ADVANTAGE 2026: Power. Purpose. Progress.

Melissa Vickers

Melissa Vickers is the Executive Assistant to the CEO at Breton Ability. In her role, she works closely with leadership and helps support the organization as it continues to grow and change. A big part of her work is connecting people across the organization and the community to help create opportunities for individuals with varying abilities.

Earlier in her career, Melissa worked at the Cape Breton Regional Chamber of Commerce, where she spent time supporting local organizations, businesses, and entrepreneurs. That experience showed her how much local organizations matter and how strong relationships shape the communities we call home.

Melissa is also the proud mother of two beautiful boys who have changed the way she sees the world. Through them she has learned that life rarely follows the path we expect, and that some of the most meaningful lessons come from moments we never planned for.

She speaks openly about resilience, growth, and the courage it takes to embrace your story, even the parts that feel unfinished. At the end of the day, Melissa believes the most powerful stories are the ones we are brave enough to take control of and shape for ourselves.

Paula MacNeil

Ellyn Lyle

Ellyn Lyle has a longstanding background in innovative education practices, ranging from traditional classrooms to workplace and community partnerships and technologically supported learning. In all these contexts, she has remained intensely interested in supporting the development of students and teachers as they contribute to socially equitable and sustainable programs. Having joined the academic community full-time in 2011, she is in her 10th year of service as Dean. Currently appointed at CBU as Dean of the School of Education and Health, she maintains an active and rigorous research agenda. The use of critical and reflexive methodologies has informed multiple publications in the following areas: lived and living curriculum; intersections of self and subject and their implications for teacher and learner identity; re/humanisation of education; and praxis and practitioner development. She is also the Principal Investigator on SSHRC-funded research examining international student experiences in Canadian post-secondary education. Connect with Ellyn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellynlyle/

Chloe MacDonald

Chloe MacDonald is a Health Services Lead at Nova Scotia Health. With a passion for recreation, health and inclusion, Chloe has found her niche in a leadership position with healthcare administration at Nova Scotia Health. Before her 2024 transition into this role, Chloe spent almost a decade working front-line as a Recreational Therapist in Mental Health and Addictions. Here, her role focused on helping people reconnect with their why and leveraging it as a tool in recovery and wellness. Outside of work, her leadership spans involvement in many large-scale community projects including Motionball, Teal to Heal, and most recently with the Sydney River Recreation Society on what she proudly believes is a project that will set a new standard for inclusive playgrounds. While all of this gives Chloe a deep sense of meaning, so too does being called in nets in a game of kitchen hockey with her husband James and 4 year old son Myles.

Anne O'Neill

Anne O’Neill is the Manager of Innovation and Education Technology at LearnCorp International (LCI), a partnered enterprise of Cape Breton University. Anne brings over a decade of experience working in managerial positions with a strong focus on education, innovation, strategic growth, and social impact. More specifically, she has held leadership roles in building brands, organizational development, securing funding, talent acquisition, and developing student engagement strategies. Before joining LCI, Anne shared her knowledge as a Lecturer in Marketing-Management at Cape Breton University, where she facilitated over 30 student-led consulting projects with businesses across Canada over three years. In turn, she was nominated for the Distinguished Teaching Award by the university's Alumni Association in 2025.

After joining LCI in May 2025, Anne, with the support of her dedicated and talented education technology team, reached her proudest accomplishment in her professional career. Using Innovation as the foundation of set accomplishment, Anne led an implementation strategy to break barriers and make learning more accessible for hundreds of students across the fastest-growing economy in the world, Guyana.

Anne strongly believes that before leading, you must listen. Therefore, by hosting discovery meetings in May 2025 and listening to Guyanese educators, administrators, government officials, and industry partners, Anne was able to create a vision for a sustainable solution that makes learning more accessible and streamlined. After a successful launch in January 2026, the solution has proven to be impactful. By increasing accessibility to education, opportunities and growth follow.

Academically, Anne holds a Bachelor of Science from St. Francis Xavier University, majoring in Chemistry and minoring in Philosophy, a Master’s in Business Administration specializing in Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University, and a Master’s in Management Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Queen’s University with a Social Impact Certificate awarded by the Smith School of Business. Her education reflects a unique blend of analytical thinking, critical analysis, strategy, and a commitment to social impact.

Kateri Stevens

Kateri Stevens is a dedicated Mi’kmaq leader, elected Councillor in Eskasoni First Nation, and community-driven professional with a strong focus on governance, housing, finance, and youth empowerment. She currently holds multiple leadership portfolios, including Housing, Finance, Intergovernmental Relations, Youth Council, and Strategic Planning, where she works to advance transparent, accountable, and sustainable systems for her community.

A proud mother of five, Kateri has navigated and overcome many of the realities and challenges of First Nations life. Her lived experience fuels her passion for advocacy, and she has long been a strong voice for her community, grounded in resilience, activism, and a deep commitment to creating meaningful change.

With an MBA in Community Economic Development and a background in communications, Kateri blends strategic leadership with grassroots understanding. In addition to her role on Council, she is the owner and operator of Sequoia’s Café and founder of a consulting practice specializing in Indigenous engagement, facilitation, and community planning.

Kateri also serves as Vice President of the Native Women’s Association Eskasoni Chapter, where she supports initiatives focused on empowering Indigenous women, strengthening community connections, and advancing culturally grounded supports. Her professional experience spans across Atlantic Canada.

A passionate advocate for youth, Kateri founded and leads the Eskasoni Youth Council, creating opportunities for young people to reconnect with culture, leadership, and land-based learning. Her work is rooted in Mi’kmaq values, emphasizing resilience, reciprocity, and intergenerational strength.

Kateri’s journey is defined by grit, perseverance, and purpose, bridging lived experience with leadership to help build stronger, healthier, and more self-determined Indigenous communities.

Mikayla Peck

Mikayla Peck is a Nurse Practitioner, specializing in aesthetic medicine, and the Medical Director and
Co-Founder of This is Sundays Inc., a rapidly growing medical aesthetics brand with locations in both
Cape Breton and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

With a background in emergency medicine at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital and the Halifax
Infirmary, Mikayla brings a strong foundation of clinical expertise, sound judgement, and a patient-first
approach to her work. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Cape Breton University and a
Master of Nursing and Nurse Practitioner designation from Athabasca University.

Since 2019, Mikayla has fully dedicated her career to the field of medical aesthetics, developing
advanced technical skill through extensive clinical experience and ongoing training with leading providers
across Canada and internationally. She leads This is Sundays with a focus on education, consistency,
refining techniques, deepening anatomical understanding, and continually striving to elevate the standard
of care.

What started in Cape Breton has grown into a trusted brand across Nova Scotia, supported by an
exceptional team sharing her passion and commitment to excellence in their field.

Lauren March

Lauren March is a Registered Nurse, Aesthetic Specialty Nurse and Co-Founder of This Is
Sundays Inc.

Since beginning her career in aesthetic medicine in 2019, Lauren has trained under
internationally recognized experts across Canada and the United States, continuously refining
both her technical skill and her approach to delivering safe, consistent, and high-quality care.

Through years of full-time practice, Lauren has treated thousands of patients, shaping an
approach grounded in transparency, clinical integrity, and long-term outcomes. Her work is
guided by a strong belief in thoughtful treatment planning, continuous education, and
maintaining a high standard of care across every interaction.

Together with her business partner, Lauren has helped build This Is Sundays into a brand
centered on consistency, elevated patient experience, and intentional growth. What began as a
shared vision in Cape Breton has grown into a trusted and recognized name, with a strong
focus on mentorship, evidenced based practice, and building long-term, trust-based
relationships with clients.

Megan Penney

Sheila Artus

Sheila has always believed that movement and fitness are integral to good health. But to age
gracefully, increase longevity and prevent the downward spiral into chronic illness we must
focus on what we put on the end of our fork, how we manage stress, and support our
microbiome. She champions the connection between food, health and community and has
followed her lifelong passion for health and wellness to pursue education in the Functional
Nutrition and Health Coach space.

As a former marathoner, triathlete and Rebook Racing Team member and a current Strength
Training coach, Sheila lives what she teaches; inspiring others to embrace aging with strength
and vitality.

Sheila is dedicated to empowering adults with evidenced-based information and strategies
enabling them to make decisions to best support their unique health and wellness journeys.
She believes firmly that health is not a look, size, or a number and her services strive to guide
others toward building better relationships with fitness, food and themselves.
Sheila’s message is clear: We deserve to navigate every stage of our lives with confidence,
knowledge and agency. Because, no matter what our age, we can improve our health span and
increase our longevity.

Jen Maher

Dr. Jen's passion for health and wellness promotion began in 2001 when she first started teaching group fitness classes at the YMCA in Edmonton.  It was an injury received during a Crossfit activity that first introduced her to the wonders of chiropractic care.  She completed her undergrad at the University of Alberta and graduated with clinical honours from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, where she met her husband, Dr. Shaun. Dr. Jen's goals are to make the residents of the CBRM the healthiest bunch on the east coast. Dr. Jen enjoys teaching seniors’ exercises classes she also has a special interest in perinatal and paediatric treatment and wellness.