About the Speaker

Mississauga Ontario

Capacity thought Excellence,
HACCP, Lean, Top 100 Employer

Long known as conservative in nature, the dairy processing industry has followed industry trends and reacted to the national and international dynamics; in an industry where both customer and consumer are demanding value, quality and healthy choices, Gay Lea Foods, a farmer owned co-operative, has adopted the mantra "from good to great" across the entire spectrum in order to compete and survive in a very competitive marketplace. Recognized locally and internationally, Gay Lea has taken the first steps in its journey.

Featured Best Practice(s)
Employee Engagement
Values as a foundation for success
Organizational Development

About the Speaker:

Michael Barrett, Chief Operating Officer, Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd
Michael is currently the Chief Operations Officer for Gay Lea Foods Co-operative - the largest Dairy Co-operative in the province of Ontario. Michael has been involved with the Co-operative Sector for ten years.  He also serves on the Board of the Co-operative Development Fund and the International Program Committee (IPC) and has had the opportunity to work overseas in Nepal, and El Salvador developing co-operatives focussed on youth and children's education.  Michael is also in his second term as a Public School Trustee for the Durham District School Board and has served as both Chair and Vice-Chair; he is currently a Director on the Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA).

He is a graduate of the University of Toronto, the University of Western Ontario and the Rotman School of Business. Michael, in his spare time, besides helping to parent his six children is an avid gardener, likes to play with his "big boy toys" (his collectible cars) and spends anytime that he has left on renovating his century home in Oshawa and his cottage near Buckhorn, Ontario.

Michael's favourite saying is "Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."