MineConnect
Board of Directors
President
Jeff Portelance
VP, Business Development: Metals & Mining, BrandSafway
Greater Sudbury District
Jeff Portelance is a business development and sales professional with more than 30 years of experience in the mining and industrial sectors. He has served on the MineConnect Board since 2022, contributing strategic insight and industry expertise to support the organization’s mission.
Jeff has held senior leadership roles, including Senior Manager of Corporate Development at Civiltek Limited and Director at The Walden Group. He is also the past Chair of the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, where he helped advance community economic development and regional growth.
A graduate of Laurentian University with an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree in Sports Administration and Marketing, Jeff brings strong business acumen and a results-driven approach to his work. He remains committed to strengthening Ontario’s mining supply and services sector through collaboration and leadership.
Vice President
Steve Tarchuk
CEO - NORPRO Security Ltd.
Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma District
Steve is the CEO of NORPRO Security. He brings 17 years of operations management in the steel industry in hot metal movement, blast furnace iron making, and sales along with expertise in above-ground mining operations technology application.
He is proud to join MineConnect’s Board of Directors so that he may utilize his business experience to help advance Northern Ontario businesses.
In his off time, Steve enjoys serving as a downhill ski coach for the Searchmont Ski Runners.
Treasurer
Mike Harris
Manager of Business Development - Green Infrastructure Partners
Greater Toronto District
Mike is an operations-based business development executive and construction leader with more than 15 years of senior management experience. He has held leadership roles from frontline operations to President and General Manager, bringing hands-on knowledge and strategic perspective to every organization he serves.
Mike’s experience spans major infrastructure initiatives, including some of Ontario’s largest heavy civil transportation expansions, as well as mining & energy projects across Canada. He excels at designing and leading strong operational systems that consistently deliver results on time and within budget. His strengths lie in managing complex workflows, driving organizational growth, and instilling accountability at every level.
Relationship-building is central to Mike’s leadership approach. He believes trust is the foundation of successful organizations and is committed to fostering strong partnerships with employees, clients, contractors, and suppliers. Throughout his career, he has helped teams achieve exceptional results through collaboration and shared purpose.
Driven, adaptable, and forward-looking, Mike embraces new challenges and continuous improvement. As a board member, he brings a practical, results-focused mindset and a strong commitment to shaping the future of the industry.
Past President
Bruno Lalonde
President & CEO - NSS Canada
Greater Sudbury District
As President of NSS Canada, Bruno Lalonde has led the planning and execution of corporate development and business transformation efforts in establishing NSS Canada as a market leader, furthering the company’s forward thinking innovative products and services focusing on efficiency and accuracy in the industry.
Bruno has a background working with various companies in the mining industry and has a degree in business, the combination of which gives him the experience and communication skills that help him to work with clients of any department. His ability to communicate comfortably in the language of sales, marketing, operations, finance, technology and product knowledge has contributed to his current success. His experience in the mining industry and as an industry professional has built the trust of clients by being able to deliver on all platforms.
Bruno credits his success to having had the opportunity to have been mentored by great industry executives. He has always had a strong passion for technology in the mining industry and believes that utilizing technology as a backbone will achieve smart change in the mining industry.
Director
Steve Black
Director, Business Development, Marketing & Community Relations - Dumas Contracting Ltd.
Timmins-Cochrane District
Steve was born and raised in Oshawa, Ontario. He moved to Kingston to study Mining Engineering at Queen’s University, which led him to Timmins in 2004. He worked in various engineering roles at Kidd Operations and as an estimator for Dumas Contracting Ltd in the early years of his career.
Steve has a passion for politics and served as a City Councillor from 2010 to 2014 and then went on to serve as Mayor of Timmins from 2014 to 2018, becoming the youngest mayor in the history of Timmins at the age of 32. He rejoined city council in 2022 where he continues to serve as a City Councillor for Ward 5 in Timmins.
Steve returned to Kidd Operations in 2019 as the Manager for the Kidd Mine 5 Exploration project leading that project through a successful concept study and into the feasibility stage. In late 2021 Steve assumed the role of Closure Lead at Kidd Operations taking over stakeholder relations, community investment programs and preparation for the potential mine closure with a focus on the socio-economic aspects of closure.
In the spring of 2022 Steve returned to Dumas Contracting Ltd where he continues to work as Director of Business Development, Marketing & Community Relations.
Director
Alain Forget
Business Development - Wabi Iron & Steel Corp.
Nipissing-Temiskaming District
Alain Forget earned bachelor’s degrees in International Business, Marketing & Management from Northwood University.
He has been in sales for 20+ years, working in various industries along the way, and jumping over to mining & drilling in 2012. Since then, Al has spent his time visiting customers and attending industry events across the country. Over the course of his travels, he has fostered strong relationships with a multitude of industry professionals, using a customer-service-first approach.
Al was born and raised in Northern Ontario, and that’s where his interests still lie. Aside from enjoying the outdoors when possible, he also assists the local committee responsible for the South Centennial Manor Redevelopment in his home town.
Director
Renier Koekemoer
Technical Sales Manager, Underground Drilling - Komatsu
Greater Sudbury District
Renier began his mining career in 2001 working in the platinum mines of South Africa. In 2006 Renier moved to Australia where he continued working in mining across multiple sectors predominantly in maintenance and emergency response. Renier Joined the OE business in 2016 and has had various roles across 2 continents in supply of Mining equipment and tailoring these to suits individual customers requirements. Renier’s passion for building long term relationships with mining customers as well as striving to develop solutions for the challenges found globally in the mining sector is fundamental in his role as the Product Manager for Komatsu’s new underground division with specific focus in drilling across all disciplines.
In his off time he has a passion for the outdoors and family with a high potential of finding him and his family on a lake, a golf course or a hiking trail through out summer. Outside of work he is dedicated to build a more positive social image around the mining sector in general and is continuing to work with various organizations and governments to support this specifically in attracting youth to the mining sectors.
Director
Michael MacMillan
Partner and Managing Director (Canada) - PRA Communications
Greater Toronto District
Michael MacMillan is a leading voice in mining communications. Helping the world’s top resource companies turn complex challenges into powerful stories that inspire trust and action, Michael brings a rare blend of strategic clarity, industry insight, and communications expertise to every stage he takes.
As Managing Director of PRA Communications, the world’s largest mining-focused strategic communications agency, Michael has helped the sector’s leading companies navigate complex challenges, strengthen reputation, and communicate with clarity in a changing world.
Whether it’s guiding leaders through crises, translating technical strategy into compelling narrative, or inspiring teams to communicate with greater purpose, Michael’s talks challenge audiences to think differently about the role of communication in modern mining.
Director
Kati McCartney
Chief Operating Officer - Blue Heron Environmental Services
Greater Sudbury District
Kati McCartney, Chief Operating Officer, joined Blue Heron in February 2025 and brings more than 16 years of experience in leadership, strategic management, environmental compliance, policy implementation and developing sustainability programs.
Kati has a breadth of experience in various sectors and settings, including mining, heavy industry, analytical laboratories, energy distribution, across public and private sectors. She has experience in overseeing multi-million-dollar environmental monitoring and compliance programs, evaluating and implementing energy-efficient upgrades, developing business strategy and change management, auditing quality management systems and the development of corporate disclosures such as product declarations and CSR/ESG reports.
Director
Chris Perusse
President - CSL Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd.
Thunder Bay-Northwest District
Chris holds a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in Geology from Lakehead University and is a long-time member of the Professional Geoscientist of Ontario (PGO) holding the P.Geo designation. Co-Founder and President of CSL Environmental & Geotechnical Ltd.
Chris has worked for over +20 years in the environmental and geological universe, solving problems with innovative solutions, serving many industries and became a specialist in all aspects of mine development; from early stage/greenfield exploration, operating and tailing management, to mine closure. Chris has developed lasting relationships with Industry professionals, Government regulators and Indigenous leaders. Chris brings a wealth of mining and environmental knowledge to the team and is a proven leader in the industry.
Outside of the business, Mr. Perusse has an absolute passion for philanthropy ensuring CSL gives back to the communities we call home. Charitable contributions are at the core of CSL values including numerous minor hockey players, Children’s Aid Society, Lakehead Breakfast Club and Chapter One as well numerous collaborations with major industry partners.
Director
Randi Ray
Founder, Aazhoganike Group of Companies: Miikana Consulting, Noojimo Health
Greater Sudbury District
Flying Post First Nation (near Timmins), raised in Red Rock, (near Thunder Bay) & now humbly lives in Robinson Huron Treaty Territory in N'Swakamok (Greater Sudbury).
Randi Ray, PhD, is a proud Anishinaabe Kwe from Flying Post First Nation and founder of the Aazhoganike Group of Companies, including Miikana Consulting, Noojimo Health (Canada’s first and largest Indigenous-owned and operated Virtual Mental Health Clinic). Randi is passionate and committed to working with leaders to bridge the social and economic gaps across all sectors for Indigenous people. The companies she leads use their 100+ years of experience at the intersection of First Nations communities, governments, and industry to effectively support their partners in achieving their goals in a mutually beneficial way. Randi has experience, both academically and professionally, in the private and public sectors as a professor, senior advisor, provincial lead, strategist, researcher, and learner. Randi humbly works to ensure that the people around her reach their version of mino-biimaadiziwin (the good life) and does her best to stay grounded in her culture and teachings through her connection to shkagamik-kwe (mother earth).
Most importantly, Randi is a parent and a wife, and she is grateful to be surrounded by an inspiring, kind, and humble family, friends, colleagues, and clients daily, which helps her maintain her balance. Randi spends her fall & winter coaching elite girls' hockey or skiing, and her spring & summer keeping active through golf and baseball, spending every minute she can outdoors hiking, fishing or hunting. Randi also serves as the Competitive Director for the Sudbury Lady Wolves Program and as a board member of Outside Looking In (a not-for-profit that empowers Indigenous youth).
