Michael Skinner is the President of MAS Capital Investments, an accredited investor and Managing Partner of Viva Industries Inc., an investment company that acquires, develops, and commercializes water and sustainable technologies through four integrated divisions — strategic investments, research and development, solution commercializing, and business channel development.
Michael is the past CEO (Contract Part-time from 2016 – 2023) of the Innovation Cluster which supports innovative entrepreneurs in the formation and growth of technology-driven companies. Focusing on four key sectors, Cleantech, Agriculture Tech, Healthcare and Digital technology, the Innovation Cluster’s dynamic programming ensures that startups find their best path to market. The Innovation Cluster operates The Cube, Peterborough’s two full service business incubators located at Trent University and in downtown Peterborough. With a strong focus on clean technology, the Innovation Cluster works closely with Fleming College’s Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT) and recently launched the Trent Makerspace located at Trent University, a world-class lab facility for clean-tech companies to produce, test and commercialize IP based biotechnology products.
Michael Skinner is the 2011 Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Business Citizen of the Year, on the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Peterborough’s 20 Most Influential People list and a 2017 inductee into the Junior Achievement Peterborough, Business Hall of Fame.
In 2020, Michael was the CEO (Contract Position) of Rainmaker World Wide Inc OTC:RAKR. an organization with the purpose of developing innovative technology solutions that would produce clean water for communities in need, so they can thrive and never go thirsty. Prior to leaving Rainmaker, Michael redeveloped the Rainmaker business model from a product focus to a solution focus by restructuring the business to focus on selling water as oppose to the technology which produces it. {Read more here} Michael also lead a team to structure a tentative deal to take Rainmaker onto the NASDAQ through a reverse takeover with Sphere 3D (NASDAQ: ANY). Although this RTO was terminated due to regulatory approvals that could not be completed within the timeline acceptable to both parties, Michael ensured that the organization had the correct processes, financial controls as well a governance in order to ensure Rainmaker would be in a position to be compliant with the stringent requirements of a NASDAQ company. Michael was also the Chief Strategy Officer (Contract Position) from 2016-2017 when Rainmaker was taken public on the OTC in 2017.
In 2001, Michael founded Operitel Corporation, a learning software development company that he expanded worldwide. In 2006, Profit Magazine recognized Operitel as one of Canada’s hottest companies and then in 2008 as one of Canada’s fastest growing companies. Operitel has also won the following Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Awards; Entrepreneurial Spirit Award in 2006, Employer of the Year in 2009 and again in 2012. In 2011, Michael had a success exit with Operitel being acquired by OpenText Corporation, Canada’s largest software company.
Michael co-authoring a chapter found in a “Plan to Learn: Case studies in eLearning Project Management” and “eLearning Project Management: Canadian Perspective” as well as many other whitepapers.
Michael has been involved on several boards and committees including:
- Chair of Centre for Alternative Wastewater Treatment (CAWT) (2018 – 2022)
- Director of the Peterborough Regional Angel Network (2010 – 2022)
- Advisor to BioRegenTech (2020 – 2022)
- Founding Member of StartUP Peterborough. (2015 –2019)
- Vice Chair of the Peterborough Agriculture Society (2015 – 2019)
- Advisory Chair of Carbon Control Systems (2017 – 2019)
- Director of the Shining Waters Railway Board (2014 – 2017)
- Director of the Peterborough Economic Development Board (2012 – 2016)
- Vice-Chair of the Greater Peterborough Innovation Cluster (2012 – 2016)
- Chair of the Peterborough Economic Development 2015-2020 Strategic Plan Committee (2014 – 2016) (2012 – 2016)
- Member of the Trent University Student and Entrepreneurship Centre Working Group (2013 – 2015)
- Co-chair of the Trent University Business Council (2013 – 2015).
- Past major gifts volunteer with the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation (during the build of PRHC)
Michael Skinner was also the Federal Conservative Candidate in the 2015 election and 2019 Federal election.