Kevin Kelly, CPA, CA, 2015/2016 – Chair
Kevin has been an Easter Seals Board Member since 2015 and currently serves as the Executive Vice President Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Bruce Power, responsible for Corporate Finance and Reporting, Treasury, Insurance and Pension Asset Management.
Kevin brings more than 25 years of experience in the areas of strategic and operational planning, financial reporting and cost management, treasury, taxation, pension, and insurance. In 2016, he was part of the Bruce Power Team who successfully negotiated a long-term commercial framework with the Province of Ontario enabling the life extension of the facility up to 2064.
Kevin joined Bruce Power as the Head of Finance when the company was formed in 2001 after working with British Energy when that entity acquired 80% of Bruce Power. In 2005, he was appointed as Vice-President Finance and supported the 2005 Bruce Power Refurbishment Agreement negotiation team and the related restructuring of Bruce Power.
Prior to his role at Bruce Power, Kevin worked at BDO’s Toronto Office where he was responsible for managing various operational and financial client groups that consisted of both owner-managed businesses and public companies.
Kevin is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Reactor Technology Course for Utility Executives. He is a CPA and received his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation from the ICAO in 1997 and holds a Bachelor of Accounting degree from Brock University.
John M. Herhalt, FCA/FCPA, 2013 – Past Chair (Ex-officio)
John was a partner with KPMG LLP and has over 41 years of experience, leading many projects within the public sector and power and utilities sector, and advising clients extensively in areas of strategic and business planning, governance, organizational restructuring, risk management, performance management, alternate service delivery, and process improvement. John’s experience includes projects with municipalities, universities and colleges, hospitals, school boards, public and private utilities, provincial and federal government ministries, crown corporations and agencies, and regulatory authorities. John has a B.A. (Economics) and B. Comm. from the University of Windsor, a Chartered Accountancy designation from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of CPAs in Ontario.
Michael Carli, 2017 – Vice Chair
Michael Carli was conferred the degree of Juris Doctor from the Faculty of Law, University of Western Ontario in 1987 and has been practicing law in the Province of Ontario since his call to the Bar in 1989. He is currently a partner at the Toronto area law firm of Rigobon Carli (which he co-founded in 1989) specializing in corporate, commercial and real estate law with expertise in mortgage recoveries and trademark prosecutions. Mr. Carli is also the Chairman of Roto-Gro International Limited (a public company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange which manufactures proprietary rotational hydroponic garden systems in Canada) and is a director of several private corporations.
Mr. Carli is a past Chair of Villanova College and is currently the Chair of St. Thomas of Villanova Charities Inc. (which is the registered charity that supports Villanova College). He also serves as pro bono counsel to other charitable organizations including Friends of We Care.
Mr. Carli is a member of various professional organizations including the Law Society of Ontario, the American Bar Association, and the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada.
Mark Fisher, 2016 – Treasurer
Mark Fisher has been an elected school board trustee with the Ottawa Carleton District School Board since 2009 and was appointed President and CEO of the Council of the Great Lakes Region by the Council’s board in 2014.
He is a seasoned professional with extensive knowledge of the public policy making process, board governance, strategic business planning, and issues management. He has a wealth of experience in international affairs with a focus on advancing the United States-Canada relationship in the areas of trade, security, natural resource development, and environmental protection. Mark has also provided advice to key decision-makers and influencers, including the Prime Minister of Canada, provincial premiers and ministers, and parliamentarians.
Mark was the Chair of Easter Seals Ontario’s National Capital Region District Council from 2007 to 2009.
Brenda Agnew, 2021
Brenda lives in Burlington with her husband Graham and their two teen boys, Chase who is 15, and Maclain, 13, and who lives with Cerebral Palsy. Brenda has a BA in Sociology from The University of Western Ontario and a post-graduate diploma in Human Resource Management from Seneca College. In 2010 Brenda became involved with THREE TO BE, a charity that was established to support families raising a child with a neurological condition. She served for several years on their board of directors while also running their parent support program.
Brenda has been a school board trustee with the Halton Catholic District School Board since 2018 and is also a Client Liaison with Gluckstein Lawyers. She currently serves on the following advisory committees as a parent/patient partner and continues to be available for input or collaboration with other organizations if needed.
• AACPDM (American Academy of CP and Developmental Medicine)
• CP-Net Family Advisory Committee
• CanChild Citizen Engagement Committee
• Burlington Accessibility Advisory Committee
• PONDA ( Physician of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Advocacy Network
• Moderator/ Co-creator of Parent Advocacy Link Peer Support Group with over 2.5k parents of children with special needs
• Chair, HCDSB, SEAC (Special Education Advisory Committee)
Deanne Buckle, 2017
Deanne Buckle currently serves as Vice President and Team Lead, Corporate Finance with Bank of Montreal where she leads a team of Relationship Managers who provide solutions for businesses in diversified industries in the Markham and North Toronto markets.
Deanne brings over twelve years of experience to this role and since joining BMO in 2005, she has held several roles in Business Banking across two markets – Atlantic Canada and Toronto.
Deanne holds an MBA from Ivey Business School and a Bachelor’s Degree from Dalhousie University. She is also the Co-lead for the Greater Toronto Area Women in Business Council for BMO.
In her spare time, Deanne enjoys traveling as often as possible and golfing during our great Ontario summers.
Paolo Ciotola, 2018
Paolo Ciotola is currently a Managing Director, Investment Banking in the Financial Sponsors Group with RBC Capital Markets, based in Toronto. He has been working in the Investment Banking industry for 14 years. Since that time he has been involved in the origination and execution of numerous advisory and valuation assignments for a wide range of industries across North America.
At RBC, Mr. Ciotola is currently the Chair of the RBC Capital Markets Canadian Analyst and Associate Advisory Board (CAAAB) and is a member of the RBC Capital Markets Canadian Marketing Committee.
Mr. Ciotola received a Bachelor of Arts, Honours Business Administration (with distinction) from the Richard Ivey School of Business, University of Western Ontario, and has his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation.
Paolo lives in Toronto with his wife and two children. His interest in and familiarity with Easter Seals goes back many years; his twin brother, who has cerebral palsy, attended Blue Mountain Camp.
Michael Grochmal, 2021
Michael Grochmal has been the President of AtlasCare & Bosco Home Services for the past 10 Years. During this time AtlasCare experienced steady growth while continuing to win awards for their exceptional customer service. Most recently in 2020 AtlasCare was awarded the RBC Large business of the Year award in Oakville.
Prior to becoming President, Michael looked after several areas of the business including Sales, Marketing, Operations, HR, and the Call Center. Michael has been passionate about creating a company culture built on values of Trust, Urgency and Solutions. This allows AtlasCare to deliver on their brand promise to “Always be there when you need us.”
Michael is a graduate of Bishop’s University where he obtained a B.A. (Business and English). After graduation, he started his career at Xerox in Sales and then Product Management. Michael is an active member of CEO Global Network where he has been a member for the past 11 years.
Michael has been a continuous fundraiser for the local chapter of the MS Society hosting an annual charity golf tournament that has raised over $500,000. Early in his life, Michael was a caregiver to his mother who had MS so he can empathize with the needs of families to help take care of loved ones.
Michael lives in Oakville with his wife of 18 years Sophia and their 3 kids Philip (15), Christopher (12), and Jennifer (9).
Marc Henein, 2021
Since 2004, Marc has been a Director and Wealth Advisor with Scotia Wealth Management. Marc leads a team of investment professionals that serve clients ranging from physicians, entrepreneurs, and high net worth families. Over the past seventeen years, Marc and his team have built one of the preeminent Financial Advisory practices in the country by offering sound, conservative long-term advice while always putting the clients’ needs first. Marc is an alumnus of Wilfrid Laurier University and has multiple industry designations including Certified Financial Planner, Certified Investment Manager, and is a Fellow of the Canadian Securities Institute. Marc enjoys living in Georgetown and has a 10 and 12-year-old; they share passions for traveling, hiking, golf, hockey, baseball, and basketball!
Jennifer LaForge, 2021
Jennifer La Forge is the General Manager for Rakuten.ca, Canada’s leading online Cash Back shopping website, toolbar extension, and app. With nearly 20 years of experience in the digital space in both the travel and retail industry, she now leads the overall strategy and financial health of the Rakuten Rewards Canadian business, overseeing all aspects of Marketing, Sales, Operations, Engineering, and Product.
Jennifer joined Rakuten.ca in 2012, formally known as Ebates.ca before it rebranded in 2019. Originally managing the Marketing team, she contributed to the rapid growth of the business, eventually taking on the role of Director of Operations and Product. Having worked in all aspects of the business and building an exceptional team, she then took the seat of General Manager in 2018.
As an industry leader in retail marketing and technology, she brings innovation, strategic direction, and passion to drive the business forward, with a focus on delivering an optimal user experience.
Jennifer graduated from Centennial College with a Computer Programming Diploma in 2002. She has been an active member of CEO Global for the past 2 years. Jennifer also enjoys speaking at industry events, particularly on the topics of leadership and mentorship as keys to success.
She lives in Pickering ON with her husband, Adam, and son, Otis. She enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, cooking, swimming, travel and spin.
Jeffrey Man, 2021
Jeffrey Man is a former Easter Seals Ontario client, a current volunteer, and an advocate for individuals with disabilities. While working at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Jeffrey contributed to the development of an organization-wide equity, diversity, and inclusion policy and the launch of Project SEARCH Toronto, a transition to employment program for high school students with intellectual disabilities.
Jeffrey’s experience also includes supporting people with disabilities through his previous community development and human rights work at Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, as well as his current role representing Easter Seals Ontario on the York Catholic District School Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee.
Jeffrey graduated from the Schulich School of Business at York University with a degree in business administration and a specialization in marketing.
Jess Metcalfe, CPA, CA, 2021
Jess Metcalfe currently serves as the Senior Controller at Bruce Power, responsible for Financial Reporting and Internal Controls, Business Planning and Forecasting, and Financial Systems and Analytics.
Jess brings over 15 years of experience in the areas of strategic and operational planning, financial reporting and cost management, internal controls, and financial systems implementations. Prior to her role at Bruce Power, Jess worked at PwC’s Waterloo Office where she was responsible for managing various review and audit engagements for operational and technology clients ranging from owner-managed businesses to public companies.
Jess is a CPA and received her Chartered Accountant (CA) designation from the ICAO in 2006 and holds an Honours Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Michael Tzimas, CPA, CA, 2021
Mike brings nearly 15 years of financial leadership experience gained through a progressive career in senior operational finance roles in the manufacturing industry with a global focus. He is currently the Chief Financial Officer for Napoleon who is a leading manufacturer of Grills, Hearth, and HVAC products with operations, distribution, and sales in more than 50 countries around the world. He leads the global finance team of 30+ associates encompassing controllership, business operations, financial planning & analysis, financial reporting, tax, treasury, and decision support.
Prior to Napoleon, Mike worked in various senior finance roles in the Tier 1 Automotive Segment, most recently as VP Finance for Multimatic Inc, a Markham-based global auto parts supplier.
Mike is a graduate of McGill University receiving his Bachelor of Commerce in 2007 and is a CPA receiving his Chartered Accountant (CA) designation in 2010.
Mike is an avid sports fan and played football, hockey, and rugby through his high school years; later becoming a four-year member McGill Varsity Football Team as he completed his Bachelor of Commerce. Mike is actively involved in his community; since 2008, as Director of Finance he has been a member of the “Skate with Daniel” organization, which has raised over $800,000 for brain tumor research for The Hospital for Sick Children.
Alex Yeh, 2017
Alex serves as Business Development Manager at Northern Micro – one of Canada’s leading IT solution providers. He supervises Northern Micro’s overall marketing efforts and business planning in close collaboration with the senior management team. Prior to joining Northern Micro, Alex worked with the National Geographic Channel in Hong Kong as an Assistant Manager servicing blue-chip clients such as Subaru, Panasonic, Caltex, ANZ Bank, Samsung, Singapore Airlines, and Marina Bay Sands. Before joining NGC, he worked with TSN as a Market Research Analyst providing audience insights to clients across Canada. He holds an MBA from Queen’s University and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Guelph.