Algonquin Alumni Association Board of Directors 2008 - 2009

Rena Bowen, President

Program: Nursing, Class of '77

Current Position: Director of Special Services, Almonte General Hospital

Rena Bowen has held several positions in health-care and long-term-care facilities: The Salvation Army Ottawa Grace Manor long-term-care facility in Ottawa; Shelwin House - a women’s shelter in Yorkton, Saskatchewan; Parkland Community College; and her current role as the Director of Special Services, Almonte General Hospital culminates 30 years of nursing.

Barbara Carroll, Vice President

Program: Social Services Worker, Class of '94

Current Position: Executive Director, Debra Dynes Family House

As Executive Director of the Debra Dynes Family House, Barbara has dramatically increased the number and quality of programs and services available to residents. Every day, an average of 150 people now visit the House to access a range of services such as homework clubs, child-care programs, ESL and fitness courses, and youth activities—all delivered by volunteers and partners.

Steve Barkhouse

Program: Business Administration - Human Resources Management, Class of '88

Current Position: President, Amsted Construction

As the founder and President of Amsted Construction, Steve has built a group of companies that touch all aspects of original design, construction, restoration, and consulting services for residential and business customers. Steve is also the recipient of Algonquin College's 2008 Alumni of the Year award.

George Bouris

Program: Police Foundations, Class of 2002

Current Position: Constable, Ottawa Police Service

Born and raised in Ottawa, George graduated, with Honours, from the Police Foundations Program in 2002 . George is currently starting his seventh year as a Police Officer for the Ottawa Police; currently on secondment with the RCMP in Protective Operations Section. George has taught in Algonquin College's Police Foundations program.

Kerry Durant

Program: Nursing Assistant (now Practical Nursing), Class of '81

Current Position: Low Vision Specialist and Director of Corneal Donation Program, Canadia National Institute for the Blind (CNIB)

While holding down a full-time job as an opthamology nurse, for three years, Kerry ran her fledgling Ottawa Cornea Retrieval Program on a voluntary basis before securing funding. Kerry also acts as the Ontario Regional Director for the Eye Bank of Canada, and sits on the Kidney Foundation Donation Committee.

Colette Garvin

Program: Human Resource Management, Class of '04

Current Position: Project Manager, Algonquin College Settlement To Employment Program (STEP)

Graduate of the Human Resource Management Program, Colette is employed as a Full-time faculty with The Career and College Access Centre at Algonquin College. Currently, Collette is seconded to the position of Project Manager for the Settlement to Employment Program (STEP), funded through Citizenship and Immigration Canada, which is a project to assist internationally trained individuals settle within Canada.   

Benjamin Martin

Program: Hotel and Restaurant Management, Class of '05 & Advertising, Class '08

Current Position:  Accommodation Manager, Minto Suite Hotel.

Benjamin graduated from Algonquin College in 2005 from Hotel and Restaurant Management, and again in 2008 from Advertising. While attending Algonquin, Benjamin served as Vice-President of the Students' Association. Benjamin is currently employed as Accommodation Manager at the Minto Suite Hotel.

Rob Nettleton

Program: Professional Writing, Class of '09

Current Position: President, Algonquin Students' Association

and a student in the Professional Writing Program

Kathy Prescott

Program: Electronics Engineering Technician, Class of '04 (Pembroke)

Current Position: Computer Lab Technician, Opeongo High School

Kathy graduated from the Electronics Engineering Technician Program at Algonquin College's Pembroke Campus, and is presently working for the Renfrew County District School Board as the Application Support Specialist.

Stuart Schwartz

Program: Radio Broadcasting, Class of '97

Current Position: Host of Three Guys on the Radio "TGOR",
The Team 1200

Algonquin radio graduate Stuntman Stu is the stadium announcer for the Ottawa Senators. Stu also keeps busy emceeing golf tournaments, and lends his support to numerous charities like CHEO, Cystic Fibrosis, and The Alzheimer Society. In 2003, Stu was named Algonquin College’s Alumni of the Year, and received a United Way Community Builder Award in 2004.

Pat Whalen

Program: Business Administration - Marketing, Class of '83

Current Position: President and CEO, Ottawa 67's Hockey Club

Pat joined the Ottawa 67's Hockey Club in 1999, but not before becoming the first advertising account executive for the Ottawa Business News, now known as the Ottawa Business Journal, in 1986.  Patrick has instituted many community-minded programs with the 67’s, such as the Adopt-A-School program, where a company purchases season tickets on behalf of a school, and teachers use the tickets to reward students’ efforts in class.