Leadership
Meet our leadership team and Board of Directors.
Leadership
Elisha M. Laker, MSW RSW
Chief Executive Officer
Mariana Benitez, M. Ed., R.P.
Director of Clinical Services and Organizational Development
Susan Warren B.A. R.P.
Director of Inclusivity and Community Development
Michael Prencipe, B.A.
Director of Operations
Wendy Milwain
Manager of Data
Sarah Simms, MSW, RSW
Manager of Human Resources
Stephanie McKellar
Executive Assistant
Leena Nayyar, MSW, RSW
Manager of Outreach Services
Kerry Newman, R.P.
Clinical Supervisor
Melissa Tolman, MA, R.P.
Clinical Supervisor
Jennise Fortner, MSW, RSW
Clinical Supervisor
Mahsa Ghayoumi, M.A., R.P.
Outreach Supervisor
Board of Directors 2025-2026
Debbie Kassirer – Chair
MSW, MBA; Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner and is the Principal of Beyond Conflict, a consultancy dedicated to resolving and preventing conflict in the workplace.
Vanessa Aguiar – Vice Chair
Executive Director, People, Wellness & Talent, York Regional Police.
Ira Teich – Treasurer
M.Sc., C.A.; Author and nation-building/development strategist for governments around the world; formerly CEO/Principal of Canada’s largest, Harvard-acclaimed, global consumer strategy firm; formerly, executive head of strategy for a fortune-50 multi-national corporation.
Karen Wang – Secretary
Adolescent Psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
Juanita Nathan – Member at Large
Member of Parliament for Pickering-Brooklin, former City of Markham Councillor Ward 7, Board Member for Markham Tamil Association, Recipient of Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond & Platinum Jubilee Medals-Community Service.
Mark Lau – Member at Large
Inspector, Community Services, York Regional Police.