Our Team
GENERAL MANAGER
Madahbee Leach, Dawn
Dawn Madahbee Leach, General Manager, earned a university degree in political science with a minor in law and has background experience in program development and management in the public sector. Ms. Madahbee Leach gained her business experience through operating a small retail outlet in her home community of Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation for 12 years and through private consulting with First Nation communities. She currently serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board. She is a former Chairperson of the Northern Ontario Development Corporation and participates on several Federal and Provincial economic advisory committees; and also served as a Board Member of both the Ontario Development Corporation and Innovations Ontario. Dawn has been with Waubetek since 1988.
BUSINESS SERVICES UNIT
Manitowabi, Mark
Business Support Officer
Mark Manitowabi is a member of the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory and a graduate of Laurentian University. and serves Waubetek clients as a Business Support Officer . Mark has worked as a senior manager both at the community and federal government levels. Mark also has many years of experience as a board member and chair of on and off-reserve committees and boards. He brings to Waubetek clients his years of experience as a general manager, dealing with banks, government agencies and reporting, staff and payroll management, and business planning. Mark's efforts at Waubetek will be directed towards assisting clients with business solutions such as budgeting, business planning, marketing, and training.
Tomaselli, Emilio
Business Development Officer
Emilio Tomaselli is a seasoned Business Development Officer, offering financing solutions to Indigenous Business's for Waubetek Business Development Corporation since 2020. Emilio led multiple economic initiatives, including business start-ups for over 11 years while serving as Economic Development Director for his home community of Sheshegwaning First Nation. Emilio's career began in Financial Services, having worked at RBC and TD Canada Trust in various positions, from customer service to account management where he gained a wealth of knowledge in both personal and business credit financing. Emilio holds a General Business Administration Diploma and a certificate in Human Resources that he completed at Georgian College. Emilio has also completed Laurentian Universities Project Management Professional training program and has also completed the National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association Leadership Program facilitated by Harvard Business School.
Porteous, Jodi
Loans and Contributions Administrator
Jodi Porteous, Loans and Contributions Administrator, joined Waubetek in June 2014 and is a member of the Metis Nation of Ontario. Jodi graduated with honors from the Canadian Career College with a diploma in Business Administration and also obtained her payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) Designation through the Canadian Payroll Association. Jodi's previous work experience includes working in different industries such as mining, transportation and forestry. In her position with Waubetek, Jodi is responsible for working with clients to process all aspects of their projects which include items such as claims, legal documentation and disbursing of payments.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Huber, Nicholas
Senior Aquaculture Development Officer
Nicholas Huber joined Waubetek in August 2017. After graduating from the aquaculture program at Sir Sandford Fleming College Nicholas spent the following 11 years growing Atlantic Salmon in British Columbia and Scotland UK. He served as a Senior Manager in Scotland as the Seawater Regional Manager overseeing operations and production throughout the Orkney and Shetland Isles for his company. Since his return back to Ontario he has worked as a consultant working within the Ontario aquaculture and renewable energy industry. His efforts at Waubetek will be focused on supporting growth in the aquaculture industry within First Nation communities throughout Alberta, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Pressey, Sean
Aquaculture Development Officer
Sean Pressey, Aquaculture Development Officer, joined Waubetek in 2022. Sean earned his Bachelor of Science from the University of Guelph and graduated with a double major in fisheries and wildlife biology. He brings over 25 years of aquaculture experience to the aquaculture development team with firsthand experience culturing rainbow trout, arctic charr, tilapia and pacific white shrimp. Over the course of his career, he has managed flow through systems, water reuse systems, intensive RAS systems and has participated in construction and development of several RAS systems. He will assist the Senior Aquaculture Development Officer in supporting the growth of the aquaculture industry within First Nation communities in central Canada including Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION
Laundrie, Kaylee
Finance Officer
Kaylee Laundrie, Finance Officer, is an Anishinabe-kwe and a proud member of Whitefish River First Nation who joined Waubetek in May 2023. Kaylee earned her Advanced Administration and Accounting Diploma at St. Lawrence College and is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Indigenous Commerce at Athabasca University. With her financial background, Kaylee ensures that the most productive systems management, protocols, and procedures are in place to support Waubetek management in serving Waubetek's business clients. Kaylee is committed to advancing economic reconciliation, as it aligns with her personal ambition to help build financial capacity for First Nation communities and entrepreneurs.