Mark Lewis, President & CEOMark joined Det'on Cho in 2019 as Chief Financial Officer before becoming Chief Operating Officer in early 2022 and President and CEO in May 2023. Mark's focus during his tenure has included implementing a continuous improvement program for operational excellence and driving strategic investments to maximize growth and diversify Det'on Cho's businesses.
Over his 15 years in the North, Mark has developed significant experience with Northern companies, including leadership roles in finance and accounting for a local airline, a diamond mine, and a Western Canada-based accounting firm. Mark has also served as an auditor for various non-profit, government, and private businesses. Mark serves as Treasurer of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Construction Association and has served on boards of several Yellowknife-based non-profits. Mark has a business degree from Memorial University in Newfoundland. He lives in Yellowknife with his wife, their two sons, and their dogs, and he enjoys cycling, golfing, and running in his free time. |
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Clayton Thompson, Vice President, Operations
Clayton is a long-time Northerner with over 18 years of experience leading teams in the North and seven years with the Det’on Cho Group of Companies. Clayton has extensive experience in hospitality and remote camp management, focusing on building safe and customer-centric team cultures.
Clayton oversees Det’on Cho’s safety team and operations of Bouwa Whee Catering, Keskorie Boarding Home, and Det’on Cho Capital. Clayton serves a director for the NWT & Nunavut Chamber of Mines . During his time away from work, Clayton enjoys the outdoors, including running the trails around Yellowknife, camping, and fishing. |
Rebecca Connelly, Vice President, Strategy & EngagementRebecca is Vice President of Strategic Engagement for Det'on Cho Management LP. Since joining the company in 2022, she has led efforts to implement programs and processes to optimize Det'on Cho's growing portfolio of companies while also focusing on community engagement and building a comprehensive communications strategy.
Rebecca has extensive experience in large-hub airport management, including community outreach, finance, and real estate development. She has parlayed that experience into nurturing strategic relationships between Det'on Cho and their internal and external stakeholders across industry, government, non-profits, and academia. Rebecca serves as a director for the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Yellowknife Airport Economic Advisory Committee. Originally from Florida, Rebecca holds a business degree from Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and an MBA from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. She lives in Yellowknife with her husband and their dog, where she enjoys attempting new winter sports, cooking, and traveling in her free time. |
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Noma Mangena, Vice President, PeopleNoma Mangena is VP of People for Det'on Cho Management LP and joined the company in January 2024. With a diverse HR background, Noma is passionate about Diversity and Inclusion, Employment Equity, Empowering Others and connecting people to inclusive opportunities. Coaching and mentoring others so they see the strengths that can propel them to achieve their goals.
As a new immigrant, Noma started working in retail and security services. Her hunger for knowledge and passion for lifelong learning drove her to return to school to study Business administration and Human Resources. Through a conversation with one of the college instructors about Canada's Oils Sands, and out of curiosity and her sense of adventure, she moved to Fort McMurray, Alberta. Armed with a Business Administration and Human Resources diploma from Centennial College in Ontario, she was ready to start a Human Resources career in the public sector. She later transitioned to the health sector, oil industry, Indigenous communities, and Indigenous-owned businesses, where she held various positions from entry-level HR to HR leadership roles. Noma completed a Human Resources and Labour Relations degree from Athabasca University and an MBA in Human Resources Leadership from the University of Fredericton. Noma enjoys spending time with family, reading, and travelling outside of work. |
Custis Dunford, Vice President, Construction & ProjectsCurtis joined Det'on Cho in 2024 as Vice President, Construction and Projects. In this role, Curtis oversees the operations and projects of Det'on Cho Construction and Kavanaugh Waste Removal Services and coordinates many projects with our joint-venture partners.
Curtis has close to 30 years of experience in mining and heavy construction, having started his career at Lupin Gold Mine. His years of experience in the NWT provide Curtis the unique expertise needed to bring Northern projects from conception to completion, coupled with extensive leadership experience. He is focused on maintaining Det’on Cho’s strong safety culture and continuing to build Det’on Cho’s technical expertise to support Northern industry. Curtis has a degree in Engineering from the University of Alberta. He lives in Yellowknife, where he owns two small businesses with his partner. He enjoys the lake in the summer, snowmobiling in the winter, and travelling when time permits. |
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Lesley Ann Evans, Human Resources ManagerLesley Ann Evans is the Human Resources Manager for Det'on Cho Management LP. She is focused on ensuring that Yellowknives Dene First Nation members are engaged and informed on both current and future Det’on Cho Management LP activities.
Lesley Ann is a Yellowknives Dene First Nation member and has grown up in both communities of Dettah and Ndilo. Throughout her 10 year career, Lesley Ann has worked in various areas of Human Resources such as recruitment, communication, benefits, and employee relations. She has held positions based in both the north and the south, with large multinational companies and small local organizations thus giving her a well-rounded perspective of Human Resources and community engagement. Lesley Ann has extensive education in Human Resources and administration, and holds a diploma in Fashion Design. She is a recognized Northern artist and is the owner of Dene Beadz which specializes in clothing, beading and jewelry. |
John Henderson, Special Advisor to the CEODuring a career that has spanned over 25 years, John has provided his expertise and leadership to a variety of small business, large enterprise and government organizations. Over the course of his career, John has worked in cross functional settings providing him exposure to all aspects of business operations.
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