The Holland College Board of Governors is pleased to announce the appointment of a new chair and vice chair.  Kent Scales is taking over from Kathy O’Rourke as chair of the board, and Michael O’Brien moves into the seat of vice chair and chair of the finance committee.

Mr. Scales brings a wide variety of talents to the position.  He joined the Holland College Board of Governors in May of 2010, and for the past year served as vice chair of the board and chair of the finance committee. He obtained his BBA from the University of PEI, and is the CEO of Scales Group of Companies, which includes ServiceMaster of PEI, Robin’s Donuts and Landfest.  He is also a board member and shareholder of ViTRAK Systems Inc. and Advantage Communications, and volunteers for a number of charitable causes such as the Canadian Red Cross and the Children’s Wish Foundation. From 2004 to 2007, Mr. Scales served as deputy minister of Tourism, and was CEO of PEI Business Development from 2000 to 2004.  In October of last year, he was named the Charlottetown Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year.

Mr. O’Brien has been an active member of the Finance Committee and Board of Governors since March 2013. He obtained his Bachelor of Commerce degree from St. Dunstan’s University and received his fellowship designation with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Prince Edward Island.  He is a member and past president of the PEI Institute of Chartered Accountants, a board member of JKN Inc., Chairman of the audit committee for Solarvest Bioenergy Corp., and a member of Friends of UPEI Hockey. Mr. O’Brien served as deputy minister of the Department of Development and Technology, provincial deputy treasurer, managing partner with Coopers and Lybrand, Chartered Accountants, general practice partner with RD Manning & Co, and senior business advisor with McInnes Cooper, Barristers & Solicitors.  Mr. O’Brien’s long record of community work includes serving in leadership roles for many organizations, boards and committees including the United Way of Prince Edward Island, Sport PEI, the 1991 Canada Winter Games, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation, the Indemnity and Allowance Commission, the Bank of Canada, the Atlantic Lottery Corporation, and the PEI Energy Commission.

Holland College president Dr. Brian McMillan thanked Kathy O’Rourke for her exemplary leadership as outgoing chair of the college’s board of governors.

“We are grateful for her years of service, and pleased that she will remain on the board until her term ends in 2016. I am confident that under the guidance of Mr. Scales and Mr. O’Brien, the college will continue to thrive and maintain its relevance and significance to the Island community”, he said.

In this picture: Holland College Board of Governors vice chair Michael O’Brien, left, and incoming chair Kent Scales.