Meet Some of The Candidates We Have Placed – February 2023
Lisa Larsen, Vice President, Finance and Administration, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada
When Crohn’s and Colitis Canada (CCC) was seeking a new Vice President, Finance & Administration, Lisa stood out as an exceptional candidate. With a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University and CPA and CA designations, Lisa is a seasoned professional, experienced in process improvement and able to provide strategic financial advice to organizational leaders. Lisa honed these skills in complex private-sector organizations such as Wajax Ltd. and Xerox Canada. Lisa then entered the NFP sector working for the government agency NPO Groupe Média TFO where she was the CFO and then at Make-A-Wish Canada as the Vice President of Finance. Smart, forward-thinking, and highly capable, with an outstanding ability to help non-financial partners to understand the role of finance and how it can support key business decisions, Lisa has become an important asset to CCC as it prepares for significant growth. Click here to see Lisa’s LinkedIn profile.
Phoebe Dey, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Cystic Fibrosis Canada
Cystic Fibrosis Canada (CFC) had been searching for months for someone to lead the marketing and communications team, so when they interviewed Phoebe Dey, they knew they’d been right to hold out for the perfect candidate. Calm, confident and thoughtful, Phoebe honed her talents for team building and strategic planning after earning a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Alberta and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from Concordia. After working in media and communications at the University of Alberta, Phoebe joined the Alberta Cancer Foundation as Communications Manager. She was promoted into the position of Director, Communications and Marketing of the Foundation, after which she spent six years as the Vice President. Since joining CFC, Phoebe has impressed both CEO and staff with her strategic approach to team building and her ability to craft strong marketing and promotions plans. Her character and skill set have made her an important resource in helping CFC achieve its goals. Click here to see Phoebe’s LinkedIn profile.
Jeff Vallentin, Executive Director, Oakville and Milton Humane Society
The new Executive Director of the Oakville and Milton Humane Society (OMHS), Jeff has been praised by colleagues throughout his career as a skilled communicator and collaborative co-worker with the ability to positively engage a wide range of stakeholders. Before joining OMHS, Jeff was Vice President, External Relations at Sheridan College and CEO of United Way Halton & Hamilton. Prior to that, Jeff spent 17 years at Hamilton Health Sciences, where he rose from an entry position as a public relations generalist to become the Vice President Communications, Stakeholder Relations and Corporate Services. OMHS believes Jeff is the right person to lead them into the future as they work toward a long-standing dream of building a brand-new facility. The project will benefit from his strong leadership and operational abilities, creative problem solving, and diplomatic skills. Jeff’s education includes a B.A. from McMaster in political science, an MBA from Queen’s, a Post-Graduate Diploma in public relations from Niagara College, and a diploma in commercial photography from Sheridan. Jeff has always acknowledged that his life and family does not feel full without a pet in the house. Today, he feels even more “full” applying his contributions towards the welfare of animals. Click here to see Jeff’s LinkedIn profile.
Jordanna Fry, Director, Campaign and Major Gifts, LOFT Community Services
A thoughtful leader with exceptional relationship management skills, Jordanna spent over 12 years delivering results in the philanthropic sector before joining LOFT Community Services as Director, Campaign and Major Gifts. Previous senior roles include Director of Philanthropy at Pancreatic Cancer Canada and National Director, Advancement at WE. She was also Manager, Annual Giving at Sunnybrook Foundation, and Manager, Marketing and Donor Relations at Baycrest Foundation. Her reputation as a major gift fundraiser with the gravitas to work with volunteer campaign cabinets was essential to LOFT. A well-established social services organization, LOFT was determined to develop an ambitious new major gift program—their very first capital campaign—that would have a bigger impact on the lives of people LOFT serves in the Greater Toronto Area community. A highly accomplished manager and coach, Jordanna was chosen to lead the LOFT team of fundraising professionals as they work to reach—and exceed—individual and team major gift targets. A graduate of the University of Windsor in psychology and sociology, Jordanna has also volunteered as a crisis-line operator at Distress Centres of Toronto and on the Elder Abuse Hotline. Click here to see Jordanna’s LinkedIn profile.
Jana Kocourek, Program Director, Healthcare, Cystic Fibrosis Canada
Jana joined Cystic Fibrosis Canada (CFC) as Program Director, Healthcare to build health-care best practices among clinics across Canada treating individuals with CF. The role required a deep understanding of health care systems and an appreciation of the challenges faced by people living with CF. With a balance of personal experience and a career that supported improving health care practices, Jana acts as a vital conduit between the needs of patients and families and the constraints of the health care system. This is fueled by her ability to hear and understand the needs of a range of stakeholders, to build strong bridges between people, and to galvanize feedback into actionable strategies that improve lives. Jana has a BSc as well as a Master’s in Health Science, Human Kinetics from the University of Ottawa. Before joining CFC, Jana was Associate Director, Knowledge Mobilization and Project Management at the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, and also worked at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario. Click here to see Jana’s LinkedIn profile.
Sandy Marett, National Director, Philanthropy & Campaign Planning, Windmill Microlending
With a wide range of experience supporting the fund-raising efforts of a diverse range of organizations, Sandy was quickly identified by Windmill Microlending as a creative thinker and collaborative leader who could spearhead the organization’s first-ever national fundraising campaign. Sandy’s reputation as someone who can work with a wide range of individuals and rally them to a common cause will be an invaluable asset to Windmill as it seeks to significantly expand its ability to help immigrants achieve Canadian accreditation in their professions. A Certified Fund Raising Executive, Sandy’s educational background includes a B.A. from Western and an M.A. in Environmental Studies from York University. She began her career in the fundraising sector as a campaign coordinator at the Nature Conservancy of Canada. This was followed by a position as Senior Development Officer for the faculties of Environmental Studies and Education at York. Before joining Windmilll, Sandy was the Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations at Fleming College where she facilitated multiple annual fundraising programs and capital campaigns. Sandy is also on the Board of the Art Gallery of Peterborough, and has volunteered at the Jane Goodall Institute, the Toronto Wildlife Centre, the Toronto Zoo, and OneChild. Click here to see Sandy’s LinkedIn profile.
Camila Miki, Senior Development Officer, Philanthropy, TFS—Canada’s International School (Toronto French School)
With extensive qualifications as a teacher, and a successful professional background in fundraising, Camila brought a unique combination of skills to TFS—Canada’s International School (Toronto French School) when she joined the team as Senior Development Officer, Philanthropy. In addition to a Honours B.A. from the University of Toronto, Camila earned a diploma in early childhood education from Seneca College, an M.A. in Child Study and Education from U of T, and a license as a primary/junior teacher from the Ontario College of Teachers. Camila’s fundraising career began in earnest when she accepted a position as Senior Development Coordinator at UNICEF Canada. Then, just prior to joining TFS, Camila was the Advancement Officer at Sunnybrook Foundation where she managed a large portfolio of donors and prospects to close five- and six-figure gifts while building meaningful relationships with hospital partners and Foundation staff. Camila’s role at TFS is to manage annual fundraising campaigns, championing the efforts of parents and alumni and ensuring that the campaigns support the overall objectives of the school. Colleagues appreciate her tenacity as a fundraiser, support for team members, and her organized, highly detailed approach to achieving goals. Click here to see Camila’s LinkedIn profile.
Gemma Cowan, National Director, Events, Cystic Fibrosis Canada
As restrictions related to the global pandemic began to ease, Cystic Fibrosis Canada (CFC) turned its attention to re-establishing its public presence and sought a strong events director to help it unify events nationally, capitalize on its events portfolio, and work collaboratively with regional groups across Canada. In Gemma, CFC found the right person to take on the challenge. Energetic, positive, and driven, Gemma’s generous personality and commitment to helping her team achieve outstanding results made her a great fit for the CFC culture, where her impact is already being felt. A native of Scotland, Gemma has a B.A. from Edinburgh Napier University. After graduating, she worked in various fundraising roles at SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) and the MS Society, as well as volunteering extensively with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising. Upon arriving in Canada, she joined Make-A-Wish Canada, where she took on the position of Director, Signature Fundraising Programs. CFC is already delighted with Gemma’s contributions and is looking forward to an even more substantial impact as she settles into her new role. Click here to see Gemma’s LinkedIn profile.
Lindsay Reid, Director, Foundation Operations, TFS—Canada’s International School (Toronto French School)
When TFS began to plan a significant capital drive, the school’s president knew that, in Lindsay, they had found the leader they needed to set them up for a successful campaign. Lindsay’s background meant that she not only had the strong operational skills needed to support Foundation operations and the campaign, but also brought vital experience with campaign planning and execution. After completing an MBA, Arts & Media Administration, Nonprofit Management from the Schulich School of Business at York University, Lindsay began her fundraising career as a development officer at the National Ballet of Canada, Queen’s University, and TVOntario. This was followed by lengthy terms as Manager, Alumni Engagement at York and as Director, Alumni Programs & Services at the University of Calgary. Just before joining TFS, Lindsay spent four years as a consultant with KCI. At TFS, Lindsay is a key member of the leadership team, utilizing her powerful combination of relationship management skills and operational expertise. And Lindsay understands the value of volunteering firsthand; she is a past board member (secretary) at Danceworks in Toronto, and in 2015 was the volunteer Program Chair of the CASE VIII District Conference. Click here to see Lindsay’s LinkedIn profile.