Connecting Emerging Professionals with Experienced Leaders

OMTRA is excited to launch its inaugural Mentorship Pilot Program inFall 2026. This initiative is designed to foster meaningful connections between experienced municipal revenue and taxation professionals and those who are newer to the industry.

With six experienced mentorsparticipating in this year’s pilotprogram, eligible OMTRA members will have the opportunity to gain valuable insights, explore career development opportunities, and build connections within our municipal revenue and taxation community. 

About the Program

The Mentorship Pilot Program pairs experienced professionals with emerging industry members for informal, one-on-one mentorship conversations.

The program provides an opportunity to:

• Learn from experienced municipal revenue and taxation professionals

• Discuss career goals and professional development

• Explore solutions to current workplace challenges

• Gain insight into industry trends, best practices, and leadership experiences

• Expand professional networks within the OMTRA community

The pilot program will run from November 2026 to the end of May 2027. Mentors and mentees will coordinate meeting schedules that work best for both participants.Participants are encouraged to meet for two to three sessionsthroughout the program.

Upon successful completion of the program, both mentors and mentees will receive 2 credits toward their CMRP designation.

Meet Our Mentors

We are proud to launch this pilot program with six experienced mentors from across our municipal revenue and taxation community. 

Greg Bedard

Greg is a CPA and Certified Municipal Revenue Professional (CMRP) with 20 years of experience in municipal finance across five lower-tier municipalities and one single-tier municipality. His career has provided him with extensive experience in revenue operations, taxation, utility billing, and financial leadership.

Greg's municipal experience began with five years as a summer student water meter reader, providing him with valuable frontline insight into municipal operations and customer service. He then spent 10 years directly managing property taxation and utility billing functions, developing strong expertise in revenue administration, legislative compliance, and process improvement.

Over the past five years, Greg has served as a Director of Finance, providing strategic financial leadership and oversight in support of organizational goals and community service delivery. His broad experience across multiple municipal functions and leadership roles gives him a comprehensive understanding of municipal finance and revenue management from both operational and strategic perspectives.

Pam Childs

With more than 35 years of experience in municipal taxation and revenue administration, Pam has built extensive expertise across all aspects of property tax and revenue services, including taxation, assessment analysis, collections, customer service, legislative compliance, and process improvement. Throughout her career, she has successfully led operational enhancements, supported organizational change initiatives, and worked closely with residents, stakeholders, and staff to ensure transparency, consistency, and fairness in tax administration.

Pam is a strong advocate for mentorship and lifelong learning, believing that investing in the development of others strengthens both the profession and the organizations we serve. Known for her collaborative and approachable leadership style, she enjoys sharing practical knowledge gained through decades of hands-on experience and helping others navigate the complexities of municipal taxation and revenue administration.

As a mentor, Pam is committed to supporting emerging professionals by fostering confidence, encouraging critical thinking, and helping mentees develop strong technical skills and sound judgment. Her goal is to provide practical guidance, meaningful insights, and encouragement that will help the next generation of municipal tax and revenue professionals succeed and grow in their careers.

Jennifer Muoka

Jennifer has worked for the Town of Carleton Place as a Tax and Water Revenue Clerk for more than 11 years. She graduated from Canadore College with a three-year Business Administration Accounting Diploma and also holds a Municipal Tax Administration Program Diploma from Seneca College.

One of Jennifer's most significant accomplishments over the past seven years has been helping to reduce environmental impact by transitioning her area of responsibility to a paperless process. Through her efforts, more than 67% of Carleton Place residents now receive their tax and water bills electronically.

Jennifer is committed to keeping processes simple, efficient, and customer-focused. One of her key strengths is her ability to work effectively with irate or concerned residents, taking the time to explain tax-related matters clearly and professionally, particularly when it comes to supplementary tax billing. Her approachable communication style and strong technical knowledge help residents better understand their accounts while fostering positive customer service experiences.

Steven Radenic

Steven is the Supervisor of Assessment Base Management for the Town of Milton, where he is responsible for guiding the development, maintenance, and analysis of the municipal property assessment base in support of taxation, planning, and organizational decision-making. He began his career in the assessment and taxation field with the City of Edmonton as a Property Assessor, where he earned the Accredited Municipal Assessor of Alberta designation.  
 
Since returning to Ontario, Steven has continued to expand his professional credentials, earning the M.I.M.A. from the Institute of Municipal Assessors, the Professional Land Economist qualification from the Association of Ontario Land Economists, and the Certified Municipal Manager accreditation through the Ontario Municipal Management Institute. He has also received the Certified Municipal Revenue Professional designation from the Ontario Municipal Tax and Revenue Association, where he currently serves as the Past President.  
 
In addition to his municipal leadership roles, Steven is an Adjunct Professor at Seneca Polytechnic, where he teaches Municipal Revenue Administration and contributes to the development of future professionals in the industry.

Alan Selby

Alan is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CGA) with more than 30 years of experience in municipal finance. Throughout his career, he has worked in a variety of municipal settings, including a town, a county, and a township, providing him with a comprehensive understanding of the full spectrum of municipal operations and financial responsibilities.

He holds a Bachelor of Mathematics degree from the University of Waterloo (1982) and was an active member of the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) for over 20 years, maintaining his membership until 2024.

Drawing on years of practical experience across diverse municipal environments, Alan brings valuable insight into municipal finance, taxation, administration, and leadership. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and supporting the professional growth of colleagues within the municipal sector.

Lawrence Villanueva

Lawrence graduated from Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) with a Bachelor of Commerce degree. He earned his AIMA designation in 2017 and obtained his Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certification in 2021.

Throughout his career, Lawrence has held a variety of leadership roles with the Town of Newmarket and the City of Richmond Hill, gaining extensive experience in municipal finance, revenue management, and organizational leadership.

Among Lawrence's notable accomplishments are the development of the revenue strategy for the Automated Speed Enforcement program and the successful management of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) water meter implementation at the Town of Newmarket. He also served on the OMTRA Board of Directors as Director of Communications and Membership during the 2022-2023 term, contributing to the organization's growth and member engagement initiatives.

In addition, Lawrence has demonstrated a commitment to professional development and knowledge sharing within the municipal sector. He led and delivered seminars on Change Management and SCIF (Severances, Consolidations, and Information Flow) at the 2023 OMTRA Conference in Niagara Falls, helping municipal professionals build capacity and navigate complex revenue and taxation challenges.

Who Can Be a Mentee?

The Mentorship Program is intended for OMTRA members who are relatively new to the revenue and taxation profession and are interested in expanding their knowledge, developing their careers, and learning from experienced practitioners. 

Eligible mentees must:

• Be a current OMTRA member

• Have less than five years of industry experience

• Agree to the Mentorship Program Responsibilities and Code of Conduct

• Be committed to participating in mentorship discussions and professional development activities

How the Mentorship Process Works

Step 1: Complete Your Mentee Application and Review Program Code of Conduct

Applicants must complete an application and review and acknowledge the Mentorship Program Responsibilities and Code of Conduct found below. Once both forms are completed, please return to this page by selecting the return arrow in your browser.

OMTRA Mentorship Program  - Mentee Responsibilities and Code of Conduct Acknowledgement  – Fill out form

OMTRA Mentorship Pilot Program - Mentee Application Form  – Fill out form

Step 2: Mentor Matching:

The OMTRA Board will review applications and facilitate introductions between mentees and mentors to ensure balanced participation and mentor availability.

Once matched, mentees will coordinate meeting dates and discussion topics directly with their mentor. Mentorship sessions are generally expected to be conducted virtually unless otherwise agreed upon by both participants.

Step 3: Begin Your Mentorship Journey

Once connected, mentors and mentees will coordinate meeting dates and discussion topics directly.

Mentors and mentees are encouraged to connect independently through two to three mentorship sessions throughout the program and discuss topics such as:

• Career development and goal setting

• Leadership and professional growth

• Industry challenges and emerging trends

• Practical knowledge and technical expertise

• Navigating opportunities within municipal revenue and taxation

To maximize the value of the mentorship experience, mentees should come prepared with development goals and discussion topics for each session. This helps mentors provide targeted guidance and meaningful support.

Step 4: Participant Expectations:

To ensure a positive and professional experience, all participants are expected to:

• Treat one another with professionalism and respect

• Maintain confidentiality of discussions

• Communicate openly and courteously

• Honour scheduled meeting commitments

• Foster an inclusive and supportive learning environment

• Follow OMTRA's Mentorship Program Responsibilities and Code of Conduct

Questions?

For assistance with applications or questions about the program, please contact: admin@omtra.ca