The Personnel Committee of 2004/2005 was chaired by Jeanetty Jumah.

The Personnel Committee, consisting of Sonia Prodanyk, Walid Chahal, Jim Squier, Jeanetty Jumah, Irfan Khan, and Bingo Lanquibo are very proud of the service the staff of TBMA offers to our community through the various TBMA Programs.  Our staff is dedicated to serving our newcomer community, and their combination of talents help the TBMA Board of Directors carry out our duties effectively.

Many staff members have worked with our Association for a number of years.  The fact that we have very little staff turnover is a reflection of the commitment of the individuals we have in our employ to the programs of the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association.

With the addition of new programs, the TBMA staff has increased.  With the Diversity Thunder Bay partnership project, Developing Diversity in Police Services, Neil Nelson was hired as our Coordinator and Melanie Mackenzie, then later Satu Groombridges, as the Researchers. We were also pleased to welcome D.O.O.R.S. to New Life as a service delivery partner for the Newcomer Settlement Program to TBMA.  We are all working together under one roof to ensure the most effective and convenient service for the newcomers coming to Thunder Bay.  TBMA has many additional services for both immigrant and refugee newcomers and this partnership will ensure that clients not only become aware of these opportunities, but also have the ease of accessing them more effectively.  Returning again was Michelle Lander Mackenzie who was hired as the 2005 Folklore Festival Coordinator bringing a wealth of experience in Event planning and Folklore Festival coordination to the position.

We thank Cathy Woodbeck, our Program Director, and Armando Narvaez, our Financial Director, both very accomplished and committed individuals.  Through their efforts, TBMA is able to continue offering cost efficient service while meeting the needs of our clients.  They go that extra mile to ensure TBMA meets the needs of our clients and funders while reducing costs.  They are to be commended for the contributions they have made to our Association and multiculturalism in our country.  We recognize the work of all of the staff members at TBMA, and extend our thanks to each individual.

On a personal note, as Chair of the Personnel Committee, I would like to thank the members of the Personnel Committee for their work this year.