John Wilkinson, MPP: "This country’s economy needs world class scientists and business leaders who come together and speak a common language to make opportunities happen. That’s what happens every morning over coffee at the Accelerator Centre."
About Us | The Team
Leading the way
Tom Corr, DBA, MBA
Chief Executive Officer
Tom Corr's career includes over 30 years in the IT sector, including positions as Managing Partner at Catalyst Partnership; Founder and CEO of Momentum Systems; Founder, CEO and President of Applied Development Corp., and President of Canadian Data Processing Corp. Most recently, he was the Director of Commercialization - IT & Communications at the University of Toronto.
Tom serves a dual role as CEO of the Accelerator Centre (AC) and as the Associate Vice President of Commercialization with the University of Waterloo. This dual role provides Tom with a unique opportunity to ensure that there is a strong support system for technology commercialization efforts within Waterloo Region. As a successful serial entrepreneur, Tom is able to provide AC clients with solid guidance based on his wide range of hands-on experience.
In addition to these roles, Tom also teaches part time in the EMBA program at the University of Toronto and in the Masters of Engineering program at McMaster University.
Tom's education includes a Doctor of Business degree from Henley Management
College/Brunel University in England, an MBA from the University of Toronto, and
an Advanced Post Graduate Degree in Management Consultancy from Henley Management
College.
Tim Ellis
Director, Operations
Tim Ellis has 15 years of Executive Management experience with several high-tech companies in the Waterloo Region, including Virtek Vision, CME Telemetrix, Dantec Systems and Handshake VR. As Co Founder and VP Operations at Handshake, Tim’s responsibilities included financing, government funding, contract negotiation, board reporting and all other day to day operational requirements.
Tim provides the AC clients with guidance on a wide range of daily business and operational issues. He also manages training and development, as well as mentoring programs that are designed to assist AC client companies in moving their business forward. Tim also oversees financial and facility operations of the Accelerator Centre.
Barb Muise
Administrative
Coordinator
Barb Muise has several years of progressive career experience and training in various administrative and customer-service oriented positions, most relevant of which was to manage the daily administrative operations of a highly successful non-profit society serving the advanced technology community of Vancouver Island.
Barb oversees all of the daily administrative issues for the AC and is the primary point of contact for all Accelerator Centre residents for all things admin related. Barb's strong customer focus allows clients to concentrate their efforts on driving the growth and development of their company with the assurance that they will be able to do so within a first-class and highly professional environment. Barb also acts as liaison for the CEO and Board of Directors and provides facilities management backup.
Carolyn Nolan
Facilities Coordinator
Carolyn Nolan joined the Accelerator Centre in February 2008, bringing with her many years of experience and training in customer service and management, mainly in the insurance industry. Carolyn has taken many leadership roles throughout her years of employment, dealing with both internal and external clients.
Carolyn acts as the primary point of contact for all AC residents’ facilities needs. Her ability to liaise with clients and service providers with ease allows the facility-related needs of the AC residents to be met in a timely and efficient manner.
Carolyn also provides administrative assistance to the AC team and backs up the Administrative Coordinator.
Karen Perry
Bookkeeper/
Admin Assistant
Karen Perry joined the Accelerator Centre in April, 2007 and brings with her many years of hands-on entrepreneurial experience, having been a co-owner of her own business for 26 years. Karen played a key role in the overall operation of her company, including primary responsibility for all finance, human resources and administrative issues. After selling the business in 2000, Karen assumed administrative support roles at two local start-up technology organizations and was instrumental in supporting due diligence efforts which led to the sale of one of these organizations in 2005.
Karen provides bookkeeping, human resource/payroll administration and other
administrative support to AC clients. As Karen resides within the AC, clients are
able to easily access the valuable services that she provides, on an "as needed"
basis.
Kathy Thomson
Receptionist
Kathy Thomson provides a friendly, responsive and professional image as the front line contact for Accelerator Centre residents and their visitors. In addition to assuming responsibility for AC reception services, Kathy is also an administrative coordinator of events and services for Communitech, a resident and key Innovation Partner of the AC.
Kathy understands the needs of the AC's technology focused client companies. Prior to joining Communitech and assuming responsibility for AC reception services, Kathy was with CheckFree i-Solutions in Waterloo.
