Staff & Board
A team committed to inspiring students across our region
Working together for our students
Our Staff Team, Board of Directors and Board of Governors all play an important role in guiding the organization.
They make strategic decisions about our future and collectively serve as an innovative force to empower the next generation of leaders.
JA South Western Ontario Staff
Karen Gallant
President & CEO
519-439-4201 Ext. 224
Karen Chafe
Director, Programs and Operations
519-439-4201 Ext. 225
Melissa Derbyshire
Director, Philanthropy
519-439-4201 Ext.236
Jenne Wason
Director, Marketing and Communications | Regional Director
519-352-0151
Denise Pelley
Community Relations Manager, Executive Assistant
519-439-4201 Ext. 231
Sheena Gosse
Events & Program Manager
519-576-6610 x 3
Megan Siddall
Program Manager
519-352-0151
Zoe Burness
Grant Coordinator
519-439-4201 Ext. 223
Head Office (London)
15 Wharncliffe Road North
London, ON, N6H 2A1
519-439-4201
info@jaswo.org
Regional Office (Chatham)
60 William Street South
Chatham, ON, N7M 4S3
519-352-0151
Regional Office (Kitchener)
74 Queen Street, Unit B
Kitchener, ON, N2H 2H3
Tel: 519-576-6610
Board of Directors
JA South Western Ontario
Chair
Mark Russell
Sales Representative, Royal LePage Triland Realty
Board Member
Derek Askew
Associate Vice President, TD Bank Group
Board Member
Brad Bishop
Professor, Financial Planning, Fanshawe College
Board Member
Mark Brown
Partner, adHOMEcreative.com
Board Member
Leonard Bumbacco
Student Achievement Consultant, Waterloo Catholic District School Board
Board Member, Secretary
Logan Burnett
Associate, Harrison Pensa
Board Member
Murray Flanagan
Advisor, Flanagan Foodservice
Board Member
Bill Fox
President & Chief IT Architect, FoxNet
Director Emeritus
Brad Geddes
President and Chief Executive Officer, ZucoraHome
Board Member
Firas Halabi
Branch Manager, Libro Credit Union
Board Member
Stephanie Hayes
Associate, Gowling WLG
Board Member
Matt Hernandez
Manager, Cash Management, CIBC Windsor-Essex
Board Member
Tracy LeClair
Neuroscience Specialist, Allergan Inc.
Board Member
Peter Nickel
Founding Principal, Iron Mountain
Board Member
Jacqueline Peterson
Partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Treasurer
Luda Pradyszczuk-Pitt
Senior Manager – Global Tax Compliance, Ernst & Young LLP
Board Member
James Richmond
National VP, Affinity Markets, Manulife
Board Member
Tabitha Schwarz
Director of Finance, Boshart Group
Past Chair
Wayne Tjoelker
Partner, BDO Canada LLP
Board Member
Cyndi Vienneau-Cormier
Director, Major Accounts, Rogers Communications Inc.
This was a much-needed unit that arrived at the PERFECT time! It’s great that financial literacy is in the new math curriculum but we lack resources to teach it properly to the students. Who better to teach the kids than JA, the experts! I’d love to have you come visit my classroom next year!
– Grade 5 Teacher, JA Our Business World