Community Services Cabinet
The volunteers on our Community Services Cabinet work diligently with United Way staff to guide our investment decisions — ensuring that investments are made where they will have the greatest impact.
Lawrence Greenspon, Chair, Community Services Cabinet
Lawyer, Greenspon, Brown & Associates
When Lawrence moved to Ottawa from Montreal in 1976, he didn’t know a single person in Ottawa. A lot has changed. A long-time volunteer and 2008 Community Builder of the Year recipient, Lawrence is a presence in Ottawa. He uses his profile to raise awareness for the causes he cares about, like United Way. Lawrence volunteers at United Way because he enjoys the opportunity to work with the highly motivated and energetic staff and the ranks of dedicated community volunteers. “Having an impact on the lives of people who need a hand up is what it’s all about,” says Lawrence.
Michael Allen
President and CEO, United Way Ottawa
Michael was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and after 22 years in this community he now calls Ottawa 'home.' Following a career that saw Michael practising law and then working on Parliament Hill, he was drawn to United Way by the opportunity to help others in his adopted community. For Michael, what really sealed the deal was the ice storm, which took place during his first year at United Way: “At a time when the community really had to pull together, United Way didn’t seem to have a role in helping during that disaster. I wanted it to be thought of as a place where the community could turn to in these different times of need." Michael is a committed soccer dad and has fundraised for his children’s hockey teams. For Michael, working at United Way is a constant source of inspiration. “Our volunteers are here helping out in their spare time and our staff is extremely committed and motivated. They share a common goal of helping others in their community.”
Gerry A. Barker
Vice President, Human Resources, Algonquin College
Gerry A. Barker was appointed the vice president of human resources at Algonquin College of Applied Arts and Technology in May 2008. Prior to his appointment, he was executive dean of the Faculty of Health, Public Safety and Community Studies, dean of the Police and Public Safety Institute and enjoyed a 20-year career with the Nepean Police Service and then the amalgamated Ottawa-Carleton Regional Police Service. Gerry has been active in the hockey community for the past five years as a hockey advisor with Octagon and before that for 25 years with the Larry Kelly Sports Management Group. He holds a BA degree from Carleton University with a concentration in Law, is married and he and his wife, Janet, have two wonderful sons, Bradley and Sean.
Jeffrey Dale, Chair, Community Investment Committee
Corporate Director and Co-Founder, Odawa Group Inc.
An Ottawa native, Jeffrey has been involved with United Way Ottawa since his university days. Since then, his roles as President and CEO of OCRI and as a member of United Way's Community Services Cabinet have deepened his understanding of the impact United Way makes in the community. "My parents taught me that volunteering and making a difference in my community are important. They were right. By volunteering, I have always received more than I have been able to contribute. My father taught me the importance of giving back to my community and I hope to do the same for my children."
Jeffrey is delighted to be appointed to United Way's Board of Directors. As he says, "My favourite part of being a United Way volunteer is seeing the results of our work and being involved in helping to create something that benefits everyone in our community."
Jim Durrell
President, Capital Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ltd.
Jim Durrell is best known for the significant contribution that he made as Ottawa's mayor from 1985 until retiring from public life in 1991. Since leaving public office, Jim has been active in the private sector as a successful business executive. Today, he is president and owner of Capital Dodge Chrysler Jeep and has had a long involvement with Ottawa sports franchises, having served as the first president of the Ottawa Senators NHL organization, president for the CFL's Ottawa Rough Riders, a governor of the Canada Sports Hall of Fame and president of the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. Jim has extensive governance experience, having served on the board of directors of the Business Development Bank of Canada and as chair of the Ottawa International Airport's board of directors. He volunteers for many charities and organizations in Ottawa, such as The Ottawa Hospital, United Way's Campaign Cabinet, Salvation Army and Kiwanis Club of Ottawa. In October 2006, he was appointed chairman of the Ottawa Convention Centre. Jim resides in Ottawa with his wife, 'Sam', has two children, Melissa and Michael, and two grandchildren, Kennedy and Marcus.
Carole Gagnon
Vice-President, Community Services, United Way Ottawa
A Timmins, Ontario native, Carole has lived in various parts of Canada before settling in Ottawa in the early 1990s. Her career in the non-profit sector began in 2002, after observing how inadequately society deals with our aging population. She made the conscious decision to try to be part of the solution. The opportunity to join United Way Ottawa as Director of Community-wide Initiatives was the "perfect fit". Since joining United Way Ottawa, Carole has also taken the role of Senior Director, Capacity Building and VP of Investor Development. Along with her United Way role, Carole continues to be active in the community. She was a board member of The Good Companions, a board member of Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la Capitale nationale, and a former chair of the city's Seniors' Advisory Committee and Britannia Community Coalition. For Carole, the best part of working at United Way is how she can work with staff and volunteers. "United Way Ottawa gives me the opportunity to participate in our community's most interesting and real conversations. We are making a difference."
John Jarvis
General Manager and Chief Experience Officer, The Westin Ottawa
A native of Vancouver, with 25 years of experience with Starwood Hotels and Resorts, John Jarvis has led The Westin Ottawa team since September 1998. Before establishing himself in Ottawa and embracing the challenge of directing the largest hotel in the capital, John worked in several Canadian cities — all with the Westin brand. As an active member of the Ottawa community, John is past president of the Ottawa Gatineau Hotel Association and chair of the Christmas Cheer Foundation, a member of the Ottawa Food Bank board of directors, and a long-standing member of the Board of Ottawa Tourism. He has served on many committees and advisory groups in the community and is passionate about making a difference to the city's quality of life. One of his most honoured recognitions was being named one of the United Way's Community Builders in 2006. Outside of work, John is very involved with his family, which includes three dogs, and is an avid golfer and skier.
Max Keeping
2011 Campaign Chair
CTV Ottawa Ambassador
to the Community
Follow @Max_Keeping on Twitter
After more than 37 years as CTV News at 6:00 anchor and News Vice-President, Max Keeping is now CTV Ottawa's Ambassador to the Community. Max is a member of the Order of Canada and the Order of Ontario. He holds honourary degrees from the University of Ottawa and Carleton University, is a former United Way Community Builder of the Year, and has received numerous other awards and citations for his distinguished journalism career and extensive charitable and community work.
Max is credited with helping to raise more than $100 million for charities in our community, including the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, the Ottawa Senators Foundation and the Max Keeping Foundation. A wing of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) is named in his honour.
Max has been a United Way volunteer for many years, most recently as a member of our Community Services Cabinet and now as Chair of the 2011 United Way Ottawa Community Campaign. Max says he "feels privileged to help shape and promote United Way's important work with agencies and partners. I believe in our great potential to deliver results. And I know we will have lots of news to share about our success in creating positive and lasting change in neighbourhoods and communities across Ottawa."
Erin Kelly
Executive Director, Ottawa Chamber of Commerce
Erin Kelly is executive director of the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce, the largest business-to-business networking and advocacy group in the city. Before this, she ran the Information and Communication technology group for Bell Canada's small and medium business division, where she worked in the mergers and acquisitions group and was part of the team that launched high-speed Internet in Canada. Erin began her career with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as a journalist and new media producer, launching the country's first broadcast news streaming website, CBC Newsworld Online. Following its successful launch, she joined Newbridge Networks' affiliate Televitesse Systems, a high-tech company based in Kanata. Erin holds an MBA from the Université du Québec in Montréal and is a candidate for CMA designation for 2010. In 2009 she received Ottawa's Top 40 Under 40 Award.
Catherine Lane, Past Chair
Community Volunteer
Originally from Alberta, Catherine has lived across Canada. “I grew up with United Way,” she says. “It was part of my mother’s volunteer work, so it really has been a part of my life." Catherine is a retired senior federal public servant who has worked in Western and Central Canada. She is a graduate of Queen's University, has been a volunteer with United Way for a number of years, and is the past chair of the Community Services Cabinet. Other volunteer activities include: docent (volunteer guide) at the National Gallery of Canada; member of the board of the Volunteer Circe of the National Gallery of Canada, and president of the Horseshoe and Crotch Lakes Property Owners' Association. Previous volunteer roles include program chair of the Canadian Friends of the Hermitage and an elected member of Queen's University Council.
Sean McKenny
President, Ottawa & District Labour Council
Sean McKenny is the President of the Ottawa & District Labour Council (ODLC), a position he was elected to in 2004. He is responsible for the overall supervision of the affairs of the ODLC, the largest and oldest representative organization of working men and women in Ottawa dating back to 1872, with a current membership of more than 40,000 individuals from 90 different labour organizations within the Ottawa area. Sean first became involved with the ODLC in 1994, serving as an Executive Board member. The ODLC is involved in a number of activities and its priorities include providing input to municipal, provincial and federal government on matters affecting working men and women. Prior to his involvement with the ODLC, he was employed as a licensed carpenter after completing his apprenticeship in Ottawa. Sean and his wife, Cheryl, of 28 years currently reside in Ottawa and have two daughters and one grandchild.
Jo-Anne Poirier
Chief Executive Officer, Ottawa Community Housing Corporation
Jo-Anne Poirier is the CEO of the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation, and from 2003 to 2008 was vice-president of resource development and CEO of the Government of Canada Workplace Charitable Campaign at United Way Ottawa. From 2000 to 2003, she was first vice-president of business development for MBNA Canada Bank; from 1993 to 2000, deputy city manager of corporate services with the City of Gloucester; and prior to 1993, worked in the private sector and regional government. Jo-Anne's community involvement includes special advisor with the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Ottawa Chapter, and serving on the board of directors for the Regroupement des gens d'affaires de la capitale nationale. She has served as a senior volunteer on the United Way Ottawa Campaign Cabinet and is a member of the Champlain Local Health Integration Network's board of directors and on the board of directors of Crime Prevention Ottawa.
Meena Roberts
Management Consultant
Meena Roberts is an experienced management consultant in Ottawa, a specializing in strategic planning, policy analysis, delivery frameworks and evaluations for government clients. She holds a Master's in Social Policy from Harvard University and a Master's in Education from the University of British Columbia. Meena started her career in Washington, DC, where she evaluated education and training programs funded by the U.S. government, in particular, Head Start programs for inner-city children, mentoring programs for at-risk youth and business-education partnerships. Meena also worked for the Harvard Institute for International Development on addressing barriers to education faced by women and children in less developed countries. She has been an active volunteer in the Ottawa community for the last 15 years, donating her time and skills to numerous committees that serve our community.
Danielle Robinson
President, Sens Foundation
Danielle Robinson began her employment with the Ottawa Senators Foundation as director of corporate and community relations in March 2006 and two years later was appointed to the role of president. Since with the Sens Foundation, she has created and executed strategic plans focused on corporate sponsorship, event fundraising, donor cultivation and public relations. Her career experience includes work with United Way Ottawa, Volunteer Canada and Sun Life Financial. Danielle's education includes study at York University, Boston College and Fanshawe College. She holds a post-graduate certificate in corporate community involvement and an honours BA in sociology and mass communications. She is a recipient of an EXCEL award and the Ottawa chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized her corporate community relations work with the Outstanding Philanthropic National Corporation Award. She balances a life of career and family, with a husband and a son, and never forgets the importance of philanthropy, humanism and the significance of community.
Bhagwant Sandhu
Director General, Human Resources
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Prior to his current position as a director general with the federal government, Bhagwant Sandhu worked for the provincial governments of British Columbia and Ontario in the areas of aboriginal issues, economic development and social policy. He has been active in community issues and volunteerism from a young age, as an advocate on issues such as homelessness and disabilities, to serving on the boards of several non-profit associations, including a long-standing involvement with United Way Ottawa.
Ryan Steeves
Law Student, University of Ottawa
Ryan Steeves is currently studying law at the University of Ottawa, where he has also served as an assistant coach with the men's varsity hockey team for the past three seasons. Between 2000 and 2007, he received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and then played professional hockey within the Colorado Avalanche system. As a native of Ottawa, Ryan has enjoyed volunteering his time supporting local charity organizations, including Big Brothers Big Sisters Ottawa, Operation Go Home, Boys and Girls Club, and Child and Youth Friendly Ottawa. Ryan volunteers at United Way because he enjoys being surrounded by others dedicated to making Ottawa a better city. Ryan believes that "you always get more out of volunteering than you give" — and hopes that his involvement will inspire others in the same way.
Arnie Vered
President, Arnon Corporation
Upon graduating from Carleton University with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering, Arnie Vered joined the Vered family businesses, where he is president of Arnon Corporation, a full service real estate development company, and president of Ron Engineering and Construction (Eastern) Ltd., a construction manager/general contractor company. Arnie has been involved in the commercial, industrial, residential and retail real estate industry, general contracting, construction management and property management for more than 30 years. Arnie has served as chairman of CHEO's Promise Capital Campaign, a $19 million fundraising campaign, and has served on CHEO's board as a member and treasurer. He sat on the Ashbury College board of governors and currently sits on its property and building committee; is a member of the Carleton University board of governors and building program committee, as well as the Telus Ottawa Community Board; and has held senior positions in the Ottawa Jewish community. These include chair of the UJA campaign, and president of Hillel Academy, Jewish Federation of Ottawa and the Ottawa Jewish Community Property Management Board. He currently chairs the Soloway Jewish Community Centre.
George Weber
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Royal Ottawa Health Care Group
George Weber has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group since April 2008, after more than 26 years as Chief Executive Officer for a number of national and international organizations including the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (i.e., Intern Federation) in Geneva, Switzerland. He continues to serve on a number of non-profit boards of directors in Canada and Switzerland and is a Certified Corporate Director (i.e., ICD.D). George is trilingual and holds a Master's degree from McGill University and has completed the Advanced Management Program from the Graduate School of Business Administration, Harvard University, the International Program for Board Members from the Institute of Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, and the directors course sponsored by the Institute of Corporate Directors and the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto. He has been awarded a number of national and foreign honours and recognitions.
Jeff Westeinde
Chief Executive Officer, Quantum Murray LP
Jeff Westeinde is the CEO of Quantum Murray LP, Canada's largest environmental decommissioning contractor. He co-founded the Quantum Environmental Group, a national full-service environmental remediation and hazardous waste materials management company, in 1992 and championed a merger with Murray Demolition, Canada's largest demolition contractor in 2007 to form Quantum Murray LP. Quantum Murray has been recognized as one of Canada's fastest-growing companies and one of the top 50 employers in Canada. Jeff has been distinguished as entrepreneur of the year by Ernst and Young, named one of Canada's Top 40 under 40 by the Globe and Mail, won the Young Alumni Award from the University of Western Ontario, and is active on numerous charitable, civic and industry initiatives.
Dan Wiseman
Dan Wiseman & Associates
Children and Youth Services Consulting
Dan Wiseman is presently consulting in the field of children and youth services. He was formerly the Executive Director of Christie Lake Kids, an organization committed to enriching the lives and prospects of economically disadvantaged children, and for 29 years was the Manager of Safe Schools and Community Agency Liaison for the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board. Throughout his career, volunteering has been a very important part of his life. Dan has volunteered with United Way; volunteered his time and expertise during the restructuring of children’s services by the Ministry of Community and Social Services in the 1990s; was the chair and a founding member of the board of the William Hay Centre throughout its development and construction; and a member of the Red Pine Camp board of directors. Born and raised in Ottawa, he feels privileged to have been able to bring up his children here and to have had the opportunity to ‘give back’ to this wonderful city.
