Board Members
Our Board of Directors provides Octopz with a wealth of experience and exceptional business acumen. For more information about each of these highly-regarded industry professionals, see below.
James J. Meenan
During a 30-year career with AT&T Corp., Jim Meenan served in a number of senior executive financial and operating roles, including the CFO position of every major Division of the company, and established AT&T's presence in Canada in 1995 as President and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T Canada. Since his retirement, he has served as a director/chairman, audit committee member/chairman, and consultant to a number of early stage companies throughout North America. Currently, Mr. Meenan is on the Board of Datawire Communication Networks, where he provides the management team and Board of Directors with strategic guidance and assists the company in pursuing its business development, strategic alliance, merger/acquisition and corporate finance initiatives in North America and internationally. He is also a consultant to the MaRS Centre, an incubator of life science and technology companies located in Toronto, Ontario's innovative Discovery District.
Barry Symons
Barry Symons is CEO of Jonas Software Inc. (Jonas). Jonas is a leading provider of software and services to 3 distinct vertical markets (Private Clubs, Construction and the Food Services sector). Jonas’ mission is to be the premier supplier of software and services in each vertical market it enters. With over 4,000 clients, Jonas subscribes to the philosophies of software for life and customers for life. Prior to joining Jonas, Mr. Symons was the CFO of Constellation Software Inc. (CSI and the parent company of Jonas) in his over 10 years at CSI Mr. Symons assisted in rapidly growing the business from near start up to its current size servicing more than 14,000 customers in over 30 countries. CSI is a public company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
Lillyann Goldstein
The youngest person ever to graduate from the McGill Law School, Lillyann Goldstein's legal career took her to some of world's most prestigious firms, including William M. Mercer, Peat Marwick and Shell Canada. Since then, she has become a well-known innovator in the domain of Canadian Controlled Private Corporations. In 2001, as the majority shareholder, she and husband Bill Wiener, purchased and privately financed the Gooderham & Worts historical redevelopment in Toronto's Distillery District, transforming it into one of Canada's most prestigious Arts and Entertainment venues. As a result of her tireless support of the Canadian film and television industries, Ms. Goldstein has been honoured with numerous public services awards, including the inaugural Reel World Film Festival Award, the Trailblazer of the Year Award from Canadian Women in Communications, and was one of six women finalists to be nominated for The Canadian Association of Women Executives & Entrepreneurs (CAWEE) The ExtraOrdinary Woman of the Year Award. Ms. Goldstein has brought her business and legal expertise to numerous Not-for-Profit and Charities Boards as well as the Ontario Media Development Corporation, a Provincial Crown Corporation.
Maxx-Phillippe Hollott
Maxx-Phillippe Hollott is Investment Manager with GrowthWorks, a recognized leader in the Canadian venture capital industry specializing in the management and growth of regionally based venture capital funds. GrowthWorks manages funds with a total of over $800 million in assets, with a primary focus on Canada's most promising sectors: information technology, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. Mr. Hollott specializes in early stage investments. Prior to joining the company in February 2005, Mr. Hollot was an associate technology analyst (institutional equity research) with Orion Securities Inc. and Dundee Securities Corp. in Toronto, where he focused on technology issues including semiconductors, wireless services and equipment, and software.
