Meet our team
Our leadership team
Chris Bye
Chris started working with Franczak in 1986 and purchased full ownership of FEL in 1999. He remains heavily involved in Canadian Motorsports through sponsorships by starting the FEL Motorsports series.
CHRIS BYE
CEO
Driving almost every type of Formula car, Chris went onto a very successful career racing sportscars, Porsches in particular, driving for factory supported Porsche teams from 1987 to 2003. His career highlights include driving with Commercial Motorsports, who won three consecutive Firestone Firehawk Championships with Porsche, winning the Toronto Star 24 Hours of Mosport with Porsche and leading the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona in a Brumos Porsche Daytona Prototype for the first 7 hours in 2003 before a mechanical failure took the team out.
Chris started working with Franczak in 1986 and purchased full ownership of FEL in 1999. He remains heavily involved in Canadian Motorsports through sponsorships by starting the FEL Motorsports series.
Jennifer McAllister
President
Jennifer is an FEL lifer, having joined the company directly after graduating from Brock University with an Honours Bachelor of Sport Management in 2005. Instrumental in the growth and development of FEL, she learned the dynamics of the automotive world on the job. With a wealth of project management experience, Jennifer has led premium automotive events such as the Audi R8 launch, two global press launches for AUDI AG and our Media Relations business with multiple clients. Jennifer was promoted to the role of President as of January 1, 2025 and looks forward to leading FEL’s continued success moving forward.
Lionel Best
Chief Designer / Curriculum Design
Committed to the practice of learning, Lionel holds certifications in Strategic e-business management, Coaching (Coaching Association of Canada) and Public Relations, a History degree from Simon Fraser University; and is an Audi and Volkswagen qualified trainer. With FEL since 1999, Lionel’s passion for teaching continues at home, coaching his boys as they rise through the ranks of minor baseball, incorporating his experience playing professional baseball in Australia.
Robert Stoddart
Controller
Rob joined FEL in 2001 and is currently responsible for managing FEL’s finances and Learning initiatives. An Ottawa native, he is fluently bilingual in English and French. Prior to joining FEL, Rob had a widely varied career – he studied computer engineering in university, owned and operated a fine dining restaurant in Kanata, ON, was a Denny’s franchisee for four years, and became an air traffic controller. No one is more suited than Rob to handle the variety of projects and programs FEL operates.
Colin Emms
Director, Marketing
Since joining FEL in 2017, Colin has led and worked on programs across all five of FEL’s areas of business as well as growing program capacity. After completing Honours degrees in both Economics (B.Sc., Dalhousie University) and Sports Administration (B.Comm., Laurentian University), he embarked on a variety of roles beginning in 1999 at BMW Canada, SIRIUS Satellite Radio and BlackBerry prior to linking up with FEL. A proud Bluenoser, Colin has a hard time sitting still, except to watch sports on TV or live in person.
Jennifer McAllister
Lionel Best
Rob Stoddart
Colin Emms
Our core team
Maximillian Kaiser
Creative Director
Max brings his creative eye to FEL’s work, with over three decades of experience in design. Holding a Bachelor of Technology, Graphic Communications degree from Toronto Metropolitan University, he has been with FEL since 2007, focused on creative design, brand management, print and digital media design and production. Max shares his experience as an instructor at Niagara College in a variety of design and media production courses and as a packaging designer for many Canadian wineries.
Jessica Benevides
Director, Client Services
Jessica joined FEL after graduating on the President’s Honour Roll from Niagara College’s Business Marketing program. From training program coordinator to creating and developing FEL Motorsports, she now uses her hospitality and customer service experience to drive strategy alongside FEL’s leadership team. An avid learner, she strives to deliver exceptional service to clients and consumers while positioning FEL in the digital landscape through her social media strategy skillset. In her spare time, she works on lowering her golf handicap.
Carmen Pohl
Project Manager
Carmen has been an Account and Project manager at FEL since 2016 and holds a 3-year advanced diploma in Automotive Marketing from the Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College. She has experience managing and supporting marketing and learning events with multiple brands. A proud Canadian Army Reservist, Carmen is an experienced motorcycle rider and can be found in her leisure time at the local softball diamond crushing line drives and showing off her glove work.
Rebecca Carson
Project Manager
Rebecca came to FEL with the most ideal prior experience – fifteen years in the Canadian wine and hospitality industry and a further five years experience in logistics, shipping and fulfillment industry. With FEL since 2013, she specializes in creative event planning, hospitality and logistics, primarily on Media programs. Rebecca is also well known in the office as having the best taste in music.
Michelle Belleau
Project Coordinator
Michelle joined FEL in 2019 as an Accounts Payable Administrator and has branched out, adding Project Coordinator responsibilities to her role. After going back to school following ten years in the promo industry, she graduated from Niagara College with an advanced diploma in Business Administration – Accounting/honours diploma in General Arts and Science. Michelle’s advanced Excel skills and knowledge of multiple software suites makes her an asset to any program and allows her to assist with multiple projects in the office.
Kristen Oliver
Training Coordinator
Kristen has worked with FEL since 2014, specializing as a Training Coordinator. She holds a degree in Business/Corporate Communications from Brock University and a Post-Graduate, Human Resources Management Certificate from Niagara College. She is also a certified Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute. Raising a young family with her husband, Kristen delights in spending time outdoors in her garden and going for jogs throughout her neighbourhood to clear her mind.
Riley Bruni
Training and Development Specialist
Riley joined the Training Team at FEL in 2025, focusing on curriculum design and content development after spending four seasons with FEL Motorsports, where he started as a student intern in 2022. An honours graduate of Laurentian University’s Sports Administration program, he brings motivation, independence, and a strong understanding of the organization to his role. A lifelong Toronto Blue Jays and Maple Leafs fan, Riley enjoys making the most of Niagara’s weather through cycling, running, and golfing.
Sam Baker
Social Media Content Creator
Sam’s interest in motorsports and proficiency on social media led him to joining FEL in 2022 as a content creator. With an entrepreneurial spirit he ran his own video/social media management company during his university experience at St. Francis Xavier University, with clients ranging from IMSA teams to local retailers. Since graduating with the highly sought “X” ring, Sam has continued to grow his professional expertise while also pursuing his own racing career as a competitor in F1600 open-wheel racing.
Bill Markoff
Warehouse Specialist
Bill came out of retirement from his operations role at the Niagara Regional Airport to join FEL in 2019. Looking after the day-to-day comings and goings at the FEL Warehouse, Bill keeps all FEL’s event equipment, branding materials and furniture in tip-top condition. A military veteran, Bill spent 10 years on the competitive drag racing circuit, and today is an avid outdoorsman, enjoying the peace and quiet provided by Mother Nature.
Alison Mcelroy
Business Manager
With a degree in Automotive Marketing from the Canadian Automotive Institute at Georgian College and experience in automotive sales accounting and bookkeeping, Alison brings a valuable perspective to the FEL accounting department. Known for her positive attitude, she adds energy to the team while keeping things running smoothly. Outside FEL, Alison is passionate about fitness and launched her own training business during COVID. Since joining in 2025, she’s contributed insight and a sense of balance—in and out of the gym.
DUNCAN GRANT
Operations Specialist
Duncan started as a seasonal employee with FEL Motorsport in 2024 before joining full time in 2025. He earned a diploma in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Durham College before going on to work in a variety of roles including working as a nuclear operator and as the lead designer and operations manager for an automotive fabrication company. Outside of FEL, Duncan enjoys spending his time at the golf course or at the racetrack soaking in the sounds, scents, and sights of anything that moves fast.
Maximilian Kaiser
Director, Creative
Jessica Benevides
Director, Client Services
Carmen Pohl
Project Manager
Rebecca Carson
Project Manager
Michelle Belleau
Project Coordinator
Kristen Oliver
Training Coordinator
RILEY BRUNI
Training and Development Specialist
SAM BAKER
Social Media Content Creator
Bill Markoff
Warehouse Specialist
Alison Mcelroy
Business Manager
Duncan Grant
Operations Specialist