Our
Leadership Team
JEFF PHILIPP
Founder & CEO
Jeff Philipp is a dynamic leader and innovator. Born and raised in Fort Providence, a small Indigenous community in the Northwest Territories, Jeff understands very well the social, economic and infrastructure challenges faced by Canada’s rural and remote populations. Driven by a personal mission to “learn, build and share”, he has developed a deep passion for seeking and delivering innovative and sustainable solutions to address these challenges.
He has spent over 30 years in the family business, the Snowshoe Inn, growing and extending its activities to build three distinct company divisions: SSi Canada (Qiniq), the premier technology and Internet service provider in Northern Canada; SSi Energy, dedicated to providing energy solutions to under-served and remote communities; and SSi Products, a vehicle to market telecom, energy and other innovative solution products to northern markets and beyond.
Under Jeff’s guidance, SSi has been the recipient of numerous business awards, including Business of the Year, Most Innovative Company and Top Northern Employer. Jeff has personally been honored with Entrepreneur of the Year for Canada’s North and the Order of the Northwest Territories.
jeffp@ssicanada.com
STEFANIE PHILIPP
Chief Financial Officer and Co-Founder
As co-founder of SSi, Stefanie is without question the “Mom” of this family company, always keeping a caring eye on staff and projects to ensure SSi’s long-term health and sustainability.
As CFO, Stefanie has more than 25 years of financial management experience and is responsible for overseeing all financial aspects of SSi’s operations, including reporting, cost control, risk management, audits, compliance and liquidity maintenance. As the manager of the Finance Department, Stefanie has the “final say” on all matters relating to the company's monetary obligations.
stefp@ssicanada.com
DEAN PROCTOR
Chief Development Officer
Dean has over 25 years of experience in Canada’s communications sector, and is responsible for the development and implementation of SSi’s corporate strategy and governance. He has considerable expertise in the wireless telecom, Internet, software and broadcasting industries.
Prior to joining SSi in 2011, Dean was co-founder and CEO of Jade Tower, an independent communications tower company (acquired by SBA in 2009). He also advised on new telecoms ventures, including development of the wireless entry strategy for Videotron in Quebec, and he was one of the original officers with Microcell, the operator of Fido mobile services (acquired by Rogers in 2004).
Dean has degrees in Common Law and Civil Law from McGill University, and is also a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program and the University of Saskatchewan.
deanp@ssicanada.com
JEREMY CHILDS
Director, Software Development
Jeremy Childs, a veteran in the IT and software development field, has spent over 20 years as a key figure in planning and implementing the diverse projects SSi has executed. Specializing in software development and architecture, he has also been key in server design and deployment, network architecture, and wire-level optimization of various network protocols for satellite transmission.
Jeremy is fluent in most modern programming languages, including C, C++, Python, Java, node, and Javascript, but prefers C when all else is equal. He is the author and maintainer of multiple free and open source projects that are currently in use in thousands of installations worldwide.
jeremyc@ssicanada.com
JOHN MUISE
Director, Network Services
John has over 25 years of experience in the Canadian Telecom industry, both in the private and military sectors and is responsible for mobile network planning, launch and operations. He has considerable expertise in the wireless / mobile services, Internet, military telecom and broadcast industries.
Prior to joining SSi in 2015, John led and managed the service implementation and project management teams at Distributel Communications Limited, an Ontario based ISP, cable Internet, VoiP service and IPTV provider and pioneer of the competitive long-distance industry in Canada. Previously, John led the core network deployment as well as network and field operations with Microcell Telecom, the operator of Fido mobile services.
Before joining Microcell, he was operating various telecom facilities across Canada's north as well as conducting northern sovereignty patrols as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces. John holds various military academic certifications in telecom and electronics and is an experienced pilot and amateur radio operator.
johnm@ssicanada.com
MARTIN JENSEN
Director of Sales & Marketing
Martin Jensen has over 20 years of International sales management and business development experience and is a seasoned manager of people, marketing, products, and projects. Throughout his career he has successfully been responsible for business planning and growth, financial management, implementation of sales strategies, marketing plans, and the development of customer relations. His management career has provided him with experience in developing and leading small to large sales teams in very diverse and culturally rich environments. Martin has also led development and customer service teams for online sales and marketing platforms.
Part of Martin’s role is the development of new product lines and sales channels for SSi Canada, understanding that SSi specializes in unique offerings that provide community-based solutions.
Prior to joining SSi Canada, Martin has worked in various industries such as toy soldiers & hobby gaming with Games Workshop Ltd in Europe and Canada, dairy products in the Middle East with Arla Foods and with autonomous data driven solutions for high-tech greenhouses with Hoogendoorn Growth Management in Canada and the US. All strong brand and market leaders within their industries.
martinj@ssicanada.com
SARUUL AYURZANA
Director of Finance
Saruul Ayurzana, CPA, CMA, has over 20 years of corporate finance and accounting experience. Her passion lies in bridging financial data with forward-thinking strategies that help a company achieve its corporate goals, and drive success. She is a seasoned people manager who is well equipped to face challenging and complex projects head-on. She also enjoys being a mentor—especially to the younger professionals.
Prior to joining SSi, Saruul worked in finance/accounting in a wide cross-section of industries and sectors. These include telecommunications, high-tech, call center, defence, waste services, hospitality, and retail/wholesale. Throughout these experiences, she contributed to boosting profitability and streamlined processes to improve efficiency.
saruula@ssicanada.com
ROB CALLOW
Managing Director, SSi Energy
No stranger to the North, Rob Callow has over 35 years’ experience in the energy and construction industries, with expertise in electrical systems design and operations, construction management, and business development. Rob has held a number of senior management positions, with extensive knowledge in all aspects of the electrical industry.
In addition to his hands-on technical skills, Rob is a seasoned manager of people and projects. He has successfully been responsible for business planning and growth, financial management, implementation of sales strategies, and the development of customer relations. He has a proven track record of multi-discipline project management including collaboration with electrical, civil and mechanical engineering teams.
He has worked across the North and western Canada, and now brings his wealth of knowledge to SSi Energy as its leading director.
rcallow@ssicanada.com
PETER HALLINAN
Sales Manager
With over 30 years of experience in Sales and Operations Management, the last 20 dedicated to the Fire Protection Products and Service Industry, Peter is excited to lead SSi’s new Fire Solutions Division as it brings unique, environmentally friendly Fire Suppression Products to the Canadian Market.
Peter started his career in the sales and project management of Fire Alarm and Suppression products and has progressed in many roles including experience in Sales Management, founding and growing a Fire Alarm Protection Company and leading the CFAA as it’s Executive Director. A long time volunteer with the Canadian Fire Alarm Association as well as participating in Codes and Standards development with the ULC has built a knowledge and network throughout the Industry across Canada.
Peter is a long time Volunteer Firefighter currently serving as a Training Officer and has been passionate about passing down what he has learned as well as investigating new methods to extinguish and even prevent fires. As modern fires now burn much faster and hotter than in the past he has actively supported, and participated in Fire Dynamics Research and advocates for new methods and technologies to safely combat these fires.
peterha@ssicanada.com
TIM FROEHLER
Senior Support, Operations and Engineering
Tim has been with SSi since 2001 and is highly experienced in all aspects of telecom infrastructure and operations. He spent years working in communities across the Northwest Territories, Nunavut and Nunavik as lead installer for various satellite networks.
He is a hands-on manager and excellent mentor with exemplary problem-solving skills. Tim is directly involved in design, development, and implementation of SSi’s wireless and mobile network infrastructure, including backup and recovery strategies, company-wide capacity planning, redundancy, change management, monitoring and reporting.
timf@ssicanada.com
CORY WISHAK
Manager, Network Engineering
Passionate about building the absolute best wireless networks for the world’s most remote regions, Cory is focused on enhancing SSi’s fixed wireless and mobile solutions.
Prior to joining SSi, Cory worked in senior engineering positions at a major Canadian telecom carrier and the national telecom regulator. With expertise in large distributed systems and network architecture Cory is currently working to expand SSi service portfolio through the introduction of value-added services such as IPTV, Home security, LTE mobile data and building monitoring.
Cory is a professional engineer with a Bachelor of Applied Science from Queen’s University.
coryw@ssicanada.com
SUE FINLAY
Senior Advisor, Marketing and Development
Sue Finlay is a dynamic and goal-driven professional with over 25 years’ experience in Marketing and Communications. She has worked at the local, national and international levels. For 10 years she traveled the world with Corel Corporation as Director of Field Marketing, Sponsorship and Events. With Windmill Developments, a visionary real estate development firm based in Ottawa, Sue managed all aspects of sales and marketing strategies with a focus on environmental, social and economic sustainability.
More recently, she was a vital member of the senior management team for the historic Canada C3 project, a 150-day sea voyage to communities along Canada’s Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific coasts in celebration of the 150th anniversary of confederation. In her role as Manager of Strategic Partnerships, Marketing and Events, Sue handled everything from corporate and government relationships to fundraising to media relations to merchandising.
Sue cares deeply about people and community wellness. She is an eternal optimist, passionate about providing creative solutions that move projects forward in a positive and successful manner.
susanf@ssicanada.com
LISA WENDEHORST
Manager, Finance
Lisa has over 25 years of accounting experience, half of which have been with SSi. As a hands-on financial manager, she is responsible for project analysis, financial reporting, accounts receivable, accounts payable and managing all finance-related aspects of SSi’s internet and mobile networks on a monthly basis. She is well versed in federal and territorial government financial policy and applies her knowledge effectively when dealing on a regular basis with various government agencies.
lisaw@ssicanada.com
WILL INGARFIELD
Manager, Internet & Mobile Services
In a nutshell, William is a specialist at making people happy. He has been an integral part of SSi’s Internet & Mobile services group reaching as far back as 2003. He puts a significant amount of time and effort into ensuring that his team is not only knowledgeable and efficient, but that they have a true sense of empathy for the questions and concerns of SSi’s end users. The mandate for his group is that each team member, regardless of tenure, takes the time to consider each situation independently rather than relying purely upon training manuals or policies to guide their decisions en mass. He prides himself in having built a team that goes above and beyond in addressing the needs of the company’s customers throughout both the NWT, Nunavut and beyond.
williami@ssicanada.com
FOENIX
Warm Welcome Officer
Often found lying at the front door of the SSi Ottawa office, in a patch of sunlight waiting for a belly rub. When Foenix's best friend Dean is out of office, Foenix looks for love and treats from anyone who might offer. When closed door conferences are happening, SSi staff will automatically go open the door to let Foenix in when she demands it.
EDDIE
CFO Executive Assistant
Eddie is the oh so beloved pup of SSi owners, Stef and Jeff. In the Yellowknife office, it’s not uncommon to pass Eddie trailing his Mom carrying his favourite (preferably pink) plush toy, or making guest appearances in meetings. In his spare time, Eddie takes his humans for hikes in the woods, eats correctly sized bites of burger or tenderloin, and tops his days off with long lazing sessions in bed.
In loving memory: Jan 2009 - Oct 2022
Empowering Communities
Through Passion-Driven Solutions
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