OACP Staff
Meet the Staff that makes it possible
Jeff McGuire, OACP Executive Director
Jeff McGuire started his role as Executive Director with the OACP in 2018. He brings a wealth of knowledge based on his career in policing. Jeff started his career with the Toronto Police Service in 1977. When he left in 2012 to assume his role as Chief of Police for the Niagara Regional Police Service, he was the Acting Deputy Chief of Police, Specialized Operations, overseeing 19 specialized units with over 2,300 employees and a $232 million budget.
Jose Luis (Joe) Couto, OACP Director, Government Relations & Communications
Joe Couto is a veteran public policy and communications professional who brings 31 years of proven experience to meeting the government relations and communication needs of Ontario's police leaders. Joe started his career with the OACP in 2004. Further to Joe's extensive professional work, he is also a Professor (part-time) at the University of Guelph-Humber's Justice Department and Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning's School of Social and Community Services (Criminal Justice) and Associate Faulty at Royal Road University. He is currently completing his Doctorate in Social Sciences.
Sharon Seepersad, OACP Manager, Administration and Member Services
Sharon Seepersad brings more than 20 years of administrative experience to the OACP as an office manager in the private sector. She is a professional and accomplished manager who can be relied on to go the extra mile. Sharon started with the OACP in 2010. It was her stated desire to work in policing as a way to honour her father, who was a well-respected Inspector of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service. Sharon is a graduate of St. Stephen's College, Trinidad and Tobago.
Darron Knebel, Registration and Events Coordinator
Darron Knebel has been a member of the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP) team for over eight years, having started in 2012. Darron is the Registration and Events Coordinator. In this role, he oversees and executes the registration and event needs of the many events that the OACP delivers to its members and the broader policing community. Darron collaborates with all levels of the OACP membership to design, implement, and execute new and innovative training and professional development events to strengthen policing in the province. He is a direct report to Manager of Administration/Member Services. Darron graduated with honours from George Brown College in Special Event Planning and has been putting his knowledge and skills to great use at the OACP.
Melissa Mascarin, Communications Specialist
Melissa Mascarin joined the Ontario Association of Chief of Police (OACP) in 2014 and currently serves as a Communications Specialist. In this role, Melissa is responsible for developing and supporting the OACP’s strategic communications and public policy initiatives.
Before joining the OACP, Melissa spent over 5 years in the nonprofit sector providing organizations with communications, events, and public policy support.
In addition to a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from the University of Guelph, Melissa has completed a Certificate in Public Relations from Mohawk College and has a Certificate in Project Management from the University of Toronto.
Melissa completed media relations training through the Ontario Association of Chief of Police’s intensive Media Relations Officer Course in 2018.
OACP Contract Services
Pat Kealey, Program Development & Brand Manager
As a past member of the federal government and 15 years as the National Manager of Police Programs at Harley-Davidson, Pat is aware of the policy and procedural requirements regarding the public and private partnerships. Pat founded and managed the Harley-Davidson Motor Officer Training program in partnership with the Ontario Police College. As an OACP, CACP, IACP vendor, sponsor and member, he has gained a unique perspective regarding the goals of these organizations as well as the ROI and deliverable requirements of private partners. He has established an extensive network of contacts in the private and public sector.
Janice Fendley, Corporate Event Manager
Janice is a skilled and practiced meeting planner with thirty-five years of experience in meeting, conference, special events, and trade show management. She is known for her confidence, comfort and expertise in event planning and management. Janice attended the University of Toronto majoring in Psychology. She earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation in 2004 and was recertified in 2009 and 2014. She has served on the Board of Directors for Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and was nominated for MPI's prestigious ‘Planner of the Year' award. She is a member of the Canadian Society of Professional Event Planners Association (CanSPEP) and is the Youth League Convenor at the Oakville Curling Club. Janice joined the OACP in 2009 as their Corporate Event Manager. While her main focus is organizing the Annual Conference, she also assists with the planning of OACP Committee events. The j. fendley consulting team of Janice and Kelly provide the resources, expertise, talent and commitment to provide the OACP with quality solutions for all their events.
Kelly Burns, B.A., Conference Coordinator
Kelly has been in the meeting planning business for eight years. In this short time, she has quickly shown that she is a born natural for planning conferences and events. She quickly wins over her clients with her ‘go-to' attitude and genuine desire to connect with people. She is truly a people person. Give Kelly a task and she stays with it until it's done. Kelly's twenty-one years in the hospitality industry, along with her Honours Degree in General Studies and 2 Year Diploma in Early Childhood Education from Sheridan College; helped her hone three critical event management skills: the ability to work well under pressure, the ability to work as a member of a team, and a terrific attention to details. Kelly joined the OACP in 2013 as their Conference Coordinator. Her main focus is organizing the Annual Conference and assisting with the planning of OACP committee events. Kelly alongside Janice from the j. fendley consulting team provide the resource, expertise, talent and commitment to provide the OACP with quality solutions for all their events.