Bernie Cook
President
Bernie has been a photography enthusiast since 1974, when he received his first SLR camera. Over the years, he has gained experience in outdoor and landscape photography, which he has successfully combined with his love of the outdoors, including pursuits such as mountain biking, hiking, alpine touring, snow shoeing, and backpacking. Most at home in the mountains of the Canadian Rockies, Bernie loves to travel, and has been fortunate enough to use these opportunities to photograph on several continents.
Bill Smith
Co-Founder and Past President
Long time Oakville resident Bill Smith is a life long photography enthusiast and co-founder of the Oakville Camera Club with Kieley Hickey.
When not taking pictures, Bill is a marketing communications consultant, digital strategist, blogger, writer, sometime traveler and jazz fan.
Lesley Taylor
Treasurer
Lesley has always appreciated photography and decided to get serious about it when she got her first DSLR in 2013. After taking some photography courses at Sheridan, she joined OCC in 2014 to meet other photographers and be in an environment that promotes continuous improvement and fun! While still a beginner, Lesley has already learned a lot and sees positives changes in her pictures. Retired after a long career with Shell Canada, Lesley loves to travel and take pictures of the places she visits. She loves capturing street scenes and people.
Monica Dingle
Secretary to OCC Board
Monica joined OCC in 2015, and has been an active member of the Capture Oakville Planning Committee, and an event volunteer. Monica enjoys photographing flora & fauna in the natural areas throughout the GTA.
“I joined the club to meet friendly local photographers and to be inspired by the club programming and expertise of the members. The Club challenges and contests provide opportunities for skill improvement and growth”
Jared Fein
Challenges Director
Photography has become more than just a hobby for me. I look at it as a passion which allows me to combine my strong technical, scientific and environmental skills and interests while opening up a creative side of me that has always been hidden away in my work life. While my photography interests are broad, my focus is in landscape, nature and wildlife, and travel photography. I bring to the Challenges position strong technical, analytical, communications, leadership and computer skills and enthusiasm to share what I have learned in photography with others.
Rafal Kiermacz
Website Administrator
For Rafal, Photography is a passion a job and a hobby. It inspires him to discover and to learn. Rafal is a web developer by day and a photographer the rest of the time. Rafal graduated from the Sheridan College Digital Photography Certificate program.
Wojtek Zlobicki
Director of Programming
I have been active in OCC since 2010. I got my first Digital SLR in 2005 and have been a loyal Canon shooter since then. In my time with the club I have had the opportunity to interact with many of our members and ambassadors. I have enjoyed mentoring many members within the club and enjoy answering questions, and technical exchanges. During my few years with the club I have had my images win both club challenges and had images place in Capture Oakville. I enjoy both landscape and portrait photography, and I love to travel.
Thomas Podruchny
Membership Director
A retired high school teacher & devoted marathon runner, Thomas has been involved in both amateur & professional photography for 40 years. His business was in portraiture & weddings. He brings a polish to OCC memberships with his assertive organizational skills.
Jackie Gladman
Director Communication and Member Engagement
Jackie joined OCC in 2017. She has taken pictures her entire life to capture the people and places she has been to, and Photography is now an interest with more focus in retirement. Jackie shoots with a Sony mirror-less as it travels well.
“I have learned a lot about taking better pictures since joining OCC. But I have yet to capture a perfect cottage sunset, despite 100’s (or more) of tries!”
Robin King
Education Director
Robin has been a photographer since 1968. First as a professional photographer at the University of Waterloo and then as a lecturer and coordinator of the Sheridan College Applied Photography Program during the 1970’s and early 1980’s. Best known for his development of Sheridan’s Computer Animation Program in the 1990’s, he has spent the last 20 years as an independent international consultant in creativity and animation primarily in China and the Far East.
Amanda Holden
Analytics Director
Professional Experience:
- Over 25 years of technology, fraud and operations experience in financial services and a focus on data, analytics and operational excellence
- Leader and facilitator of business-technology strategies and partnerships
- As a leader and evangelist, Amanda is focused on finding solutions to customers’ financial crimes, loss and AML problems - she is passionate about data & analytics and the role they play in reducing financial crimes in Canada
Volunteer Experience:
- Executive Sponsor for the SAS Women in Analytics Network and a longtime supporter of empowering girls and women in STEM programs
- Manage’s website and communications for the Oakville Lakeside Residents' Association (and the prior WeLoveOakville campaign).
Photography Experience:
- Joined OCC in 2018
- Amateur ‘hobby’ photographer & early adopter of digital photography
- Self-proclaimed computer ‘geek’ – learning several software editing programs & an Adobe Creative Cloud enthusiast
Kieley Hickey
Co-Founder and Past-President
An entrepreneur and passionate photographer from St. John's, Newfoundland, Kieley specializes in wedding and portrait photography. Her love of the photographic industry and her journey to Ontario led to co-founding the Oakville Camera Club and Capture Oakville, Oakville's annual photography competition.