Board of Directors
Chairperson
Anne Smith holds a Masters of Public Administration from Queen’s University. She is self-employed and owns J.A. Smith Research and Consulting Services Inc. Anne has provided research and consulting services to government and community organizations since 1990. Prior to this time she worked for both the Governments of Alberta and Saskatchewan. Anne is the 2010 Riverview Rotary Integrity Award recipient.
Past Chair
Jack Little worked for CFRN for 27 years, ten of them as station manager, before becoming Executive Director of the Edmonton Heritage Festival. His volunteer work has included the Western Association of Broadcasters, the United Way, the Northern Alberta Better Business Bureau, and the Edmonton Community Loan Fund. He has extensive experience with media and public relations.
Treasurer
Kelvin Smith is an Associate Partner with Deloitte & Touche LLP. Deloitte & Touche provides audit, accounting, tax and business advisory services. Kelvin has a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Alberta and earned his designation as a Chartered Accountant in 1994. Kelvin is a member of the Arena Development Committee of the Canadian Athletic Club.
Secretary
Brian Besney has volunteered with many non-profit organizations over the past 20 years. He has completed NAIT’s marketing program and serves as the Edmonton Gleaners Association’s recording secretary. For the past 20 years, Brian has worked as a property manager.
Director
David I. Benjestorf has been practising corporate law in the Edmonton area since 2000 and currently serves as Legal Counsel and General Manager for the Alldritt Group’s Alberta operations. He is also an entrepreneur and owner of a few Edmonton-based companies. David has been acknowledged for numerous outstanding achievements, including Alberta Venture Magazine’s “Leader of Tomorrow” (2005), Edmonton Junior Chamber Member of the Year (2003) and being Knighted under the International Order of the Noble Companions of the Swan (2008). David further has many volunteer commitments which include the yearly Faculty of Law Alumnifest, serving in various board capacities for the Edmonton Junior Chamber/Jaycees and Junior Achievement.
Director
Lorraine Chaput is a registered social worker who has worked in the non-profit sector for over 20 years and been an active member of various community boards and committees. Lorraine’s past experience includes managing an addiction recovery centre for 16 years. She is currently a member of the City of Edmonton Community Investment Operating Grant Committee and a social worker at Uncles & Aunts at Large (Edmonton Area).
Director
Megan Koper is an associate Lawyer with Miller Thomson LLP. Meagan is practicing in the areas of corporate, commercial and tax law. She has a keen interest in advising not-for-profit and charitable organizations. Megan likes team work and collaboration. She is looking forward to serving on the Board and being part of discussions concerning strategic options and planning for the organization.
Director
For the past 14 years, Sherry Fowler has filled a number of different positions with Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society. These positions have included Childcare Supervisor, Volunteer Coordinator and Community Liaison. While Sherry has a background in childhood development, her professional and volunteer commitments have taken her down a number of paths. Some of Sherry’s current volunteer commitments include the Northlands events such as Capital X, Canadian Country Music Awards and Farm Fest. Apart from this, Sherry is also on the Chiefs Advisory Committee and the Aboriginal Community Liaison Committee. Additionally, Sherry has been a long-term special events volunteer with Edmonton’s Food Bank.
Director
Since 2004, Cheryl Nattrass has been the Coordinator for the Board Development Program of Alberta Culture & Community Spirit. This program provides workshops, volunteer training and other support to not-for-profit boards in the area of governance throughout Alberta. Prior to this work, Cheryl was an Education Consultant and Community Programmer. Cheryl has a Master of Education in Educational Administration. Some of Cheryl’s relevant volunteer experience includes Chair of the Policy Review Committee for the Allen Gray Continuing Care Centre, Chair of the Canterbury Foundation and Volunteer Instructor for the Alberta Board Development Program.
Director
Dr. Frances Harley Urtasun is a semi-retired Paediatric Nephrologist still working in the area of kidney diseases in children and adults, especially in First Nation populations. This, as well as other life experiences, has convinced her of the damaging effects of hunger as well as the injustice and waste of food and the cost of poverty. Undergrad and post grad studies have taken her to several large American cities, Montreal, and Edmonton following a very protected and nourishing childhood in London, Ontario. As Acting Chair of Paediatrics and Capital Health’s Child Health Program, in two lengthy and financially different periods, the goals of merging child health care into a Children’s Hospital were a top priority while increasing academic productivity. Her first post-retirement volunteer position was a two-year term on the newly-reorganized governance Board of Food Banks Canada.
Director
Fred Hosker is the Financial Services Manager and Vice President of Business Operations with Gateway Mechanical Services. Fred is a Certified General Accountant. Some of Fred’s finance and management experience includes Persona Communications Corporation, Griffith Oil Took and as an independent Communications Consultant. From 2002 to 2009, Fred served as a Board member of the MS Society of Canada, Edmonton Chapter. As an active supporter of Edmonton’s Food Bank, Fred is looking forward to sharing his expertise on the Board of Directors.
Director
Currently, Larry Villneff is an Executive Search Consultant with Davies Park. Davies Park is the largest executive search firm in Western Canada. Larry’s professional career has included executive management and senior management roles with companies such as Ikon Office Solutions Edmonton and Canon Canada Inc. Larry has served on a number of community Boards including the Edmonton Symphony Society and the Edmonton Art Gallery.
Director
Peter Knight is the Aboriginal and Community Liaison for Northern Alberta with TransCanada Pipeline Ltd. With a proven track record of strategic leadership and problem solving, Peter has had several specialist positions with TransCanada Pipelines and Nova Gas Transmission. Among h is many current responsibilities, he supports relationship development and maintains 20 community agreements in the Wildrose Region for TransCanada. Peter is an enthusiastic volunteer who brings a positive spirit of change in all that he does.