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Board of directors

Our volunteer board of directors oversees kidsLINK/Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. and guides our work.

Board members bring a broad range of professional skills to support kidsLINK in achieving its mission and goals.

President
Richard Steinmann

Broker and appraiser, Remax Twin City Realty, Waterloo Region		 Richard Steinmann, is proud to be the current President for KidsLINK and Board member since 2009. His passion is Real Estate, as a Broker and top producer for Re/Max Twin City Realty, Waterloo. Selling homes and country properties since 1986. He is an Accredited Appraiser of the Appraisal Institute of Canada, and was also a Real Estate Business Coach for The Mike Ferry Organization, based out of California.Richard has been involved with many organizations throughout the years, including MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Association), Mennonite Foundation of Canada, The Appraisal Institute of Canada Waterloo-Wellington Chapter, Galilee Foundation, Mennonite Conference of Eastern Canada, Ten Thousand Villages and Steinmann Mennonite Church.Richard has a strong desire to help organizations and individuals reach their highest potential, by using his professional resources, his vision as well as networks, and research techniques; and is open and keen to learn from others, and experience personal growth in new areas.Richard has experienced a satisfying career in a world that he is openly willing to share with others.
Past President
Judith Chopra

Public relations and communications consultant, Burlington, Ontario		 Judith Chopra, current Past President and Board member since 2005, is a senior communications consultant working with organizations and individuals to enhance their connections with communities. She is passionate about communicating through strong brands. In Waterloo Region she is best know for her work at work at Clarica, where she first came in contact with kidsLINK and was responsible for strategic community relations planning, media relations and issues management when the Mutual Life Insurance Company became the public company Clarica. Her work earned Clarica several awards prior to its purchase by Sunlife Financial. Later, at McMaster University, she was responsible for developing its brand as well as managing the relationship among its brands and sub-brands.Judith has worked with government, financial organizations, not-for-profits and public sector organizations. She is an active volunteer board member and literacy trainer. She holds a BA from McGill University and is a graduate of Bay Area Leadership.
Secretary/Treasurer
Stefano Picone

Chartered Accountant and founder, myCAsite.com, Toronto		 Stefano E. Picone is a graduate of the University of Toronto and a Chartered Accountant living and working in Toronto. He has served on the Board of kidsLINK since November 2008 and belongs to both the Audit and Endowment Committees, and was also appointed Secretary and Treasurer of the corporation for the 2011-2013 Board years. Stefano is honoured to be a part of kidsLINK and its mission to help children, youth and families achieve mental wellness.
Yaacov Iland

Secondary School Teacher, Waterloo		 Yaacov Iland is a high school teacher with the Waterloo Board. He has worked as a web consultant for not-for-profits and brings his knowledge of new media to his role on the Board. Yaacov has also volunteered with Engineers Without Borders, the Waterloo Organization of Disc Sports and the city of Waterloo.
Lisa Lishman, CFP

Certified Financial Planner with MDK/Child Financial Advisors, Waterloo		 Lisa was born and educated in Kitchener-Waterloo, where she continues to work in the community as a Financial Advisor. Her entrepreneurial spirit expanded within the work force and in the community. As a certified financial Planner who’s credo is “Plan well, live well!” her success in derived by establishing relationships built on trust, a disciplined approach to investment planning and providing excellence in products and client service. Her clients benefit from a wide range of knowledge: Asset management, educated investment advice, retirement planning, insurance and estate planning and income tax preparation.Community involvement has always been a big part of Lisa’s life. As an active charter member of the Kitchener Waterloo Community Spirit Lions Club (1997) and a proud recipient of the Helen Keller Fellowship Award, the Lions Club has made a profound impact in her life and lives around the world. She is an energetic volunteer with the Onkel Hans committee for the annual Kitchener Waterloo Oktoberfest festival. Being part of the board of Directors with kidsLINK supports her commitment in making a difference educating young people and their families in a supportive environment.Lisa is an avid alpine skier, cyclist and marathon runner and thoroughly enjoys the travels these events and more take her on.Lisa joined the Board of Directors of kidsLINK in November 2010.
Josie d’Avernas

Vice President of Program Development and Innovation
Schlegel Villages

Josie is Vice President Program Development and Innovation for Schlegel Villages.  This family-owned group of 11 Long Term Care and Retirement continuum of care communities is home to 2,500 seniors and employs approximately 2,500 people.

Josie is also Associate Director of the Schlegel-University of Waterloo Research Institute for Aging, an innovative partnership between these11 seniors villages, the University of Waterloo, and Conestoga College.   Prior to this dual role of research and program development, she was President of Health Promotion Consulting Inc., a Kitchener-based consulting company specializing in strategic planning, training and consultation supports, facilitation, policy analysis, literature synthesis, knowledge transfer, evaluation and research.

 In her current and past work, Josie has developed a strong understanding of knowledge exchange from many perspectives, having worked from every perspective including research, policy and practice.  Josie has a Master of Science degree from the University of Waterloo.

Josie joined the kidsLink Board in March 2010.
Emilio Cabral

Partner, Cloaca Holdings, Cambridge		 Emilio Cabral returned to the kidsLINK Board of Directors in January 2011. He was previously a Board Member from October ’94 to July ’04.Emilio is a Partner and Owner of Cloaca Holdings, 604 389 Inc., Regional Sewer and Water Main Ltd., Yerka Contacting Ltd. and Laurendale Custom Homes.
John Vieth, MASc, P.Eng.

Director of Engineering, Christie Digital Systems, Kitchener		 John Vieth received his BASc degree in electrical engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1984 and began his career in the engineering of electronic imaging products and systems. He was granted a licence by PEO in 1986 and joined the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) in 1988, becoming a senior member in 2000. Continuing studies at the University of Waterloo, he received the MASc degree in systems design engineering in 1992. He has served in executive roles in Waterloo Region Technology companies in the recent 15 years. John joined the Board of NDSA Inc. in 1999 in the interest of helping children and families improve their lives through mental wellness. He served as President and Chair from 2007 to 2009. John continues to support the development of social entrepreneurship toward developing equal opportunities for all members of our society.
David Cornwall, B.A., M.Ed

Retired Elementary School Principal, Waterloo		 David Cornwall is a retired principal from the Waterloo Region DSB and Secretary, Treasurer and Council Member of the Ontario Public School Teacher’s Federation (Waterloo District). He is also the Secretary, Treasurer of the Waterloo County Principal’s Associal and the Chair of the Parish Council at St. Francis R.C. Church.David joined the Board of Directors of NDSA when he retired from education in January, 2001. Much of his career was spent working with children with social and emotional problems, and he wanted to continue with this interest. Mental health is a topic that brings discomfort to many people, so it is important do whatever he can to advocate on behalf of those who need society’s help.

Contribute your skills

kidsLINK/Notre Dame of St. Agatha Inc. is currently recruiting volunteer board members. If you would like to contribute your time and expertise and are interested in learning more about our Board of Directors, please call us at 519-746-5437 or e-mail us at jbelan@kidsLinkcares.com.