The Createch Group Management Team
Operational Management
Louis Gaudreau, MBA
Vice President, Business Solutions and Health
Chief Operating Officer, Createch
Louis Gaudreau has more than 20 years of experience in the Telecommunications and Information Technology industry. Focusing on Strategy and Business Management, in Mergers and Acquisitions, and also Project Management. Louis has elaborated and realized several business plans during his career in order to accelerate both growth and return on investment for Canadian and Quebecer enterprises.
Mr. Gaudreau holds a Bachelor degree in Administrative Data Processing as well as a Masters degree in Business Administration (MBA).
Don Turner
Principal, Operations
With over 25 years of business experience, including 15 years in SAP solutions, Don Turner has held several management positions in various industries over the years. Having started his career as a consultant in SAP systems, during the past decade, Mr. Turner has increasingly focused his activities on project management, having been involved in many complex and specific SAP-solution implementations for several large companies.
Stephanie Robichaud, CMA, CFA
Principal and Chief of Finance
Stephanie Robichaud began her career working for the company Domtar Inc. Having joined The Createch Group’s financial and accounting service in 2005, Stephanie was named Chief of Finance in Spring of 2011.
Ms. Robichaud holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration and Accounting from Montreal HEC. She is also a member of the Certified Management Accountants Society and of the Chartered Financial Analysts Institute.
Operational Performance Solutions
Érik Blanchet
General Manager
Working as a manufacturing and logistics management consultant for over 15 years, Érik Blanchet conducted many projects for Lean Manufacturing concept implementation, business process re-engineering and supply chain optimization for midsize and large businesses in Quebec. He was the Co-Founder and President of ATHENA Stratégie Manufacturière, a firm acquired by The Createch Group in 2004. He is now in charge of the OPI business unit at the Québec City office.
Mr. Blanchet holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration, specialized in operation management from the University of Laval.
Christian Dubuc, Eng.
Principal
Christian has more than 17 years of consulting experience. Since 1999, he has led several strategic interventions to improve operational efficiency and participated the development of a process management culture in various sectors including the service, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industry in Quebec and the United States.
Mr. Dubuc holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering of Université de Sherbrooke, he has a Master Process certification from Hammer & Co. (Boston). He is also a certified continuous improvement trainer from the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade. Mr. Dubuc is a member of the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and of the Project Management Institute (PMI).
Francis Bazinet, Eng.
Principal
Francis Bazinet has more than 17 years of experience in consulting services. He is specialized in operational performance improvement through the optimization of process and management practices. The interventions led by Francis pertain to the definition of the new strategies and improvement program. He coordinates their implementation to bring concrete results to his clients. He works more specifically at manufacturing, business and planning process level as well as on maintenance management processes.
Mr. Bazinet holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering and a degree in Industrial Engineering for the Université Laval.
Stéphane Leclerc
Principal
A recognized expert in logistics optimization and supply chain management, Stephane Leclerc has more than 19 years of experience in consulting services. During his career, he has led many successful business transformation projects in enterprises of all sizes and from all industries in the province of Quebec. He was cofounder and partner of Athena Services Conseils before its acquisition by The Createch Group in 2004. Today, Stephane Leclerc is responsible for the management of the Operational Performance Improvement practice in Createch’s Quebec City office.
Mr. Leclerc holds a Bachelor degree in Mechanical and Industrial Engineering from Laval University. He is also a lecturer at Université Laval and at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières since 1996.
Thierry Crête, Eng., CPIM, PMP, CSCP
Principal
Cumulating more than 17 years of experience in logistics operation improvement, Thierry Crete began his career in the food sector at Loblaws. He has been working in the field of consultation since 1998 within various industries. Specializing in the design of distribution centers, systems selection, stock management and business process transformation, his personal approach aims at maximizing his clients achieved results.
Mr. Crête has a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering and holds certifications in work measurement, project management (PMP), production and inventory management (CPIM – APICS) as well as supply chain management (Certified Supply Chain Practitioner – APICS).
Microsoft Business Solutions
Patrick Remy
General Manager
Responsible for the Montreal office, Patrick Remy cumulates a broad experience with over 20 years in ERP (finance, distribution and manufacturing) implementations in various sectors and business sizes. During the years, Mr. Remy has worked to build skilled teams, create spirit, to develop successors and coach junior resources. His communication skills allow him to guide his teams to focus towards a goal and deal with complex situations and provide superior quality service.
Mr. Remy holds a Bachelor degree in Management from the University of Sherbrooke.
Boris Znebel
Principal, Sales
Boris Znebel is a seasoned software executive with over 20 years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining The Createch Group, Mr. Znebel spent 12 years with a leading Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution provider focused on mid-market companies in Canada and the U.S. During his tenure with this company, he held numerous positions with responsibility for Software Sales, Professional Services and Global Account Sales. Mr. Znebel joined The Createch Group management team in the Spring of 2008 and has since fostered strong business alliances with numerous organizations including Microsoft.
Mr. Znebel holds a degree in Computer Science and Economics from the University of Toronto.
Oracle Business Solutions
Stéphane Chantal, P.Eng., MBA
General Manager
During his professional career, Stéphane Chantal played a particularly significant role for Québec companies through his participation in the implementation of technological tools such as the ERP and MES systems (Manufacturing Execution System) and electronic commerce. In 2003, working with The Createch Group, he was at the helm of an innovative ERP and electronic commerce project that won an OCTAS in the Fédération Informatique du Québec (FIQ) competition, in the category ‘Transformation of Business Processes’.
Mr. Chantal holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Université Laval de Québec and a Masters degree in Business Administration from Montréal’s McGill University.
SAP Business Solutions
Didier Van Den Berghe
Principal, Business Solutions and Services
With over 30 years of professional experience in the development of business ventures throughout North America, Didier spent the last 12 years of his career in the field of IT/ERP, developing markets for the well known SAP, J.D. Edwards, BEA Systems and more recently Information Builders solutions. He has a very keen understanding of the Large and Medium size enterprise markets, particularly in the ERP, Application Integration and BI disciplines. Anecdotically, he closed in 1997 the first sales of SAP R/3 in the Quebec mid-market space.
Mr. Van Den Berghe has an engineering degree and a post-graduate degree in Business Administration with specialization in Industrial Marketing.
Hélène Kyriakakis
Principal
Helene Kyriakakis is responsible for the service delivery for Createch’s SAP Business Unit in Canada. She also leads the Pre-sales group that is generating service offering that best fit our client’s business needs. Ms.Kyriakakis has twenty years of consulting experience with midsize and large enterprises. During her career, she has managed numerous SAP implementations involving major changes and requiring strong governance processes. Prior to joining Createch, Ms. Kyriakakis held several leadership positions within IBM Global Services. With her extensive experience in complex projects, she brings strong skills to enterprises looking forward to controlling risks and maximize their SAP project's benefits.
Ms. Kyriakakis holds a BA in Finance from Hautes Etudes Commerciales in Montreal.
Patrick Hickey, P.Eng.
Principal, Sales and Services
Patrick Hickey is responsible for SAP Sales and Services for the Ontario region. His primary focus is providing cost effective SAP solutions to mid market companies in the manufacturing and distribution sectors. Prior to joining The Createch Group, Mr. Hickey has spent 16 years with SAP Canada and SAP America, his primary focus has been the development and roll out of the mySAP All-in-One program focused on implementing SAP to mid sized companies. Mr. Hickey is considered a leader in the deployment of rapid, template based SAP solutions.
Mr. Hickey was educated at the University of Manitoba (P.Eng).
Asset Management Solutions
Mike Popovic, MBA, B.Sc., B.A.
General Manager
Responsible for the Hamilton office, Mike Popovic has been a key player in the evolution of management services and asset optimization throughout his career. In his over 19 years in the industry, he has been involved in many consulting projects for Fortune 500 companies around the world. In 1998, he founded PopWare, a consulting firm specialized in asset optimization. The company grew so quickly that in 2004, Profit Magazine included it among the 100 fastest growing Canadian companies. Mr. Popovic joined The Createch Group in 2006 when both companies merged.
Mr. Popovic has a Bachelor degree in Computer Sciences, a Bachelor degree in Economics and a Master degree in Business Administration from McMaster University.
Charles (Chuck) Elson
Principal, Professional Services
An innovative and accomplished Senior Software/ Services Business Executive with an extensive record of achievement, Mr. Elson brings over 25 years of management and wide-ranging industry experience. Mr. Elson leads the AMS (Asset Managements Solutions) services team whose focus is managing dynamic multiple priority engagements and delivering them on time and on budget. Mr. Elson is a proven leader and mentor with the stamina to energize the team, maximize resources, anticipate issues and support positive change. Mr. Elson’s impressive track record, along with great communication and people skills combined with an open and effective management style enables him to innovatively direct our distinguished services team.
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