Leadership Team
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Jim Paris CEO, AG Research Inc. Jim joined AG Research as Chief Executive Officer in early 2008. With the goal of establishing AG as the “IT partner of choice”, Paris has sharpened AG’s strategic focus, operating efficiency, financial performance and client focus. The result has been an increase in customer satisfaction, key public sector product development, and recognition as a dependable provider of infrastructure services and professional services. Prior to joining AG, Paris spent 26 years with Electronic Data Systems (EDS) as a global Vice President on four continents. He has extensive leadership experience in development, operational management, consulting, and compliance. Paris has transformed clients in multiple verticals including financial services, government, transportation, and telecommunications. He has led the transformation of business and government enterprises through successful business processing outsourcing engagements. Paris developed the Canadian CRM division that signed and supported a billion dollar book of business. He has consulted to public sector groups on the development of a “citizen centric” focus toward public support and the use of information technology as the key enabler of this focus. Paris is a Council Member of the Sydney and Area Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Advisory Board to Export Nova Scotia (private sector IT development consortium), and member of Contact Centre Canada (National Sector Council). Paris holds both BA and MA degrees in Political Science, Economics, and Spanish from Texas Christian University (Fort Worth). He resides in Sydney, Nova Scotia, with his wife, Natalie, and family. |
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Patricia McCann CFO Patricia McCann joined the AG team in July 2010 with 15 years experience in accounting and finance. She earned a BA and a BBA from Cape Breton University, an MPA from Dalhousie, and possesses a Certified General Accountant’s (CGA) designation. Patricia has a broad base of knowledge and experience and has worked in both the private and the public sectors holding, among others, the positions of auditor, appeals officer, financial services manager, and controller. Although her primary roles involved leading and coordinating the collection, recording, analysis and reporting of financial information, she also has had substantial input in policy development/writing and has been extensively involved in human resource management initiatives and the improvement of project management processes. As well, she has chaired and been a member of numerous committees throughout her career and currently serves as second Vice President on the Board of the United Way of Cape Breton. Patricia has demonstrated a deep commitment to lifelong learning and to personal and professional growth. She resides in Coxheath with her husband and two children. |
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Kevin McCormack, VP of Business Development Kevin is Vice President of Business Development with over 20 years experience in Sales and Partner/Channel Development. Over this time he has focused on both North American and International opportunities both from a Sales and Strategic Partnering prospective. He has specialized experience in Canada, the United States and Central and South America, and maintains an extensive network of partners and international contacts. His client list contains Fortune 1000 companies, as well as Government officials both in North America, the Caribbean, and Central/South America. Mr. McCormack has held senior Business Development and Sales positions with a variety of Canadian and internationally based ICT companies focusing on: ERP Solutions, Competitive Intelligence, Government Registries, and GIS Solutions. He has extensive contacts with Government International funding agencies, Development Banks, Industrial offset programs, and other sources of project funding. Mr. McCormack has an undergraduate degree from Duquesne University (Pittsburgh) and a Masters Degree from Southern Methodist University (Dallas). Additionally, he is a Fulbright Scholar (Puna, India) |
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Kathy MacIntyre Director – Operations Katherine MacIntyre joined AG Research in early 2005 to cultivate improvement of company operations. Katherine is responsible for ensuring management and coordination among AG affiliates, branches and departments, and for addressing the resolution of major operational issues. Her efforts have paid measurable dividends through improved client communication, new agreement contracts and coordination of branch offices, all of which have been instrumental in leveraging customer insights and prospects, resulting in improved AG performance. In her capacity as Operations Director, Katherine plays a key role in the day-to-day management of the business. Katherine began her career in RF engineering with a company that designed Microwave Landing System solutions for international governments. Further career engagements focused on many other national Public Sector solutions. Over the past 25 years, Katherine has accumulated significant experience managing concurrent engineering projects and working to Military standards. Ms. MacIntyre graduated from Ryerson Technical Institute in the Electrical Engineering program. She resides in Sydney, Nova Scotia with her husband, Mark Steadman, who continues to rescue dogs. Katherine volunteers in the community to support not-for-profit organizations’ project plans and technology implementation. |
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Edward M. Davis, PMP Director – Solutions Ed is a Consultant, Project Manager, Business Analyst and Trainer with over 25 years of experience in Information Management. He has a B.T. degree in Process Control and is a PMI-certified Project Manager Professional (PMP), with several years of senior-level experience in the design, application and implementation of IM/GIS/ERP solutions. Ed has proven expertise in system analysis, strategic planning, requirements gathering, application design, geomatics, internet and service oriented technologies. Ed has worn many hats during his career, performing at various times as a Director, Business Analyst, Developer, Advisor, Consultant, and Project Manager. His firsthand experience in managing and implementing GIS-enabled solutions for a diversity of systems – everything from public utilities to natural resources, from asset management to e-Governance – gives him an in-depth knowledge of business processes. With such an extensive background, Ed is able to offer an invaluable degree of insight to AG and its clients. Ed is considered an evangelist of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA-) based GIS solutions and is often invited to present his vision for implementing collaborative BI/GIS solutions. In addition, his cutting-edge ideas have garnered large R&D investments by the Canadian National Research Council and private sector partners for capitalization of these innovations. |
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Pierre R. LaRochelle, P.Eng Director – Program Management Office Pierre joined AG Research in the spring of 2009 as Director of the Program Management Office. He brings with him several decades of experience working in the corporate worlds of Montreal and Toronto, initially managing both technology implementation and application development for support of all aspects of realty and facilities management. He has also implemented computer aided drafting and design and Geomatics solutions to support asset management, business intelligence analysis and provincial 911 systems. Later in his career Pierre joined a $25M Solutions company as Project Liaison leading development and IT teams implementing software and network solutions for the private and public sectors, across all levels of government and functional areas. Interspersed in Pierre’s career have been several years working as Project Manager or Operations Manager in the construction or renovation of corporate facilities, plant, communication towers and private residences. During those periods he implemented project management best practices, change management and accounting support. Since graduating with a B.Sc. Civil Engineering from Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Pierre has worked in Canada, Saudi Arabia and Bermuda, received training internationally and travelled the Northern Hemisphere. Pierre moved to Cape Breton in 2005, the birthplace of his wife Belinda. Their son resides in Ontario. Pierre thrives on leveraging past experience with new project learning, to deliver on target successes. |
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Dennis Williams Director – Infrastructure Technologies Dennis joined the AG Research in December of 2004 as part of the Infrastructure Services group. Dennis’ customer oriented focus has lead to AG’s implementation of a managed services environment to help better serve and protect AG’s clients’ needs and infrastructure. Dennis brings passion and leadership skills to his role as IT Manager. Dennis is responsible for managing, coaching and leading our Help Desk and Infrastructure team in providing best-in-class customer service and care. Mr. Williams has an undergraduate degree in Information Technology and diploma in Computer Information Systems from Cape Breton University (formerly University College of Cape Breton). He resides in Sydney, Nova Scotia with his wife Emma and their 2 children. Dennis is also actively involved in his community serving as a volunteer coach in hockey, baseball and soccer. |
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Angela Polegatto Manager, HR Ms. Angela Polegatto joined the team at AG Research in 1997 after completing her Business Technology Computer Applications program at Island Career Academy. She brings with her professionalism, dedication, and personality. She has had many roles over the years during AG’s evolution, among them customer service, finance and HR. Angela has made decisive improvements on company policies and benefits to facilitate employees. In her free time away from the office, Angela brings her customary level of professionalism, dedication and caring to community volunteer work. She loves the outdoors and can usually be found spending her recreational time enjoying the beautiful Mira River area of Cape Breton. |
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