When long time business colleagues, David Burke and Terry Peabody, surveyed the many small, independent companies that provided the public sector with critical business software, they saw a need for a corporate infrastructure that could bring vision, capital and accountability to the marketplace.
A critical aspect of their vision was to bring together a team of experienced and talented executives who shared the same strong strategic vision. This team has success in both small and large businesses, strong financial backgrounds and a solid understanding of the systems that support the public sector.
The mandate of this management team is to foster and maintain the strategic vision within Group Companies and ensure each follows a disciplined approach to growth. Each Group Company is required to set and meet strategic objectives — StarDyne management oversee this process and ensures accountability.
With multiple holdings in similar markets, StarDyne management has a broad perspective on the marketplace and is ideally positioned to provide strategic management. They also understand the complexities and unique requirements of the public sector.
Terrence E. Peabody, Chairman of the Advisory Board
Mr. Peabody has extensive international experience in both public markets and private companies. He leads the Peabody Group of Companies which has worldwide, diversified holdings, including the StarDyne Group. With an impressive track record and a reputation for returning significant value to the companies he owns, Mr. Peabody provides valuable experience and advice to the StarDyne Group. Mr. Peabody held the position of Chairman and CEO of Western Star Trucks Holdings Ltd. for over a decade. His interest in manufacturing and marketing trucks came about through his earlier work with the Pozzolanic Group in the early 1960's. He went on to found Pozzolanic (Queensland) in 1966. the Australiasian Pozzolanic Group was publicly floated in 1985. Mr. Peabody sold his controlling interest in the Group two years later at which time he founded Transpacific Industries Pty Ltd. to purchase the growth companies from Pozzolanic Group, with the exception of Pozzolanic (Queensland) and the pneumatic transport companies. Mr. Peabody focused the group on truck manufacturing, waste collection, treatment, recycling and disposal. Mr. Peabody is now Chairman and CEO of Western Star Trucks Australia; Chairman and Managing Director of the Transpacific Group of Companies in Queensland, Australia, involved in waste management, distribution, transportation and allied manufacturing industries; President or Chairman of companies in the fly ash and waste management business in the Philippines and Chairman of Craggy Range Wineries in New Zealand. Mr. Peabody attended the University of Maryland where he studied civil engineering.
David L. Burke, Chief Executive Officer
StarDyne was established in early 2001 by Mr. Peabody and Mr. Burke to make strategic investments in technology based companies focused on the public sector. Mr. Burke and Mr. Peabody share an entrepreneurial spirit and have a solid, long-term relationship based on past success running growth driven companies. Mr. Burke has a financial, systems and operational background and has participated and led the strategic planning and visioning of both large and small companies within several industries. Before assuming his current CEO role, Mr. Burke was with Western Star Trucks Holdings Ltd., a publicly traded company, as Chief Financial Officer and as a Director of the company. Prior to Western Star, Mr. Burke was with Gentek Building Products Inc., and also held various senior financial and systems positions with subsidiaries of Alcan Aluminum Ltd. for 17 years. Mr. Burke began his career in Information Technology with the federal government in Ottawa, Ontario. Mr. Burke is a Certified Management Accountant and serves as a Director or advisory board member for other companies including Purolator Holdings Ltd.
Brad J. Imrich, Vice President Finance
Mr. Imrich joined StarDyne Technologies Inc. in 2003 to focus on the financial and strategic objectives for StarDyne and its Group Companies. Mr. Imrich has over 10 years of experience in growth companies, specifically in the areas of operations, finance and strategy. He is familiar with both publicly traded and privately held companies and manages all financial aspects of StarDyne with the same rigor as a publicly traded company. Prior to joining StarDyne, Mr. Imrich served in senior financial roles at Pacific Insight Electronics, Western Star Trucks Holdings Ltd. and Placer Dome Inc. Mr. Imrich graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of British Columbia and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation while with Ernst & Young and serves as a Director for the Economic Development Commission of Kelowna, British Columbia.
Kelly D. Bolin, Vice President Business Development
Mr. Bolin joined StarDyne in 2004 to identify partnership and acquisition opportunities for StarDyne and its Group Companies. Mr. Bolin has over 20 years of experience in financial information systems, specifically in the areas of municipal, utilities and business including direct experience in local government. As the founder and President of Diamond Software Inc. (a StarDyne Group Company), he has a thorough understanding of municipal software and a comprehensive technical background. His involvement in many other business ventures in his career includes a successful financial systems consulting firm. Mr. Bolin is a Certified General Accountant and serves as an advisory board member for the Red Deer College, Computer Systems Technologies program.
Donna E. Kirisits, Vice President, Human Resources
Ms. Kirisits joined StarDyne in 2006 with her extensive experience and background in Human Resources and Education, she is ideally positioned to plan, implement and sustain sound human resource practices to StarDyne Group Companies. Ms. Kirisits brings strategic vision to all areas of human resources and internal consulting services for recruitment, employee training and development, succession planning, leadership development, change management, and salary and benefits administration. Previous to StarDyne, Ms Kirisits was with CCL Custom Manufacturing, Division of CCL Industries, for 20 years, serving as Director of Human Resources. In this role, she was responsible for over 1,000 employees throughout Canada and the United States. Ms. Kirisits has pioneered numerous specialized training programs, primarily focused in the field of leadership in the workplace, has chaired a number of summits and seminars, and was a Senior Continuing Education Instructor with Sheridan College for 24 years. Ms. Kirisits holds a Bachelor of Education degree and graduated with High Honours from Sheridan College. Ms. Kirisits also holds her Teacher Training Diploma and her Certified Human Resources Professional designation.
Ron T. Begg, Chief Operating Officer, Government Solutions Division
Mr. Begg has a full appreciation for the challenges in bringing technology to the public sector from his background as both a vendor and management consultant. He is well acquainted with the effort and structure needed to organize, identify, select and then implement municipal information systems. Through this experience, Mr. Begg appreciates what needs to happen to make clients successful and where StarDyne needs to be to facilitate this success.
Mr. Begg joined StarDyne in 2006. His background includes major companies such as Shell Canada and CIBC. He began working with local governments in 1987 in operations for a municipal systems vendor. Since 1989, he has been a consultant working with clients to identify, source and implement technology solutions. Mr. Begg has also worked with private sector firms to plan and organise their products and approach for the public sector. Mr. Begg is a Certified Management Consultant and a Professional Engineer and holds a Bachelor degree in Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and an MBA from the Ivey School of Business.
Steve R. Thompson, President and CEO, SRB Education Solutions Inc
Mr. Thompson joined StarDyne with the acquisition of SRB Education Solutions in 2006, continuing in the position of President and CEO of SRB. He brings over 30 years of related experience including senior management, technology leadership, product management and marketing roles in both the private and public sectors. Prior to joining SRB, between 1988 and 2000, Mr. Thompson held the positions of General Manager, Information Technology for the Toronto District School Board and Director of IT with the City of Vaughan & Vaughan Hydro. His earlier experience also included software engineering and marketing roles with the federal government and Gandalf Technologies Inc.
Mr. Thompson holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa and an honours degree in Political Science and Economics from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario. He is a Certified Information Systems Professional and has served as chair of the Ontario Association of School Business Officials IT Committee and President of the Municipal Information Systems Association.
