Portlaoise Enterprise Centre Board of Directors

Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Philip has recently retired having held the position of Works General Manager with Bord na Mona Horticultural Works in Portlaoise. This major employer manufactured peat based products under the Shamrock Brand for the domestic and European markets. Philip is a qualified Manufacturing Electro-Mechanical Technician. He also is a certified IQA Internal Quality Systems Auditor and holds a Diploma in Social Studies.

Philip is Vice-Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Portlaoise Credit Union, a member of the Project Evaluation Committee of Laois Partnership Ltd, a member of Laois County Development Board serving on the Economic Development Committee, and has represented Laois Chamber of Commerce on the former Board of Laois Leader RDC. Philip is involved with Laois Friends of Simon and many other community groups in Portlaoise.

A native of Ballyroan, Mary was first elected to Laois County Council in June 1999 and has been employed at Portlaoise Branch Library for many years. She is actively involved in many organisations in the County and is currently Chairperson of both Laois Vocational Educational Committee (VEC) and of the Board of Management of Portlaoise College.

Mary is also a member of the National Executive of AONTAS (Adult Education) and of the Board of Management of Scoil Faolan Naofa, Ballyroan. Other committee memberships of note include Portlaoise Leisure Centre, Dunamaise Arts Centre and the Laois School of Music. Mary also sits on the Joint Policing Committee of Laois County Council.

Ian is Senior Executive Officer with Laois County Council with responsibility for Economic Development. He is a director of Laois TRIP, Abbeyleix Heritage Trust and of Portarlington Enterprise Centre. Ian was the Chairperson of the World Fleadh and Celtic Music Festival for the two year duration of that highly successful event in 2007 and 2008. He is also a member of Laois County Enterprise Board’s Project Evaluation Committee.

Ian obtained an athletic scholarship to Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas from 1988 to 1992 and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics. He recently completed a course in Leadership in Local Government.

Local man, William Aird has been a member of Portlaoise Town Council since 1979 and of Laois County Council since 1985. He follows a proud family tradition of public representation in the town and county.

From 2004 to 2005, William was Cathaoirleach of Laois County Council and also held the position of Chairperson of Portlaoise Town Council from 2008 until recently.

Maria is the Chief Executive Officer of Laois County Enterprise Board (LCEB). LCEB is the leading Small Enterprise Agency in County Laois and was established in 1993 with a view to promoting an Enterprise Culture within the county and to provide business advice and mentoring along with financial and management development assistance to local businesses. Maria is a member of the Board of FÁS "Excellence Through People" which oversees the National Human Resource Management Standard.

By profession, Maria is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant and is a member of two committees of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA), namely the Competency Committe and the Disciplinary Committee. She also sits on the Adult Eductaion Ad-Hoc Committee of Laois VEC.

A native of Mountmellick, Pat is Chairperson of Laois County Enterprise Board. He runs his own business, Garoon Construction, so is well versed as to the challenges, pitfalls and rewards of life as an entrepreneur. Pat also sits on the Board of the Laois Partnership Company and is a committee member of the Special Policy Committee (SPC) for Housing with Laois County Council.

A qualified draughtsman, Pat is a committee member of the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) (Midland & Western Regions, reflecting his immense experience in that industry sector. For relaxation, Pat enjoys a round of golf and is a keen photographer.

A well known figure locally and a native of Portlaoise, Jerry is an elected public representative and member of Laois County Council. Holding a Masters Degree in Engineering from the University of Dublin (Trinity College), Jerry is a former Insurance Broker and ran his own business in Portlaoise for many years.

Today, Jerry is Chairperson of Irish Public Bodies Mutual Insurances who underwrite the insurance of local authorities, health bodies, vocational education committees, higher education institutions, regional fisheries boards, and harbour authorities. Jerry is a Board member of Portlaoise Leisure Centre and is current Chairperson of Portlaoise Tidy Towns Committee.

Brian is Enterprise Development Manager with the Institute of Technology Carlow where he is responsible for the business development planning and management of the Institute’s Enterprise & Research Incubation Centre and specialised training programmes for entrepreneurs and start-up companies.

A senior industry professional with 15 years experience in product development, technical and business management, Brian combines strong analytical, strategic and operational skills with the practice of successfully managing people and projects in both SME and Multinational Organisations. He holds a BSc degree from NUIG, MSc in Technology Management from UCD and MBA from Smurfit Graduate Business School, UCD.

William is a native of Mountrath and is a former President of Laois Chamber of Commerce. His background is firmly in the Hardware Industry and he was Managing Director of the Telford Group from 1972 to 2003. From 2003 to 2006, William was a Board member of Chadwicks Ltd. Currently he is on the Board of United Hardware, an umbrella body that represents the interests of builders merchants and DIY retailers in Ireland. This body was recently formed from the amalgamation of Associated Hardware which had represented the Homevalue brand and of National Hardware which was behind the Arro brand. William had been a Board member of the latter.

At a local level, William is a Board member of the Cuisle Centre and a committee member of Portlaoise Rugby Club. Holding a Diploma in Engineering from the Dublin Institute of Technology, William sat on the Board of his alma mater, Kilkenny College, from 2000 to 2008.