As the owner of three local restaurants, Bianca Garofalo has been involved in the business community in Thunder Bay for over 10 years. Her business philosophy involves extensive partnerships with local purveyors and the tourism sector. These businesses are also responsible for the creation of over 100 jobs. For these efforts, Bianca was awarded “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” at the Influential Women of Northern Ontario Awards in 2013. She also provides mentoring for the Canadian Youth Business Foundation.

Bianca believes strongly in the philosophies of the credit union system and held a Board of Director’s position with Northern Lights Community Credit Union over 2 years ago where she Chaired both the Risk, Audit and Finance Committee & Commercial Credit Committee and has been involved in merger negotiations with Thamesville Community Credit Union & Alterna. Bianca currently resides in Thunder Bay, ON with her husband and two sons.

Marianne Johnson is proud to have been an active member of Alterna Savings since 1986 and a member of the Board since 2016.

Marianne is retired from the Bank of Canada, where she worked for over 20 years. While at the Bank, her career focused on economic forecasting and modelling as well as financial sector issues and regulation. Over the years, Marianne also took the opportunity to work and lead in the areas of mentoring and change management. More recently, she has taken on interesting assignments with the Government of Canada. Marianne holds a Masters of Arts (Economics) from Carleton University and a Bachelor of Arts from Queens University.

Marianne also has first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing small business in Canada, owning a family plumbing and heating business, with her husband since 1987. She is married with four children and three grandchildren.

Andy Cragg works as the Executive Director of the New Canadians Centre Peterborough, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to supporting immigrants, refugees and other newcomers to become full and equal members of Canadian society. Andy was a member of the Board of Directors of the Peterborough Community Credit Union before its merger with Alterna Savings in 2016 and was first elected to the Board of Alterna Savings in 2017.

Andy has a Master of Arts degree from Trent University, in Canadian Studies and Indigenous Studies, where he wrote his thesis on Canadian immigration policy. Having worked as a musician since the age of 17, Andy is passionate about the arts and has served on Peterborough’s Arts, Culture, and Heritage Committee. In what spare time remains, Andy loves to head to the lakes and woods of Ontario to go camping with his partner and three young children.

Earl Campbell is a Past Chair of the Alterna Savings Board and Alterna Bank Board having served as Chair of Metro Credit Union. The retired Director of Education and CEO of the Scarborough Board of Education, Mr. Campbell is President of Earl G. Campbell Consulting specializing in leadership development, governance and strategic planning. He has extensive experience serving on a number of Boards and has served as Chair of the Board of the Ontario Credit Union Foundation and Chair and President of the Scarborough Walk of Fame Association Board. Earl has been a member of the Board of his community association in Swan Lake Village and has been a credit union member for 59 years supporting cooperative based financial services.

Mr. Campbell has served as Vice Chair of the Ontario Consent and Capacity Board, an independent body to conduct hearings under a number of health-related Acts.

Mr. Campbell has experience as CEO of one of Canada’s largest urban school systems as well as managing a small business as an entrepreneur. He has facilitated the strategic planning process for several organizations and has coached a number of business leaders of both small and large enterprises.

Earl received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from York University and his Master of Education Degree from the University of Toronto.  He has received mediation training at Osgoode Hall Law School, York University and has served on appeal and grievance committees. Earl is a Distinguished Educator, OISE, University of Toronto.

Mr. Campbell has served as President of the Ontario and Canadian Councils for Exceptional Children and has been a member of the  International Executive Committee. He has received a number of awards and recognitions for his leadership in  education and the  community. Earl is an ordained Deacon, Anglican Church.

Faren has been a member of Alterna Savings and has been advocating for credit unions since she was 11 years old. Faren is a lawyer and the founder of Construct Legal, a law firm focusing on construction and infrastructure law.  Prior to founding Construct Legal, Faren was a partner at a large law firm in downtown Toronto. 

Faren co-founded and co-developed Pay Prompt, a software that helps user navigate complex legislation without needing to call a lawyer. Faren also has broad board experience, including a six-year tenure on the Alterna Savings board. Faren is currently the vice-chair of two non-for-profit organizations that provide and are developing affordable housing in Toronto.

Faren writes about thought leadership to her almost 5000 followers on LinkedIn. On the weekend, Faren tries to keep up with her three young kids at, among many other things, early morning hockey practice, Among Us and reading the Harry Potter series.

Maria has been a member of Alterna Savings and its predecessor organizations since the early 1970’s.  She is the Immediate Past Chair of Alterna Bank and is Chair of Alterna Savings.  She has also served and Chaired a number of other Boards and advisory committees.

Maria retired from the federal public service as President of the Public Service Commission of Canada.  Before that she was Assistant Auditor General at the Office of the Auditor General of Canada.  She has a Ph.D. in sociology and is currently Executive-in-Residence at the Sprott School of Business, Carleton University.  

In her retirement from the federal government she continues to serve as a community volunteer and to pursue her interests in public service reform, governance, financial and human resource management.

Marilyn Conway Jones started her career as a tax lawyer in a large accounting firm, but for many years has worked in her own practice as a real estate, mortgage and estates lawyer in the Greater Toronto Area. She has also been counsel to various non-profit and business corporations. Marilyn is Alterna’s representative and a Director on the Board of the financial corporation, Home Ownership Alternatives, and has done pro bono work for an organization dedicated to keeping seniors in their communities, both corporations operating in the non-profit housing sector.

Marilyn served for many years on the Board of the Caledon Parent Child Centre and has been a member of various business and community organizations. She is a firm believer in aquatic safety education and long time supporter of the swim programme sponsored by the Dun Church Lions Club in the District of Parry Sound.

Norm is a bilingual, entrepreneurial, former senior executive with more than 40 years of experience in the financial service sector. He has built and led high performance executive teams in the insurance, investment, and banking industries.

Norm built a thriving consulting practice advising senior executives in the area of strategic planning and implementation.

In recent years, Norm has continued to be active in governance roles in both public and private institutions serving as Chair, Committee Chair, and Director on a number of corporate Boards. Norm has also been active in his communities serving on numerous hospital and charitable Boards.

Richard is a fluently bilingual Fellow Chartered Professional Accountant and Fellow Chartered Accountant in Ontario, Québec and Alberta. He has served as past Chair of the Alterna Savings and Alterna Bank’s Boards of Directors. Richard is currently the Chair, Risk, Audit and Finance Committee for Alterna Savings. Richard joined the Federal Public Service in 1972 and held Senior Executive Positions culminating in being appointed Deputy/Comptroller General for Canada (Chief Financial Officer for the Federal Government).

He was also appointed the Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer for the Royal Canadian Mint. Richard is on several Boards of Directors and has received Order-in-Councils appointments.

He is a Knight in the Order of St-John Ambulance and is the Vice-Chancellor on their Board of Directors.