2024-2025 CAPS Board of Directors – Candidate Bios

Denis Boudreau (CAPS Quebec)

Who Am I

I’ve been a member of the Quebec Chapter for a little over 6.5 years. Originally recruited by Suzannah Baum, I volunteered into a leadership role a few short months after joining, because that’s the only way that I know how to get involved. I’ve since then spent the last 6 years serving as Communications Chair, Chapter President, and Past-President of our Chapter, while also helping as Marketing and DEI Director at the National level. Volunteering is in my blood, and it’s my way to give back, for CAPS has given me so much in the time that I’ve been a professional member. For those of you who know me, you know that I stand for values like inclusion, empathy, pragmatism, empowerment, growth, and impact. All of these values I got to embody in the time I spent serving our members and our wonderful association. As someone who’s very passionate about creating inclusive spaces, I believe we still have a lot to do to live up to our pillar of Belonging, and I want to keep helping with that.

Why am I running for the CAPS National Board of Directors?

I am seeking a second term on the National Board because my work isn’t yet done. Nathalie Plamondon-Thomas and I have been hard at work, spending countless hours reimagining how marketing and communication are handled at the National level, and we are in the process of drafting a 2-3 year strategic plan that will establish CAPS as not only the place to be for professional speakers, but also the place where speakers can unlock limitless possibilities. Between the work with marketing, the digital strategy, the redesign of our new website, CAPS Academy 2.0, the French initiative to recognize our francophone friends, and the DEI framework that I’m about to launch and introduce to our association, there’s so much that needs to be done still, and so little time. I have a lot more to offer, and therefore, I am appealing for your trust and support, as I seek to extend my service for another two years. That’ in a nutshell, is why I’m running for a second term.

What qualifies me to be a CAPS Board Member

I’m a visionary and a strategic thinker, and I bring these qualities in everything that I do. I’ve co-founded and led many non-profit organizations in the last 20+ years, and served on various boards of directors, mostly in the areas of ICT, accessibility, and inclusion. Volunteering is in my blood and leading is how I like to get involved! These experiences have prepared me to be a valuable contributor to our National Board, something I’ve demonstrated successfully these past two years, playing key roles in communication, marketing, technology, etc. One of the most important thing that I learned since joining CAPS is that most professional speakers are not as inclusive as they think they are (I even wrote a book about that!), and through our upcoming DEI framework, I want to contribute to elevating our collective game, so our messages can truly connect with more people, more meaningfully. All of this, and more, I offer to keep bringing to the table, if only you’ll have me!

CAPS- Challenges and Opportunities

CAPS is at a crossroads. The Meetings industry of 2023 is NOT the same as it was in 2018 when we revisited our qualification criteria. Since then, our membership has been experiencing attrition. The writing is on the wall. Our membership is ageing, members are leaving CAPS every year, and the new members we attract don’t make up for those we lose. We struggle with attracting younger members who don’t see the value of CAPS… when they even know about us at all! Part of the solution is to take a clear position on initiatives like DEI, because talking about whether we should have a DEI initiative for Gen Z is like asking Gen X whether we should have email. If we’re to reverse the trend, we must enable aspiring speakers to qualify for a membership, and take a position on values like diversity and inclusion. By investing the way we do in DEI and the CAPS Academy tracks, we’re building solutions to address the biggest challenges we’ll be facing in the near future. I can bring about some of the leadership Beverly (Beuermann-King) and Mark (Black) will need to weather that upcoming storm in 2024 and 2025.

Watch a video message from Denis:

Cate Collins (CAPS Toronto)

Who Am I

I am an international resilient leadership speaker and coach. I help leaders and their teams be more engaged, resilient and healthier. I was handpicked to train with Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup for the Soul and The Success Principles’s author. I have an extensive counselling background and was an executive director of an organization. My successful speaking business of 22 years has gifted me travel opportunities, meeting amazing people, experiences and most importantly the opportunity to make a difference with the amazing leaders I serve.

I am committed to supporting women’s issues. I raised over $13,000 to bring shelter workers to Arizona for a burn out recovery retreat that included therapeutic horses. I am author of various resources and most recently my book, The Powerhouse in you: How to lead with greater resilience, courage and confidence. I am passionate about health and wellness.

We have 2 grandkids that make our hearts sing and remind us the importance of belly laughing.

Why am I running for the CAPS National Board of Directors?

It is time for me to serve again and give back what has freely been given to me.
I am beyond grateful for the collaboration, community and kindness that continues to be just some of our strengths within CAPS. My speaking business has stood the test of time and been successful largely because of it.

I continue to be a champion and promoter of CAPS as I travel and work internationally. I have inspired many speakers to become members. As Warren Evans( one of our founders) said to me when I was inquiring about a program’s credibility, “The answer to this call Cate is worth your membership fee.” And Warren you were so right. He saved me a ton of money and time. I want to remind members of the power of asking for help and guidance because it has been a game changer for my business.

I am passionate and strongly believe in the impact we make in the world. I want to make a difference at our national level by sharing my talents and engagement expertise to bring in more members and to help maximize all the benefits for our current membership. I believe my skills and experience serving the Toronto chapter board, our Ethic’s Committee, and many other volunteer roles has prepared me to serve at the National board level.

What qualifies me to be a CAPS Board Member

I am a passionate and proud CAPS member for over 16 1/2 years.

I was honoured to serve on the Toronto chapter board for 4 years as both the sponsor engagement director and volunteer engagement director with great success. I served on the National Ethics Committee for over 2 1/2 years. I have volunteered in various capacities; room monitors, greeters, and panels on the main stage at convention and am happy to contribute.

I have a successful speaking business for 22 years thanks to my powerhouse team and the support, wisdom and talent and collaboration of many CAPS members. Many of those members are my friends today.
My resilient leadership speaking and coaching business allows my strategic thought leader to shine along with my action oriented, hard working and passion for personal and professional growth. I am a big team player and value collaboration. I am a lifer with CAPS.

CAPS- Challenges and Opportunities

Attracting new members.
Engaging existing members.
Engaging younger members who may not see the value yet in belonging to associations.

Watch a video message from Cate:

Roxanne Derhodge (CAPS Toronto)

Who Am I

At age two, I remembered there being a lot of love around me. I was born in the tiny village of Diamond, on the south end of Trinidad and Tobago. I was surrounded by an extended family full of live. That perfect illusion was shattered when I felt the tension between my parents at my young age. They had 6 kids by the time my mom was 29 and my dad just 34.

I went to a Primary school called Grant School where I excelled. I made a lot of friends, but I always wished that things could be better at home and remember envying the kids that had quiet homes but never think about living without my parents. Once, my Uncle and Aunt in Texas who had no children wanted to adopt me, but my parents loved all 6 of us but could not get their act together. At this young age of 9 or so I realized that I wanted to connect to others and have peace of mind. My Great Grandmother lived in a little house behind ours and I would often spend hours with her, and I assume I could get lost in the peace with her.

Why am I running for the CAPS National Board of Directors?

I am running as I feel like I can share my expertise in mental Health and wellness as well as my diverse background as a Caribbean Female Executive to enhance the Board and its memberships understanding of diversity of thought along with mental mental being in the speaking world.

What qualifies me to be a CAPS Board Member

I have been the chair of several Non Profit Boards along with being the Membership chair at Caps Toronto chapter. As an executive I sat on several boards across Canada as part of my role.

CAPS- Challenges and Opportunities

The challenges that I experienced when first becoming a member was getting other members to understand my career prior to becoming a professional speaker. I think I can share the impact of my early membership and how the Board can create a better onboarding strategy for members that are starting a second career in speaking..

Watch a video message from Roxanne:

Leslee Montgomery (CAPS BC)

Who Am I

I am Leslee is Awesome a professional listener and mental wellness strategist who fell in love with the construction industry over 15 years ago. I didn’t realize when I bought my first pair of steel-toed boots for the job that I had actually found my career. Passionate about helping I found myself listening, a vital component of communication often overlooked in the trades. Building on my education I became a Professional Counsellor and I have made it my mission to eradicate suicide in the trades with your help, we can get there.
As a progressive leader, I help people and organizations navigate the uncomfortable feelings that come with mental health in the workplace. The reality is mental health presents challenges that are often overshadowed by perception and projection, but with the right guidance, support and resources many people can overcome those challenges. This is where I shine.

Why am I running for the CAPS National Board of Directors?

Imagine yourself in a 1970 Pontiac Laurentian riding around with your hero as he talks to his tape recorder. You watch him work his thoughts out and perfect his craft. On occasion, you are able to catch him live and something inside you starts a tiny flame. You are very young when you get introduced to speaking, you attend meetings that teach you how to craft your message and the flame grows. Over your career you work on your craft in real time being eaten alive by your audience because of your choice of words; you make your notes and try again.

Now imagine yourself knocking on the door of opportunity and hearing knocking from the other side. Speaking professionally is something that has driven me to succeed my whole life. Being a part of an organization that is devoted to helping people who speak is a natural fit for me.

This is why I am running to sit on the National BoD for the Canadian Association of Speakers.

What qualifies me to be a CAPS Board Member

With zero Board experience, you may be thinking I am not the right fit. What I do have is over 30 years people experience with 20 of those years working in high-hazard industries. Through a deep desire to stay in the trades, I have developed impeccable communication skills by unconditionally listening to the needs of others. The many committees I have sat on have prepared me for the fact that not all meetings go according to plan and that everyone needs a safe place to be heard. The responsibility entrusted to me as a leader when I sit on committees that are designed to give people a voice by addressing their concerns while at the same time as moving the needle forward is something I take great pride in.

CAPS- Challenges and Opportunities

I believe there is an opportunity for the CAPS organization to be the industry leader and early adaptor when it comes to the next level of peer support. As professional speakers selling our vulnerability leaves us in a state that taps into our fight or flight producing burnout and a lack of self-compassion. The reality is we haven’t begun to understand the damage done by how COVID was handled let alone heal. Now is a perfect opportunity to lean in and show the professional speaking world as an organization we are here for not just our clients but each other.

Watch a video message from Leslee: