Stefania Gargaro, PMP®

Stefania Gargaro is the Program Account Manager at Schulich ExecEd, overseeing custom learning programs. She partners with clients across sectors to design and deliver impactful experiences, ensuring service excellence, client satisfaction, and successful program execution from start to finish.

Carlo Sicoli

Carlo Sicoli is the Director of Business Development and Partnerships at Schulich Executive Education (Schulich ExecEd). He works with organizations across industry to create training and leadership development programs.

Deanna Davies

Project Management

Deanna Davies is an experienced higher education professional, educator, project leader, and community builder with over 27 years of experience in business, project management, economic development, sustainability, and leadership. She has spent the past eight years focused on teaching and more than 25 years facilitating workshops, strategic planning sessions, and community engagement initiatives.

Deanna served as Program Coordinator and Professor in the Postgraduate Project Management program at St. Lawrence College’s School of Business for six years and now serves as full-time faculty. She brings real-world experience into the classroom through a learner-centered, values-driven approach.

Her teaching philosophy emphasizes collaboration, reflection, and relevance. She creates inclusive, engaging learning environments that foster critical thinking, experiential learning, and meaningful connection—empowering students to build both competence and confidence.

Her professional specializations include project leadership, stakeholder engagement, the social economy, emotional intelligence, and community development. Passionate about the human side of projects, she emphasizes socially responsible project management and leadership for sustainable impact.

Deanna received the 2023 Academic Leader Award from St. Lawrence College and the 2024 Collaboration & Teamwork Award from PMI Ottawa Valley Outaouais. She is also the founder

Charles Igwe

Project Management

Dr. Charles Igwe is a seasoned program management leader with over 15 years of experience delivering high-stakes projects in the energy, construction, and public sectors. As Program Manager at Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, he leads transformative hydrogen and tritium initiatives aligned with Canada’s clean energy goals. Previously, as Section Head of Decommissioning Planning, he managed regulatory strategies and stakeholder engagement across national nuclear sites.

A faculty member at Algonquin, Conestoga, and St. Lawrence Colleges, Dr. Igwe teaches project management with a focus on practical application, drawing on his extensive industry experience. He holds a PhD in Construction Project Management, an Executive MBA, and certifications including PMP®, PMI-RMP®, PMI-ACP®, MSP® Practitioner, PRINCE2®, and Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

As Vice President of Professional Development at the PMI Ottawa Valley Chapter, he champions mentoring and professional growth. Specializing in strategic planning, risk leadership, and AI-enabled project delivery, Dr. Igwe inspires students to navigate complexity with confidence—making him an invaluable asset to the Masters Certificate in Project Management.

Connie Contardi

Connie is an award-winning serial entrepreneur, brand strategist, and media expert who has been featured in major media outlets such as Forbes and has spoken on prominent stages including Google, YouTube, Web Summit, and Collision Conference. As the CEO of How To Cake It, Connie built the company from concept to a multi-million-dollar media brand with a global community exceeding 15 million.​

As a TV producer, Connie has created and produced shows for networks and streaming platforms including Food Network, HGTV, and Roku. She has also held roles at 20th Century Fox Films and Entertainment One. Her brand work includes collaborations with clients such as Disney, Google, Amazon, Walmart, Hello Sunshine, Four Seasons Hotels, and Atlantis Resorts.​

A Canadian who has worked internationally, Connie is passionate about bringing global opportunities to women in business and media in Canada. She most recently launched the first Canadian chapter of The Media Dinner Club.​