industry for the betterment of lenders, mortgage originators, and appraisers.
Chris has extensive background in economics and mortgage public policy. He is regularly asked to guest lecture and sit as an expert panelist for lenders, mortgage insurers, and at industry functions.
Jeff Charbonneau
Director and Advisor
Jeff Charbonneau is the co-founder and managing director of a financial & management consulting firm, where he is primarily involved in: private client advisory services with a focus on origination, analysis and integration of innovative capital growth strategies; and business client advisory services that include strategic planning with a view to revenue and profit enhancement, commercial assessment of growth opportunities including capital allocations or investment structures, mergers & acquisitions, and optimizing enterprise value in consideration of a business sale.
Jeff has prior experience in a private equity firm that invested in small to medium-sized companies in Canada, USA and UK, where he led the investment committee, portfolio strategy, and provided operational governance as an active board member for several portfolio companies.
Brian Cowan
Secretary, Director and Advisor
Brian is currently an Adviser and Secretary to Value Connect's Board of Directors. He advises on the strategic direction of the company in addition to governance best practises.
Brian’s business career has spanned thirty years where he has held senior leadership roles in Canada and Europe in areas of strategic planning, information technology, marketing, business development, sales, mergers and acquisitions and government relations. Brian retired from Teranet Inc. after 17 years where he was Vice-President responsible for Marketing and Business Development, Communications, Government Relations, New Business Initiatives and Special Projects. He also held the office of President and COO for a national e-commerce business.
Brian is active in the community. He is Past-Chair of Innovation Guelph (since 2011-2017), Chair of Waterloo Wellington Community Care Access Centre (since 2010), a Director with Cutten Fields, Past President of the Rotary Club of Guelph South and Past Vice-Chair of Guelph Hydro Inc.
Brian has a degree in environmental studies from the University of Waterloo, an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and holds a Chartered Director designation from McMaster’s DeGroote School of Business where he is also on the faculty of The Director’s College.
Steve Elliott
Director & Advisor
Steve Elliott is the Managing Director at Henderson Oliver Sales Ltd., a position he has held since April 1987. With over 38 years of experience in the industry, Steve has demonstrated exceptional leadership and management skills. Prior to his current role, he served as the National Sales Manager for the Distributor Products Division.
Steve holds a degree from Humber College, where he graduated in 1986. His expertise includes negotiation and management.
Based in Bolton, Ontario, Canada, Steve is well-connected within his professional network.