Board of Trustees

Barry Elder, Secretary/Treasurer, retired from active employment in 2011 after a 40-year career in the wholesale distribution and transportation industries. He had progressed through various levels of responsibility with major Canadian companies including Emco Distribution, Clarke Transport and Steetly Industries where he held the position of Vice President Finance. Responsibilities included audit, secretarial, treasury, accounting, human resources and information systems. His experiences included a number of exciting business cycles as well as acquisitions/divestitures and an initial public stock offering. Barry is a member of the Society of Management Accountants of Ontario, holds a Master of Business Administration Degree from Wilfred Laurier University and a Marketing Management Certificate from Western University. As a new member of the Board of Trustees of The Elliott Community, he is extremely pleased and honoured to have been appointed Treasurer, commencing July 2012.

David Kennedy

David Kennedy, Trustee, is semi retired from a 35 year career working in the broader public sector where he provided leadership and strategic direction to support the delivery of municipal government and public health programs and services. David is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Municipal Finance Administrator, and holds a degree in Business Administration.

David serves on several boards of non-profit organizations and is Past President of the Public Treasurers Association of United States and Canada.

David enjoys the opportunity to give something back to the community by serving on the Board of Trustees of the Elliott Community.

Bill Koornstra

Bill Koornstra, Trustee, is the Managing Partner at RLB LLP, and is responsible for guiding the growth and development of internal and external tax resources and services for clients of the firm. He has a strong connection with many local law firms and works on a daily basis with a variety of lawyers and other tax team members to further develop the tax practice in the areas of estates and trusts, succession and estate planning, corporate reorganizations, divorce and tax litigation support. The tax group remains a committed resource of the firm and has experienced a significant portion of the firm’s recent growth. The tax group continues to work on several new initiatives aimed at increasing and improving the types of tax services available to our owner-managed business clients.

Bill invests a significant amount of time with several local charity and non-profit organizations. He is currently a member of the professional advisors committee for a local charitable organization and he is actively involved as a board member of one of the largest health care organizations in the community.

Bill is an avid golfer and he enjoys spending free time with his spouse and two children.

Jackie Wright

Jackie Wright, Trustee, is currently employed with The Cooperators in Insurance/Claims Management. Jackie previously worked with the Community Care Access Center as a Case Manager for six years, and previous to that, was a Palliative Home Care Nurse for twelve years with the Victorian Order of Nurses, ComCare & Bayshore Home Health.

Jackie is a Registered Nurse who also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Development Studies from the University of Waterloo. She is a graduate of Conestoga College in the Registered Nursing Program, and is currently completing the Disability Management Program through the National Institute of Disability Management & Research.

Jackie has served on the Board of Trustees for The Elliott Community since April 2010, and is thoroughly enjoying giving back to the community in this capacity. Jackie’s extracurricular interests and activities include competing in triathlons, gardening, reading, playing the guitar, and enjoying cottage life with her husband, and their four children.

Bill McLay

Bill McLay, Trustee, is a partner with MATRIX Healthcare, a consulting firm in the health sciences sector. Prior to forming MATRIX, Bill spent 20 years in the pharmaceutical industry, where he specialized in the commercialization of medicines for Canadians with Cancer and Rare Diseases.

Bill is a graduate of the University of Guelph, Management Economics program. He is a former board member of the Pulmonary Hypertension Association of Canada.

Bill, his wife Laurie and their 4 children live in Guelph.

Ravi Sathasivam

Ravi Sathasivam, Trustee, has always been concerned with the aging population and with it the dilemna of how we are positioned to sustain it. Ravi accumulated analytical and strategic skills during his 20 plus years in the banking industry. During the merger of Canada Trust and TD he managed the USD portfolio from the clearing centre in Mississauga. His passion has now turned to taxes, spending the tax season with H & R Block and upgrading tax knowledge with them during the off season. Ravi has lived in Guelph for 30 years with his wife and son. When he isn't volunteering, Ravi enjoys playing cricket and coaching. He remains fit by working out at the YMCA doing cardio and strength training and participates in yoga classes. Ravi is also a member of the board at Guelph Independent Living and is a volunteer driver for the Family and Children's Services of Guelph.

John Schitka

John Schitka, Chair, is a long time resident of Guelph who cares deeply about the city and its people. He currently works in Solution Marketing at SAP focusing on Database and Technology products.

A graduate of McMaster University he also holds an MBA from the University of Windsor. John has worked in product marketing and product management in the high tech arena for a number of years and before this taught technology and co-authored a number of published text books.

Early in his career he worked for several years as a probation and parole officer. John sees The Elliott Community as an integral part of the fabric of Guelph with a vital role to play for all its citizens.

E.J. Stross

E.J. Stross, Vice-Chair, was appointed to the Elliott Board in 2008.

Andy Van Hellemond

Randall Wilson

Randall Wilson, Past-Chair, is currently retired from having been a Consultant/Advisor at the Ministry of Government Services (Management Board of Cabinet) and Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Randall was also employed as Vice President Support Services with St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Guelph.

Randall is past Chair of the Guelph Public Library Board, past Chair Second Chance Employment Counselling (Wellington) and an active member of the Rotary Club of Guelph. In his spare time, Randall enjoys travelling, politics, sports and spending time with his family.