Robert Di Maio
Architectural Technology '78
President
Archon Architect Inc.
Windsor, Ontario
Robert Di Maio earned an Architectural Technology diploma from St Clair College. He is a founding member of Archon Architect Incorporated in Windsor, Ontario. Robert went on to earn a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from Lawrence Technological Institute and is licensed to practice architecture in Ontario and Michigan. His particular area of expertise involves project management. There his leadership and planning skills take projects from the facility program phase through to contract administration. This allows him to adapt and contribute to specific client needs resulting in the successful completion of many high profile projects on time and on budget.
Robert has also worked extensively as a member of the Ontario Association of Architects (O.A.A.) where he has served on Council and numerous committees. His work at the O.A.A. has proved to be both challenging and rewarding, helping to change and improve the practice of architecture.
Since 1989, Archon has practiced architecture throughout Canada, the State of Michigan and predominantly within Southwestern Ontario. The practice is organized as a collaborative design studio directed by the principals and fellow architects Robert Di Maio, Anthony Gyemi and Settimo Vilardi. Each of the firm's projects are developed and executed by a core team selected to meet the particular creative and technical challenges of the project and who are assigned to it for its entire duration. A principal who is responsible for design, direction, and client liaison leads each team. As Archon has three licensed Architects, each commission also has a collaborating design principal who will have the knowledge to substitute for the primary project principal if required. Archons philosophy is to place the client at the forefront of the evolution of the design process and to aid in the development of the clients' vision, collaboration and execution of the project.
Technology plays a key role in Archon's operations. Through a combination of traditional concept sketching and contemporary 3-D computer generated visualization techniques, Archon has developed an efficient means to both resolve the challenges of their client's goals while also providing rapid visualization of the proposed built object.
Archon's work can be seen all over Windsor and Essex County. Some of the buildings Robert and his team have designed the new fire hall for the Town of Essex, Talbot Trails and Begley Public Schools, Tregaskiss, Walkerville Professional Building, CAW Regional offices, Windsor Water World and Pointe West Golf Clubhouse. Archon was the lead architect of the design and construction team for St. Clair College's Ford Centre of Excellence in Manufacturing and Centre for Construction Innovation and Production. Presently they are working on Windsor's Family Aquatic Centre.
Archon is a member of the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC) and has LEED Accredited Professional (AP) status. The team strives to include sustainable design elements in all their projects whether they are formally pursuing LEED accreditation, LEED equivalency or simply intended to achieve overall reduction to the building's environmental footprint through good design principles, site selection and orientation, selection of equipment, durability and energy conversation.
Robert presently serves on the Windsor Construction Association Board and St. Clair College planning advisory committees and is an active member of the St. Clair Society of Architects. Archon presently employs St. Clair College graduates at their firm and works closely with the architectural technology faculty to recruit and mentor students.
Robert is married to Nancy and they have two children; Mick and Erica.
Jill Foster
Early Childhood Education '78
Executive Director
Story Book Early Learning Centres
Essex, Ontario
Jill Foster is a graduate of St. Clair College with a diploma in Early Childhood Education. She was born in England and immigrated to Canada in 1962. She began her professional career as a Registered Nurse in England. Upon moving to Canada, she was introduced to the work of Early Children Education in her new hometown of Essex, Ontario. She assisted at an early childhood learning program at the Essex United Church. The Story Book Nursery and Day Nursery began operation in the spring of 1975 as a half-day program three days weekly. The license at that time was for 16 children in a half-day program. That was when Jill decided to attend St. Clair College to complete an E.C.E. diploma.
Story Book Nursery School and Day Nursery was developed and licensed as a full-day program in September, 1978. This has grown and changed over the years to accommodate the community needs.
In November of 1982, Story Book saw the first licensed integrated space for four children with special needs. The integrated portion of the program has continued to grow serving children with a variety of special needs. In April of 1985, the private operation became an incorporated business. In the summer of 1986, a toddler program was introduced with the necessary program and structural changes. Demands for spaces resulted in changes when a new room for half day children, J.K. a.m. and Kindergarten children p.m. was added in 1987. Their license grew to 90 children, and in 1988 it converted to non-profit status. Story Book Nursery School and Day Nursery changed its name in July, 1999 to Story Book Early Learning Centre, better reflecting its current mission.
The Learning Centre is recognized for their dedication in developing quality and innovative programming for young children. Recently, they have also received recognition from Community Living-Essex County for their inclusion of children with special needs.
Jill has been a strong advocate for the work of St. Clair College's E.C.E. department over her long career in early education & childcare. She has welcomed our students on placements and has been part of our program advisory committees. One activity enjoyed by children is the visits to a local long-term care home. This is where the children interact with seniors and participate in activities with them. It brings joy to the residents when the children arrive to share their day.
Story Book Early Learning Centres was the first integrated school licensed for children of special needs. The commitment to children with special needs and their families is ongoing, continuing to provide specialized service to children with special needs.
Jill and her staff have two Story Book Early Learning Centres in Essex with one at the Essex Public School and the other on Arthur Avenue.
Jill is married to David. They have five children; Elizabeth, Paul, Steve, Jane and Gail. They have twelve grandchildren.
Edward Mady
Hotel Management '74
General Manager
The Beverly Hills Hotel & West Coast Regional Director for the Dorchester Collection
Beverly Hills, California
Edward (Ed) Mady grew up in Windsor, Ontario. He is a graduate of the St. Clair College Hotel Management program, class of 1974. While attending Riverside High School, he worked behind the soda fountain counter at his father's diner and convenience store called Baker's Dairy Bar - it still exists today as Baker's Bar and Grill. Little did he realize then that it would be his introduction to the hospitality industry. Ed's journey continued in Windsor and then took him across Canada and the United States.
He spent two decades with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, serving most prominently as vice president and area general manager overseeing five hotels in San Francisco and Half Moon Bay, California; Phoenix, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Bachelor Gulch, Colorado. Other positions included general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco from 1997 to 2009; general manager of The Ritz-Carlton, New York from 1989 to 1997; and hotel manager of The Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead in Atlanta from 1988 to 1989.
Ultimately, it led him to a great opportunity in the Dorchester Collection in 2009. The Dorchester Collection hotels are landmarks of individuality, prestige and comfort with peerless reputations that continue to attract royalty, dignitaries, celebrities, and an international set accustomed to the finer things in life.
Widely recognized as a leader in the luxury hospitality industry, Ed has worked with Dorchester Collection since June 2009, serving as general manager of The New York Palace, the 899-room hotel on Madison Avenue that was sold in 2011 to Northwood Investors, a highly-regarded private investment company. During his tenure at The New York Palace, Ed improved service levels in all areas of operation and achieved unprecedented results in the area of employee satisfaction – a critical measurement category in which he has set new standards for the hotel industry.
Named general manager of the famous Beverly Hills Hotel in 2011, Ed is responsible for all operations of the iconic 210-room "Pink Palace" in Beverly Hills. This Dorchester Collection property celebrated its 100th birthday in 2012. Ed is also west coast regional director, USA for Dorchester Collection, overseeing The Beverly Hills Hotel as well as Hotel Bel-Air, which reopened in October 2011.
MailInbox 204 Items Options Find Someone MailCalendarContactsTasks Todays work Ed's professional path has also encompassed high-profile leadership positions with Helmsley Hotels, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts. He began in hospitality as Assistant Chief Steward with The Royal Hotel in Toronto in 1974.
Ed has attracted industry and consumer recognition as well as national awards for his hospitality coaching strategies, which have generated top ratings for every hotel he has led. He received the 2011 Hospitality Professional of the Year Award from the Food and Beverage Association. Earlier in 2011, he was a keynote speaker by Cornell University School of Hotel Administration to address culture and leadership in the hotel industry. In 2009, he received the Gold Plate award for worldwide excellence in the hotel sector from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association. He has been at the forefront of green hospitality as well, with his efforts recently lauded by the American Hospitality and Lodging Association Educational Foundation and the University of Michigan.
Meighen Nehme
Business-Marketing '99
President
The Job Shoppe
Windsor, London & Kitchener Ontario
Meighen Nehme is a graduate of the St. Clair College marketing program. In 2003, she founded a human resources solutions firm called The Job Shoppe Inc., at the young age of 25. With a head office in Tecumseh, Ontario, The Job Shoppe is privately owned and operated, serving the professional human resource needs of Southwestern Ontario's business community. They are known as a team that supplies prompt, professional and reliable one-stop shop of work solutions ranging from complete recruitment, career development and employer consultation services for executive, permanent, temporary, contract and evaluative placements.
Their public, private, government and non-profit clients range from healthcare and industrial companies to financial institutions and governmental ministries. The Job Shoppe saves employers and job seekers time and money by simplifying the search process by matching the candidate with the positions offered. In just over 10 years, the team has grown to twenty-five on-site staff and more than five hundred off-site colleagues with branch offices in London and Kitchener.
Meighen's post-secondary education resume includes her journey as a marketing graduate from St. Clair College, a business graduate of the University of Windsor and an Executive Masters of Business from Queen's School of Business in Kingston.
The Job Shoppe began above a Shopper's Drug Mart in downtown Windsor. Meighen was the "one person" in a "one person" staffing agency. The agency and their successes have been featured by many media stories, including on a 2009 episode of C.B.C.'s "Fortune Hunters" show. Meighen and The Job Shoppe received accolades from the Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce as "Company of the Year" in 2005, The Business Development Bank of Canada "Young Entrepreneur" award in 2007 and she was a recipient of the RBC Canadian Women Entrepreneur Award in 2008.
In 2012, Profit Magazine recognized Ms. Nehme as number six of Canada's Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs in their PROFIT W100 rankings. The Job Shoppe continues on this list since 2008.
Meighen is also an active supporter of The Sunshine Foundation and is currently the Event Chair and Founder of the annual Windsor Corporate Challenge. The Windsor Corporate Challenge is a one-day FUNraiser created to promote the importance of wellness, balance and team building among groups of people. Teams will compete in up to ten fun-filled, events. All proceeds are donated to The Sunshine Foundation to help local children with severe physical disabilities or life-threatening illnesses. This event contributes to the Sunshine DreamLift sponsored by Mio Manz Charities which transports a plane full of children to special destinations like Disneyland and back.
In addition to her business success, in 2003, Meighen was a runner–up in the Miss Canada Pageant.
Meighen is married to Tony. They have three sons; Lucah, Noah and Nicolas.
Dr. Andrea Steen
Nursing '75
Family Medicine Physician
Windsor, Ontario
Dr. Andrea Conlon-Steen grew up in a large family in Windsor. From an early age, she always seemed to be in the role of caring for and showing compassion to family and friends. These early experiences built a foundation of serving others and changing lives that continues in her role in the health sciences in our community.
She attended Brennan High School where she excelled at sports, especially in the hurdles competitions on the track. After graduating from the St. Clair College nursing program, she continued her education at the University of Windsor. There she won two OUAA Titles in 1978 & 1979. Andrea was also the recipient of the University of Windsor's "Banner Shield" as the female "Athlete of the Year" in 1979. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Human Kinetics.
After that she attended the University of Waterloo from 1979-1981, earning a Masters Degree in Science. Her love of athletics continued as she competed indoors in the 300m, 600m, and 4 X 200m relay. (There was no outdoor track program at the school.) Andrea was a 3-time winner of the 400m hurdles, at the Canadian Championships in 1981, 1982, and 1984. She set Canadian Records at the 1982 Canadian Championships and the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia. In 1983, she placed 6th at the World Student Games in Edmonton, and the Pan American Games in Caracas, Venezuela, and made it to the quarterfinals at the World Championships in Helsinki, Finland. She placed first at the Canadian Olympic Trials, and made it to the semi-finals at the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984.
At the CIAU National Championships, Andrea won a Gold Medal in the 4 X 200m relay, and Bronze Medals in the 300m and 600m events. In 1986, she competed at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland, advancing to the semi-finals. That year she also won the Bronze Medal at the Canadian Championships.
Sports had an added bonus waiting for her. In December of 1988, Andrea married Dave Steen, winner of the Bronze Medal in the Decathlon at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She was inducted into the Windsor & Essex County Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.
Andrea received her M.D. from McMaster University in 1989 completing her preparation for the practice of family medicine in 1991.
Since opening her practice in 1991, Dr. Steen has had an impact on many lives, families and in our community of Windsor and Essex County. Her family practice is shared with three other physicians. She also works as a Psychiatric and Family Medicine Hospitalist. Andrea has been involved working with Eating Disorder clients and their families at the Teen Health Centre. In 2012, she served as President of Windsor Regional Hospital's Medical Staff and presently sits on the Windsor Regional Hospital Board.
At the Shulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Windsor, Dr. Steen is a guest lecturer and keynote speaker to many groups in our region and across the country.
You will still see Andrea participating in various marathons and running events for many charities across our region and North America.
Dr. Steen is married to Dave and they have four children; Kory, Jordan, Jacey and Jack.