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
President
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.
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.
Jennifer McAllister
Director, Client Services
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 and two global press launches for AUDI AG. Currently she leads the FEL Media Relations team and manages FEL’s facilities.
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.
Lionel Best
Jennifer McAllister
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
Manager, Motorsports
Jessica has risen quickly at FEL, since joining in 2018 as an intern with the Learning team and now managing FEL Motorsports. A graduate from the Marketing program at Niagara College on the Presidents Honour Roll, she has extensive experience in the hospitality industry. An avid learner, she strives to ensure the delivery of exceptional customer service to both clients and consumers alike and brings a growing social media strategy skillset to FEL. In her spare time Jessica works on lowering her handicap on the golf course.
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 Coordinator
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.
Danna Sayers
Business Manager
Danna joined FEL in 2016 as Office Manager, with a focus towards streamlining procedures related to retention and flow of financial information and meticulous record keeping. Prior to FEL, she spent 14 years in management at Canadian Tire dealerships, with experience in full office management. Everyone at FEL rests easy knowing Danna is watching the bottom-line for both FEL and our clients. Danna is also the premier office baker, delighting the staff with her creations.
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. Raising a young family with her husband, Kristen’s delights in do-it-yourself home renovations and furniture restoration.
Trevor Lamas
Motorsports Specialist
Trevor joined FEL in 2021 with the launch of FEL Motorsports. After 25 years in the music industry with labels including Polygram, Universal and Sony, he followed his passion into Motorsports. After 9 years with other Canadian series, Trevor took on paddock and marshal responsibilities with FEL Motorsports. He is an FIA licensed grid and pitlane marshal. In his spare time, he enjoys playing music, the outdoors, cycling and travelling.
Riley Bruni
Motorsports Specialist
Riley came back to FEL as a full-time employee in 2023 after interning with the Motorsports team in the summer of 2022. An Honours graduate of the Sports Administration program at Laurentian University, he demonstrates a high degree of task comprehension, motivation and independence in his role. A lifelong fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Maple Leafs, Riley has taken advantage of moving to the Niagara Region, leveraging the great weather to pursue his interests in 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.
Jayson [no_break]Van Eerdewijk[/no_break]
Program Technical Manager
As a certified master automotive technician, Jayson brings expert knowledge honed in auto retail service with Audi, and as a car chief in the IMSA Weathertech Series to FEL. Working on a variety of projects with FEL since 2015, he joined full time in 2021 in the dual roles of Technical Manager on the Quality Assurance team and the Technical Director of both FEL Motorsports SCCC and RCC race series. Well respected for his commitment to customer care, Jayson has over two decades of experience.
Ian Neumeyer
Content Development
Ian came onboard at FEL in 2022 after a career in retail automotive in sales and leadership roles. As a leader, training program development for staff grew in importance, opening a new area of interest to him. Ian’s understanding of the need to provide relevant content impacting sales performance and customer satisfaction guides him to dig deep for facts and processes to best influence results. When he isn’t researching a training topic, Ian is usually travelling, visiting new places and gaining a wider perspective of the world.
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.
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.
Maximilian Kaiser
Director, Creative
Jessica has risen quickly at FEL, since joining in 2018 as an intern with the Learning team and now managing FEL Motorsports. A graduate from the Marketing program at Niagara College on the Presidents Honour Roll, she has extensive experience in the hospitality industry. An avid learner, she strives to ensure the delivery of exceptional customer service to both clients and consumers alike and brings a growing social media strategy skillset to FEL. In her spare time Jessica works on lowering her handicap on the golf course.
Jessica Benevides
Manager, Motorsports
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.
Carmen Pohl
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.
Rebecca Carson
Project Coordinator
Danna joined FEL in 2016 as Office Manager, with a focus towards streamlining procedures related to retention and flow of financial information and meticulous record keeping. Prior to FEL, she spent 14 years in management at Canadian Tire dealerships, with experience in full office management. Everyone at FEL rests easy knowing Danna is watching the bottom-line for both FEL and our clients. Danna is also the premier office baker, delighting the staff with her creations.
Danna Sayers
Business Manager
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.
Michelle Belleau
Project 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. Raising a young family with her husband, Kristen’s delights in do-it-yourself home renovations and furniture restoration.
Kristen Oliver
Training Coordinator
Ian came onboard at FEL in 2022 after a career in retail automotive in sales and leadership roles. As a leader, training program development for staff grew in importance, opening a new area of interest to him. Ian’s understanding of the need to provide relevant content impacting sales performance and customer satisfaction guides him to dig deep for facts and processes to best influence results. When he isn’t researching a training topic, Ian is usually travelling, visiting new places and gaining a wider perspective of the world.
Ian Neumeyer
Content Development
Trevor joined FEL in 2021 with the launch of FEL Motorsports. After 25 years in the music industry with labels including Polygram, Universal and Sony, he followed his passion into Motorsports. After 9 years with other Canadian series, Trevor took on paddock and marshal responsibilities with FEL Motorsports. He is an FIA licensed grid and pitlane marshal. In his spare time, he enjoys playing music, the outdoors, cycling and travelling.
TREVOR LAMAS
Motorsports Specialist
Riley came back to FEL as a full-time employee in 2023 after interning with the Motorsports team in the summer of 2022. An Honours graduate of the Sports Administration program at Laurentian University, he demonstrates a high degree of task comprehension, motivation and independence in his role. A lifelong fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Maple Leafs, Riley has taken advantage of moving to the Niagara Region, leveraging the great weather to pursue his interests in cycling, running and golfing.
RILEY BRUNI
Motorsports Specialist
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.
SAM BAKER
Social Media Content Creator
As a certified master automotive technician, Jayson brings expert knowledge honed in auto retail service with Audi, and as a car chief in the IMSA Weathertech Series to FEL. Working on a variety of projects with FEL since 2015, he joined full time in 2021 in the dual roles of Technical Manager on the Quality Assurance team and the Technical Director of both FEL Motorsports SCCC and RCC race series. Well respected for his commitment to customer care, Jayson has over two decades of experience.
JAYSON VAN EERDEWIJK
Program Technical Manager
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.
Bill Markoff
Warehouse Specialist