Scott Smith
Scott is a lawyer by training, utilizing his management and legal skills in the public and private sector for over 30 years. He graduated “with distinction” from the University of Toronto, with a B.A. in political science and history, then moved on to Queen’s University where he obtained his LL.B. in 1986. After his call to the Ontario Bar in 1988, he continued his education and excelled in numerous Human Resource courses at McMaster University in Hamilton.
Scott spent 17 years as In-house Counsel and General Counsel with companies in both Toronto and Hamilton prior to launching his management consultancy in 2004. He has been retained on a variety of major projects of national significance in the transportation and tourism sectors, and more recently in a review of the effectiveness of proposed changes to federal legislation. Scott focuses on working with senior management and owners of small to medium-sized enterprises on special projects with an emphasis on workforce issues including workplace investigations, team building, training, and employee engagement, workforce strategy and operations.
In addition to human resource issues, Scott frequently consults in an advisory capacity on both short and longer term basis to assist with business development, marketing, government relations, land development, and corporate governance challenges. He is a coach, mentor, strategic thought-partner and “sounding board” to senior executives and business owners alike. Scott is a “go-to” networker and connector in the Hamilton-Burlington business communities specializing in land development, legal services, transportation, financial services and banking, and municipal government and institutions.
Scott is a long-time resident of the Greater Hamilton area and a proud early investor in Hamilton’s resurgent downtown community as co-owner of The Studios at Hotel Hamilton, home to the landmark “Mulberry Coffeehouse.”
Kathrine Lemmon
Kathrine has over 22 years experience as a lawyer working primarily in the corporate and commercial field. During her career she has advised corporations both large and small, public institutions, professional practices and municipalities on a host of legal issues.
Her most recent legal position was as General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and VP Legal for a large, publicly traded organization conducting business internationally. There she was involved in the investigation of sensitive matters including suspected financial wrongdoing, fraud, and harassment, working with internal departments in operations and human resources, and with external advisors and independent investigators as circumstances required. She also served as first point of contact under the internal whistleblower system and was responsible for seeing to the proper investigation and timely disposition of reported incidents. Consequently, Kathrine has a full appreciation of the impact and importance of suspected policy and legal violations in the workplace and the need for expert assistance that is sensitive to the organization’s needs while providing solid and concise independent reports that withstand scrutiny.
Kathrine is an experienced facilitator and holds a certificate in Arbitration and Mediation. She also has an established practice in the area of personal wellness and has provided both groups and individuals with coaching and training in meditation, stress reduction and personal development. This naturally informs her work as a corporate trainer and workplace investigator.
Blaise Doherty
Blaise recently retired as a Senior Detective after 34 years with the Peel Regional Police. He is a highly trained and experienced interviewer, specializing in sexual assault and corporate fraud. He is a certified Forensic Polygraph Examiner adept at combining the technical skills of the use of the polygraph instrument with behavioural and linguistic responses, the “tells”, necessary to determine the truthfulness or deception of a statement. He has extensive experience testifying in court respecting his investigations and conclusions.
Blaise has been engaged by the Province of Ontario Special Investigations Unit (SIU) and undertaken highly sensitive internal investigations for the Peel Chief of Police. He is a recognized authority and trains police and members of other private, provincial and national investigative agencies on interviewing techniques. He is currently engaged on an ongoing basis by a national investigative body for his polygraph and interviewing expertise.
Blaise focuses on workplace harassment and assaults, and corporate investigations including theft, fraud, vandalism and fiduciary matters (confidentiality and intellectual property). He also conducts training seminars for HR professionals on the intricacies of interviewing techniques respecting sensitive and senior positions; introduction to interviewing and rapport building; and interviewing techniques .