ONESTEP Board of Directors

The ONESTEP Board of Directors consists of up to 11 members composed of four (4) Regional Directors, each of whom shall be elected by the voting members of their respective regions, six (6) Directors at Large, each of whom shall be elected by the voting members as a whole and lastly, the Past President of the Corporation who shall be an Ex-officio Director.

Vicki Mayer
Board President

For over thirty years, Vicki has committed herself to working on behalf of persons with disabilities. She helped establish the Alternative Training Network (ATN), a non-profit agency, which provides computer and assistive technology training, skills upgrading and employment assistance to adults with disabilities. During her leadership, ATN has grown exponentially and now serves over 600 individuals a year. In addition to sitting on a number of local and provincial employment sector council committees, Vicki served as a representative on the Access for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Employment Standards Development Committee. In 2003, Vicki was selected by the YMCA of London as a Woman of Distinction in Employment and Training.

Allison Pond
Vice President and Central Region Director

Allison has dedicated herself to ensuring that internationally trained people have full and equitable access to employment in their professions and trades.  As the Executive Director of ACCESS Employment, Allison has built effective and integrated services for newcomers settling in the GTA through community collaboration, local service co-ordination and the development of partnerships with the public and private sectors.  Allison is a certified ESL instructor, and holds an MA in Social Anthropology and a Business Management Certificate from Schulich.  She is an active member of the Consortium of Agencies Serving Internationally-trained Persons (CASIP), and sits on the Career and Work Counselling Program Advisory Committee at George Brown College.

Lorraine Boland
Northern Region Director

Lorraine is the Executive Director of Yes Employment Services, a non-profit charitable organization serving Thunder Bay and Nipigon.  She has been actively involved in education, training and the employment services sector for over 16 years.  Under Lorraines leadership, YES was recognized in 2003 by the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities with the Silver Award for Excellence and with an award for Service Delivery Innovation.  In 2004, YES also received the Ministers Award for Excellence in Service Results.  Moreover, Lorraine was recognized locally by the Ontario Public School Boards Association in 2006 for her commitment and dedication to the school community.

Deb Hotchkiss
Western Region Director

With an educational background in Social Services, Voluntarism and Not-for-Profit Management, Deb is the Managing Director for Partners in Employment, a not-for-profit organization that assists individuals in Huron and Perth counties to obtain and maintain employment.  Deb also sits on the Board of Directors for the Ontario Literacy Coalition, with the goal of enhancing the link between literacy and employment services.  She has worked in the employment sector for 15 years. 

Wendy Woods-Fontaine
Member at Large

Since 1990, Wendy has been the Executive Director of Job Zone D'Emploi, a non-profit organization that assists individuals to find employment through employment and career counselling, information resources, job opportunities and access to community and outreach services. Wendy graduated from the St. Lawrence College Behavioural Science Technician program and went on to McGill University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work degree.  Additionally, she completed the Voluntary Sector Management program at York University. Wendy is the current President of the Employers Council and the Past President of the Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres, as well as a member of the St. Lawrence College Advisory Council.

Nella Iasci
Vice President

For the last 26 years, Nella has led Job Skills as its Executive Director.  She is a strong believer in using strategic marketing and an entrepreneurial approach for enhancing Job Skills ability to adapt quickly and successfully to changing community needs.  Nella has a B.A. in Language Sciences from Laurentian University and has held a variety of management positions in not-for-profit organizations such as the Social Planning Council of the United Way of Greater Sudbury, Career Preparation for Immigrants (CAPRI) and the Sudbury Multicultural and Folk Arts Association.

Bob Santos
Treasurer

For the past twenty years, Bob has worked with a variety of community-based agencies serving barriered individuals.  As the CEO of Link Up Employment Services for Persons with Disabilities, Bob works with immigrants, new Canadians, Aboriginal persons and youth to address their individual employment needs and to enhance their entrance and retention in the workforce.  Bob is a member of the Canada Pension Plan Disability Advisory Roundtable, where he contributes important perspectives on issues related to employment.  He also sits on the Lieutenant Governors Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, a committee that advises the Government of Ontario on legislation pertaining to individuals with disabilities.

Carol Timlin
Member at Large

Carol Timlin is the founding Executive Director of Victoria County Career Services in Lindsay. With over 25 years of management experience in the employment sector Carol has built a dedicated and vibrant employment counselling agency with a strong reputation in the community. An active and lifelong volunteer she continues to be actively involved in various organizations and fundraising activities in her community.

Ed Kothiringer
Ex-Officio Board Member

Ed is currently the Director of the Employment Services Division at COSTI Immigrant Services, one of Canadas largest immigrant serving organizations. With over 115 staff and an $11 Million operating budget, his division provides employment preparation and job development support to newcomers, youth, adults returning to the workforce or just de-hired and persons with disabilities. Ed has also served as Executive Director/Director at two other community based employment agencies as well as a settlement house and a youth counseling residence. He has volunteered as a Board Member and President for several non-profit organizations in Toronto over the past 39 years. He has served on the ONESTEP Board of Directors for 7 years.

Ed himself immigrated from the USA in 1970 and has worked extensively in the public and non-profit sectors as well a 2-year stint as an independent consultant. He is happily married, has two grown sons who now tower over him and remains highly committed to issues of social justice and community development. Eds key values are to create an inclusive society for all, where people are assisted to achieve their highest goals both economically and socially and where organizations working with integrity are seen and resourced as critical social assets.

Board of Directors

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