Central Office Staff

Daryl Genge

President & CEO

Daryl manages and monitors the operations and overall sustainability of Springboard Atlantic. Sitting in our Central Office, he builds partnerships on behalf of the network that strengthen Atlantic Canada’s innovation ecosystem and cultivates new opportunities for our post-secondary research community.

In conjunction with Springboard’s Board of Directors, members, Central Office staff, and government partners, Daryl leads the development and execution of Springboard’s organizational strategy.

Prior to his role at springboard, Daryl held Assistant Deputy Minister and Deputy Minister (acting) positions with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development where he championed public-private investment strategies to drive the development and growth of innovative industries, and played a leadership role in international trade and foreign direct investment attraction.

Tania Jones

Manager of Finance & Corporate Operations

Based at UNB in Fredericton, Tania is the backbone of Springboards’ finances, looking after operational funding aspects and Springboard’s Member Innovation Mobilization Program disbursements. In addition, Tania collects and consolidates the valuable metrics that are crucial to our planning and reporting processes.

Having worked with Springboard since 2008, Tania is extremely knowledgeable about the organization’s financial structure, including what counts as an eligible expense and what must be included in our reports.

Previously, Tania fine-tuned her financial expertise working for ten years in the private sector as senior accountant for a commercial real estate business who owned development properties as well as restaurants and eight subsidiary companies.

Theresa MacLeod

Coordinator, Administration and Events

Theresa MacLeod is our Coordinator, Administration and Events.

Theresa joined the Springboard team with over a decade of board administrative experience, having worked for the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board and Pinchin LeBlanc Environmental. Reporting to our President and CEO, Theresa is responsible for the efficient administration of Springboard’s Central Office, overseeing office administration, meeting, and event coordination. She leads with experience, enthusiasm, and a passion for the job. Theresa is a graduate of Hospitality Management from Cape Breton University.

Outside of the office, Theresa enjoys any off time during the summer at her home away from home in Pictou County, spending time with her husband, four children, two dogs, and her grandbabies.

Want to connect with Theresa? Email her here.

Chris Fevens

Manager of Partnerships and Member Support

Chris Fevens has joined Springboard as Manager of Partnerships and Member Support.

Chris will develop relationships between industry and Springboard’s network of 19 post-secondary institutions to enhance research commercialization in Atlantic Canada

Before joining Springboard, Chris was program manager in Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Open Learning and Career Development. His professional background includes more than 15 years of experience working in post-secondary institutions in Canada and abroad as an instructor and as an administrator.

He has considerable experience building partnerships with external stakeholders and working within multicultural environments.

He holds a B.A. and B.Ed. from University of New Brunswick, and a M.Ed. from the University of British Columbia.

Gail Lethbridge

Senior Communications Strategist

Gail Lethbridge has joined Springboard as Senior Communications Strategist.

Gail is an exited (2018) ocean tech entrepreneur who co-founded Welaptega Marine, commercialized subsea inspection safety technologies, exported products and services to oil and gas clients operating all over the world. She is most proud of the work her company did to help BP resolve the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Gail is also a long-time journalist with the Chronicle Herald and the Saltwire News Network where she has written columns and thought leadership on current affairs in Atlantic Canada. She has appeared as a guest on local radio stations to discuss politics.

As a communications and marketing professional, she specializes in translating complex subject matter into content and stories that are accessible to all audiences. Gail has worked as a social media specialist, a designer, photographer, and English-as-a-Second-Language teacher in Eastern Europe.

She holds an undergraduate degree in Public Relations from MSVU and an MA in Adult Education from Dalhousie University. She holds a Certificate Change Management from the Prosci Institute and has obtained micro-credentials in User Experience (UX) design.

Shelley Hessian

IP Counsellor for Nova Scotia, AIPA

Shelley Hessian has more than 30 years of experience working with small and medium-sized businesses. Prior to joining Springboard Atlantic, Shelley was at Invest Nova Scotia (formerly Innovacorp) for 15 years. Her most recent position was as Manager, Start-Up Yard, the business incubator located at the Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE). Previously, Shelley was Manager of Programs and Business Acceleration. She worked one-on-one with the organization’s early-stage technology client companies and led many acceleration initiatives. Prior to Invest Nova Scotia, Shelley was Manager of Consulting and Skills Development at Saint Mary’s University Business Development Centre. In this role, Shelley led the development and implementation of new projects, created annual strategic business plans, and mentored clients in several key areas, including business plans, market/feasibility studies and project management. Shelley holds a Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from Saint Mary’s University, and she is also a certified project management professional.

André Pelletier

IP Counsellor for New Brunswick, AIPA

Dr André Pelletier has spent his professional life working in various roles connected to applied chemistry, engineering, and innovation project management. He is a multi-industry professional with experience across a variety of industrial and tech sectors, from operational and R&D roles to strategy development. He has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from UNB, and a Master in Science (Chemistry) from Université de Moncton.

In his personal life, André enjoys giving back to his community and spending time with family. He volunteers in the community through Rotary and as a member of the Board of Directors at the Greener Village. He also volunteers time to the entrepreneurial and STEM ecosystems within the Maritimes, and as occasional peer-reviewer for select scientific journals as time, and topic alignment, allow.

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