Gary was a Manager with the Federal Department of Employment and Social Development (Service Canada). He has served in management for the past 32 years and prior to his retirement managed the Grants and Contributions Program for Newfoundland and Labrador. The Grants and Contributions delivery amounts to millions of dollars in program funding in this province. Gary’s work in the province has been significant in achieving successful investments toward the social and economic agendas for many of the communities served. Prior to joining the Federal Service, Gary worked in the financial sector. During this period he worked with Bank of America, Finance America, and Household Financial Corporation. He worked in a management capacity with all three of these institutions. Additionally, he had a brief period with Mutual Life of Canada (Now Clarica). Gary was appointed to the board of Directors for Marine Atlantic Inc. (a federal crown corporation within the Transport Canada portfolio) December 14, 2017. In his capacity as Director, Gary was elected to the Chair’s position for the Governance, Risk, and Strategy committee. He led the process to increase board training for Directors. This past year he led the process to develop a renewed/refreshed board strategic plan for fiscal 2020/2021 and beyond. Gary has been involved with the Atlantic Credit Union system for many years. He currently sits on the boards of Atlantic Central & League Savings & Mortgage corporation as a Director. He Chairs the Cooperative Social responsibility Committee for both companies, and he sits on the executive committee for the parent company (Atlantic Central). These two Atlantic credit union companies have consolidated assets of $1.5 billion. The Atlantic credit union system has in excess of $6 billion dollars in assets. He is currently Chair of the Board of Directors for Leading Edge Credit Union (LECU). LECU is a $150 million financial cooperative providing a full range of financial services to Western NL with 5 branches and a staff of 40. Gary has served on LECU’s Board of Directors for the past fifteen years, serving as Chair for eleven of those years. During his tenure, he has also chaired both the Human Resources & Social Responsibility committees. LECU is a well respected and well managed Credit Union in the Atlantic System, having been recognized by Progress magazine as one of the best places to work in Atlantic Canada for the past 3 years. LECU has recently received the most prestigious Dr. Moses Coady award. This is presented annually to honor the member credit union or caisse populaire that best exemplifies leadership, support, and involvement in its community. Gary is committed to his education and training. Having completed his CUDA training, Gary continues to seek new learning opportunities to enhance his service to the Credit Union system. Gary has also been extremely active in the Chamber of Commerce movement locally, Provincially and at the Atlantic Canada region. He was instrumental in the revitalization of the Port aux Basques and Area Chamber of Commerce some 20 years ago after a significant period of dormancy. In his years with the Port aux Basques and Area Chamber, he served as President for more than eight years. His Chamber involvement also saw him serving on the boards for the Newfoundland and Labrador Chambers of Commerce and the Atlantic Provinces Chambers of Commerce. Gary received several awards of recognition for his dedication to the chamber movement both provincially and within Atlantic Canada. The most prestigious of these was the “Harvey Webber Award” presented by the Atlantic Chambers of Commerce in recognition for contributions to his local Chamber and enhancements to the Chamber movement in Atlantic Canada. Gary is an active and respected community leader. He has been engaged with numerous sports organizations in a leadership capacity and has been part of charitable groups such as the Dr. Charles L. Legrow Healthcare Foundation, the Kinsmen Clubs in Western NL, and school councils during the years his children attended secondary school. Gary and his wife Geraldine have owned and operated their business, O’Brien Investments Inc., for some 20+ years. They have two children, Christopher and Michelle. Gary enjoys a number of recreational activities, including golf and curling.
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