Blakely elected QHC board chairman

Steve Blakely has been elected chairman of the Quinte Health Care (QHC) board of directors. Tricia Anderson is vice-chair and Karen Baker, treasurer, all for one year terms.

Blakely replaces Brian Smith, whose term expired in June after serving as QHC board chair for more than three years.
“Brian provided excellent leadership during challenging times and we have all benefited from his dedication to improving health care for the Quinte region,” said Blakely.

Baker replaces John Embregts, who served as treasurer for more than three years and remains on the board.

Blakely, born and raised in the County, and still a resident here, is a senior executive with more than 35 years financial services industry experience, including President and CEO of Servus Credit Union,  President and CEO of Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation of Alberta, Regional Vice-President for ATB Financial and several senior positions with BMO. He has a particular interest in leadership and governance and has an ICD.D designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors. He has actively served on numerous boards.

Anderson is a senior level sales and marketing professional with strong experience in risk and project management. Before moving to the Quinte West area, she was a member of Wells Fargo Financial’s Canadian senior executive team and a contributing executive member of its audit, business and credit governing committees.

Baker, of Belleville, is an Instructor and Program Coordinator for the Accounting Program, School of Business and Management Studies at Loyalist College. She is a Chartered Accountant and been a member of numerous local not-for-profit Boards.

The QHC board is made up of 12 elected community members who are selected by the nominations and communications sub-committee. This committee is a majority of Advisory Council community members. Non-voting, ex-officio positions on the QHC Board are: the president and CEO, chief of staff, VP and chief nursing officer, and the president and vice-president of the Professional Staff Association.

Two new board members were also announced at QHC’s annual general meeting June 25: Gary Magarrell, of Belleville, a United Church minister and former vice-president of the CNIB; and Merril Mascarenhas, of Prince Edward County, a health care strategy and change management consultant with significant board experience.