President
Carolynne has been a member of our Board of Directors since September 29, 1999, and has served as President since October 2005. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of Niagara Training & Employment Agency, the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency, and is a member of the Joint Board Alliance Committee of NSS and NTEC. Carolynne has been married to Bob for over 45 years and is the proud grandmother of four wonderful grandchildren. She was a teacher and principal during her 38 years in education, and in that time was very involved with programming for students with a developmental disability. Carolynne's knowledge and experience make her a valuable asset to Niagara Support Services.
1st Vice President
Brent joined our Board of Directors on September 10, 2008, and was elected 1st Vice President by the Board of Directors on September 28, 2010. He is an Accounting and Finance graduate of Nottingham Trent University and has a Certified Financial Planner designation. Brent is the owner and operator of Niagara Peninsula Benefit Brokers/Rolfe Financial Group, a firm specializing in group health, dental and pension plans, and financial planning. His financial expertise and his contributions from a parent’s perspective have served us well during his first term on the Board. Brent and his wife Louise immigrated to Canada from England in 1980 and settled in Niagara Falls in 1986. They have two adult children. Their daughter Courtney receives service from Niagara Support Services and NTEC. Brent is also a past board member of the Canadian Institute of Financial Planners.
2nd Vice President
Marion joined our Board of Directors on September 12, 2007, and was elected 2nd Vice President by the Board of Directors on September 28, 2010. Except for six years spent in Calgary, Marion is a lifelong resident of the Niagara area. She also sits on the Boards of Niagara Training & Employment Agency (NTEC) and Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling). Marion has an extensive educational background having worked for the Niagara South Board of Education her entire career. She started as a classroom teacher and retired as Superintendent of Schools; she claims that she never had an unhappy working day in all her years. Marion is the mother of two adult daughters and grandmother of two boys and one girl. She spends her spare time reading mystery books and likes to keep fit by attending Aquasize classes every weekday. Marion is particularly proud of our agency's work and believes the calibre of our staff is truly outstanding.
Secretary/Treasurer
Gary joined our Board of Directors on October 28, 1998, and has also been on the Boards of Niagara Training & Employment Agency (NTEC) and Niagara Employment Agency (Niagara Recycling) since April 28, 1993. He is currently Secretary and Finance Chair of NTEC and Niagara Recycling, and has been Secretary/Treasurer of Niagara Support Services since 2001. Gary is also a member of the Joint Board Alliance Committee of NSS and NTEC. As well, he is a charter life member, past secretary and past president of Stamford Kiwanis, and has been a member of the business community throughout his career. Currently, Gary is also President and Treasurer of the Friends of Lundy’s Lane Battlefield.
Past President
Judy joined our Board of Directors on June 16, 1999. She has also been a member of the Board of Trustees of Niagara Training & Employment Agency (NTEC) and Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency since September 15, 1999, and has served as Chair of the NSS-NTEC Joint Board Alliance Committee since May 2001. Following six years as an OASIS Board member, Judy was elected to the Board of Directors of OASIS (Ontario Agencies Supporting Individuals with Special Needs) as President. Presently residing in Fonthill, Ontario, Judy is a lifelong resident of the Niagara Peninsula. Judy retired in 1998 following a 30-year career as an educator with the District School Board of Niagara. She continues her interest in community development and education working with the Business Education Council of Niagara as Project Manager, for a number of Labour Force and Community initiatives.
Director
Daniell joined our Board of Directors on September 12, 2007. He received his Bachelor of Arts (Hons) at Brock University in 1998, obtained his LLB at the University of Ottawa in 2001, and was called to the Ontario Bar in 2002. Daniell articled at a boutique labour law firm in Ottawa, and is now in-house-counsel for the City of Hamilton where he represents the municipality in various types of litigation with a specialty in trial work. Daniell has been greatly influenced by his mother who has worked with adults with developmental disabilities for over 20 years. He has volunteered with Christian Horizons and the Special Olympics.
Director
Maureen joined our Board of Directors on September 15, 1999. She is a university professor with over 30 years in the field of physical education as a teacher, researcher, trainer, and disability advocate. In 2002, Maureen was presented with the Brock Award for Distinguished Teaching, was awarded the 3M Teaching Fellowship Award in 2003, and in 2005 was awarded a YWCA Woman of Distinction Award. Recently, Maureen and one of her colleagues were the joint recipients of the 2010-2013 Chancellor's Chairs for Teaching Excellence award for the project "Real People/Deep Learning". Maureen also serves on the Board of Trustees of Niagara Training & Employment Agency and the Board of Directors of Niagara Employment Agency.
Director
Jane joined our Board of Directors on September 30, 1996, and served as 2nd Vice President in 2003-04. She was employed as a resource teacher for our agency from 1978 to 1988. Jane is currently a Resource Consultant for Regional Niagara, a consultant for Quality Child Care Niagara, as well as a Roots of Empathy mentor for the Niagara Region. Jane is also a past board member of the Ontario Rhett Syndrome Association and the YWCA. She has recently accepted a part-time position teaching at Niagara College. Jane is married with three children and enjoys running, and travelling throughout North America and Europe.
Director
Geoff joined our Board of Directors on April 22, 2003, and has served as 2nd Vice President in 2006-07. He received his MSW at the University of Toronto in 1974, and is a mental health counsellor with 36 years' experience in the health and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) fields. Geoff is currently employed as a social worker/mental health worker with the Beamsville Family Health Team while continuing to work in EAP. His interest in the developmentally challenged was spurred by his previous work at the Niagara Peninsula Children's Centre, and his family experience as a parent of an adult child diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome.
Director
Elinor joined our Board of Directors on September 22, 2005. She has been employed at Niagara Recycling since 1989 as controller and commercial sales coordinator. In 1993, she was involved with NTEC in the initiation of the waste management program. This joint program between NTEC and Niagara Recycling is a fully-integrated program that reaps rewards for all involved. Elinor has been a member of the Recycling Council of Ontario Awards Committee for eleven years, and a member of the St. Catharines Chamber Governance Committee for the past six years. In the community, she has acted as treasurer for her family church, and past chair of her church's child care centre. Elinor and her husband, John, live in Ridgeway and have two adult children.
Director
Claudia has been a member of our Board of Directors since November 23, 2004, and has served in the roles of 1st and 2nd Vice Presidents. She is a facilitator of leadership and teambuilding training programs, and has designed and delivered a variety of experiential learning programs for both adults and youth throughout Canada and the United States. Claudia currently works as the Director of Frontier Team Building, a company based in Niagara. She is a con¬cerned community partner and also sits on the Board of Directors for Hospice Niagara.
