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
Jose Luis (Joe) Couto is a veteran public policy and communications professional who brings more than 35 years of proven government relations and communication experience. Joe is currently in his 20th year as Director of Government Relations and Communications for the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police.
Before serving with OACP, he was a Senior Consultant with Enterprise Canada Consultants Inc., one of Ontario’s leading government relations and communications firms, where he developed a thorough expertise in several public policy areas, including municipal affairs, housing, energy, and taxation and fiscal policies.
In addition to his professional work, Joe 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 Faculty at Royal Roads University's School of Communication and Culture, where he was awarded the 2016 Outstanding New Faculty Award.
A native of Brazil, Joe holds a Doctor of Social Sciences degree from Royal Roads University, a Master of Arts in Professional Communications degree also from Royal Roads University and a Bachelor of Journalism degree from Toronto Metropolitan University.
Joe was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contributions to policing and public safety in Canada in 2013 and the Serving With Pride Ally Award in 2016.
Sharon Seepersad, OACP Director, 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.
Larissa Pereira, OACP Communications Coordinator
Larissa Pereira holds a Bachelor of Social Science - Criminal Justice (Honours) and a Diploma in Community and Justice Services (Honours) from Humber College in Toronto. She successfully completed an internship with the OACP in 2017.
She brings with her a wealth of knowledge in research projects both in the domestic and international markets.
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.