The Engine Behind Every Sterling Group—Our Chairs
The role of Sterling Chairs
Our Chairs are central to the organization’s success, spearheading the organization and facilitation of meetings, selecting engaging workshop speakers, setting comprehensive agendas, and confirming meeting logistics.
Their pivotal role ensures the seamless functioning of our community, promoting collaboration and effective communication among members.
Meet Our Group Chairs
Wayne Cole – Virtual Peer‑Group Pioneer Elevating Canadian CEOs through Leadership Tradecraft
Based in Winnipeg, Wayne oversees Sterling Executive Group’s pan-Canadian network of virtual CEO cohorts. He channels more than forty years of multi-industry leadership to help top executives accelerate strategy execution without leaving their boardrooms.
For the past decade, Wayne has served as Sterling’s CEO and Executive Chair, orchestrating Sterling’s signature 3 × 55-minute sessions that blend rigorous issue‑processing with candid peer coaching. His virtual‑facilitation approach—rooted in brain‑science research and leadership‑tradecraft principles—keeps engagement high, deepens personal connection, and documents learning so members leave each session with clear, applied commitments.
Wayne’s strengths include designing high-energy virtual meetings, guiding strategic growth and succession transitions, and coaching CEOs through culture transformation using the LEADSET® self-assessment framework. Under his guidance, more than sixty Canadian CEOs have reduced operational blind spots, boosted EBITDA by an average of 15 percent, and built leadership “factories” that sustain growth beyond the founder.
Recent milestones include leading a cross-sector succession round‑table that enabled members to complete smooth CEO transitions within nine months, and publishing the white‑paper Leadership as Tradecraft, which has been downloaded over 500 times by executives seeking practical development paths.
You’ll find him refining his handyman craft away from Sterling or cheering his granddaughter through her first year of university.
Erifili Morfidis – Growth‑Driven Virtual Chair Empowering Tech & Service CEOs Nationwide
From Toronto, Erifili chairs virtual CEO groups across Canada, focused on scaling tech, services, and multi‑market organizations. She brings experience leading companies from startup to $3 Billion.
She guides growth‑stage CEOs through Sterling’s virtual‑first 3 × 55‑minute sessions, helping them tackle operational complexities, enhance team alignment, and turn strategy into execution without stepping away from day-to-day demands. Leveraging peer-group candor, tradecraft rigor, and cross‑Canada insights, she ensures every session delivers actionable takeaways.
Erifili‘s strengths include scaling businesses across industries, acquisitions, international board communication, digital transformation in legacy sectors, high-growth team leadership, and enterprise-level client delivery. She has built two companies from the ground up, acquired and integrated two others, and led national expansion as CEO — consistently delivering growth, operational scale, and investor trust.
Erifili recharges by traveling to new places, enjoying the local culture, and taking quiet time while she’s away — often reflecting on what’s next in the projects she’s leading.
Glenn Stang – Pan‑Canadian Executive Chair Elevating CEOs Through Virtual Leadership Craft
Based in Saskatchewan, Glenn chairs Sterling’s national virtual CEO network, guiding leaders across financial services, trades, and multi-sector firms, with 40+ years of executive experience—including 27 years at Synergy Credit Union.
He leverages Sterling’s virtual‑first 3 × 55‑minute model to help CEOs accelerate strategy, improve culture, and strengthen succession planning—all while staying embedded in their business context. By combining structured process, candid peer coaching, and brain‑science facilitation, Glenn supports leaders in making confident, outcome-driven decisions backed by pan-Canadian insights.
His strengths include virtual peer‑group facilitation, strategic planning, stakeholder relationship-building, succession design, culture, cooperative governance, and LEADSET® integration. His tenure included growing Synergy CU from $1.1B to $2.5B in assets administered and distributing $30M+ in profit shares. Synergy earned “Top Employer” status seven years running.
Glenn’s spare time is spent on yardwork, woodworking, community volunteering, and grandparenting.
Brian Jones – Virtual Peer‑Group Leader Guiding Industrial & Infrastructure CEOs Across Canada
Based in Alberta, Brian leads two national virtual CEO cohorts focused on energy, mining, industrial, and infrastructure sectors, drawing from 20+ years in high-stakes leadership and strategy.
Through Sterling’s virtual‑first 3 × 55‑minute format, he helps CEOs navigate complex operations, capital transformation, and organizational scaling—without disruption to their daily responsibilities. His facilitation combines brain‑science techniques with strategic rigor and Canada-wide operational insight to foster clarity, accountability, and documented action.
Brian’s strengths include virtual peer‑group design, strategic turnaround execution, M&A and capital-portfolio strategy, infrastructure and transportation engineering insights, and LEADSET® executive coaching.
He has helped organizations lift $1B+ portfolios by 18%+ through culture shifts and team optimization. MBA, ICD.D.
Brian enjoys travelling the world enjoying the culture and different perspectives this brings to life.
Ed Yee – Virtual, Pan-Canadian Facilitator Supporting CEOs in Private, Public, and Not-for-Profit Sectors
Based in Vancouver, Ed leads Sterling’s virtual CEO groups across Canada, helping leaders from private industry, public sector, and not-for-profit organizations navigate complex leadership challenges and growth.
With significant leadership experience in organizations from small to over $1 Billion, Ed understands the overlapping leadership issues faced by all sectors, including resource constraints in smaller NFPs and cultural and execution challenges in public organizations. His areas of strength include strategy, operations, sales, and marketing.
Through Sterling’s 3 × 55-minute virtual sessions, he helps CEOs and executive directors enhance operational effectiveness, strengthen team alignment, and drive strategy execution without stepping away from daily demands. His expertise spans healthcare, consumer goods, luxury cosmetics and fragrances, retail, and broader markets.
Ed’s engaging and probing facilitation empowers leaders across sectors to think at a highly strategic level, involve important stakeholders, tackle key challenges and achieve sustained performance results.
When not working, Ed enjoys traveling, sports, and reflecting on new opportunities.
Industries in Focus: Current Members and Ongoing Expansion
Our community seamlessly spans across various sectors, and we’re on an exciting journey of expansion. As we evolve, so does our commitment to fostering connections and knowledge-sharing across an ever-growing spectrum of industries.
MANUFACTURING
CONSUMER PACKAGE GOODS
CONSTRUCTION
CONSULTING ENGINEERING
AGRICULTURE
RETAIL
BANKING
AUTOMOTIVE
LOGISTICS
PRINTING
COMMUNICATIONS
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
BUILDING MAINTENANCE
REAL ESTATE
TECHNOLOGY
Leadership Development That Fits How You Lead Today
If you’re ready for leadership development that works inside your business—not outside of it—Sterling Executive Peer Groups delivers the model built for modern leadership complexity.