OUR TEAM
Our team is made up of more than 30 employees working year-round at the head office and our workshop, as well as more than 300 employees working seasonally at all of our sites throughout summer and winter.
Here are the members of the head office and workshop team.
MANAGEMENT
Marc Cudia
Co-owner
After buying the quadricycle rental business in the Old Port of Montreal at the age of 23, Marc Cudia has been in the business world since 1998. He then founded Écorécréo to consolidate his various activities in the recreational tourism sector. Since 2009, he has chaired the board of directors of Service d'hébergement Saint-Denis, an Auberge du cœur that helps homeless youth aged 15 to 21. He himself was a former beneficiary of this organization. In 2014, Marc was nominated Person of the Year by Tourisme Montréal. Marc is the father of two children. Marc has easy happiness, it is not for nothing that he bears the title of Responsible for happiness.
Jean-Philippe Duchesneau
Co-owner
A lawyer by training, Jean-Philippe practiced law in a large company in Montreal, then served as a political advisor to the office of the Minister of Justice and the Deputy Premier of Quebec. He then worked as a federal Crown prosecutor before becoming a United Nations prosecutor in The Hague, Netherlands. In 2010, he founded an online agency specializing in Internet marketing. Jean-Philippe won the Young Bar Association's Lawyer of the Year Award in 2008 and was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. In addition to being very involved with Leucan, he sits on the board of directors of the Fondation Procure, La Grande Journée des Petits Entrepreneurs and Service d'hébergement Saint Denis. He is also the father of two young daughters. JP knows how to seize every opportunity to play tricks, so that no one dares to leave his cell phone unattended.
Nicolas Gosselin
Co-owner
An engineer by training, Nicolas has been a project manager, engineering team leader and business development coordinator for engineering consulting companies working in the heavy industry sector and then in healthcare facilities. In doing so, Nicolas managed projects worth over $10 million and was responsible for a project portfolio valued at over $100 million. In 2014, Nicolas became a project management and project risk management coach for an experienced clientele of project managers in information technology and engineering. It was in 2015 that chance brought Marc and Nicolas together and the Voiles en Voiles project was born. Nicolas is also the father of three young children, Clara, Emma and Charles, who keep him at the top of his game! Nicolas is a true visionary. He can always be counted on to bring amazing new projects to develop.
Line Gingras
General manager
Over the past 30 years, Line has held several management positions where it has acquired solid experience in operations and operations management. At the helm of SOS Labyrinthe as Director General and Associate, from 1994 to 1998 and from 2015 to 2018. She was able to ensure greater profitability for the company. Line has also held decision-making positions with the World Games Festival, One Drop and Cirque du Soleil where she held the position of Director of Creative Synergy. These experiences allow him to skillfully combine his Cartesian side with an overflowing creativity. It is also with a lot of humor that Line tells the thousand and one adventures she has lived over the years. She should write a book!
OPERATIONS
Vanessa Provencher
Operation manager
Vanessa studied Tourism at Collège Mérici in Quebec City. After several years working in the restaurant industry, she found a job in her field of study as a public market coordinator at the Fêtes de la Nouvelle-France. She then moved to Montreal and took a job at Rogers Cup as a co-op sales representative. In 2015, she contributed to the opening and implementation of our aerial fleet, Voiles en Voiles. In 2021, his great expertise will be put to use when our new site, Ilots76, opens at the Olympic Park. Vanessa is now Director of Operations and oversees the work of our seven Operations Project Managers for our 19 sites. Vanessa demonstrates unfailing energy and positivism and leads, in a good mood, her entire team towards achieving the desired results. It is his infectious laugh that announces his arrival in our offices!
Marianne René De Cotret
Project manager - operations
Having completed her studies in anthropology, Marianne obtained a seasonal job at Voiles en Voiles from the first days of the park's opening. Quickly, her skills in human relations, her desire for things to be done correctly and her leadership quickly moved her up the ladder, from supervisor to coordinator to director of human resources, and finally, to project manager – operations in 2021. It is with conviction and kindness that Marianne supervises the employees under her supervision, instilling in them an impeccable sense of customer service. Passionate about travel and cycling, she takes advantage of quieter times to go on adventures across America. It is with determination that she rushes down the streets of Montreal early in the morning towards our offices!
Hervey Ndzi
Project Manager - Operations
Hervey's career path began at Tim Hortons where he rose through the ranks in various positions to branch manager. He arrived at Voiles en Voiles in 2016 first occupying a seasonal position of supervisor and then held the position of operations coordinator, then project manager – operations, responsible for all Voiles en Voiles' activities. It is thanks to his remarkable career with Voiles en Voiles that Hervey obtains, in 2021, the title of employee of the year awarded by the Alliance de tourisme du Québec. He accomplished all this while pursuing his studies. It was during his bachelor's degree in psychology at the Université de Montréal that he discovered a love for organizations, well-being at work and employee engagement. He completed his academic career by obtaining a M.Sc. in Organizational Development from HEC Montréal. Is it this desire to understand everything that drives Hervey to ask THE question that everyone is reluctant to ask?
Yan Chouinard
Project Manager - Operations
In June 2020, Yan joined the team as Project Manager – Technical Team. He then took up the challenge of preparing in a few weeks for the opening of several of our sites. In March 2021, wishing to put his management studies to work, he became project manager – operations for our Aquazilla product. His previous working experiences as a dealer and floor manager at the Snakes Poker Club, then at the Poker Palace Club, combined with his HEC studies in business management and financial management allowed him to manage with a beautiful entrepreneurial spirit our two inflatable sites on the water, Aquazilla. Yan is in high demand at our parties, because he is an excellent dancer of Latin dances.
Dimitri Grandcamp
Project Manager - Operations
Event planning specialist, where he has been rolling his hump since 1994, first in Paris for the David and Cathy Guetta Group, then in London to coordinate his teams during large-scale shows, then in St-Bart and Club Med in France where he acquired a solid experience in restaurant management, which brings him to Cannes and finally to Montreal. We were lucky enough to be able to recruit him in March 2022. As soon as he arrived, he tackled the great challenge of implementing Phase II of Ilots76 brilliantly. We were able to admire his DJ talents during some events and now we are waiting to see him at work during our petanque outing, he who is departmental champion, ranked national level!
Marc-Antoine Bouthillier
Project Manager - Operations
Marc-Antoine's course of study is certainly not common. After studying at Cégep de Maisonneuve in Human Sciences, profil administration, then individual profile, he began a bachelor's degree in psychology and then a bachelor's degree in environmental geography, a human profile he completed in 2018. In 2019, he began a minor in law at the Université de Montréal, all while accumulating several summer jobs. He joined our organization in May 2016 as an attendant. He climbed several steps to obtain the position of Project Manager – Operations in 2022. Marc-Antoine also has a very interesting sporting background: baseball, soccer, bowling, football, then speed skating where he gets the 8th place at the Canadian junior championship and 17th place at the Canadian open championship in 2014! A real dynamo that is much needed in operations.
Lorie Hébert
Project Manager - Operations
It was while backpacking around the world that Lorie discovered her passion for tourism. Subsequently, she obtained her DEC diploma in tourism management at the ITHQ and landed an internship with us in February 2022 with the operations team. During this internship, she brilliantly created a thank you event for our suppliers. She integrated so well into the team thanks to her interpersonal skills, availability and desire to learn more and more that we offered her a contract in May 2022 in the human resources team, an area she wanted to deepen. In September 2022, Lorie was awarded a second contract, this time as Operations Coordinator and HR Coordinator. An amazing fact about Lorie? A little country tune and she takes the floor, with her hat and line dances!
TECHNICAL TEAM
Olivier Begué
Facilities Coordinator
We can say that Olivier has an atypical career. He first obtained his master's degree in international affairs in 2003. He worked for 10 years in marketing and business development in the information technology, video games and audiovisual sectors. In 2014, in search of a work/family balance, Olivier turned to a more traditional, but equally rewarding profession: carpentry. It is a complete reconversion that leads him to work first on new construction sites and heritage restoration. Then join our team as coordinator, responsible for the maintenance and safety of the Voiles en Voiles' facilities, thus ensuring our visitors and employees a safe experience. Olivier is also the father of two young daughters. Olivier does not like conformism, he rather thrives on challenges, whether creative or physical. But he does not look up at a good dish, conformist or not!
René-Philippe Thauvoye
Technician – Facilities and Equipment
A real jack-of-all-trades. René-Philippe pursued a career as a chef for twelve years. In 2009, following a sailing trip, René-Philippe took a sabbatical year to review his career plan. It was in August 2011 that he left the restaurant business for good to study adventure tourism technology at the Cégep de Gaspé. Since that day, he has taken numerous courses and obtained an impressive list of certificates, both in diving, climbing, canoeing, lifeguards in remote areas and more. He combines travels and life experiences and it is during one of his tours that he discovers Voiles en Voiles. By a fortunate combination of circumstances, we are then looking for a technician for our installations and it is therefore in June 2020 that René-Philippe joins our team for our greatest happiness. Inveterate Boute-en-train, René-Philippe puts humor, and action, in all our meetings!
Louis Perreault Mandeville
Technician – Facilities and Equipment
A curious mind, if ever there was one, Louis first studied sociology at the Université de Montréal. This led him to want to better understand the psychology of the world of advertising and marketing. He obtained his certificate in this field at the Université de Montréal. It was at this same university that he then began his bachelor's degree in industrial design. From 2010 to 2016, as a handyman and self-employed, he acquired many manual skills. Then, at the end of his studies, he put all his knowledge and experience to good use as a technician, responsible for assembling complex systems (electrical, hydraulic and mechanical). It is in April 2022 that he completes our technical team for our greatest happiness. Indeed, it is enough to pronounce "we have a little problem with..." " so that Louis' curiosity is ignited and he finds the solution!
Oualid Mellouk
IT Coordinator
After studying computer technician, Oualid acquired solid experience in large companies such as Pratt & Whitney Canada and WSP. It is his qualities as a trainer, problem solving specialist and tireless technological curiosity that allowed him to join the Groupe Écorécréo team. As coordinator, Oualid participates in the development and implementation of information technology strategies. He also oversees the installation of our networks and numerous electronic components on all of our 19 seasonal sites. We also rely on him to solve our big and small computer problems. Oualid is passionate about football and Real Madrid. And he lets us know when his team wins!
MARKETING AND SALES
Vanessa Juliano
Marketing and sales director
A graduate of Concordia University with a major in marketing, Vanessa holds several positions in her field. She finally found her way when she accepted a position at the Carat media agency in 2005 as a digital media project manager. Over the next 12 years, Vanessa surrounded herself with experts in the field of digital marketing, allowing her to gain the required skills that elevated her to the rank of supervisor of the digital activation team. Brands that have benefited from its expertise include Desjardins, RONA/Réno-Dépôt, Disney Studios, Subway, Les Éleveurs de porcs du Québec and Sobeys. After welcoming her third child, Vanessa wanted a position that would allow her to better balance work and family. In 2018, she made the leap and joined the Groupe Écorécréo team as Director of Marketing and Sales. Of a foolproof positivism, Vanessa always has the right word to put us back on the path of finding a solution.
Camille Sauriol-Barnard
Marketing coordinator
Camille is passionate about travel, pastries, and martial arts. She spent a few years in Panama before returning to Montreal where she completed a bachelor's degree in communications and cultural studies at Concordia. She held communication and marketing positions in several industries such as tourism, technology, and contemporary art, before being hired by Groupe Écorécréo as a marketing coordinator. She is in charge of promoting the group's various brands on social networks and is also responsible for birthday cakes, because she succeeds them masterfully!
Déborah Joly
Group Sales and Booking Consultant
Passionate about horseback riding and travel, Déborah studied in the marketing of equine products in France before flying to Australia for a period of two years. She travelled extensively and was, among other things, a rider on a cattle farm. The passion for travel then led her to Quebec where she is now settled. After several years in the retail trade, his desire for new challenges led him to discover and work in local Montreal tourism. She joined the Écorécréo group as a group sales and reservations advisor in 2021. Her outstanding sense of customer service and attention to detail make Déborah a highly valued colleague. Moreover, its adorable accent charms employees and customers.
Alexandra Poudrette-Joyal
Membership coordinator
After her studies in tourism management, Alexandra worked in several spheres of the field and finally turned to recreational tourism. With Groupe Écorécréo, she is responsible for developing various initiatives to ensure the loyalty of our many customers. She brilliantly manages communications with seasonal pass holders and develops a monthly subscription program allowing active families to enjoy the multitude of activities we offer. Passionate about travel, the outdoors and good food, she enjoys going on adventures or trying new restaurants in her spare time. In addition, Alexandra is known for having homemade lunches worthy of the greatest restaurants!
Félix Gingras Couture
Graphic designer
After studying at Cégep de Maisonneuve to obtain his DEP in computer graphics, Félix joined the team in 2019 to support the marketing team for a few months. His creative side, his rigor and his relevant proposals allowed him to obtain a permanent position with us in 2021. Under his reserved airs and his unparalleled style of dress and hair, Felix hides a curious mind and a great general knowledge. He is a master of Trivia games !
ADMINISTRATION
Amélie Bélanger
Talent Management Coordinator
Passionate about human resources, communication and mutual aid, Amélie is the perfect person for this position. A graduate of the Cégep de Chicoutimi, in human resources, she has evolved in all spheres of this field. Her know-how in recruitment and training, as well as her involvement with young people, has also earned her the award of Collège Montmorency's Regroupement lavallois pour la réussite éducative for her concrete actions as a committed employer. Since June 2020, Amélie has been our Talent Management Coordinator, working closely with operations. Through her judicious interventions, she ensures that our seasonal employees can grow and achieve their professional potential. Amélie is a new mother of a little girl. Do not invite Amélie to a dinner, but rather to a good breakfast, she will be delighted!