by Hessie Jones
Altitude Accelerator is pleased to welcome its new board members:
- Director: Moien Giashi, Principal, GreenSky Capital
- Ex Officio Director: Amber Pajtasz, Officer Economic Development, Humber River Centre
- Director: Nick Kuryluk Founder, Cosality
- Director: Holly Gardner, Ph.D., VP, Operations, NuPort Robotics Inc., Researcher, Cybersecurity Research Lab, TMU
Altitude Accelerator is an innovation hub and business incubator which has been dedicated to supporting entrepreneurs and startups for over 15 years. Our story started in Mississauga, Ontario in 2009 with the Research Innovation and Commercialization Centre (RIC) which operated for over 10 years, before moving to Brampton, where it was rebranded Altitude Accelerator.
Altitude’s core mission has remained consistent throughout its evolution: To commercialize impactful technology; to support startups at various stages of development and to provide access to resources, mentorship and networking opportunities.
Our new board members had this to say:
Moien Giashi, Director
“I am thrilled to join the Altitude Accelerator board and contribute to its mission of empowering startups to scale and succeed in this rapidly evolving tech ecosystem. Altitude has a strong reputation for fostering entrepreneurship and providing invaluable resources to early-stage companies.
I look forward to leveraging my experience in deep tech, venture capital, and innovation strategy to help scale these startups and drive transformative change. My main objective as a board member is to support founders in navigating complex challenges, accelerate their path to market, and contribute to the continued success of Altitude’s impactful ecosystem.”
Amber Pajtasz, Ex-Officio:
“I am looking forward to serving as a Board member for Altitude Accelerator, a crucial hub for innovation in the Region of Peel and beyond. With nearly a decade of experience in local economic development, including my recent role as Economic Development Officer for the Town of Caledon, I have gained valuable insights into the challenges that entrepreneurs face and the support they need to thrive. At Altitude Accelerator, I hope to contribute by developing relationships and fostering connections between stakeholders in Caledon and the broader tech and innovation community.”
Nick Kuryluk, Founder, Cosality:
“I am thrilled to join the board of Altitude Accelerator and be part of an organization that is dedicated to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Brampton and beyond. As a former CEO of a startup and a current member of the Brampton Angels, I am passionate about helping startups navigate the challenges of growth and scale. Having experienced the opportunities and hurdles of building a company firsthand, and now working as an investor, I bring a unique perspective that bridges both sides of the entrepreneurial journey. I look forward to contributing to the success of Altitude Accelerator’s clients by providing guidance and support that can help them achieve their goals and thrive in Canada’s dynamic startup ecosystem.”
Holly Gardner, Ph.D., VP, Operations, NuPort Robotics Inc., Researcher, Cybersecurity Research Lab, TMU:
“I am excited to be part of Altitude Accelerator as an industry representative. I look forward to helping build greater capacity for advanced technology startups to thrive and grow with Altitude. Additionally, I hope to introduce a stronger emphasis on climate adaptation and resilience in our built environment by fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders, visionary entrepreneurs, early adopters, and all levels of government, enabling us to make a meaningful impact together.”
To Our Departing Directors: Thank You for Your Leadership
We would also like to thank our outgoing directors for their time and dedication to the RIC Centre and their contributions to rebranding Altitude Accelerator.
Patrick McGuire, Global Sales Executive of Roster Logix, joined in 2014 and served over 10 years on the board in various capacities. Patrick has been instrumental in contributing to our sales and marketing initiatives and launching and leading Altitude’s podcast series, Startups Transformed, that has been highly subscribed.
Ray Kingdon, Managing Director of Kingdon Communication, has been on the board since 2018 and has greatly contributed to the business development and relationship building for the RIC Centre and Altitude Accelerator and most recently contributed to the Finance Committee. Ray’s strong introductions to key Chambers of Commerce around the world assisted in the development of programming to support Altitude’s Startup Visa Program.
Jeff Fallowfield, President, Recovery Solutions, joined us in 2020 and led the Finance committee, in a financial oversight role, as well as supporting engagement with the auditor. Jeff had a keen and dedicated eye on our financing efforts with three levels of government and kept the board abreast of the conditions and requirements of the future.
Ben Roberts, Senior Business Development Officer was the Ex-Officio representative from the Town of Caledon on the Board.
Pam Banks, Executive Director of Altitude Accelerator, who spearheaded the creation of the RIC Centre, and now Altitude Accelerator, praised the board members:
“Board renewal is essential for a nonprofit organization to remain dynamic and responsive to its community. Fresh perspectives, diverse experiences, and new energy from incoming board members can help drive innovation and ensure long-term sustainability. We value the contributions of our outgoing board members. Their support and commitment have made Altitude Accelerator what it is today.”
The full list of the Altitude Accelerator board members is below:
Ex-Officio Directors:
- Raquel De Souza, Strategic Research Initiatives & Partnerships Manager, University of Toronto, Mississauga
- Donna Heslin, Manager, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, City of Mississauga
- Carolyn Moorlag, Director of CAMDT & FAST Research, Sheridan College
- Amber Pajtasz, Officer Economic Development – Humber River Centre
- Devin Ramphal, Innovation Manager Economic Development, City of Brampton
Directors:
- Stephen Beney, Principal, Smart & Biggar LP
- Moien Giashi, Principal, GreenSky Capital
- Paul Grenier, Manager of Government Affairs, Clorox Canada
- Holly Gardner, Ph.D., VP, Operations, NuPort Robotics Inc., Researcher, Cybersecurity Research Lab, TMU
- Nick Kuralyk, Founder, Cosality
- Andrew Opala, Founder and Managing Partner, Preference Capital
- Angelo Rizzo, Cofounder, Systems with Intelligence
- Alfredo Tan, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Canada Goose
For more information about Altitude Board of Directors or our programs, please contact info@altitudeaccelerator.ca