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
Susan Warren B.A. R.P.
Director of Inclusivity and Community Development
Michael Prencipe, B.A.
Director of Operations
Adelle Volpone, MSW, RSW
Manager of Clinical Services
Reni Hunter
Financial Manager
Wendy Milwain
Manager of Data
Stephanie McKellar
Executive & Senior Management Assistant
Sarah Simms, MSW, RSW
HR Manager
Kerry Newman, R.P.
Clinical Supervisor
Leena Nayyar, MSW, RSW
Manager of Outreach and Community Support Services
Mahsa Ghayoumi, M.A., R.P.
Outreach Supervisor
Board of Directors 2024-2025
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 – Past Chair
Executive Director, People, Wellness & Talent, York Regional Police.
Rubaiyat Karim – Treasurer
Registered Social Worker and Faculty Professor with over two decades working in the community social services sector.
Ira Teich – Member at Large
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 – Member at Large
Adolescent Psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre and an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
Juanita Nathan – Member at Large
City of Markham Councillor Ward 7, Board Member for Markham Tamil Association, Recipient of Queen Elizabeth ll Diamond & Platinum Jubilee Medals-Community Service.