Board of Directors - Durham College

Heather Brown

Heather Brown is serving her first term for 2024-2027. She is a two-time graduate of Durham College (DC); Social Service Worker, Class of 2021, and Human Resource Management, Class of 2022; and is the Curriculum Coordinator for Queen’s University Lakeridge Health MD Family Medicine Program in Oshawa. With multiple years of experience in a post-secondary setting, including serving as Entrepreneurship Coordinator for DC’s Office of Research Services, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and President of Enactus DC, Heather looks forward to applying her organizational, program development and exceptional communication skills to the DCAA Board of Directors. In addition to other volunteer work, she is currently serving as League Coordinator at National and Regional Expositions for Enactus Canada. Heather was the recipient of the Doris and Gordon Willey Founders Cup of Excellence and DCAA Leaders of the Future Award.

Cassie-Jean Dillon

Cassie-Jean Dillon is serving her second term for 2024-2027. She has served the DCAA Board for the past three years in a variety of roles including lead of the Indigenous Alumni Network and is a Past President of the Board. Cassie-Jean is no stranger to the college as she has been a lifelong learner with Durham College (DC) since the 1980s. In 2018, she graduated from the Fitness and Health program with Honours and in April 2022, graduated from Trent University with Honours with a dual major in Sociology and Indigenous Studies. Currently, Cassie-Jean works as a Gladue Aftercare Worker at the Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre embracing Indigenous ancestral ways of wellbeing with a focus on holistic healing, wellness and Indigenous culture. During her time at DC, Cassie-Jean volunteered as a mentor for Indigenous students and was a Culture Activities Assistant at Suswaaning Endaajig.

Paul Fritzsch

Paul Fritzsch is currently serving his first term for 2023-2026. Paul is a recent graduate (2023) from the Horticultural – Food and Farming program. After a 20-year career in software technology, he decided to follow a life-long passion for agriculture and return to college. Paul participated in the Student Work program where he gained invaluable experience in his role as Community and Edible Gardens Ambassador representing the Barrett Centre of Innovation in Sustainable Urban Agriculture. During his last semester, he co-founded an urban agriculture company, Urban Farm Solutions, with a mission to help create holistic communities that are food-sovereign and connected with the health of their own environments. By transforming underutilized urban greenspaces into productive and beautiful market gardens, much of the food grown can be donated to local food banks and care organizations.

Jesara Holla

Jesara Holla is currently serving her first term for 2023-2026 and is President on the Board. Jesara graduated from the Print Journalism program in 2006 and is Senior Manager of Corporate Affairs for Ontario Power Generation (OPG). During her time with OPG, she has worked on mega nuclear projects including the Pickering Refurbishment, Darlington Refurbishment and she currently oversees all external engagement on OPG’s Darlington New Nuclear Project and New Nuclear Growth in Ontario, Canada and internationally. In her role, she liaises with government, educational institutions, community, thought leaders and the public to educate, engage and foster support for new nuclear growth across the country and beyond. She is currently completing a B.P.A, Professional Communications at Athabasca University in Alberta.

Talia Lane

Talia Lane is serving her first term for 2024–2027 and is Vice President 2 on the Board. A proud graduate of the Journalism program, Class of 2000, she is currently Vice President, Marketing & Business Initiatives with Matheis Financial Group in Pickering. Talia brings extensive governance and community leadership experience from six years with the Ajax-Pickering Board of Trade (APBOT), where she served as President in 2022 and 2023 and most recently as Chair in 2024. Now in her second year with DCAA, she continues to draw on this experience to help guide initiatives, strengthen alumni connections, and enrich the Durham Region business community. Beyond her professional and volunteer leadership, Talia was recognized as a 2022 Finalist for the Whitby Chamber of Commerce Businessperson of the Year. She is also an active member of the Restoring Kindness Canada Task Force and leads an annual charity softball tournament, raising funds for the Raphael Chang Memorial Canadian Tire Jumpstart Fund.

Patrick Lyver

Patrick Lyver is currently serving his first term for 2023-2026. Patrick graduated from the Graphic Design program in 2002 and is Founder and President of Kleurvision Inc., a boutique digital brand design agency. Patrick founded his company in 2004 and has helped hundreds of businesses, from small to enterprise, solve brand communications problems. He is known for being a creative director and marketing experimenter and together with his talented team (including several DC graduates) they grow businesses. Patrick co-founded Startup Durham Region in 2016 which helps entrepreneurs navigate the ecosystem to speed access to investment, support, resources, mentors, networks, information, talent, and customers. He is also co-founder of Access IO, an invitation-only, high-energy and high-impact event series focused on sourcing new technologies, investing, supporting innovation, and growing the Canadian economy. In 2024 Patrick helped to launch Angel Investors Durham to help bring accredited investors together to bridge the financial gap that many startup founders face when scaling their businesses.

Jennifer McCool-Closs

Jennifer McCool-Closs is currently serving her second term 2025-2028. Jennifer describes herself as a life-long learner as she first earned a Bachelor of Science, Biomedical Science from the University of Guelph in 2005 and went on to obtain her Primary Care Paramedic Diploma in 2007 from Durham College (DC). She continued with DC and was the highest-ranking graduate when she received her Advanced Care Paramedic Graduate Certificate in 2011. In 2020, she obtained a Master of Science, Healthcare Quality, from Queen’s University. She continues to take courses to expand her knowledge and is currently a PhD student at Queen’s. She was involved with the Paramedic program at DC for nine years holding various roles including teaching courses, clinical and practical capacities. Jennifer received the Alumni of Distinction Award in 2014 and is currently a Superintendent of Professional Standards for Toronto Paramedic Services.

Drew Samuels

Drew Samuels is currently serving his second term for 2025-2028 and is Past President on the Board. Drew graduated from the Paralegal program in 2011 building on his education from Carleton University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) degree in Criminology, Concentration in Law in 2010. He returned to Carleton University to earn a second Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology, Minor in Law in 2012. Drew has been a part-time professor in the Paralegal program at Durham College since January 2016 and enjoys educating students as well as equipping them with the skills to use in their career after graduation. In particular, he has had the opportunity to directly supervise field placement students assisting them in fulfilling their requirements with the Law Society of Ontario and has hired numerous graduates from Durham College. His volunteer work includes Ottawa Crisis Centre, Mental Health Crisis Line and in April 2021, he was elected Chair of the Durham Community Legal Clinic Board of Directors. Drew is currently the Director, Litigation and Administration at DuCharme, McMillen & Associates, Inc.

Christy Stone-Curry

Christy Stone-Curry is currently serving her first term for 2023-2026. A graduate of the Human Resource Management program in 1997, Christy is an entrepreneur and proprietor of The George Stanley Inn and the Piano Café in Port Perry. Over the past 24 years, she has grown her business into a top-rated destination, with the café celebrated as a popular lunch spot and the inn attracting tourists, locals, and film industry guests. Christy has also built stong ties the the film industry, providing her properties as a backdrop for television shows, commercials and movies. Through a collaboration with a Durham College Project Management class, she created opportunities for students to gain real-world experience while exploring ways to increase filming in Port Perry—contributing to the successful growth of Durham Region’s tourism economy. Beyond her business achievements, Christy is a dedicated community leader and a recipient of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award for volunteerism, recognizing her long-standing contributions to local initiatives and regional development.

Prachi Verma

Prachi Verma is serving her first term for 2024–2027 and is Vice President 1 on the Board. A proud member of the Class of 2024, Prachi completed dual postgraduate programs in Project Management and Data Analytics for Business Decision Making at Durham College. She also holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from India. She is a seasoned IT Portfolio Leader with over 17 years of global experience leading enterprise-scale programs across financial services, utilities, and public infrastructure. She has managed multi-billion-dollar portfolios and built high-performing, cross-functional teams that translate strategy into execution through PMO governance, agile delivery, and innovative solutions. Her areas of specialization include digital transformation, data management, regulatory compliance, and platform modernization across North America, APAC, and EMEA. She embodies the core values of the DCAA through her active engagement in alumni initiatives and ongoing contributions as a PMI symposium speaker and mentor. She is passionate about strategy delivery, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement, inspiring the next generation of professionals to pursue growth and excellence in their careers.

Liam Croft

Liam Croft is currently serving his first term for 2025-2028 and previously served as a Student Representative on the Board. During his time as a student, Liam received numerous awards recognizing his leadership and academic achievements, including the 2024 Xerox Canada Award, 2024 OACETT Young Professionals Committee Scholarship, as well as the 2023 & 2024 Estate of Ralph Jennings Award for Academic Excellence. Upon graduation, he was presented with Durham College’s (DC) 2025 President’s Award of Excellence in Student Leadership. President of the DC Engineering Club from 2023 to 2025, Liam led all club operations and stakeholder engagement and helped to establish the inaugural DC Engineering Innovation Competition and Showcase. He also served as a Co-op Ambassador, a Student Representative on DC’s Mechanical Engineering Program Advisory Committee, and as Student Governor on the Board of Governors. In addition, he served as Student Representative on the OACETT Board of Directors for 2024-2025, where he represented engineering technology students across Ontario and worked to ensure that the association’s vision and goals aligned with the needs of the next generation of technology professionals. Liam is employed as a Jr. Engineering Designer for LG&P In-Store Agency and currently serves as part of the OACETT Durham Chapter Executive Committee.

2025-2026 DC Alumni Association Board of Directors