OUR TEAM

We’re not direct operators. We are a dynamic and experienced team that buys quality cash-flowing companies and works with established operations teams to create growth by leveraging strategic growth opportunities and consolidating redundancies to improve EBITDA.

We provide strategic guidance and robust governance to management teams, empowering them to implement initiatives that drive growth and expand the range of products or services a company offers, all with the goal of better serving clients and meeting their evolving needs.

DIRECTOR (OPERATIONS) AND CEO

Dean Johnson, P.Eng., ICD.D

Experience:

CEO for 30+ years
CEO of global Fortune 500 company 10+ years

Dean is a transformational leader and operations executive with a proven track record of growth, employee engagement, customer service, ﬁnancial results and community involvement. He is known for building entrepreneurial and performance cultures while inspiring employee collaboration, empowerment and engagement for better results. His previous leadership roles include CEO Sodexo North American, CEO Grainger Canada, CEO Sodexo Canada, President Compass Canada, and President Trammell Crow Company Canada.
Dean is a professional engineer. He has a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering as well as a Business Management Certiﬁcate from the University of Calgary. He’s also a graduate of the Directors Education Program from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and holds his ICD.D designation.
He serves on the Advisory Board of the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary, member of the Finance, Investments & Property Committee for Wilfred Laurier University, and has previously served on the Board of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) and Catalyst Canada.
In 2014, Dean was honoured with the Bay Street Pride At Work Canada Advocate Award and the Catalyst Canada Honours Champion Award. These awards go to the best transformational leaders who have driven an increase in the representation of women and visible minorities in the workplace and recognize Dean as a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusiveness.

DIRECTOR (FINANCE) AND CFO

Ira Levy, C.P.A., MBA

Experience:

17+ years as CFO across various industries
Chartered Professional Accountant
MBA, Accounting and Finance

Ira Levy is a senior financial professional with over 17 years experience in a wide range of high-growth, early stage companies, both public and private.
He is currently the CFO (Interim) of Avivagen Inc (TSXV: VIV) and CFO of Reklaim Ltd (TSXV:MYID)
Ira has also acted as a financial advisor for startup AI companies through the Creative Destruction Lab Program, and is a Board Member and Treasurer for the Wychwood Barns Community Association.
Ira received his MBA in Accounting and Finance from the Schulich School of Business, York University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant.

DIRECTOR (ACQUISITIONS)

Dezso Farkas, B.A., J.D. LL.M

Experience:

Corporate/commercial lawyer
75+ Corporate Transactions

Dezso Farkas is a corporate lawyer and entrepreneur with a passion for the healthcare industry. Mr. Farkas is the Founder and Director of Acquisitions for Verillium, a Toronto based start-up company focused on rapid growth through acquisitions in the Canadian health care sector.
Mr. Farkas is also the Chairman of Wolf Law Group Inc. The WLG team operates a group of strategically integrated companies that serve the growing market of legal professionals in Ontario. Being focused primarily on serving the needs of the legal profession, through its flagship brand, Wolf Law Chambers,
Prior, Mr. Farkas practiced as a corporate/commercial lawyer providing a range of guidance, advice and transactional representation to domestic and international clients. His practice experience includes assisting enterprise from the inception phase through all stages of growth, including corporate formation and organization, intellectual property protection, corporate governance and control issues, acquisition and sale of assets including real-property, equity and debt financing, corporate restructuring and expansion into new markets, compliance matters, complex contracts and leases and the resolution of corporate and business disputes.
Mr. Farkas holds a Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, a Master of Laws in Corporate Governance from Osgoode Hall Law School. Mr. Farkas is a published author and co-author in the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, the Transnational Legal Theory Journal and the London Review of International Law. Mr. Farkas had the honor of researching and writing over a two-year period with the Institute of Global Law & Policy at Harvard Law.

ADVISOR

Mike Harris, OOnt, D.Litt. (H), ICD.D

Experience:

Senior Business Advisor (Fasken
Martineau DuMoulin LLP)
Premier of Ontario (1995-2002)

Michael Harris is a Senior Business Advisor in the Corporate/Commercial and Government Relations & Ethics Groups at Fasken Martineau.
Prior to his political career, Mr. Harris was the manager of a family ski resort and a local North Bay golf course. He was also the Chair of the Nipissing Board of Education.
From 1981 – 2002, Mr. Harris served as Member of Provincial Parliament for the riding of Nipissing. From 1995 – 2002 he served as Ontario’s twenty-second Premier, following a landslide election victory in 1995. He is known for his advice on governance issues and government relations matters and brings extensive experience in public policy and government decision-making.
After leaving public office in 2002, Mr. Harris formed his own consulting firm. As President of Steane Consulting Ltd., he has served as an advisor to numerous Canadian companies. He has served as Director on several private and public boards, including Canaccord Genuity Group Inc., Colliers International Group Inc., and is former Chair for both Chartwell Retirement Residences and Magna International Inc. He currently serves on the boards of Hampton Financial Corporation, Route1 Inc. (Chairman), and Voxtur Analytics Corp. He also serves on three boards for Sterling Global Financial Limited.
Mr. Harris also sits on the advisory boards of several private equity funds including EnerTech and Beringer Capital. He received his ICD.D certification from the Institute of Corporate Directors in 2005.
Mr. Harris’ passion for the community is shown through his involvement with various organizations and institutions. He serves as a Director on the board of the New Haven Learning Centre for autistic children and the board of The Joyce Family Foundation. He previously served on the board of the Tim Horton Children’s Foundation and also as Honorary Chairman of fundraising initiatives for Nipissing University, Canadore College and the North Bay Regional Health Centre.
Mr. Harris is also a Senior Fellow with The Fraser Institute, a leading Canadian economic, social research and education organization.
Mr. Harris was appointed to the Order of Ontario in 2020.

ADVISOR (Verillium Risk Management—Legal and Business)

Larry Lowenstein, B.A., LL.B.

Experience:

Senior litigation partner, Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
Corporate, commercial and complex litigation practice

Larry is a recently retired senior partner of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, where he conducted a corporate, commercial and complex litigation practice. Larry’s practice included class actions, corporate governance, contested M&A matters, securities litigation, environmental liability, franchise disputes and employment matters. Larry acted as counsel in disputes at all levels of courts in Ontario and before Ontario Securities Commission. Larry has been widely recognized by Chambers, Legal 500, Lexpert and Best Lawyers and was also the former National Chair of Osler LLP’s litigation practice. Larry has recently become a mediator and arbitrator with ADR Chambers in Toronto.

OUR TEAM

DIRECTOR (OPERATIONS) AND CEO

Dean Johnson, P.Eng., ICD.D

DIRECTOR (FINANCE) AND CFO

Ira Levy, C.P.A., MBA

DIRECTOR (ACQUISITIONS)

Dezso Farkas, B.A., J.D. LL.M

ADVISOR

Mike Harris, OOnt, D.Litt. (H), ICD.D

ADVISOR (Verillium Risk Management—Legal and Business)

Larry Lowenstein, B.A., LL.B.

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