2002 Judges. (Influential Women).

HELEN MULE

A native of Sudbury, Helen Mulc is a graduate of Laurentian University's honours bachelor of commerce program. Upon graduating in 1990, Muic began her work in a small private consulting company. In 1991 she became a small-business consultant for the Sudbury Regional Development Corp. and later the North Bay Economic Development Commission.

In 1995 she became manager for the development, growth and operation of the Sudbury Regional Business Centre. In 2001 she was appointed the manager of business development in the economic development and planning services department for the City of Greater Sudbury. She is a member of the Sudbury BPW, past co-chair of the Women Entrepreneur Awards committee, board member of Greater Sudbury Chamber of Commerce, and the Sudbury Manitoulin Training and Adjustment Board, board trustee and chair of property and finance committee for Science North, and is on one of Cambrian College's advisory committees.

CANDY MITCHELL

Candy Mitchell and her husband Garth moved from southern Ontario to Sault Ste. Marie with their children Jennifer and Matthew in 1970. In November 1986 Mitchell opened Show Stoppers, a Sault Ste. Marie special events supply store. For the last three years, she has been the vice-president and co-owner of Rainbowts Inc., a houseboat manufacturing and leasing company. She has been a member of the board of directors of the Pied Piper Co-operative nursery school, the Sault Ste. Marie Chamber of Commerce, the downtown association and the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp. She is a founding member of Woman Inc., and participated in MAP RAPIDS, VISION 20/20. She is a member of Consumer's Association of Canada, an information officer for Canadian Parents for French and an event chairperson for the Bon Soo carnival.

MARNIE HOEY

Marnie Hoey is the president and general manager of Sioux Travel/Carlson Wagonlit, and has been involved in retail travel since 1976.

She has also been involved in many community projects and boards and is presently serving on the board of directors for the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corp.

She is also a board member for the Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce.

Hoey is aboard member of the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre and chair of the Sioux Lookout District Health Foundation.

She is also co-chair of the Sioux Lookout anti-racism committee, chair of the Sioux Lookout enhancement study and chair of the Sioux Lookout annual blueberry festival.

Hoey received the Influential Women of Northern Ontario Award in 2000.

LINDA WENS

Linda Wiens, president and chief executive officer of Quetico Centre, took over the reins of the centre in 1998, from its founding president, the late Cliff McIntosh. She had worked at the centre under McIntosh's mentorship for 31 years.

Quetico Centre is a well-known retreat centre and think tank near Atikokan. It is a non-profit enterprise dedicated to helping people deal positively and effectively with the escalating changes that face us.

Wiens is a psychology graduate from the University of Toronto, and a trained teacher. She first came North in '67 after a two-year stint in India, as a volunteer with CUSO (Canadian Universities Service Overseas). She held various positions at the centre before taking on its leadership four years ago. She is a conference facilitator, workshop designer and instructor.

Wiens is currently working on two major projects in Chicago - to set up a lifelong learning institute, and an integrated eco-observatory monitoring station.