Kim Coulter
President & CEO
Kim Coulter is the President and CEO of JVS Toronto. She has been part of JVS Toronto’s executive team for over a decade as the Chief Operations Officer. Her career with JVS Toronto started in 1990 as a frontline career counsellor and quickly progressed into senior management. With over 25 years’ employment sector experience, Kim has directly influenced JVS Toronto’s strategic service delivery and expansion through the development of strong partnerships with all levels of government, funding bodies, private foundations and donors. With financial management acumen, and honed skills in strategic planning, business development, and project management, Kim is a capable change-leader for JVS Toronto and the sector at large. She is a much sought-after professional participant to inform policies, responsive programming, and service delivery that reflects community need. Kim has a Master’s of Education in Counselling from the University of Western Ontario and a Certificate in Change Management from the Rotman School of Management. She has held various voluntary leadership roles at community and government levels; and represents JVS Toronto internationally through professional affiliations.
Board of Directors
Jonathan Kopman (Since 2018)
Board Chair
Investment Advisor for CIBC Wood Gundy. Certified Investment Manager Analyst. Co-founder and Board member of the Elayne Kopman Foundation. Jonathan previously sat on the Board of JVS from 2006 to 2016 and served on the Executive and Finance Committees; as well as Chair of the Investment Committee. Jonathan continued his involvement with JVS Toronto as a member of the Finance, Fundraising and Nominating Committees. Jonathan is JVS Toronto’s Chair of the Board and Member of the Executive, Finance, Fundraising and Nominating Committees.
Avi Pollock (Since 2015)
Vice Chair
Avi Pollock is a seasoned executive who is passionate about helping technology driven companies big and small innovate, grow and transform their businesses. Avi is a graduate of the LLB/ MBA program at York University. His 20+ year career has been split evenly between leading, scaling and advising entrepreneurial growth oriented companies and in executive innovation, strategy and P&L roles at large companies like RBC and Davis & Henderson (D&H). In 2018 Avi launched his own consulting firm to help start-up and scale-up companies through the key phases of their life cycles with an eye toward building successful, sustainable businesses. He is proud to advise a number of exciting Canadian innovative start-ups and large companies as well as their Founder teams. Avi is a frequent speaker on innovation and has been active in charitable and community causes, including: Public Service Advisory Board for Canada’s Networks of Centres of Excellence, Hillel of Greater Toronto and RBC’s Social Finance initiative. He is also currently a member of the Venture For Canada board. Avi is JVS Toronto’s Vice Chair of the Board and member of the Executive and Governance Committees.
Marvin Zweig (Since 2016)
Treasurer
Marvin Zweig is a long-standing financial professional who has worked in the private sector for over 40 years. Marvin has a Bachelor’s degree from York University (1973), is a Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant (CPA, CA) (1976), a Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professional (CIRP) (1986) and is a Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) (1987). Marvin is a member of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA), CPA Ontario, the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (CAIRP), and the Ontario Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (OAIRP). Marvin recently retired as a partner with MNP LLP, Canada’s fifth largest accounting, tax and business advisory firm. Marvin has practiced in the area of financial restructuring for both individuals and businesses since 1982. Marvin is a past director of the OAIRP and has sat on several committees of CAIRP. Marvin has been a member of the Board of directors of the Bernard Betel Centre for Creative Living since 2013 and has also been the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee since 2014, and serves on the Finance Committee of JF&CS. Marvin is JVS Toronto’s incoming Board Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee, and Member of the Executive Committee
Fiona Orr (Since 2017)
Secretary
Fiona is a business and legal affairs lawyer, of counsel with Glover & Associates. Formerly she was Senior Compliance Counsel, Ethics and Compliance Office reporting to the Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer of The Coca-Cola Company in Atlanta, Georgia. Fiona was responsible for company Ethics and Code of Business Conduct compliance, administration and investigations, as well as compliance policy initiatives and programs across several international company business units. Prior to that, she was Vice-President, Secretary and Senior Managing Counsel with Coca-Cola Ltd. and The Minute Maid Company Canada Inc. She is currently in private practice. Fiona has been an executive volunteer with many United Way initiatives and organizations. She was executive co-chair of the 2011 and 2012 Coca-Cola United Way Campaigns, two successive annual corporate campaigns recognized by the United Way for achievements in fundraising, increase in associate participation and donation rates. Fiona is member of the Board of Directors of Craigleith Ski Club, Chair of Connected North charitable organization, as well as volunteered with the United Way Toronto Law Cabinet, the United Way Community Services Sector Program Funding Stream Review Committee, as well as a corporate law volunteer with Pro Bono Ontario. Fiona is JVS Toronto’s Secretary of the Board; Chair of the Governance Committee and a member of the Executive Committee.
Wayne Burns (Since 2015)
Member at Large
Wayne is Vice President, Client and Partner Development for webTactics, a management consulting firm that is focused on talent acquisition and retention. Wayne has had significant experience with two of the world’s largest employment marketing and communications companies, TMP Worldwide Advertising & Communications and Bernard Hodes Group. For 15 years he was Senior Vice President at TMP and responsible for all aspects of Canadian business operations. For a period of four years, he also managed the Company’s businesses in Singapore and Bangalore. Wayne attended York University and is active in not-for-profit initiatives directly related to youth employment, employability and skills training. Wayne serves as a Member at Large at JVS Toronto, and is a member of the Executive and Advocacy Committees.
Nicole Diamond (Since 2015)
Director
Nicole is a Global Director within Four Seasons responsible for Digital Strategy and Performance. Nicole is accountable for driving the organization’s innovation agenda, global ecommerce, digital marketing and digital revenue growth. Previously, Nicole led a team to develop omni-channel capabilities to improve customer experience at TELUS. Her passion for women’s empowerment and social change previously led Nicole to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Kinimi, a social enterprise dedicated to women’s empowerment and sustainable employment. Prior, Nicole was a manager at Global Management Consulting firm Accenture. Nicole holds an MBA from Sauder School of Business at University of British Columbia and ESADE, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Guelph-Humber. Nicole has previously served on Accenture’s Global Advisory Board. Nicole is a member of the Fundraising and Nominating Committee at JVS Toronto.
Wendy Glaser (Since 2016)
Director
Wendy Glaser is a Human Resources consultant with an expertise in pay equity compliance. Currently the Manager of Human Resources Consulting for Solertia Consulting Group’s Ontario division, she has over 15 years of experience assisting clients in both Ontario and Quebec. Wendy has worked with companies from a wide array of industries and has spearheaded numerous HR mandates with a specific focus on compensation structure and management. Wendy holds a B.A. in Psychology and a certificate in Human Resources Management from McGill University as well as an M.Sc. in Administration from the John Molson School of Business. She is a certified member of the Human Resources Professional Association and she currently sits on the Human Resources Committee at JVS Toronto.
Jeff Goldfarb (Since 2009)
Director
Chartered Accountant. Retired partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. Past not for profit positions include:Treasurer and Board member of Muki Baum treatment centres. Jeff was a member of the Board of Jewish Education and sat on various committees including budget and finance and financial services and was a member of various committees and subcommittees of UJA Federation. Jeff is JVS Toronto’s Immediate Past Chair of the Board, Chair of Fundraising and Nominating Committees, and member of Executive and Finance Committees.
Saul Goodman (Since 2015)
Director
Saul Goodman is a Social Worker having worked in the field of Mental Health all of his career. He was a long time employee of North York General Hospital where he held many positions including Director of Social Work and Director of Mental Health.Saul has a close bond with JVS where he interned as a MSW student under the supervision of former Executive Director Bernie Berger. Following his graduation he worked as a Social Worker in the JVS rehabilitation workshop prior to joining the hospital. Saul retired in 2013 and currently acts as a consultant to mental health organizations in the community. Saul is a member of the Finance and Advocacy Committees at JVS Toronto.
Pearlene Halfin (Since 2018)
Director
Chartered Professional Accountant—retired partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. During Pearlene’s professional career, her portfolio consisted of both for profit entities and not-for-profit organizations. In past years, she has been a member of the budget and finance committee of a couple of schools and was the treasurer of a not-for-profit organization. She has also assisted various committees at UJA including fundraising and assisting new immigrants with employment suggestions. Pearlene is currently a member of the budget and finance committee at her synagogue. She is a member of the Finance Committee of JVS Toronto.
Prabhas Jha (Since 2017)
Director
Prabhas, Digital technology evangelist, is the head of professional services group in Canada for TIBCO Software, responsible for digital transformation initiatives to accelerate growth and enhance customer experience. With more than 20 years’ experience, Prabhas has been delivering IT-empowered solutions for public, private and government sector companies in Canada, the United States and India.
Desmond Levin (Since 2016)
Director
Desmond (Des) is a consultant in Crowe Soberman’s Audit & Advisory Group. In his practice Des enjoys advising his clients and playing an integral part in their business decisions. He consults to owner-managed businesses, and his client portfolio consists in part of investment companies, distributors, trustees (estates and trusts), manufacturers, professionals and not-for-profit organizations. Des is an active participant in the community. He was the former acting Board member and Treasurer for the Parkdale Community Legal Services. Des sat on the Board for the Kidney Foundation of Canada (Ontario Branch and of the Central Ontario Chapter), serving as the Treasurer for the Central Ontario Chapter. Des is also a past Board member for a large Condominium Corporation. He is a member of the Finance Committee of JVS Toronto.
Erin Payne (Since 2016)
Director
Erin Payne is lawyer specializing in labour and employment law at e2r ®, where she provides proactive and holistic human resources solutions to employers. As part of her daily practice, Erin provides advice to a variety of clients, including many of the firm’s non-for-profit clients, in the area of workplace policies, employment contracts, employment standards, human rights, occupational health and safety, and employee dismissals. She also specializes in providing unionized employers with advice in the following areas: grievance arbitrations, collective bargaining, certification applications, and unfair labour practices. Erin was called to the bar in June 2014 after receiving her Juris Doctor from the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario. In addition to being a Board Member, Erin is also the incoming Chair of the Human Resources Committee at JVS Toronto.
Noah Shack (Since 2018)
Director
Noah is Vice President for the GTA at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), the advocacy agent of the Jewish Federations of Canada. He is a graduate of the University of King’s College and the London School of Economics and Political Science, with more than a decade of experience working in government relations, political research and communications. Noah has testified as an expert witness before several parliamentary committees and has been a spokesperson for CIJA on local and national media. He is the Chair of the Advocacy Committee of JVS Toronto.
Yelena Stepanyan (Since 2018)
Director
Yelena has an extensive experience in investment management – development of investment strategy and asset mix, creation of mutual funds, portfolio optimization, and risk management. She also consulted large financial institutions on various wealth management and capital markets issues. In her current role as a Director of Investments at Knowledge First Financial, she oversees about $6.5 billion in RESP investments. Her role includes developing investment strategy, risk mitigation, and monitoring external investment managers. Yelena received her MBA from the University of Western Ontario and is a CFA charter holder. She serves as a Co-Vice Chair at the Institutional Asset Management Committee of the Toronto CFA Society. Yelena is the incoming Chair of the Pension Committee of JVS Toronto.
Beatrice Traub-Werner (Since 2012)
Director
Beatrice Traub-Werner is a social worker with 30+ years’ experience as a clinician, an administrator, and an educator. She was the Director of Admissions at the Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto for 15 years. Beatrice founded TAPE Educational Services, a continuing education program for clinicians. Academic Director of the Bridge Training Program for Internationally Trained Psychologists and Allied Mental Health Professionals since 2009. Currently, and is the Dean of Continuing Education at Adler Graduate Professional Schools. Beatrice teaches internationally trained mental health professionals at the Mennonite New Life Centre’s Bridge Training Program one day per week. Former President of the Council of the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers; Past Board Chair at Willow Breast and Hereditary Cancer Support and helped to navigate the amalgamation of Willow to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Beatrice is a member of the Parenting for Life Committee at the Psychology Foundation of Canada and the Secretary of the Board of Eli’s Place, a new rural treatment facility for young adults who struggle with mental illness. Beatrice is the Chair of the Career, Education, Psychology Services Strategic Advisory Committee and a member of the Governance and Advocacy Committees at JVS Toronto.
Daniel Wilson (Since 2014)
Director
Daniel is a Senior Manager in BDO’s Tax practice, with more than 13 years of experience in public accounting including 9 years in income tax. Daniel specializes in income tax for owner-managed businesses and professionals. His experience includes involvement in corporate and partnership reorganizations, tax aspects of sale and purchase of businesses, cross-border taxation, estate planning and personal and corporate tax planning. Daniel is a frequent speaker on the subject of taxation and has served as a group study leader and in-residence tutorial leader for CPA Canada’s In-Depth Tax Course. Daniel has acted as a Tax Clinic Coordinator for the Unionville Home Society, served as Vice President of the South Muskoka Lake Community Association and is a member of the Finance Committee oft JVS Toronto.