Our Team

Todd Copeland was appointed to the role of General Manager for Community Futures Middlesex in November of 2019 after previously serving for more than two years as a member of the Board of Directors, with membership on both the Executive and Loans Committees. He has extensive experience supporting entrepreneurs in both the private and public sectors as an innovation, relationship and partnership champion. Todd has worked internationally across multiple industries and sectors, leading teams and supporting both start-ups and established businesses engage in the research, development and commercialization of new technology, product and service offerings.

Todd and his family have been residents of Middlesex County for nearly 20 years. He is actively involved in giving back throughout the Middlesex community, currently serving on a number of committees and boards that promote the interests and needs of local business and local communities. He previously served as President of the Ilderton Minor Hockey Association.

Todd holds an Honours Degree in Biology and Business Economics from the University of Waterloo.

Cindy Viner is the Business and Loans Advisor at Community Futures Middlesex.

Cindy owned and operated her own successful business for over 16 years and understands what it takes to be an entrepreneur. This first-hand knowledge and experience helps her relate well to business leaders throughout our region, understand them and provide the supports they really need.

Cindy holds a Chartered Professional Managers designation (C. Mgr.) with the Canadian Institute of Management.

Sherri Sword joined Community Futures Middlesex in 2010. Over the past decade, she has provided institutional knowledge, stability, policy guidance and perspective throughout the organization as a vital and valued part of our leadership team. Her day-to-day responsibilities include financial administration, payroll, project management and tracking, loan reporting and management, legal documentation, budgeting and office management.

Sherri has expressed how much she enjoys supporting and collaborating with the many businesses in the region, as well as her gratitude to be part of an organization that provides economic development support and small business loans throughout the community in which she lives.

Fraser Macdonald is a retired executive in the banking industry after having a lengthy career at senior levels in Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. Fraser’s extensive experience includes managing branch networks, commercial and personal credit, audit, compliance and operations.

During his bank tenure, he also served as President of the Mutual Fund and Insurance subsidiaries of the bank and served as Vice President of the International Mergers and Acquisitions Division. Known for his dedication to client service, Fraser is a welcome addition to our team, joining the board in early 2020 and representing the Township of Adelaide Metcalfe.

Ross Hurd is a Partner with Siskinds LLP specializing in business law. Practicing out of the firm’s London, Ontario office, Ross advises individuals, financial and educational organizations, small businesses and real estate professionals across southwestern Ontario. With membership in the Middlesex Law Association and the Law Society of Upper Canada, Ross studied at Western University and received call to the bar in 1987.

Before starting his law career, Ross excelled as an athlete in basketball. He is an inductee of Western University’s Sports Hall of Fame and Basketball Wall of Fame. Ross is extensively involved in the local community, such as his membership with the London Chamber of Commerce and his volunteer work as a youth sports coach for hockey, soccer and baseball in Mount Brydges and Komoka. Ross enjoys spending leisure time with his wife and two children, representing the Municipality of Middlesex Centre on our Board of Directors.

Joel Aalbers, CPA, CGA, is a Partner and Business Advisor with MNP’s Assurance and Accounting team in Strathroy and Arkona, serving all of Southwestern Ontario. Joel works closely with his clients to help them keep their businesses current, competitive and profitable, delivering sound advice and solutions customized to their unique needs. Joel helps businesses and corporations in a variety of industries, including agriculture, agri-business, manufacturing and construction.

Joel brings extensive knowledge of government farm support and income stabilization programs to his agricultural clients. He is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), qualifying as a Certified General Accountant (CGA) in 2014. He joined our board in 2016, representing the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc.

Jean Coles is an invested community creator who is frequently called upon for her expertise in relationship building. She mainly leads by example, always doing her best and encouraging others to do the same. She joined the board in May 2020, representing the Municipality of Middlesex Centre. As the owner of three Sport Clips Haircuts, a franchised, international modern-day barbershop, Jean oversees the marketing and operations.

Before becoming a business owner, Jean was a Leasing Manager for the Southwestern Ontario division of Northwest Healthcare Properties. She holds an MBA from Norwich University, BACS from Western University and a Certificate in Marketing Management from Humber College. She serves on the Hyde Park Business Improvement Association Board of Directors, Home and School Committee at Oxbow Public School, Entrepreneurship Program Advisory Committee at Fanshawe College and on the Team Leader Advisory Council of Sport Clips Haircuts Canada.

Kevin Daltrey is a retired Information Technology (I.T.) professional. Starting in 1977, he enjoyed a 40-year career with 3M Canada, holding various positions supporting and managing infrastructure technologies, later acquiring his Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Before launching his I.T. career, he obtained his diploma in computer programming from Fanshawe College. Kevin went on to gain extensive experience with computer technologies, project management, leadership and process improvement.

After his retirement, Kevin started working two part-time jobs with 3M Canada and Racing Forensics Inc. His community involvement includes volunteer work with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Oxford County and the Salvation Army’s annual Christmas Hamper Program. Kevin’s hobbies include digital photography and playing the acoustic guitar. He is also an avid pilot and aircraft owner. Kevin represents the Municipality of Thames Centre on our board, where he and his family have lived for over 30 years.

Pat Van Geleuken was recognized for her outstanding community contributions by her inclusion on the Middlesex County Warden’s Honour Roll in 2021.   Pat and her husband Pete relocated to Lucan from London in 1986 and have been the co-owners and operators of Promechanical Truck Repairs for the last 30 years.  Their clientele includes local farmers, trucking companies, excavating companies, and local municipalities.  Pat has been a passionate supporter of local small businesses and the vitality of communities in which they operate.   She helped form the Lucan and Area Business Association (LABA) that eventually became the Community Economic Development Committee (CEDC) for the Township of Lucan-Biddulph.  

Pat has supported many strategic projects and activities within the community since then, including physically painting the downtown, establishing community gardens, attracting new visitors through tourism initiatives and encouraging new residential development in support of local small businesses.  She is very familiar with the Community Futures program and its impact across Middlesex County having completed her first full term as a Director and Chair of our Board in June 2017.  Pat continues to support the work of the CEDC for Lucan-Biddulph and the work of other volunteer committees charged with raising the funds to complete renovations that are currently underway at the Lucan Memorial Centre. She commenced her second term in July 2022.

Kevin Boersma is currently the Senior Vice President for Advice and Operations for Mainstreet Credit Union.  Mainstreet Credit Union has multiple offices serving rural communities within Chatham-Kent, Huron, Lambton and Middlesex County. Based out of the Strathroy Office, he leads a diversified team responsible for member experience, financial advice/sales across retail, commercial and wealth channels, branch networks, operational administration support, internal audit and anti-money laundering.  

Born and raised on a cash-crop farm outside of Mt. Brydges, he currently resides with his wife Tara and two kids in Adelaide-Metcalfe. Giving back to the local community has always been very important to him.  He has volunteered in a number of ways; coaching minor hockey, as a Board Member and Finance Committee Chair for a local private school, through previous involvement with local business associations and more recently as a member of the Strathroy Rotary Club.   Kevin joined our Board in August 2022 and looks forward to helping us build awareness for our programs and services.