I have lived in Derby for over 20 years after moving to the city for University.  A passionate father of three and keen Newcastle season ticket holder (don’t hold that against me).  I have worked in Hospitality for over 30 years and am currently Group Operations Director for leaf Hospitality.

I have been a supporter of me&dee since 2018 and joined the board in 2021 as vice-chairman.  I love being a part of the charity and supporting the team in making memories.

Nikki is a Director and Board member of Derby based recruitment specialist, Sellick Partnership. Nikki was instantly drawn to me&dee when she first met Maria Hanson at the 2014 Derby Telegraph Business Awards and was immediately overwhelmed by Maria’s kindness and dedication to helping those in need.

Nikki has been committed to helping the charity ever since, working closely with Maria to create special memories for the charity’s beneficiaries.

Nikki hopes that her passion for the not for profit sector, commercial experience and desire to ensure the charity is able to continue providing precious memories will offer a fresh approach and create new opportunities for me&dee.

I am a passionate entrepreneur and a dedicated family man. As the proud owner of a thriving Fire & Security installation company, JKE Fire & Security, we have a reputation for providing top-notch services to our valued clients.

Beyond my business endeavor’s, I also cherish my role as a loving father to two incredible children, aged 16 and 11. Their happiness and well-being are at the heart of my life’s journey.

One of my favourite pastimes is traveling to Greece, where I have developed a profound love for the country’s culture and picturesque landscapes. In fact, I was so captivated by the Greek way of life that I spent five years learning the language to embrace the local traditions and communicate effortlessly with the locals.

With a blend of entrepreneurship and family values I always seek to inspire those around me, leaving a positive impact on both the business world and personal life.

I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to work at the heart of this incredible charity and take on the role of a trustee. My main motivation is to provide much-needed support to the families who are currently experiencing such challenging times.

Being able to bring joy and create everlasting memories for these families will undoubtedly be a source of immense happiness for me. I look forward to collaborating with a team of amazing individuals who share the same passion for delivering the charity’s vision and making a positive impact on the lives of so many people on a daily basis.

I’ve had a wonderful career in finance for over the last 20 years. I’ve had the privilege of working in a variety of fantastic businesses leading large operational finance teams across different sectors. My current role is the Operations Finance Director for a professional services business.

With my experience and background in finance I’m looking forward to helping Maria and the charity ensure all the wonderful donations and sponsorships we receive are used in the best way to help me&dee achieve its objectives of making memories for as many families as we possibly can. I am also looking forward to helping in other areas of the charity whether it’s supporting our fantastic team in the office to providing ideas and input into up and coming charity events.

After meeting Maria nearly ten years ago now my journey with me&dee has been one of the most enjoyable periods in life. After taking our business relationship to a personal one nine years ago our lives have been quite busy to say the least, but most rewarding!

Since joining the charity full time in January 2018 I’m now Head of Operations, a grand title for a fella who happily sits in the background and mucks in where needed. There’s always plenty to do and my role is generally looking after the day too day stuff, leaving the rest of the team to look after the families we support.

I’m a Derby County fan although time doesn’t allow me to get to Pride Park too often, I enjoy all sorts of music, real music, from the 60’s to country.

This charity is now my life and I’m honored to be a part of the small but committed team that helps deliver and create some smiles and memories to our lovely families, it truly is more than just a job.