Date: Monday, January 26^th
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. AT
Location: Microsoft Teams Link (Note: a link will be shared with attendees closer to the event)
Register HERE.

Speaker bios:

Scott Dempsey ('25)
Scott Dempsey(he/him) is Director of Career and Experiential Learning at Acadia University and a graduate of Acadia’s MEd Inclusive Education program. He brings a strong background in student support and mentoring in post-secondary settings and is committed to making career development accessible and welcoming for all students.

James Michener ('09)
James Michener graduated from Acadia University in 2009 with a degree in Professional Studies, Bachelors of Recreation Management. James spent all his years at Acadia playing with the Axemen Football team, achieving 2nd-team All-Canadian and Academic All-Canadian honors in his final year while serving as one of the team captains. He currently resides in Stouffville, Ontario, with his wife Anna Michener. James started a career in medical sales in 2010 and currently holds the position of National Sales Director with STERIS Canada in the HealthCare sector. James oversees strategic initiatives aimed at expanding market share and enhancing client satisfaction. His career spans 16 years in healthcare sales, with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and mentoring emerging leaders. James is passionate about leveraging technology to improve patient care and is an advocate for collaborative leadership. When he's not working, James enjoys spending time with family and friends at the cottage, performing acoustic guitar covers at local venues, and keeping healthy, mentally and physically, with regular fitness activities.

Matthew Holmes ('24)
Matthew graduated from the Kinesiology program in May of 2024. During his five years at Acadia, he played football and was a S.M.I.L.E. leader, paired with the same buddy for all five years. Matthew completed the Exercise Science practicum and was the senior S&C (strength and conditioning) coach for the women’s rugby team. He also worked with COLS (Centre of Lifestyle Studies). Each year Matthew was listed an Academic All-Canadian.

After graduating, Matthew completed his CEP (Clinical Exercise Physiologist) designation and spent a year working full-time with the COLS program, first as a research assistant and then moving on to fill the role of Program coordinator designing and running multiple community programs around the neighbouring municipalities as well as working in the family practice on Earnscliffe in a clinical setting. The programs were group fitness classes tailored to older adults, many of whom had chronic medical conditions. The clinic time involved working one-to-one with a diverse population, running physiological assessments, designing and prescribing exercises (i.e. rehab) and providing some lifestyle and nutritional counselling.

Currently, Matthew is working as a Clinical specialist with the orthopaedic division of Johnson & Johnson (Depuy Synthes). In this role, he covers five area hospitals, providing assistance in the operating room on how to properly use the orthopaedic equipment.

Working with both with the Trauma Division and the Joint Reconstruction Division, Matthew supports hip and shoulder replacements as well as “open reduction internal fixation” procedures (fractures that are fixed with plates and screws).

Outside of his full-time role, Matthew runs an online fitness and health coaching business with a close, long time friend providing him the opportunity to continue applying his knowledge from his degree and his own research and experience.

When Matthew is not working, he focuses his attention on his own fitness and wellness by going to the gym, being active on a daily basis, video games, time with family and friends, and playing guitar.