Links2Care is governed by an 11 member volunteer Board of Directors. The Board has broad representation from different sectors, including the private, government and non-profit sectors, and collectively represents a wide range of specific skills and expertise. The Board provides leadership and sets strategic priorities for Links2Care.
Board meetings are held monthly, alternating between the Oakville and Georgetown Administration offices of Links2Care.
2011 Board of Directors
Jeannie Collins-Ardern (Board Chair)
Jeannie Collins-Ardern, CFA, FRM, MA, FLMI, hBA, has served on the board of Links2Care and one of its predecessor organizations, Halton Helping Hands, since 2005. Before being elected Board Chair, Ms. Collins-Ardern served as Vice-Chair of the Board, Secretary of the Board, Chair of the Governance Committee, member of the Audit Committee, and member of the Transition Team leading up to the amalgamation with Halton Hills Community Support & Information in July 2006, forming Links2Care.
Jeannie is a long-time employee of the financial services industry, currently working for the internationally-recognized CFA Institute as Director, Examination Development. Prior to that, Jeannie was a Vice President of MFC Global Investment Management (a Manulife Company). Before joining Manulife, she was a Vice President at BMO Nesbitt Burns and an Assistant Chief at the Bank of Canada.
Jeannie is actively involved in several Toronto-area, national and international Capital Markets associations and Financial Industry groups. Jeannie has been a resident of Oakville for nearly 20 years, and has been an active member of three area Quilting Guilds, having served on the Executive in various positions and on numerous committees. Her hobbies include travel, gardening, reading, quilting and other arts, swimming, and dog training.
Bev Heim-Myers (Vice Chair, Chair of Governance Committee)
Bev has over 20 years experience in the financial sector, was a partner in a successful sales and marketing company. Bev is currently the CEO & Executive Director of the Huntington Society of Canada.
Volunteerism is important to Bev including being a service club member of Soroptimist International for six years and a director for 3 of those years. Bev has been involved in many other volunteer commitments over the years but one of the most satisfying was a student/seniors visitation program that Bev created to provide opportunities for positive interactions between public school students in Halton schools and seniors in local senior’s residences.
Leisure time for Bev includes time at the cottage with family and friends.
Maureen McCallister (Treasurer, Chair of Finance Committee)
Maureen is retired from the Ontario Government after 30 years which included 15 years in the long-term care sector. She now has more time to volunteer in the community and joined Links2Care as a Board member.
She is currently the Treasurer and brings her experience in government programs and finance to Links2 Care to better service the community.
Maureen is a resident of Oakville and a member of the Oakville Power Boat Club.
Andrea McCorkell (Board Secretary)
Andrea has a Business Degree and has held positions in Human Resources and Project Management in the banking, IT, and utilities industries. Andrea has always enjoyed volunteering and community involvement and in following this passion, she returned to school to further her education in Social Service Work with a specialization in Gerontology. To unite this experience, Andrea is enjoying her current position as Residence Services Coordinator at Mountainview Residence in Georgetown.
Andrea has assisted with Links2Care’s Healthy Snack program for the Youth Centres and is looking forward to continuing her contribution to Links2Care through her role on the board.
Andrea enjoys travelling, playing tennis, skiing, and has recently joined the Acton Curling Club.
Assumpta Michaels-Uzaka
Assumpta is a Senior Management Consultant with specialization in Project Management, New Business Development and Strategic Operations. Assumpta holds a Bachelor's degree from York University and is currently closing out an MBA at Warwick University. Her interests include mergers and acquisitions, entrepreneurial and international business.
Outside of work she is passionate about serving at House of Praise Canada, an international centre for excellence. Having volunteered with several Not-for-Profit organizations, Assumpta is honored to serve as a board member and looks forward to being part of a wonderful team of staff and volunteers who make a difference to not only the community but lives.
Linda Gordon
Bio coming soon.
Susan Wells
Susan Wells a BSW university graduate, has 15 years of professional practice in Social Work. Her experience has afforded her a comprehensive background and in-depth knowledge of family-centered treatment and services. She has acquired extensive skills including prevention, protection, mental health, and behavioural programming for children. Susan is a master’s degree candidate in Social Work through the University of Calgary. She is currently undertaking practicum experience with the United Way’s Community Impact Team. In addition, Susan volunteers as a committee member with the Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital Foundation.
As a highly motivated and committed professional, Susan’s conviction is indicative in her desire to apply her skills and knowledge to the betterment of her community. Her breadth of public sector experience has provided an excellent foundation for understanding the value of the programs and services under the Links2Care umbrella, in supporting the community.
An avid runner and classical violinist, most important to Susan is her family.
Wendy Spence
Wendy Spence, BA (ECE), B Ed, M Ed, is a principal for the Halton District School Board in Milton, Ontario. She has been a resident in the Halton area for 15 years and has taught in several schools in Milton, Acton and Georgetown. Before joining HDSB in 1993, Wendy worked for eleven years in the field of Early Childhood Education. Her experience with directing Childcare Centres, Parent Drop-In Programs and teaching night school, have contributed to her resourceful and creative approach to problem solving.
Before joining the Links2Care Board of Directors, Wendy was the Vice Chair of the Moore Place Child Care Centre, a non-profit organization in Georgetown. Wendy has a solid understanding of child development and understands the importance of support for our children and families in the community. She is an advocate for all community partnerships that service young families in our growing region. Most recently, Wendy has won the Children’s Service Award from the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario.
Wendy spends her leisure time at a family cottage in Muskoka and on her motorcycle touring around southern Ontario.
Vic Bakowski
Vic is Vice President of Finance and CFO of ONEPOWER group of companies in Hamilton, Ontario. The group specializes in design, engineering and manufacturing of industrial machines, power generation and distribution equipment for Oil & Gas and Emergency Relief industries in Canada and the United States. Vic is responsible for the effective performance of the company’s Finance & Controlling, Strategic Planning, Procurement, IT and HR functions.
Prior to his role as CFO of ONEPOWER, Vic worked for SMS Siemag AG, an industrial group of international companies active in plant construction and mechanical engineering related to the processing of steel and nonferrous metals with the Head Office in Dusseldorf, Germany. He was Controller of the Canadian branch in Oakville, Ontario.
Vic was appointed to the Board of Directors of Links2Care in January 2011, he is active in Finance Committee and provides support in Strategic Planning initiatives of the organization.
Vic studied management sciences at Nottingham Trent (UK) and Western universities and graduated with Master of Science degree in management. He is Certified Management Accountant, and member in good standing of The Society of Management Accountants of Ontario since 2004. He graduated from CMA’s Strategic Leadership Program in 2007 and became certified the same year. His interests and further studies include personality psychology theory and its practical applications in a workplace. Vic is special affiliate member of Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) and is certified in Canada for Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) psychometric assessments used to identify group dynamics, create team building opportunities, establish professional development, and formulate executive coaching strategies at workplace.