Ron Ghitter

Chairman

Ron Ghitter, Q.C. was born in Calgary, Alberta and raised in Edmonton. He received his law degree at the University of Alberta and began practicing law in Calgary in 1960 where he became senior partner of the firm Ghitter & Company. Mr. Ghitter was elected to the Provincial Legislature in 1971 and sponsored the first Human Rights legislation in 1972. He became a candidate for the leadership of the Provincial Progressive Conservative Party in 1985 and was appointed to the Senate of Canada in March 1993 to 2000.

Mr. Ghitter is a frequent lecturer on Human Rights issues in Canada and a co-founder of the Dignity Foundation in Alberta, a non-profit organization established to encourage the support for human rights in Alberta. He was also a founding Director of the International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Development.

Mr. Ghitter developed a passion for tennis as a junior, ranked as a Provincial Alberta Junior Tennis Champion for three years. As a university player, he was a playing Coach and Captain of the University of Alberta's Tennis Team for 5 years. Subsequent to his graduation, he became a Tennis Instructor in both Edmonton and Calgary.

As an adult, he has won a number of singles an doubles tennis championships in Alberta, and became ranked in Canada as a senior player. Over the past 6 years, Mr. Ghitter has been on Tennis Canada's Board, and has played an instrumental role in spearheading the process to develop the OSTEN & VICTOR Alberta Tennis Centre. 

He is married to Myrna Ghitter and they have three children and two grandchildren.

Steve Kirk

Director

Steve, a married  father of three children, works in the investment business where he is in his 19th year with BMO Nesbitt Burns.  Prior to his current profession, Steven obtained his Chartered Accountant designation in 1991 with Deloitte and has experience with both public and private practice.  He graduated from the University of Las Vegas with a B. Comm. while playing NCAA tennis on scholarship.

As a tennis player, Steve has played for Canada in the Men's over 35 world team competition. In 1982 he won the Alberta Open Men's Singles title. He has also taught tennis at various clubs in Calgary including: The Calgary Tennis Club, The Tennis Academy and the Glenmore Racquet Club.

Mike Smith

Director

Mike Smith has spent his career in the oil and gas investment business, focusing on sales adn research activiites.  He holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from University of Alberta (1980) and a Chartered Financial Analyst designation from the University of Virgina (1988).

He is currently a Director of the Calgary Golf and Country Club and has been a previous Board Member of Hospice Calgary and the Mount Royal Community Association.

His interests include tennis, golf, cycling and skiing.  He also enjoys photography and travel and has been an avid tennis player and fan for over 40 years.

Wendy Ng

Wendy Ng is a finance professional with over twenty years of wide ranging corporate experience, bringing financial expertise and a diverse perspective.  She currently holds the position as Senior Director of Internal Audit at Nutrien Ltd.  In her eight years with the company, she has also provided leadership to several strategic functions, including corporate decision support, corporate finance, and risk management. Wendy started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where she worked in the valuation and assurance practices based in Toronto and Calgary.

She earned her Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Calgary and is a Chartered Public Accountant (CPA, CA) and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV).

Remaining engaged with the Calgary community, she has been involved with several volunteer initiatives and has previously served as Treasurer on the Board of Calgary Legal Guidance, a local organization that provides access to justice to disadvantaged Calgarians.

Wendy is an avid recreational tennis player, participating in Calgary's inter-club league and in local tournaments.

Jason Balakas

Bio coming soon...

Al Fowler

Allan Fowler is a lifelong passionate tennis player.  Allan is an entrepreneurial financial executive whose career spans extensive experience in roles as director, President, CEO, Vice President, CFO and private equity investor across a range of industries.  He has been involved with the founding of several corporate entities as well as many corporate acquisitions and investments.

Derrick Rowe

Derrick Rowe is the CEO of Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc. and the Executive Chairman of the Board of BPLI Holdings Inc. the parent company for its two operating divisions, Bluedrop Training & Simulation Inc. and Bluedrop ISM.

Derrick brings a focused executive leadership style to the Bluedrop team that stems from four decades of experience leading international, corporate operations. He is highly valued for his expertise in managing businesses in highly complex, regulatory and operating environments.

As founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Stratos Global Corporation (TSX SGB) until 1999, he helped build the company from a start-up into a successful public corporation. In 2001, Derrick was appointed Chairman of Fishery Products International (FPI) Limited (TSX FPL) and served as Chief Executive Officer from 2001 to 2005. He was appointed Executive Chairman of Bluedrop Performance Learning in 2010. He is the President of Name 3 Capital Inc., the private investment firm he founded after exiting Stratos.

Derrick also served on several distinguished boards, panels and commissions including those with provincial, national, and international mandates. He is presently the chair of the board of directors of Atlantic Aqua Farms Limited, an Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan owned company.

Derrick is the past Chair of Tennis Canada, past Chair of the Council of Provinces (COP), past President of Tennis Newfoundland and Labrador (TNL), and past President of Greenbelt Tennis club.