The Prince Edward Island Business Women’s Association (PEIBWA) has announced the appointment of three new members to its board of directors, including Miriam Vializ Briggs, Catherine Callbeck and Cathy Rose.
Margaret Magner, PEIBWA’s executive director, said the organization is delighted to have the three women join the board.
“Their expertise, combined with the experience of PEIBWA’s returning board members, will position our organization well for further growth in the upcoming year,” Magner said. “Their geographic diversity will help us reflect PEIBWA’s Island-wide mandate to support the development of business women across the province.”
The new board members join returning members Nancy Beth Guptill, Heather MacEwen, Cynthia MacLeod, Diane Sankar and Reasha Walsh.
The board executive will consist of Miriam Vializ Briggs as president, Cathy Rose as vice-president, Heather McEwen as treasurer and Cynthia MacLeod as secretary.
Briggs, from Monticello, has held senior global executive positions at IBM and American Express in marketing, financial services and strategic growth. She teaches at UPEI School of Business and has served on the board of directors of Island East Tourism and the Centre for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT.
Callbeck, from Central Bedeque, was premier of P.E.I. from 1993-1996. This post made her the first woman in Canada elected as premier of a province, and she is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of P.E.I. Callbeck served as a member of the Senate from 1997 until her retirement in 2014. She is currently the chancellor of UPEI.
Rose was the first president of PEIBWA’s board of directors and was instrumental in creating a strong foundation for the organization, recruiting 170 members in the first three years. She is a certified HR professional and entrepreneus and was the owner of Creative Esthetics Dental Laboratory for 23 years. Rose recently launched a new consulting business.
Miriam Vializ Briggs (Kings County)
Miriam Vializ Briggs from Monticello, P.E.I., has held senior global executive positions at IBM and American Express in marketing, financial services and strategic growth. In 2006, she was recognized by Hispanic Business magazine as one of the Elite 20 Hispanic women in business. She has delivered her presentation, “Growing Your Personal Brand” to 10,000+ women around the world. She teaches at the UPEI School of Business and is a small business owner. She has served on the board of directors of Island East Tourism and the Centre for Minorities and People with Disabilities in IT. She chaired IBM’s Multicultural Women’s group globally. Briggs is a long-time PEIBWA member. She was a Camp Dynamo speaker in 2018 and is developing a new PEIBWA workshop on marketing. She actively mentors newcomers and business women in P.E.I.
Catherine Callbeck (Prince County)
Catherine Callbeck from Central Bedeque, P.E.I., has had a long and active role in business, politics and charitable and public service groups, and has received many honours for her contributions. She is currently the chancellor of UPEI. She was premier of P.E.I from 1993-1996 (the first woman in Canada elected as premier of a province). She served in the Senate representing P.E.I. from 1997 until her retirement in 2014. She is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of P.E.I. She was a partner in her family’s business, Callbeck’s Limited and Callbeck’s Furniture. Callbeck played an instrumental role in the creation of PEIBWA and has been a strong and proactive supporter ever since. She was the chair of PEIBWA’s 25th Anniversary Gala planning committee in 2018, has frequently lobbied in support of PEIBWA initiatives and has secured funding for the organization. She regularly attends PEIBWA events.
Cathy Rose (Kings/Queens County)
Cathy Rose was the first president of PEIBWA’s board of directors, and was instrumental in creating a strong foundation for the organization, recruiting 170 members in the first three years. She was honoured by the P.E.I. government for her volunteerism related to women, and hosted the prime minister’s task force on women entrepreneurs. Rose was a 2018 PEIBWA symposium speaker and served on the PEIBWA’s 25th Anniversary Gala committee. She is a certified HR professional and an entrepreneur and owned Creative Esthetics Dental Laboratory for 23 years. She recently launched a new consulting business. Rose was an employment services manager for the P.E.I. Council of People with Disabilities and Co-ordinator of Accessibility Services at UPEI. She has an EMBA from UPEI.
