Allison Steinberg
CEO
Allison Steinberg is the Chief Executive Officer at JVS Toronto. She has spent over 20 years in the non-profit sector and has had an impressive career with JVS Toronto over her 15 years of service. Allison is a strategic leader with a proven track record of fostering critical relationships and designing and implementing innovative programs that have significant impact on clients, the organization and the community.
Prior to moving into the CEO role at JVS Toronto in 2022, Allison was the VP, Strategy and Stakeholder Engagement. She oversaw fundraising, communications, program and partnership development, government relations, quality assurance and compliance.
Allison is a results-oriented leader who is skilled at balancing new ideas, financial accountability and operational excellence. Before joining JVS Toronto, she honed her skills at two large foundations, in the health and education sectors. Allison is a graduate of York University and Centennial College, both in Toronto.
Board of Directors
Avi Pollock (Since 2015)
Board Chair
Avi Pollock is a seasoned leader and entrepreneur who is passionate about helping technology driven companies big and small innovate, grow and transform their businesses. His 25+ 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 joined Grapevine6, one of his clients, in 2019 as President to help grow and scale the company. After experiencing 10x growth in 2020, Grapevine6 exited to Seismic, the leader in Sales Enablement, where Avi is now the VP, Customer Success. Avi is a graduate of the LLB/ MBA program at York University. He 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, Camp Ramah in Canada. Avi is the current Chair of the Board at JVS Toronto, Member of the Executive, Finance, Fundraising, and Governance Committees.
Saul Goodman (Since 2015)
Vice Chair
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 Saul worked as a Social Worker in the JVS rehabilitation workshop prior to joining The Hospital. Since his retirement, he is available as a consultant to mental health services within the community. Saul is the Vice Chair of the Board and Member of the Executive Committee. He is also Chair of Career, Education and Psychology Committee; and is a member of Advocacy and Finance Committees.
Jonathan Kopman (Since 2018)
Immediate Past 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 as a member of the Finance, Fundraising and Nominating Committees. Jonathan is JVS Toronto’s Immediate Past Chair of the Board and Member of the Executive, Finance, Fundraising and Nominating Committees.
Aaron Goldstein (Since 2021)
Treasurer
Aaron is a Partner in Crowe Soberman LLP’s Audit and Advisory practice. From his time in public practice, he is well-acquainted with the following components of business: administration, management, financing and revenue. He is familiar with the challenges that entrepreneurs face and, in working with them, is able to see clients overcome setbacks and reach their goals. Using his diverse skill set, Aaron has helped many business owners and professionals improve their financial situations. He has acted as a Finance Committee member at Skylark Children, Youth & Families. Aaron is a new member of the Board of JVS Toronto and incoming Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee.
Fiona Orr (Since 2017)
Secretary
Fiona is a business and legal affairs lawyer with MYM Nutraceuticals Inc, and prior to that, with Biome Grow Inc. 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 matters for 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. 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, Member of Connected North advisory committee, as well as a prior volunteer 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.
Nicole Diamond (Since 2015)
Director
Nicole is Global Director of Digital Strategy and Performance at Four Seasons, where she leads digital strategy, innovation, guest experience, CRM and marketing technology. 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 Committees at JVS Toronto.
Ariella Fuhrmann (Since 2020)
Director
Ariella Fuhrmann is a lawyer with over 20 years of experience in the pension and benefits industry with a particular expertise in governance matters. She has been involved with JVS Toronto for a number of years and is a member of the Pension, Governance, and Nominating Committees. Ariella previously served as Chair of the Pension Committee.
Elana Hagi (Since 2021)
Director
Elana is a pension actuary with over 25 years of experience in the pension and benefits industry. She is responsible for building and maintaining effective working partnerships with diverse clients – sponsors of a variety of funded and unfunded pension arrangements in various jurisdictions (defined benefit and defined contribution). Elana provides strategic advice tailored to a variety of businesses, corporate philosophies and evolving pension environments; and assists clients in understanding and solving various challenges that apply to their employee benefit programs, including design, funding, governance and risk management of their pension plans. She is a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and a Fellow of the Society of Actuaries. Elana has been involved with JVS Toronto for a number of years as a member of the Pension Committee. She is a new member of the Board and incoming Chair of Pension Committee.
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. Pearlene has also assisted various committees at UJA including fundraising and assisting new immigrants with employment suggestions. She is currently a member of the budget and finance committee at her synagogue. Pearlene is a member of the Finance Committee of JVS Toronto.
Prabhas Jha (Since 2017)
Director
Prabhas Jha, Digital technology evangelist, is leading the professional services practice for an innovative global data management and data science organization in Canada and the US. He is responsible for digital transformation initiatives to accelerate growth and enhance customer experience by unlocking the potential of right data products and solutions. With more than 24 years’ experience, Prabhas has been delivering digital solutions for public, private and government sector companies in Canada, the United States and India. Prabhas is actively engaged in mentorship activities through Canada InfoNet program. Prabhas is a member of the Governance Committee of JVS Toronto.
Desmond Levin (Since 2016)
Director
Chartered Professional Accountant. Retired partner at Crowe Soberman LLP in their Audit & Advisory Group. In his practice Des enjoyed advising his clients and playing an integral part in their business decisions. He consulted to owner-managed businesses, and his client portfolio consisted of investment companies, distributors, trustees (estates and trusts), manufacturers, professionals, and not-for-profit organizations. Des is a member of the Finance Committee of JVS Toronto and former Treasurer.
Mana Nikaeen (Since 2020)
Director
Mana has been with RBC for 18 years and has worked across a variety of mandates spanning relationship management, finance (reporting & advisory) and credit risk management. In her current capacity at RBC, Mana manages a desk of senior corporate connections comprised of national privately owned Canadian enterprises and Canadian-present, publicly traded US-domiciled industrial companies. Mana is actively engaged in mentorship and coaching activities through United Way, TRIEC and informal channels including UofT Alumni network. Mana is a Chartered Financial Analyst and holds a Master of Finance (MFin) from Rotman School of Management. Mana is a member of the Finance, Pension, and CEP Committees.
Erin Payne (Since 2016)
Director
Erin Payne is a 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 wide 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 with distinction from the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario. In addition to being a Board Member, Erin is also the Chair of the Human Resources Committee at JVS Toronto.
Janet Schoel (Since 2020)
Director
Janet Schoel is a strategic marketing and business professional with over 20 years of experience in the corporate and not for profit sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia University and an MBA from The Ivey School of Business. Janet’s career has had a strong focus on direct and digital marketing applying those skills to fundraising in her roles at SickKids Foundation and currently as Director of Monthly Giving for UNICEF Canada. She also brings a passion for data to everything she does. Using data informed strategies to optimize revenue and customer/donor retention for the brands and organizations Janet has had the pleasure of working for, including American Express in Canada and Europe, SickKids Foundation and UNICEF. Janet believes in giving back to the community and has held volunteer roles with the Canadian Marketing Association, YMCA of Greater Toronto, Asthma Canada. Janet is the Chair of the Fundraising 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.
Lianne Vineberg (Since 2021)
Director
Lianne is the founder of Talent in the 6ix a leading Canadian Recruitment & HR Strategy Consulting Firm supporting scaling companies across the country. Her focus is on strategic HR practices, recruitment, training and development, people engagement, organizational effectiveness and leadership development. Lianne works closely with leadership teams to identify and implement innovative solutions to support the strategic and operational direction of the business, and the management and development of people resources across your organization. She focuses on building a culture and environment for all teams that is safe, caring, equitable, compassionate and accountable. A native Montrealer, Lianne spent many of her early adult years chairing multiple charitable initiatives for CJA and is excited to be joining the Board of JVS in Toronto and contributing to the great work JVS is committed to.
Daniel Wilson (Since 2014)
Director
Daniel is a Principal in Segal’s Tax practice, with more than 14 years of experience in public accounting including 10 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 of JVS Toronto.
Marvin Zweig (Since 2016)
Director
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 retired as a partner with MNP LLP, Canada’s fifth largest accounting, tax and business advisory firm in 2016 and is continuing working part-time as a LIT. 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 was the Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee from 2014 to 2020; and served on the Finance Committee of JF&CS for several years. Marvin is the outgoing Treasurer and Chair of the Finance Committee and Member of the Executive Committee at JVS Toronto. He also served as Chair of the Pension Committee from 2016 to 2019.