Our Board

TROY MERCER

Chair

I’m the current Chairperson for MACD. I’m employed with the Province of Manitoba as the Manager for Training and Employment Services in Selkirk, Manitoba. I have been involved in the field of career development for the past twenty-years in different capacities such as a front-line Intake Worker, Employment Counselor, Project Officer, and most recently as a Manager. I’m also a graduate of the Career Development Practitioner Certificate Program (2014) from the University of Winnipeg. I sit on the organizing committee for the Let’s Get to Work Conference, Manitoba’s preeminent Career Development event of the year. I continue to be passionate about my work and my involvement with MACD allows me to work with other people passionate about career development to make Manitobans more aware of the contributions career development makes to our Province.

GAIL LANGLAIS

Vice Chair

Gail Langlais has worked in the field of career development for over 22 year. She has worked with a broad range of client groups including individuals with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, EI recipients, social assistance recipients and individuals with mental health challenges. In 2006, she commenced work on Manitoba’s career development portfolio. In this role, Gail managed the Government of Manitoba cross-departmental strategy through which horizontal partnerships were developed between departments and community groups to facilitate a seamless integrated career development system within Manitoba.
Over her years working in career development, she has participated on a variety of committees and working groups including the Manitoba Association for Career Practitioners, Forum of Labour Market Ministers Career Development Services Working Group and the Advisory Board of the Let’s Get to Work Conference. She has also led numerous working groups related to enhancing the quality and effectiveness of career services through resource development, practitioner professional development and evaluation.
Gail has been fortunate to have had a variety of experiences at the provincial and pan-Canadian levels within the field of career development and at present she is the Director of Career Services at the University of Manitoba.

Rebecca Balakrishnan

Secretary

For 6 years, I have worked with post-secondary students at University of Manitoba on all aspects of career exploration, planning and job search. This takes a variety of forms, including one-on-one appointments, facilitating workshops, and writing resources. I am deeply passionate about career development and want to continue to work with MACD to raise the profile of our profession and create a meaningful space for us to learn and grow. I’ve been involved with MACD since 2016. In my spare time, I write a career development column called The Work Life. I have a psychology degree and I’m working towards my Master of Education in Counselling Psychology.

TARA ORCHARD

Treasurer

Tara Orchard is a Career Coach and Business Consultant, Trainer and Freelance Writer who has a passion for helping people and organizations develop actionable strategies to navigate change.
For over 20 years she has provided timely, tangible and insightful information, strategies and coaching to 1000’s of individuals and numerous organizations across Canada, the US and beyond.
Tara is the founder of her own career coaching and business consultancy (Career-Coach Canada and formerly ‘The Training Edge”) and has worked with numerous partner organizations including Canadian HR Solutions, NextJob Inc, Typefocus Inc. and lead the coordination of Career programs at a top Canadian University. She has been a featured writer for two business magazines (the “HR Insider” in Canada and Latin Business Today in the US).
Tara offers coaching and training for individuals and organizations, including on career development, brand creation and management, organizational policy development, employee management, and social networking support and more.
Tara is a member of the Manitoba Association for Career Development, a Mentor with the Canadian Futurepreneur program and was previously a member of the Advisor Board for the Career Professionals of Canada.
Tara holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Psychology and is certified in numerous personality and psychology assessment tools.
To contact or learn more about Tara just Google her or you can find her at:
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/taraorchard
www.Career-coach.ca
www.Quora/Profile/TaraOrchard

KATE YEE

Member at Large

Kate Yee has worked with students for more than 20 years in various capacities ranging from Kindergarten through post-secondary to post-doctoral students. Kate has always approached each student as a unique person meeting them where they are at in their academic and career development. Furthermore, Kate has always employed a holistic practice when working with people, understanding that choices will affect outcomes; and that the person must make intentional choices when they are ready in order to avoid ricocheting through life. More recently, Kate has found a home working in Career Development. Having entered the field while living in the USA in 2011, Kate focused on working in the Canadian (specifically Winnipeg) area upon her return. That was when she joined MACD; and has tried to be as active as possible ever since. Kate has been involved in community groups wherever she has lived and has enjoyed bringing different perspectives to the Executive and Board of MACD. Kate has a Bachelor’s degree (psychology/sociology double major) and a Master of Science in the social aspects of clothing. Kate is always looking for ways to advance her knowledge base through continuous learning.

AHNIKO HANDFORD

Member at Large

Ahniko transitioned from a 20-year career in IT to discovering her passion for providing people with the tools they need to get the jobs they want. Through both working one-on-one with clients and extensive facilitation of job search workshops, Ahniko has years of broad experience ranging from assisting at-risk youth entering the job market to guiding clients through mid-life career transition. Presently, she is delighted to offer career services in the field of vocational rehabilitation at Veritus Disability and Career Management. Her core belief: all human beings have a right to the dignity of gratifying employment suited to their values, skills, and gifts.
Completing her Rhetoric and Communications Degree, Ahniko took her post-graduate Career Development Practitioner (CDP) Certificate, her certification for Personality Dimensions Level 1 Facilitator, and earned her Career and Employment Coach Certificate (CECC). Becoming a facilitator herself for the CECC workshops, she recognized the need for a professional association for CDPs to support each other and thus better serve their clients. In 2016, Ahniko was presented with Manitoba’s Leadership in Career and Workforce Development, Individual Achievement Award for leadership in founding the Manitoba Association for Career Development (MACD).

DEANNA ENGLAND

INNA GRANOVSKY

Member at Large

Deanna England holds multiple credentials from The University of Winnipeg including a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree with a major in Psychology, and an Master of Arts in Cultural Studies. She has worked at the University of Winnipeg since 2008, first in the Faculty of Graduate Studies, moving to Academic and Career Advising in 2018. She also holds a Career Development Practitioner Certificate from the University of Winnipeg (PACE) and is a board member of the Manitoba Association for Career Development (MACD), including acting as co-chair for the annual "Let's Get to Work" career development conference. In addition to her work with UW and MACD, she also facilitates an online Career Development course with Red River College and is a member of Career Trek's Career Development Advisory Group.

Inna Granovsky – a new Member of the MACD Board, joined October 2018.
Thank you to the MACD Board and Membership for your votes.
As a long time employee of the Public Service Canada (34 years) my passions lie with career development and capacity building for individuals in all aspects of their lives.
Managing people is not just managing productivity and financial results but really paying attention to each and every one on your Team!
For over 6 years, I bring my passion as the Certified Career Development Coach to Indigenous Services Canada and actively volunteer for the Jewish Child and Services Agency in area of career mentoring.
I look forward to working with MACD Board and our stakeholders in areas of diversity awareness.

MARNIE GROENEVELD

Member at Large

Senior Manager, Career Development Services
Manitoba Institute of Trades & Technology

Marnie has been dedicated to the career development field for over 18 years focusing on career and employment counselling, group facilitation and project management. Working in private industry, non-profit organizations, high school and post-secondary institutions (university and college environments) has provided an opportunity to look at career development from multiple perspectives. Marnie has worked with diverse clientele including individuals in career transition, new Canadians, post-secondary students, international students, and youth. Marnie has been a member of many career and community based groups and committees including the Inter-provincial Association on Aboriginal Employment (IANE), the Manitoba Aboriginal Youth Career Awareness Committee (MAYCAC) and the Post-Secondary Advisory Committee with Career Trek. Marnie has participated in Pan-Canadian consultations on employability skills and continues to be actively involved in initiatives regarding employability skill development and assessment on a national level.

Marnie has a major in psychology from Brandon University (go Bobcats!), is a True Colors Level 1 Facilitator, Personality Dimensions Level 1 Facilitator, is certified in the WorkPlace Big 5 Profile assessment, and recently completed the Lean Leadership Certificate from the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology.

EMILY WORTHEN

Member at Large

Emily has been able to facilitate others growth as an instructor, workshop facilitator, career coach and manager. She brings experience from facilitating and career coaching at the Winnipeg Transition Centre, Robertson College, University of Manitoba and the Work Readiness Program. She currently works as a Career Development Services Officer at Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology.

Her career started in customer service, where she built the foundation of her skills and developed a very customer-oriented mindset. Building on these skills she moved into management positions and then began working as a Career Coach. From there she found her love of workshop facilitation and began seeking roles that involved being able to instruct and facilitate classes and workshops.

In addition to a B.A. in Psychology she has completed a variety of certificates to enhance her skills, including, but not limited to, Introduction to Employment Services at Dalhousie University, the Career/Employment Coach Certificate and the Practical Facilitation Skills Certificate through the Winnipeg Transition Centre.