CCA Staff
Phone: (403) 250-9242
Fax: (403) 291-9324
General Manager – Neil Gillies
Extension: 127
E-mail: ngillies@charolais.com
Neil Gillies has been the General Manager of the Canadian Charolais Association for 9 years. After moving from England in 1973 Neil worked for the Ontario Cattle Commission before moving to Calgary in 1988 to become the CCA’s breed improvement coordinator. Departing the CCA in 1994 Neil then went on to work as a beef improvement consultant in the Philippines, and returned to the CCA as General Manager in 2001.
A long history with the Breed as both a purebred breeder himself and in his joint experience as breed improvement coordinator and general manager gives Gillies a unique perspective on the role of Charolais cattle in the world beef market. “We have seen some very volatile markets” says Gillies, as he recaps the various challenges that the Canadian purebred and commercial cattle industries have faced in the past decade.
Neil points out that running the Association office under trying times for the producers results in similar administrative challenges to those that the breeders are facing.
Breeders, like association have had to be very economically responsible as our industry has been constantly adjusting to new markets, rules and expectations under tightening margins. BSE for those that were able to adjust to the changing economy forced the Canadian industry to look actively for a more diverse group of markets. Markets with varying quality endpoints, and markets that are looking for beef, and seed-stock as inputs. These new markets are looking for more than the single endpoint that we actively chased throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s. This push for more diverse export market options puts us in a good place as the Canadian Commercial herd moves away from a single market animal to a calf with more growth and yield that retains the quality standard that used to fetch such a premium.
The changing industry and it’s associated economic challenges have driven the management of association business to be extremely efficient. With exceptional in-house software and fiscal care the financial affairs of the association are in hand and the organization is poised to move forward with excitement of the important role that the Charolais Breed fills in the changing Canadian cow-herd.
When asked about his extra curricular activities Neil jumps directly to gardening and an example of how with this years dramatic spring storms he had to essentially re-start his gardens three times. Laughing off the extra work associated with this mess Neil says, “It’s not a big deal, you just look ahead to see what challenges you are likely to face and plan ahead by keeping some extra seed in the greenhouse until you are absolutely sure summer is here.” Neil concluded by noting that, “Summer is definitely here for a few days in September every year or two.”
Manager Registry / DNA – Judy Cummer
Extension: 121
E-mail: jcummer@charolais.com
Judy Cummer started working with the CCA in September 1984, over the past 26 years she has worked her way from reception, to data entry and from there to DNA and blood-typing work. While Judy has seen the association change dramatically over the years her most notable change has come in the form of her favorite part of a routine day. In the early days, “the worst thing was talking on the phone to members. Now, I enjoy that more than anything!” says the long time supervisor of the CCA’s registry department.
Because a growing number of breeders submit their information via the “online” registry, much of Judy’s current work involves trouble-shooting registry questions and concerns.
French Liaison / Adhésion française – Cynthia Beck
Téléphone : 306-436-2007
Fax/télécopieur : 306-436-4553
E-mail/Courriel : CBeck@charolais.com
Registry / Membership – Lois Chivilo
Extension: 123
E-mail: lchivilo@charolais.com
Lois Chivilo moved from Raymore, Saskatchewan in 1998 and soon after began working for the Canadian Gelbvieh Association. She joined the Canadian Charolais Association staff in 2007 and is currently responsible for memberships, data entry as well as customer service. Lois is also currently contracted with the Canadian Maine-Anjou Association.
In her free time Lois enjoys camping, traveling, and watching her son’s hockey games.
