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The Christmas Exchange - Le Partage de Noêl About Us
Board of Directors and Staff  

Christmas Exchange

June 2008— June 2009 Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Staff

David L. Martin, President
Recently retired from Health Canada following a 40 year career in Health and Hospital Administration, David has held numerous volunteer positions in the Rehabilitation Institute of Ottawa, the Social Science Employees Association, and has worked in various capacities in the United Way campaigns. He is on the Board of the Almonte General Hospital and on the Auxiliary Boards of the Royal Ottawa Hospital, the Ottawa Hospital — Civic Campus and the Rehabilitation Centre. David brings to the Board invaluable experience in management consulting and voluntary organization management.

Rebecca (Becky) Stanisic, Vice President
A graduate of Ottawa University with an Honours degree in History, Becky is a seasoned volunteer, with an impressive track record, having spearheaded numerous fundraising events throughout university. Becky's association with Christmas Exchange began as a co-op stint in 2001 and has continued with many volunteer hours invested at Exchange special events and as a member of the fundraising committee and now Board of Directors. Becky also has several years experience working with other not-for-profit groups, in particular as a key fundraiser for CIBC's Run for the Cure while working for CIBC. After working on youth and policy initiatives at Industry Canada where she was a Project Officer for the SchoolNet Program and then a Project Coordinator in fundraising and research for Canadian Parents for French, Becky is now the Foundation Assistant for Healthy Generations, the charitable foundation of the Canadian Paediatric Society, where she is able to continue her work in fundraising, donor relations and special events.

Donna MacGregor, CGA, Treasurer
Donna MacGregor is a senior manager at Collins Barrow Ottawa LLP. Donna hails from the Vancouver area but has been a resident of Ottawa for a number of years. She believes in being an active, contributing member of the community. She is a past chair of the Ottawa Chapter of CGA Ontario. At present, Donna is on the board of the Good Companions Seniors Centre and is treasurer of the Rideau Chamber of Commerce. She is also a mentor in the women's program at the Ottawa Community Immigrant Services Organization.

Samer Forzley, Secretary
Samer has over 16 years of retail and eCommerce experience. His experience ranges from Marketing, Operations Management, IT, to sales and customer Service. Samer is also an instructor of the “Enrichment Mini Courses” offered through the University of Ottawa. He has resided in the Ottawa area since 1990 and is an MBA graduate of the University of Ottawa, Telfer School of Management. His “Start up of a Small Business” course allows student to raise funds to local charities while gaining hands on experience. Samer is currently the Director of Marketing for eBillme.

William (Bill) Wyman, Past President
Moved to Ottawa from Peterborough in 1945, Bill is former president and owner of the Davis Agency of Ottawa Ltd., founded by his father, Harold Wyman. Bill has been a leader in the business community, having been President of the Better Business Bureau of Ottawa-Hull, Chairman of the Retail Committee, Ottawa Board of Trade and Vice President of the Sparks St. BIA. He has served on the Boy Scouts of Canada National Council for 20 years, in various positions, including Canadian President. He is a member of the Scholarships and Grants committee of the Boy Scouts Foundation. The Davis Agency's 13 Hallmark stores have been active fundraisers in Eastern Ontario, having raised thousands of dollars for charitable causes. In 2001, Bill received the Outstanding Philanthropic Regional Corporation Award at the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Ottawa Chapter, Philanthropy Awards.

Ella Forbes-Chilibeck, Board Member
Ella Forbes-Chilibeck is a lawyer at Nelligan O'Brien Payne in the employment law practice group. Prior to joining Nelligan's, Ella articled in employment and labour law with a boutique firm in the Ottawa area and worked with the Federal Government on the implementation of the Public Servants Disclosure Protection Act (PSDPA) under the Federal Accountability Act, legislation intended to address allegations of reprisal against whistleblowers.

Before pursuing a career in law, Ella enjoyed a successful career as a behavioural consultant; mediating conflict and developing successful coping strategies with young offenders and individuals with cognitive, physical and emotional challenges.

Ella is an active volunteer with the Human Resources Professionals Association of Ontario and the Ottawa Girls Hockey Association.

Candy Gaudet, Board Member
Candy was born in Ottawa, Illinois, just south of Chicago where she met her husband who was on a posting in Chicago with the Canadian Customs at the time. They moved to Canada in 1971 and have three children and seven grandchildren. Candy has been involved in the community in various capacities including assisting in developing the Gloucester Food Cupboard, working with Meals on Wheels, and volunteering in Palliative Care at the Riverside Hospital. About l8 years ago Candy started out as a volunteer with the Shepherds of Good Hope and eventually went to work part-time as a front line worker. Currently Candy is the Manager of Support Services with the Shepherds, managing the kitchen area, grocery and clothing programs. The Shepherds of Good Hope Christmas Hamper Program is an umbrella of Support Services. The Shepherds of Good Hope and Christmas Exchange work closely together every year during the Christmas season.

Pete Larocque, Board Member
Pete is a Partner for a local management consulting firm and President of an Ottawa-based commercial and residential service company. Pete has served as a Director for the Canadian Special Olympics Winter Games, member of the Executive Committee and Chair of Community Relations for the National Capital Chapter of the Sunshine Foundation of Canada, Business Advisor to the Board and Executive Director of the Ottawa-Carleton Association for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and one of the co-founders of the South Nepean Youth Organization. In addition, Pete has been a mentor for the Junior Achievement Titan Business Simulation and member of the judging panel for the University of Ottawa's Business Plan Challenge. Pete has a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Queen's University and a certification as an Accredited Business Valuator.

Audrey Lockhart, Board Member
Audrey served as a Board Member of the New Brunswick Association of Food Banks from 2001 to 2007, and also as a Board Member of District #3 Food Banks during the same period. She started her career in the non-profit sector as a volunteer in 1991 for the Fredericton Community Services Inc. in New Brunswick, and progressed quickly to Co-Director. She received the Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Award for Community Impact in 2004. Audrey has learned from working with the homeless and hurting in the community that people aren’t going to remember what you said or did for them, but they will remember how you made them feel. Being from a family of eleven, (seven sisters and three brothers), she learned early on in life that you look after one another and she carries this over into her professional life. Audrey recently relocated to Ottawa from New Brunswick to be near her two daughters and their families. She has always enjoyed being involved and working in non-profit and hopes to continue her career here in her new home Ottawa.

Michelle Mulligan, Board Member
Michelle Mulligan was born and raised in Ottawa. She has been working in Social Services for the past 17 years, at present with the City of Ottawa. Currently holds a position as a case worker with the Employment and Financial Assistance Department. She is a recent board member for The Christmas Exchange. Michelle believes in helping the community, and that every little bit counts. She has done many different volunteer activities from high school onwards. She is a graduate from Carleton University in Sociology and Algonquin College for Early Childhood Education. Michelle is married with one child and three step-children, ranging from ages seven to 20 years of age.

Doris Ramphos, Board member
Doris Ramphos is a charitable fundraising expert with more than 16 years of experience in donor relations development and special event planning for organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, Huntington’s Society of Canada, the Hellenic Community of Ottawa, and The Ottawa Heart Institute. She is a seasoned public educator, having lectured on a variety of public health topics for the Canadian Cancer Society and the Anxiety Disorder Association of Ontario. Her professional career is in real estate property management and she is a graduate of the University of Ottawa with degrees in psychology, sociology, and education.

Réjean Saumure, Board Member
Raised in Vanier, Ontario, Réjean and his family were the beneficiaries of many community programs including the Christmas Exchange and feels that giving back to the community is a duty. A strong supporter of the Christmas Exchange and the United Way, Réjean is also a board member of The Christmas Exchange and The Ottawa Children's Treatment Centre Foundation. Réjean is a graduate of Algonquin College's Print Media program. He currently holds the position of Advertising Service Manager with the Ottawa Citizen and has held numerous positions throughout his 33 year career at the newspaper. Réjean brings to the board invaluable advertising experience.

Staff

Marilyn Matheson, CAE, Executive Director
Born and raised in Ottawa, Marilyn served on the Board of Directors of the Christmas Exchange from 1982 to 1988 as both Treasurer and Secretary. Along with her CAE (Certified Association Executive) designation, Marilyn has over 30 years employment experience with non-profit organizations as diverse as a public art gallery, a theatre for the performing arts, the Alzheimer’s Society, Red Cross, United Way, Lung Association, and the Humane Society, in cities throughout Ontario, including Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Windsor, London and St. Thomas. Marilyn has also volunteered for many organizations including women shelters, senior centers and nursing homes, Canadian Diabetes Association, Canadian Cancer Society, as well as being an active member and is the Past President of the Rotary Club of South Nepean. She has been working in the capacity of Executive Director of the Christmas Exchange since March 1999 and has two adult children, Ian and Laureen who both reside in Ottawa.

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