Jessica Espin

Human Resources Coordinator, Manitoba Blue Cross

Jessica is an HR Advisor with a legal background and proven experience supporting employee relations, policy development, and workforce initiatives within a 300+ employee organization.

She partners with leaders across multiple business units to deliver HR solutions that improve employee experience, strengthen compliance, and support organizational goals. She is recognized for strong judgment, adaptability, and the ability to translate data into actionable insights, bringing a unique combination of HR expertise and legal training.

She focuses on several core areas, including employee relations and investigations, policy development and compliance, onboarding, DEI and more.

Courtney Matienzo

Talent Acquisition Specialist, Mazergroup

Courtney is a dedicated Talent Acquisition Specialist with a strong background in recruitment, workforce development, and employee engagement. With a passion for connecting top talent with the right opportunities. In her role, Courtney manages recruitment for all 18 locations, 13 in Manitoba and 5 in Saskatchewan, overseeing all aspects of the hiring process for each dealership.

Beyond her professional achievements, Courtney is committed to community engagement and workforce alignment. She serves as a Board Director for the Brandon Career Symposium and is a Committee Member for the Workforce Alignment Committee at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce, where she contributes to initiatives that strengthen local employment opportunities.

Courtney is currently pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Immigration and Citizenship Law from Queen’s University and plans to write the Entry-to-Practice Exam on September 24, 2025, to further support Mazergroup's international employees. She also holds a Registered Professional Recruiter Designation and a Business Administration diploma specializing in Human Resources from Assiniboine College, where she was honored as a Valedictorian.

Shannon Morrison

Human Resources Generalist, Innovair Group

Shannon Morrison has over five years of experience in HR. In her current role at Innovair group, she served as an HR Generalist and was instrumental in developing a recruitment and talent development strategy, and improving the overall employee experience. 

In her three years at Innovair, she has helped hire for over 70 positions, which is double year over year from when she started. She has helped fill very specific, hard to fill and technical roles, and led the health and wellness strategy for Innovair. She helped create the wellness program, led the Wellness Committee, and took part in the health and safety committee. 

She is dedicated to improving employee experiences, whether it's through physical fitness programs, sleep programs, or even creating safety programming to enhance the overall experience for each team member. 

Natividad Lobete-Dinulos

Independent HR Consultant and Professional Applied Counsellor

With more than twenty years of expertise in Human Resources, Workforce Development, Consulting, Coaching, Mentoring and Counselling, I am a results-driven and client-centred professional who delivers talent acquisition, retention, employee engagement, motivation and resiliency solutions that help organizations and clients harness the full power of one of their most valuable assets – their people.

In 1996, while taking my master’s in business administration from Ateneo Graduate School of Business in Asia and the Executive Management Online Graduate Certificate Program from Regis University, USA, I put my experience and knowledge to practice by becoming the first female Manager in Human Resources at Ryonan Denso Manufacturing Company in Southeast Asia.

Over the next fifteen years, I have helped shape the company’s core employee programs first as Personnel Manager, then Administration Manager to Human Resources and Training Manager. 

However, what I consider the greatest accomplishment of my career to date is the contribution that I am making to the underrepresented groups specifically the people with disabilities and immigrants in Manitoba province as an Independent HR Consultant and Professional Applied Counsellor.

George Paul Hakim

Manager, Human Resources, Manitoba Blue Cross

George Hakim brings close to 20 years of Human Resources experience spanning various industries including Finance, Legal, Insurance and Technology. He is a CPHR/SPHR-SCP with dual degrees from the University of Manitoba, having earned a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Political Studies and a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours in Business. He also holds a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) from the Academy to Innovate Human Resources, obtained in 2021. He brings knowledge and expertise in employee relations, performance management, talent management, HR business strategy, DEI, policy and procedure development, and health & safety to name a few.

In his current role as Manager of Human Resources at Manitoba Blue Cross, George is committed to fostering positive change through trust-building, constructive dialogue, and actionable strategies. As a member of the leadership committee, he continuously seeks opportunities to enhance Human Resources practices and implement best practices. He encourages leaders to adopt innovative thinking and empowers his teams through effective coaching and mentorship. George has successfully collaborated with his team to develop and refine DEI programs, performance management systems, and talent acquisition strategies that align with organizational objectives. Additionally, he is dedicated to promoting DEI initiatives and actively contributes to the community by serving on various boards such as the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba.

Known for his supportive and engaging behaviour, George demonstrates a genuine care for his employees. He prioritizes open communication and makes himself available for discussions with employees and those interested in pursuing careers in Human Resources. His passion, pride, and dedication to the HR profession are evident in all his interactions.

Recruiter, First Nations Financial Management Board

Johanna is a highly experienced HR professional with more than 10 years of experience. She partners with organizations of all sizes to translate complex HR challenges into practical, results-driven solutions, developing HR foundations that create inclusive cultures based on implementing effective HR practices.

She has long been involved with CPHR Manitoba and has served on committees. In addition to her own work, she enjoys empowering her team members so they can also deliver great results for clients. 

Heather Horton

Director of Human Resources, Trailblazers Life Choices Inc. 

Heather's journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication and visionary leadership. Since joining MacDon in 2005 as Director of Human Resources, she has been the driving force behind the company’s people strategy. In addition to being part of Linamar's global HR Directors team, she is a member of the Senior Executive Group, reporting to our Group President. She collaborates with this group to shape the HR strategy ensuring that it supports operational goals.

Through her leadership, she has evolved the HR team from a primary function of hiring and benefits to a multidisciplinary team of 22 HR professionals across Canada and the US, empowering them to prioritize MacDon’s most valued asset—its people.  Heather’s impact is profound: she has guided MacDon through five collective bargaining agreements, stewarded strategic acquisitions, and led pivotal HR transformations across benefits, compensation, payroll, employee engagement, training and development, safety and total rewards. Her deep commitment to fostering a legacy of loyalty shines in the multiple generations of families who have found lifelong careers at MacDon under her guidance.  In times of change, Heather has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion, opening doors for Ukrainian newcomers and ensuring MacDon is a safe, inclusive workplace for all.

She has been instrumental in achieving Made Safe Certification, reinforcing a culture of safety that extends from the factory floor to the executive suite.  Heather’s work in employee training and leadership development has transformed mentorship and growth into core pillars of the MacDon experience. Her legacy is not only in policies but in the lives she has touched and the careers she has nurtured with compassion, generosity and genuine care.  Heather is more than a director; she’s a mentor, a change-maker, and a steadfast advocate for every MacDon employee. Her dedication, focus, and commitment to fairness make her profoundly deserving of the Leadership Award.

Tyler Porter

Human Resources Manager, Meridian Manufacturing Inc. 

Tyler earned his HR certificate at Assiniboine Community College in 1997 as part of his Hospitality and Tourism diploma. While he loved the energy of hospitality, he wanted to avoid the 24/7 demands of hotel work and explore other industries to grow his career.

In 2023, Tyler joined RFNOW Inc. as their first HR Director, tasked with establishing an HR department. He has built a strong foundation and overseen a 150% growth in staff, positively shaping the company’s culture and direction.

Tyler, as a visionary leader, anticipates the changing needs of the organization and sets clear planned goals to meet them. Every project contributes meaningfully to organizational success because he adjusts HR initiatives with the company’s broader mission and guarantees he is adept at this task.

Tyler thrives on helping others achieve their own success. He has been fortunate to work with amazing people and mentors, who have fueled his passion for HR and his drive to make meaningful contributions wherever he goes. 

Abe Berg
Leader, Custom Learning Division, Neovation Corporation

Abe began his electrical career in 2009 with a passion for delivering quality and innovation in the electrical industry. In 2013, he founded Power Driven Electric Ltd. (PDE) in Manitoba.

His leadership style centers on collaboration, empowerment, and a strong commitment to employee well-being. In 2023, he spearheaded the implementation of a comprehensive Health and Safety Program in partnership with HR, transforming PDE’s culture by embedding safety into every operational task. This initiative led to the company achieving COR certification in September 2024, reducing incidents, improving operational efficiency, and fostering a "safety-first" culture.

Beyond leading PDE, he is passionate about mentoring future industry professionals through the Apprenticeship Manitoba Program, and collaborating with experts to adopt best practices, like the CPHR Manitoba Mentorship Program. His focus remains on driving innovation, supporting my team’s growth, and ensuring client satisfaction, all while fostering a culture that prioritizes safety and professionalism.

Kurt Buehler

President, MacDon Industries

Kurt is President of MacDon Industries, a global harvesting company with over 2,300 employees worldwide. Kurt brings extensive leadership, management and operations experience to this position having joined MacDon Industries in 2008 as Director of Manufacturing and then moving to Vice President of Operations. In these roles, Kurt led all facets of operations activities including production scheduling, procurement, material management, production engineering and product integrity. In this capacity, Kurt has worked closely with Human Resources and been instrumental in directing our lean waste elimination and safety initiatives. Most importantly, Kurt has focused on the employees of MacDon, focusing on training, safety and employee development.

Working with HR, he has demonstrated a commitment to employees by pioneering and participating in mentorship programs, designing leaders standard work and operational frameworks, helping create curriculum for leadership development programs, and supporting employee development through the deployment of a learning and development practice within MacDon. 

He has created a culture that promotes people from within, and a place where people can have a career. He has championed a respectful workplace and inclusion through supporting the emergence of a Diversity Committee and DEI education and programming at MacDon. Under his leadership, MacDon became a community supporter of Ukrainian newcomers to Manitoba. Kurt continues to lead with integrity and care, putting people first. He has continued to create strategies working with HR and his senior leadership team that have kept MacDon a forerunner in high performance harvesting equipment for 75 years. We have a culture of pride, helping farmers feed the world.

Grant Cockshott

President and CEO, Innovair Group

Grant Cockshott has proudly served as the President and CEO of Innovair Group for more than 30 years, showcasing expertise in strategic planning, innovation engineering, and continuous improvement. 

His passion lies in the family business and its ability to strengthen communities and economies. He is particularly focused on human performance. In fact, Grant and his leadership team say the greatest rewards of business are not financial. They are empowering employees to grow their skills and experience so they can deliver better outcomes for patients, customers, and communities. 

Kirk Regular
Director, SafeOperations at Vidir Solutions

As Director, SafeOperations at Vidir Solutions, Kirk oversees the management of all manufacturing operations. This includes formulating strategies, setting objectives and standards, and developing leaders. In a manufacturing setting, one of his primary focuses is SafeOperations to ensure that ZERO HARM, Kirk has an unwavering commitment to the well-being of the workforce. 

To achieve these objectives, Kirk ensures that HR is actively involved in the decision-making process and that HR alignment is present in the organization’s long-term goals. He recognizes HR as a key business partner.

Specifically, Kirk partners with HR in developing business strategy, departmental workforce planning, employee training & leadership development, policy & process development and performance management.

Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud
Senior Advisor on Ending Chronic Homelessness, Premier

Tessa Blaikie Whitecloud is the Premier’s new Senior Advisor on Ending Chronic Homelessness. Whitecloud has worked in the homeless serving sector since 2013 and previously worked as the executive director for 1JustCity and for the last three years, served as the CEO of Siloam Mission. She holds a master’s degree from Carleton University in Ottawa in political economy and previously taught sociology at the University of Winnipeg for five years.