2012/2013 Board of Directors
Officers of the Board
Directors
Officers of the Board
Mary Williams, Chair
Mary Williams is the Vice President of University Advancement at McMaster University and leads one of Canada’s strongest advancement teams. As an active volunteer, Mary is Past President of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education, her professional organization; and has been actively involved in many boards in the broader Hamilton area. Mary serves on the YMCA’s Board Development Committee and the President & CEO Performance Appraisal Committee and is the past Chair of the Board Committee which developed the Strategic Plan 2012-2017. Mary and her husband Rob Forbes are proud parents of Liam Forbes and as a family, they have a long and active history with the YMCA. Mary will be serving a two year term as Board Chair ending in 2014.
Cheryl Jensen, Vice Chair
Cheryl Jensen is Mohawk College’s Vice President, Academic. Cheryl joined Mohawk as a professor in 1983 and has served as Dean, Executive Dean, and Vice President of Engineering Technology, Apprenticeship and Corporate Training. Cheryl also serves as Chair of the Industry Education Council of Hamilton, and is a member of the Board of Directors with the Burlington Economic Development Corporation, and Skills Canada Ontario. Cheryl serves as Chair of the Board Development Committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2013.
Bruce Pearson, Past Chair
Bruce Pearson is the retired former President and co-founder of Pearson-Dunn Insurance & Financial Services Inc. Bruce is a strong YMCA supporter and serves on the Audit Committee. He serves as current secretary of the Governing Board of the Insurance Institute of Ontario and is a Past President of the Registered Insurance Institute of Ontario. Bruce is also the past Chair of the Hamilton Police Services Board, is a long time Rotarian and former President of the Ancaster AM Rotary. Bruce will be serving a two year term as Past Board Chair until 2014.
Directors
David Adames
David is the Senior Director, Business Development for the Niagara Park Commission. Prior to this, he was President & CEO of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. David’s education includes a Masters of Public Administration from Queen’s University and an undergraduate degree from McMaster University. David’s current community involvement includes serving on the Board of Directors for the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Regional Tourism Association, McMaster University Alumni Association and McMaster Museum of Art. He is also on the Fund Cabinet for the United Way of Burlington and Greater Hamilton. David serves on the Board Development Committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2015.
Gary Beveridge
Gary is a Tax Partner at KPMG. He is a Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) with the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants, a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce and an MBA from McMaster University. Gary specializes in Canadian Tax Compliance, Canadian Tax Consulting and Private Company Tax Services. His current involvement in the community includes: Chair of the Mohawk College Foundation, Former Chair of the Board of Governors for Mohawk College,Treasurer for Good Shepherd Centres, Advisor for the Focus Consulting Group for the Degroote School of Business and Member of the McMaster Business Advisory Council. Gary serves as Chair of the Audit Committee. He is serving a three year Board term ending in 2014.
John Forbeck
John is the Director of Education at the Grand Erie District School Board. Prior to this, he was the Superintendent of Education for the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB). A carpenter by trade, John began his second career as a teacher in 1979 with HWDSB, working in special education. Since that time he has taught in elementary schools and has served as a school administrator at both the elementary and secondary level. John serves on the Board Development Committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2015.
Phemon Ma
Phemon is a Financial planner and advisor. Prior to this, he worked as an income tax auditor for the Canada Revenue Agency, auditor for Clarkson Gordon (Ernst & Young),Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for a number of Stelco’s subsidiaries, and financial planner at TD Waterhouse. Phemon has served on boards and committees for numerous not-for-profits including the Children's Aid Society and McMaster University. Phemon serves on the Audit Committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2014.
Cal Millar
Cal Millar is part owner and President and C.O.O. at Channel Zero Inc. His past roles include Vice President & General Manager at Channel Zero and Vice President Central Region at Frisco Bay Industries in San Francisco. Cal has served on numerous not-for-profit and hospital boards, including Bloorview Kid’s Rehab and is past Treasurer of Palliative Care Services for York Region. His education includes an MBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University and an undergraduate degree from Ryerson University. Cal serves on the Audit committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2013.
Dave Nanderam
Dave is currently the President of TapestryBuilder, a consultancy company which facilitated development of strategic cross-sector partnership aimed at building civic and employee engagement. Dave recently completed his PhD in Business with a research focus on the relationship between corporate social responsibility and talent management. Dave is Chair of the President and CEO Performance Appraisal Committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2013.
Rebecca Repa
Rebecca is the President of St. Peter’s Hospital. Her experience includes Director of Quality and Risk Management at St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener and Manager of the Department of Surgery at McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences. Rebecca is a graduate of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University where she received her MBA. In addition, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology from McMaster University and is a current member of the Business Advisory Council of the Michael G. DeGroote School of Business. Rebecca is also currently an Industry Professor and Executive-in-residence for DeGroote. Rebecca is a member of the President and CEO Performance Appraisal Committee and is serving a three year term ending in 2014.
Sandra R. Stephenson
Sandra is a member of the Canadian Bar Association and a Past President of the Hamilton Law Association. She has extensive community involvement including roles with the Rotary Club of Hamilton, St. Peter’s Health System, Chedoke Health Foundation, Hamilton Community Foundation and the Hamilton Club. In 2009, she was honoured by the Hamilton Law Association as the recipient of the Emilius Irving Award, the highest honour which can be given to a Hamilton lawyer. In 2011, she was inducted into both the McMaster Alumni Gallery of Distinction and the City of Hamilton Gallery of Distinction. She is a frequent speaker on estate planning, administration matters and corporate reorganizations. Sandra serves on the President & CEO Performance Appraisal Committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2015.
Eric Vandewall
Eric is the President and CEO of Joseph Brant Hospital. He brings an impressive profile of career experience in the private, public and government sectors of the health care industry. He joined Joseph Brant Hospital from Trillium Health Centre where he was Senior Vice President. Eric also served as acting CEO with Trillium Health Centre. Eric holds a Master of Public Administration, Health Policy degree from Queen’s University and he and his family are residents of the City of Burlington. A strategic thinker and capable leader with a proven track record for achieving positive results, Eric’s background and experience demonstrate a passion for quality and safe patient care and service, as well as a clear understanding of the issues in health care today. Eric is a member of the Board Development Committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2014.
Jennifer Walker
Jennifer Walker is a Public Relations and Marketing Consultant who currently works for an independent business in downtown Burlington. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Burlington Downtown Business Association. Previously, Jennifer owned and operated her own Toronto based consulting practice. For five years she and her partner helped businesses grow sales, launch new products, raise their profiles, help associations communicate with members, manage issues and hold special events. Prior to this she spent 12 years with various public relations agencies working for clients as varied as the Canadian Sport Awards to Nintendo of Canada. Jennifer and her family reside in downtown Burlington and are longtime supporters and members of the Ron Edwards Family YMCA. Jennifer is on the Audit Committee and is serving a three year Board term ending in 2014.