Our Team - Canadian Beef | Canada Beef

Our Team and the Canadian Beef Culture

Our dedicated team working to Connect, Innovate & Inspire everyday!

Executive Team

The Canada Beef senior staff

Michael Young

Michael Young

President

Michael Young is the President of Canada Beef and he brings broad expertise in domestic and global business development, brand and strategic leadership. Michael has worked in the Canadian red meat industry for over 39 year specializing in beef, veal and pork sales, marketing, product development and education in both the domestic and export marketplace.

During his professional career, Michael has promoted Canadian beef, veal and pork in more than 25 countries and conducted over 300 carcass cutting, merchandising and sausage making demonstrations. He has authored numerous technical cutting and buying manuals, guides, merchandising resources and financial yield and performance analysis tools for the Canadian red meat industry.

Michael leads all aspects of Canada Beef’s domestic and international market development and promotion efforts, including strategic business planning, program development, performance measurement and reporting and human resource management.

Eric Bienvenue

Eric Bienvenue

In-Coming President

Canada Beef and the Canadian Beef Check-off Agency are pleased to announce that Eric Bienvenue will
join the team as Incoming President effective Tuesday, October 3, 2023. A strategic leader with nearly 30 years of
experience in senior leadership roles in the Canadian pork and poultry industries,
Bienvenue brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to Canada Beef.

Bienvenue served for several years as President and CEO of Boire et Frères Inc., Canada’s largest hatchery company and among its biggest chicken producers. During his more than 20 years at Olymel S.E.C, Bienvenue held various jobs from line supervisor to Executive Vice President of all pork operations, with responsibilities for 13 plants across Canada and a team of more than 6,500 people. While at Olymel he participated in mergers and acquisitions and led initiatives to improve efficiencies and market and product developments and was responsible for multi-million-dollar projects in Red Deer, Alberta, Cornwall, Ontario, and in Quebec.

Bienvenue has a Master of Business Administration degree from Université de Moncton, a Bachelor of Business
Administration degree from the University of New Brunswick, and various leadership certifications from Harvard
University and the Institut de Leadership.

Mark Klassen

Mark Klassen

Executive Vice President

Mark Klassen is the Executive Vice President responsible for global, domestic consumer, channel and generic marketing and the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence activities as part of the Global Marketing Team bringing increased alignment and synergy to these functions.

Mark has 30 years experience in the Canadian meat and livestock industry including roles in livestock genetics and meat processing as well as positions with the Canada Beef Export Federation, Beef Information Centre and the Canadian Cattle Association. He has also provided consulting services in support of producer owned beef brands.

Mark grew up in a rural community and has a passion for agriculture and the people who serve Canada in this capacity.

Ron Glaser

Ron Glaser

Vice President, Corporate Affairs

For the past 25 years, Ron Glaser has been a communications professional specializing in the agriculture and agri-food sector. In July 2011, he became VP, Corporate Affairs and Operations for the newly formed Canada Beef. Prior to that, he was Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs for the Beef Information Centre and also has served as Communications Manager with the Alberta Beef Producers.

Ron and his team of marketing and communications professionals oversee consumer and stakeholder communications, media relations, public affairs and operations for Canada Beef. He is also a member of the Executive Leadership Team which sets the organization’s direction in the execution of the strategic plan and business plan. Ron graduated from Mount Royal College in Calgary with a diploma in public relations.

Michael Shittu

Michael Shittu

Vice President, Finance and Operations

Michael is responsible for implementing and managing corporate financial and risk management systems for both the domestic and international operations. This includes policies and procedures that manage the day-to- day business and finances of the organization. In collaboration with the CB business development and brand teams, he and his team continually focus on finding ways of creating value for money for producers’ check off dollars and import levies in CB marketing programs.

He joined CB in 2011 following the merger of the Beef Information Centre, Canada Beef Export Federation and the National Check-Off Agency. Prior to joining CB, Michael worked in accounting practice with BDO Dunwoody in Penticton and Kelowna, BC and was Chief Financial Officer for a first nation in northern Alberta.

Michael is a member of the Chartered Professional Accountants of Alberta Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK). He was born in Africa, lived in Europe for 5 years and has lived in Canada since 2007. In Canada, he has lived in or visited 7 provinces and 1 territory. QC, NF and Nunavut are on his bucket list.

Albert Eringfeld

Albert Eringfeld

Executive Director, Export Market Development

Albert is responsible for managing Canada Beef’s Export Market Development Programs and Emerging and Global Markets portfolios.

Prior to joining Canada Beef, Albert was Manager of International Market Development with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry for six years. In this role Albert and his team supported Alberta agriculture and food companies to identify export opportunities and assist in expanding their sales internationally through various export market development initiatives.

Prior to joining Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Albert devoted 21 years of his career operating his own business that promoted and coordinated the export of Canadian livestock genetics and livestock production technologies, successfully developing new business, and selling these products worldwide with specific emphasis on the Asian and Latin American regions.

Albert was born and raised on a mixed livestock and crop farm in Southern Alberta and has been involved with the Alberta and Canadian Agriculture industries for his entire career.

Albert has a Bachelor of Management degree with a Major in Marketing from the University of Lethbridge.

Mathieu Paré

Mathieu Paré

Executive Director, Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence

As a young child, Mathieu Paré landed in Calgary, Alberta from the wilds of northern Quebec and immediately set off exploring. From the eastern slopes to the Cypress Hills, the boreal forest to the U.S. border, he foraged the landscape for edible plants and animals, eventually crossing the Rockies and the Strait of Georgia in pursuit of new food experiences. Now a Governor General Award winner and professional chef, Mathieu brings a passion for all things culinary and an expertise in fine dining to the table.

Trained in Western Canada’s most demanding kitchens (La Chaumière, Rouge, Quail’s Gate Estate Winery, CP Rail’s The Royal Canadian Pacific, The Wickaninnish Inn), Mathieu’s focus is on classic technique and execution while maintaining some freedom for surprise, fusion and one-of-a-kind creativity.

As a young chef, Mathieu travelled extensively to develop his palate and diversify his repertoire. Sharing his food knowledge and travel experiences from across Canada, in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Mathieu builds on a platform for exploration of local and exotic ingredients.

Mathieu is now with Canada Beef as Director of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence. In this role, Mathieu leads a team creating opportunity and competitiveness for Canadian beef globally through successfully engaging clients across Canada and around the world to build understanding of the Canadian beef brand and drive demand.

Joyce Parslow

Joyce Parslow

Executive Director, Consumer Marketing

Joyce has worked in PR, marketing services and consumer content creation and promotions professionally for over 20 years, through positions at Nestlé Canada, Foodland Ontario and Beef Information Centre. Joyce represents the consumer voice in our marketing and communication strategies and campaigns, in both branded and generic beef initiatives.

Joyce seeks to build trust, affinity and loyalty for Canadian Beef and beef in general, with direct and partnered efforts that target consumers and their influencers based on the understandings of product & brand value propositions, audience and outreach channels.

Michele McAdoo

Michele McAdoo

Executive Director, Digital Marketing

Michele leads Canada Beef’s digital marketing programs. Michele has over 25 years of experience managing projects in consumer relationship marketing, content creation, media, TV production and digital programs. Michele started her career within the Kraft Kitchens at Kraft Canada.

Michele is skilled at website, social and email content planning and execution. She is grounded in understanding how consumers interact with digital platforms and thus is able to effectively deliver content marketing plans that not only meet business and brand objectives but also delight and engage the consumer.

Michele’s role is to connect consumers and producers to the Canadian Beef brand story through strategic, collaborative, consistent and authentic content on all social and digital channels and in doing so, builds trust and an appreciation for Canadian Beef.

Karine Rekunyk

Karine Rekunyk

Director, Health & Nutrition

Karine is the Director of Health and Nutrition, responsible for the development and management of Canada Beef’s nutrition strategy in line with the current science, industry needs and nutrition trends.  She will also be responsible for education and communication initiatives with health and food professionals, food and nutrition students, thought leaders and consumers.

Karine has over 25 years’ experience as a dietitian. She spent the first part of her career in healthcare, as a Food Service Director for a large hospital, as well as head office roles at both Cara Operations and Compass Group where she was responsible for developing and overseeing nutrition portfolios.  She has worked in the Canadian beef industry over the last 10 years, first as a staff member for Canada Beef (from 2010 to 2015) and then in a consulting capacity. Karine is a graduate of the University of Guelph’s Human Nutrition program and dietetic internship at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and a member of the College of Dietitians of Ontario.

Gina Teel

Gina Teel

Director, Stakeholder Communications

Gina transitioned to public relations following a successful career in journalism that concluded with a nine-year stint as a business writer producing award-winning copy for a leading Canadian daily newspaper. She landed her first communications job at a national producer association in Canada’s beef industry more than a decade ago and has never looked back, finding the dynamic nature and international scope of the work to her liking.

Gina is a strategic communications professional and experienced in government and stakeholder relations and advocacy, media relations, storytelling, brand and reputation management, and issues and crisis management.

Gina has a Journalism Diploma and a Basic Public Relations Certificate from Mount Royal College in Calgary (now Mount Royal University). In 2019 Gina earned the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) designation from the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS). She is a board member for CPRS Calgary. A lifelong learner, Gina is pursuing certification in nonprofit management.

Cameron Pappel

Cameron Pappel

Director, CBCE Studios

After completing a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Victoria in 2011, Cameron relocated to Australia where he began his culinary career and developed a keen interest for agriculture.  It was while working in horticulture in Northern Queensland that Cameron developed a deep appreciation for the way food goes from farm-to-fork.

Upon returning home, he attended the Culinary Institute of Vancouver Island and furthered his skills working in Canadian restaurants from Tofino to Montreal.

Cameron joined Canada Beef in 2018 as the Centre Chef of the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence.  In his current role of Culinary and Innovation Manager, Cameron leverages his passion for Canadian beef from the aspects of culinary, butchery and multi-media.

Kelly Hyde

Kelly Hyde

Director, Canadian Beef Information Gateway

Kelly has over 25 years of combined strategic planning, communications, marketing, and project management experience. Prior to joining Canada Beef, Kelly’s career was in the communications field where she worked in multiple sectors both in public and private industry. She also managed and owned her own consulting firm for over a decade. The company specialized in branding and developing strategic communication, marketing, and business plans.

Kelly enjoys collaborating with and bringing together various and diverse stakeholders to work toward achieving a common goal. Kelly has a degree from the University of Calgary, a diploma from the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and most recently earned a graduate certificate in Values-Based Leadership from Royal Roads University. She is also an Accredited Business Communicator through the International Association of Business Communicators.

Kelly’s role as the Director, Canadian Beef Information Gateway, is to oversee the planning, implementation, and promotion of multiple platforms for the Gateway. To accomplish this, she works closely with other Canada beef teams including, channel marketing, digital marketing, consumer marketing and the Canadian Beef Center of Excellence. This role aligns with Kelly’s passion for food sustainability and security.

Mauricio Arcila

Mauricio Arcila

Director, Technical Services

Mauricio is responsible for the technical services function, supporting Canada Beef in all matters related to recent meat industry developments and working in liaison with the scientific research community. He is proactively monitoring recent technological innovations while networking with key stakeholders and other industry associations to address current issues and challenges. The total focus is on the Food Safety, Beef Quality and Regulatory affairs of the beef value chain.

In Canada, Mauricio has worked in diverse technical roles for the cattle and meat industry for the last twenty years. His experience includes management responsibilities in the quality and technical services functions for Cargill, Canada Beef Export Federation, the Canadian Beef and Breeds Council, IdentiGEN and BHJ Canada Meat Products Inc.

After finishing his undergraduate education in Colombia, Mauricio completed his Master of Science degree at the École Nationale Supérieure des Industries Agricoles et Alimentaires (ENSIA) in France, with applied research for agricultural development in South America.

Shelby VanSickle

Shelby VanSickle

Senior Director, Channel Marketing

Shelby VanSickle is responsible for leading Canada’s domestic beef marketing strategy for increasing demand, client confidence and competitive position in the Canadian marketplace.

Shelby brings relevant experience in market research and analytics, brand management and strategic communications. Prior to joining Canada Beef, Shelby worked as a Brand Manager at Canada’s largest privately-held specialty food distributor, where she honed her skills in project execution and client satisfaction.  Additionally, Shelby previously worked on projects for Canada Beef related to market intelligence across various sectors of the industry.

Shelby holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Marketing Management from Toronto Metropolitan University, and a Master of Science in Strategic Marketing Communications from Fordham University.

Shelby enjoys continual learning and collaborating with others, as well as a plethora of sports (she can often be found with a hockey stick, lacrosse stick, or softball bat in hand).

Todd Van Eyk

Todd Van Eyk

Merchandising Manager, Channel Marketing

Todd Van Eyk is the new Merchandising Manager on the Channel Marketing team.

Todd is responsible for managing Canada Beef’s merchandising-related initiatives for the domestic market. He has significant experience developing video content, and one of his first projects will be to work with the Canadian Beef Centre of Excellence to develop video and other content for the Wholesale edition of the Canadian Beef Information Gateway. This initiative will support personnel at retail and foodservice by providing guidance around beef merchandising.

He brings over 20 years of meat retail, merchandising and sales experience with companies such as Sobeys and JBS Canada. Van Eyk’s passion for the product, significant meat industry experience, and technical skills will be a strong asset for the Channel portfolio as well as other key functional areas at Canada Beef.

A graduate of Niagara College’s Sales and Marketing program, Van Eyk is based in Canada Beef’s Mississauga office.

Our Global Voices

Our Global voices bringing Canadian Beef to you, all over the globe.

Claudia Herrera-Blanc

Claudia Herrera-Blanc

Mexico/Latin America - Director, Market Development

Claudia has been an integral part of Canada Beef’s team since 2004 when the organization established its footprint in Mexico.

Ms Herrera-Blanc obtained her B.Sc. in Business Administration at the Technological Institute of Higher Studies of Monterrey . Her role with Canada Beef has evolved from operations early in her career where she managed resources of Canadian Beef producers, to becoming instrumental to Canada Beef’s business and market development team.

As a business developer, Claudia has led the development of the Hispanic communications platform for Canada Beef and she has also led brand marketing partnerships and strategic alliances with Mexico’s Foodservice industry; projects that have been conducive at positioning the Canadian Beef Brand by its world class attributes within Mexico’s white tablecloth operations.

Erika Azpeitia

Erika Azpeitia

Mexico/Latin America - Operations Coordinator

Erika is an experienced operations coordinator who joined Canada Beef in 2014 and recently rejoined in 2023. With a strong background in customer service and administration in the hospitality industry, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role.

Erika has a B.S. in Administration with a major in Tourism. Erika possesses a deep understanding of the industry’s dynamics and customer expectations. Her previous experience at Mexicana de Aviación, a renowned airline, further honed her skills in managing diverse tasks and ensuring smooth operations.

As an operations coordinator, Erika plays a pivotal role in our organization. She excels in handling accounting reporting, meticulously ensuring accurate financial records and compliance. Additionally, she efficiently manages day to day office operations, streamlining processes and optimizing productivity.

With her exceptional attention to detail and strong organizational skills, Erika consistently delivers results and contributes to the overall success of our company. Her dedication and commitment to excellence make her an invaluable asset to our team.

Ichiro Kiyotomi

Ichiro Kiyotomi

Japan/South Korea - Senior Director, Market Development

Ichiro joins Canada Beef as Senior Director Japan, with growing regional aspirations in the beef sector. He has expertise in the global food industry and extensive experience as a senior business manager with 27+ years of success in sales, marketing, procurement, and new business development in a large food trade company, global FMCG company, and a foreign government agency. During his time in the food company, he was the expat working for US & Japan JV beef company in the US as Export Manager.

During his professional career, he initiated contributed to meaningful, well-known and significant business generating events. He has also played an important role as a mentor and sensei for his colleagues on the team as well as other global offices.

He has two MBAs majoring in International Business, California University and majoring in Marketing, Bond University in Australia.

Yuko Onizawa

Yuko Onizawa

Japan - Associate Director

Yuko started to work for Canadian Beef in April 1999. At first, she was in charge of accounting and office operation and in 2013 she became Marketing Manager. Yuko focuses on marketing and branding of Canadian beef in Japan market through relationships with the meat industry people such as retailer, food-service, distributor and importer. She aims that Japanese consumers can eat and buy Canadian beef anytime and anywhere in Japan.

Takako Toyama

Takako Toyama

Japan - Senior Manager, Operations

Kako has been working in Canada Beef Inc. since December 2013, and today exerts herself for Japan’s office as operation manager. She is in charge of accounting and general affairs. Kako was once a secretary for a member of the House of Representatives and Councilors of the Japanese National Diet for more than 5 years. By this experience she is the expert in office operation. Furthermore she acts as a mediator now between customer and CBI.

Rachel Zhang

Rachel Zhang

China - Manager, Operations China

Rachel has joined to Canada Beef Inc. since 2007 for more than 10 years and worked for the office administrative and finance operations. With her great expertise, she is not only managed daily finance and operation works, but also take in charge of the challenge for maintaining in the roles of program managements, executions of brand licensing, and various supports of individual marketing initiatives in the region. She devoted her enthusiasm and career to Canadian beef industry with long term loyalty and efforts to communicate the brand and strategies among the clients and consumers in the China market. The working experience of marketing in last company Lucent Technology gave her solid background which led her to be capable of the work in brand new industry within short time.

Deana Kao

Deana Kao

Taiwan/Hong Kong/South East Asia - Director, Market Development

Deana joined Canada Beef since 2008, at first oversaw accounting and office operation. In late 2013 she evolved from administration job role to Canada Beef Market Development team and responsibility expanded to SE Asia markets. Now she oversights market development and international marketing for Taiwan, Philippine, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam markets.

Deana has Business operation management diploma in Algonquin College in Ottawa Canada. Before joining the beef industry, she had worked at one of Global 500 high-tech company positioned as executive secretary of sales and market development team. She further expanded her career in brand marketing and event planning at an Italian fashion house. With the abundant experiences helped her developed strong skills in brand marketing, event planning, marketing, and consumer relations.

Pham Nhu (Katie)

Pham Nhu (Katie)

Vietnam - Marketing Coordinator

Katie started her career in the Vietnam food industry in 2015 as an imported food merchandiser. Before joining Canada Beef April 2023, she worked for a Korean global corporation which is a leading feeding ingredient and food manufacturer in Vietnam. After more than 7 years in the meat business, she gained various expertise on imported meats and foods, local meat industry as well as Vietnamese importation procedures. She also built a wide network with major Vietnam food importers, distributors and global suppliers from the USA, Australia and Europe.  Katie expects to make the Canadian beef brand widely known in Vietnam through the planning and execution of marketing and promotions initiatives.

YG Shin

YG Shin

South Korea - Marketing Coordinator

YG is a specialist in international trade and business development consulting, with extensive experience and networks in a wide range of sectors, including meat, seafood, food and beverage, for over 35 years.  After working as trade/business development manager at a foreign government agency in Seoul for over 22 years, he has been providing in-market representative services as trusted advisor for foreign exporters and industry associations in the Korean market.  YG has an MBA majoring in Marketing from Yonsei University in Seoul, Korea.

Canada | Western Office

T (403) 275-5890
P (403) 275-9288
E info@canadabeef.ca

A 6715 – 8th Street NE, Suite 146
Calgary, AB, Canada T2E 7H7

Canada | Eastern Office

T (905) 821-4900
E info@canadabeef.ca

A 2550 Argentia Road, Suite 210
Mississauga, ON L5N 5R1

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