Michelle Colussi

Michelle Colussi has 20 years of nonprofit, community development experience with specific accomplishments in community recreation, mental health, and the arts. Her most recent experience as executive director of a Community Futures Development Corporation in B.C. has added small business training and sector-specific development strategies to her credit. She is an experienced facilitator, trainer, promoter, and consensus builder and is the author of several training and volunteer development manuals. She is currently manager of CCE's Technical Assistance Division. To contact Michelle, e-mail mcolussi (at) telus.net.

Denis Dunn

Denis Dunn has 30 years of experience in community and local economic development, half of that gained overseas as a consultant and project manager in developing countries. Over the years he has acquired expertise in developing community-based business support programs. These include industrial upgrading; matching grant/voucher schemes,; entrepreneurship promotion; supply and value chains; financial services; commercial credit and private investment; productive skills and livelihoods; market information; one-stop-shops; industrial clusters; tourism; and innovation and export development across a wide range of sectors. To contact Denis, e-mail denis.dunn (at) yahoo.com.

Don McNair

An editor, writer, and illustrator, Don McNair is responsible for CCCR's publications and was for many years managing editor of Making Waves: Canada's CED Magazine. His continuing responsibilities in editing, research, and publishing keep him in touch with community practitioners, initiatives, and resources across the country. He has 25 years experience in the design, production, and distribution of publications concerning CED. To contact Don, e-mail mcnair (at) cedworks.com.

CCCR ASSOCIATES

Dr. Stewart E. Perry

Dr. Stewart Perry has been active in CED in the U.S. and Canada since 1967, when he headed design work to launch the first federal CED program, elevating the community development corporation as a key vehicle for local revitalization. (He also had a role in the design of Canada's first federal CED program, LEDA, in the 1970s.) As head of the (U.S.) Center for Community Economic Development from 1969 to 1975, he helped create the first finance institution for CED, the Massachusetts Community Development Finance Authority, and also helped start Canada's first CDC, New Dawn Enterprises, Ltd. In the years 1988-1993 he headed the Community Economic Development Center in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. A consultant, trainer, and author in many aspects of CED, Stewart currently works with CCCR out of Seattle, Washington. To contact Stewart, e-mail stewartp (at) igc.org.

Sandy Lockhart

Dr. Sandy Lockhart helped found the Native Management Program at Trent University (Peterborough, Ont.), where he taught for many years as a full professor. His academic career was constantly interrupted by his commitment to keep a foot in the CED field at the grassroots level, however. Now professor emeritus, he has a singular ability to apply his great skill as an educator with people regardless of their walk of life. Sandy has also been an important contributor to CED literature in the field and is an expert in social science research. To contact Sandy, e-mail ralock (at) shaw.ca.

CCCR AFFILIATE

The following organization works in affiliation with CCCR when the project requires the specialized skills and experience it can offer.

Atlantic CED Institute (Truro, Nova Scotia)

Dianne Kelderman is Chief Executive Officer of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council and President of Atlantic Economics, a firm specializing in economic analysis and development, related public policy, and alternative finance. She is past-President of the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce and the Nova Scotia Chamber of Commerce. She has worked in all aspects of CED over the past 15 years, but as an entrepreneur she has a particular interest in business and alternative finance development. Having grown up in rural Newfoundland, she is keenly interested in using the resources of such traditional power sectors as business and finance to build communities and grow new economic bases. To find out more, visit the website of the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council.