EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM

Kevin Smith
PRESIDENT
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Cam Quan-Smith
VICE PRESIDENT
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Matt Hudson, CPA, CA
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
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Monique Lashley
DIRECTOR OF HR
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JOVAN LATISNERE
DIRECTOR OF SUPPLY
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Michael Yudelevich, P. Eng.
DIRECTOR OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
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VICTOR PONCE
DIRECTOR OF IT
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DOUG CAMPBELL
DIRECTOR OF SALES
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DARRIN SMITH
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC SOURCING
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LEADERSHIP TEAM

STEPHEN CLIMER
SALES MANGER
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DYLAN JANZEN, P. ENG
PRODUCTION MANAGER
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JUDITH CUEPPER
PRODUCT MARKETING MANAGER
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kevin Smith
PRESIDENT
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Cam Quan-Smith
VICE PRESIDENT
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Matt WUBBS
PARTNER
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OBSERVERS

KELLIE MANCHESTER, CFA
PARTNER
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GEOFF MCKAY
PARTNER
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Kevin Smith
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Kevin serves as the Founder and President of Smartrend Manufacturing Group (SMG). He holds the distinction of being the innovator behind the groundbreaking Illuminated School Bus Sign and Fully Illuminated Stop Arm, both of which have found extensive use on school buses throughout North America. Kevin plays a pivotal role in managing operations in Canada, the United States, Vietnam, and China. His impressive business acumen and unwavering commitment to the company are reflected in his ability to cultivate positive and mutually beneficial relationships with valued customers, implement strategic approaches to foster product growth, and empower individuals within the organization to consistently deliver their utmost efforts.

Cam Quan-Smith
Cam, Vice President of Smartrend Manufacturing Group (SMG), plays a pivotal role in the operation’s behind-the-scenes activities. As an accomplished, award-winning performer, Cam is recognized for her exemplary customer service, innovation, sales achievements, leadership abilities, and strong teamwork skills in multinational organizations. A strong believer in a positive culture and diverse workforce, she is experienced in leading continuous improvement initiatives in a variety of diverse sectors including transportation, manufacturing, food processing, industrial, aerospace, mining, and government. With an MBA under her belt, she is responsible for leading and inspiring world class teams in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and human resources.

Michael Yudelevich, P. Eng.
With over 20 years of experience, Michael is an innovative, out-of-the-box thinker that holds numerous design patents. Michael is a well rounded, strategic thinker that rose through the ranks and now leads our Mechanical Engineering team. The safety of children and the success of the SMG team is what motivates Michael. During his down time Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends.

Matt Hudson, CPA, CA
With over 15 years of accounting and financial expertise in various leadership roles, Matt heads up our Finance department. He is a strategic thinker and true problem solver that is motivated by the success of his team. With a can-do attitude, he’s continuously looking for opportunities for improvement in SMG’s fast-paced environment. During his downtime, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two young children and volunteering.

Monique Lashley
Monique, aka Niq, is passionate about PEOPLE! She is a true believer and champion in creating a culture that is positive, fun and engaging. Niq excels at building our team with top talent and creating strategies for growth and retention. Often energetic and enthusiastic, she is at her peak performance when she is making a difference in the lives of those around her – be it family, co-workers or friends.

JOVAN LATISNERE
Jovan brings a wealth of knowledge with over 25 years in the supply chain industry. Having worked in a variety of different capacities in supply chain, he focuses on ensuring material is delivered on schedule and within budget. Jovan seeks to build strong supplier relationships to assist in achieving organizational cost savings goals. His motivation comes from his family and the desire to do meaningful work at SMG.

MATT WUBBS
In almost three decades at Westland Insurance, Matt Wubs has served as Controller, Chief Financial Officer and Co-CEO, where he oversaw insurance, reinsurance, risk management, finance, and mergers and acquisitions. Now, Matt applies his decades of organizational knowledge and deep passion for the business as a director on the board.
During this time, Westland has evolved from a regional BC organization to one of Canada’s largest national brokerages and managing general agents.
Matt also serves on the Board of Directors for Big Box Outlet Stores & SMG.
Before joining Westland, Matt held a consulting role in Management Information Systems at International Forest Products Ltd. and obtained his Chartered Accountant designation while working at Deloitte LLP.

KELLIE MANCHESTER, CFA
Prior to Weathervane, Kellie co-founded Sequeira Partners, one of Western Canada’s largest mid-market investment banking boutiques. With over 25 years of experience in the transaction markets, Kellie has deep experience in strategic planning and advisory planning across the private business sector. Before co-founding Sequeira Partners, Kellie spent over a decade with one of the Big Four accounting firms.
Additionally, Kellie has prior board experience with The 625 Powell Street Foundation and Lionsgate Industries Inc., a private business with assets across Canada.
Kellie has volunteered with the Association of Women in Finance, Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Inn from the Cold. She has been recognized by BC Business Magazine as one of BC’s Most Influential Women in Finance and was awarded Dealmaker of the Year 2021 by Finance Monthly Magazine.
Kellie is a CFA charter holder and holds a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge.

GEOFF MCKAY
For over 25 years, Geoff has led highly successful private equity investment teams and M&A activity throughout the US and Canada; most recently as CPP Investments’ Managing Director and Head of North American Direct Private Equity.
Geoff started his career in the M&A space with Goldman Sachs in New York and London before joining Forstmann Little & Co in New York where he became General Partner. He subsequently served as Managing Director and Head of Private Equity for Vulcan Capital, a large family office investment group, later joining CPP Investments in Toronto, a $550B global pension fund. In addition to his deep expertise in structuring capital and equity investments, Geoff also brings experience in leading transformational change that drives organizational value.
Geoff is a seasoned Board member, having provided governance leadership to nearly 20 organizations in industries as varied as events & media, fitness, insurance & financial services, energy, telecom, education, asset management, automotive, leasing, consumer products and software.
Geoff earned his MBA with Distinction and was named to the Director’s List at The Wharton School and holds his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Victoria.

VICTOR PONCE
With over 18 years of experience in enterprise IT, software development, and technology leadership, Victor is a seasoned professional dedicated to driving innovation and streamlining business operations. As Director of Information Technology, he oversees the development and management of company systems, ensuring all solutions align with strategic goals.
Guided by the belief that no goal is impossible, Victor supports business growth through data-driven, scalable technology initiatives. Outside of work, he enjoys time with family, exploring the outdoors, and volunteering with community and cultural organizations.

DOUG CAMPBELL
With over 20 years of expertise in the school bus industry, Doug’s passion for enhancing child safety began early in his career when he witnessed firsthand the risks children face during school bus loading and unloading. He is dedicated to promoting innovative safety solutions, particularly illuminated products, to improve visibility and protect students. Doug’s career is centered on making school transportation safer for children everywhere.

DARRIN SMITH
With over 25 years of experience in strategic sourcing and procurement, Darrin specializes in E-buses, batteries, electrical systems, and alternate propulsion systems. He excels in building strong supplier partnerships, driving cost reduction through continuous improvement, and staying ahead of technology trends.
Darrin is known for his hands-on leadership style, successfully managing multiple priorities in fast-paced environments, and consistently exceeding both corporate and personal goals.

JUDITH CUEPPER
With over 12 years of experience in digital marketing, Judith has built her career on connecting with audiences through creative ideas and strategic campaigns. As a Product Marketing Manager, she’s passionate about delivering positive customer experiences and supporting a mission that’s making school transportation safer.
She values working with a talented, collaborative team that brings big ideas to life. Judith looks forward to growing within the company and continuing to contribute in meaningful ways. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her family, outdoor adventures, videography, and discovering hidden food spots.

STEPHEN CLIMER
Stephen brings nearly a decade of experience in school bus safety sales, with past roles at Rosco Vision Systems and now as Sales Manager at First Light Safety Products. He leads a dedicated team focused on bringing illuminated safety technology to school districts across the country. Known for his customer-first mindset and hands-on leadership, Stephen has helped standardize products in multiple states and grow First Light’s presence to over a thousand districts.
Outside of work, he enjoys life with his wife Lydia and their son Dexter. Whether it’s playing soccer or diving into space documentaries, Stephen and Dexter are always exploring something new together. His professional goal? To see First Light products on every school bus.

DYLAN JANZEN
Dylan is a mechanical engineer with over 7 years of experience in manufacturing and operations, primarily in the aerospace and pharmaceutical industries. As Production Manager, he leads production, oversees the manufacturing engineering team, and drives continuous improvement efforts. He’s passionate about combining business goals with a people-first approach. Believing that aligned, informed teams deliver the strongest results. Notably, Dylan helped develop a live production interface for real-time data collection and traceability, and in a previous role, led cost-saving initiatives that resulted in over $1.25 million in savings in just one year. He holds a P.Eng designation and a Green Belt in Lean Six Sigma.
Born and raised in Winnipeg, Dylan values open-mindedness and collaboration. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and young son, and in his free time, explores innovative design through 3D printing. He feels continuously motivated by SMG’s accomplishments and looks forward to growing with the company while working toward a Director of Operations role.