Uplifting Today’s Youth with Club Software
Our big uplifting dream?
To help elevate the confidence and capabilities of young people around the world.
(We hope you’ll join us!)
Uplifter was founded in 2013 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada. However, our club management software was first built in 2011 as a favour to one of our kids’ figure skating clubs. After building and testing our club software solution, we began to see the positive effects ripple through the organization. That stoked a fire in us. We wanted to produce the best possible club management software so that more clubs, associations and schools could free up their administrative time and focus on doing what they do best; providing an enriching experience for youth. To this day that same passion for supporting youth-based organizations continues to guide the technologies we build and the way we run our company.
Introducing Team Uplifter
Small but mighty (and we’re not just talking about our co-founder, Jackie)
Jackie Kwan
Co-founder, CEO
Jackie is the visionary behind Uplifter. In 2011, she had a desire to help her daughter’s Skate Canada club improve their registration and management. So, she harnessed her years of experience as a software developer and business consultant to code the Uplifter platform. Today, that platform supports hundreds of clubs and associations around the world.
Prior to co-founding Uplifter, national and multi-national businesses relied upon Jackie’s technology guidance to steer their businesses. Now, she’s using her knowledge and expertise to help improve the clubs, schools and associations that use Uplifter. Around the office, Jackie is a hands-on CEO who’s involved in every facet of the business. Whether she’s writing code, answering customer services queries or baking cupcakes for the office (seriously), she never ceases to inspire clients and employees alike. Above all else, Jackie is passionate about helping her daughters pursue their passions. It’s this enthusiasm that drives Uplifter to help elevate the confidence and capabilities of today’s youth.
Andrew Primeau
Chief Software Architect
As chief software architect of the Uplifter system, Andrew is a programming wunderkind who makes all things possible. And he comes by it naturally. Andrew began “playing” with computer code when he was only 5 years old. By the age of sixteen, Andrew had completed college-level courses in Java and was working professionally as a programmer and web developer for AmericanTram.com. After completing a Comp Sci degree at Waterloo University, Andrew re-entered the workforce and soon after joined Uplifter’s sister company, Pause, as a junior programmer. He quickly established himself as a creative, solution-oriented developer and has risen to become the primary architect of Uplifter’s inner magic.
Genevieve Tan
Lead Designer & UX Expert
Genevieve created the look and feel of Uplifter, utilizing a wealth of experience designing and illustrating for clients such as Mattel, Dr. Oetker, Harry Rosen, and more. Her keen eye as a Graphic & Web Designer, Illustrator and User Experience Expert, has given Uplifter its beautiful and fun appeal from day one. She's credited for creating the Uplifter characters including Hero, our adorable Avatar, and if you frequent a comic convention in the Greater Toronto Area, you may just find her selling her amazing panda infused art work.
Barry Finch
Chief Infrastructure Architect
Barry is the head of IT here at Uplifter. His 25 years of experience predates the launch of Google, which means he’s trained in the art of solving IT problems without Googling the answers. Barry has been taking care of all things tech since Uplifter was founded in 2013. He’s also an avid collector and resident expert on vinyl records, comic books and manga.
Garret Trodd
Senior Product Expert
With an established track-record of success in Customer Service, Garret was an early addition to the Uplifter team. As Senior Product Expert at Uplifter, it’s his goal to help club administrators get their sites up and running and elevate their clubs with continued support. When he’s not at the office, Garret likes to flex his impressive gaming skills and occasionally watches Cycling, Squash and Chess Boxing.
Assil Hajj
Office Manager
Assil puts the “lift” in Uplifter. Our versatile Office Manager is also a weight lifter and weight lifting enthusiast. Previous to joining the team, Assil worked as an Office Manager for a school network with over 70,000 students worldwide. When it comes to accounts receivable, accounts payable, and all the details that make our office run smoothly, we trust Assil to do the heavy lifting.
Sandra Oyarzun
Client Solutions Manager
Sandra worked in numerous Tier-1 companies such as Parmalat, Cadbury and the Business Development Bank of Canada, before moving to Panama where she and her husband founded a children’s soccer school. The school grew from 5 to 100 athletes within the first year, and doubled in size again, only a few years later. Needless to say, Sandra knows exactly what it takes to build a soccer school from the ground up while engaging and supporting all stakeholders. Now back in Canada, Sandra is our energetic Client Solutions Manager, who comes to Uplifter with strong knowledge and experience working in youth sports management.
Michelle Claveau
Client Relationship Manager
Michelle has been dedicated to elevating the confidence and capabilities of today’s youth for more than 15 years. Joining Uplifter after a career in childcare where she supported the growth of young learners, Michelle is now Uplifter’s passionate Client Relationship Manager. In her day-to-day work, Michelle calls upon her 8 years serving on the board at Streetsville Meadowvale Figure Skating Club where she handled registration and club management in Vice President and Presidential roles. Outside the office, Michelle can be found cooking, reading and enjoying family time.
Luis Navarrete Niera
Developer
Luis is a history and culture buff, who joined Uplifter as a software developer after spending several years developing applications in the advertising industry. Outside of development, he likes to stay active on the track and at the soccer pitch. He also keeps his creative brain sharp with his love for music and playing guitar.
Keegan Tremblay
Digital Marketer
Keegan brings eight years of digital marketing experience working as a Marketing Manager and Marketing Consultant to numerous North American Colleges, Universities, and private sector companies. He’s a dedicated Toronto Maple Leafs fan who grew up playing hockey and spending time in his family’s Gymnastics club where he practiced gymnastics from a young age, and later worked as an Assistant Coach.
Hugues Caron
Expert de Produits
Hugues s’est joint à Uplifter après une décennie passé à assurer le succès des utilisateurs dans l’industries des logiciels d’ingénierie. En tant qu’expert de produit bilingue, il se spécialise dans le soutien technique et la réussite des clients francophones. Lorsqu’il ne travaille pas, Hugues est un « Skate Dad » dévoué, s’impliquant au près du Club de patinage artistique de ses quatre enfants et les accompagnants dans leurs activités de patinages. Dans ses temps libres, il aime aussi regarder de la danse sur glace, du patinage synchronisé, des parties de la NFL et les Canadiens de Montréal.
Marc Fontilla
Product & Onboarding Specialist
Marc is a consummate problem solver. Whether he’s helping an athlete develop their mental strength and game strategy as a passionate tennis coach, or helping a client streamline their registration with Uplifter, Marc knows how to find the best way forward. With vast experience as a club administrator and coach, Marc knows what it takes to run everything from provincial tournaments to basic training sessions. At Uplifter, Marc blends his software development background and sports administration experience to find the best solutions for our clients.
Rob Paan
Product EXPERT
Rob is a hockey and baseball fanatic with a long history of providing customer service excellence. As a product expert, he leverages his knowledge of Uplifter and his past experience in IT to help support our clubs and their administrators. When he’s not at the office helping administrators achieve their goals, Rob can be found gaming or training for his next half marathon.
Bryce Thomas
Co-Founder, Advisor
Bryce is a 20-year veteran in the marketing, advertising, branding and corporate communications industries, with a specialty in devising solutions that converge technology with human behaviour. Since those early days of the Internet, Bryce has become a highly sought-after branding and marketing expert, award-winning creative director, and seasoned writer for a diverse range of Fortune 500 companies.
For Uplifter, Bryce is a constant guiding force in who we are and who we are trying to become. He also gets the credit for coming up with our name and corporate logo.
