Board of Directors
The Ronald McDonald House BC Board of Directors is comprised of a diverse group of people committed to sustaining the compassionate service the House provides. People of various backgrounds are recruited to one of our four standing committees, depending on what expertise is needed to facilitate these volunteer working groups:
1. Audit & Finance
2. Communications
3. Fundraising
4. Governance
Once individuals have served on a committee, learned about the House, and shown a keen interest in our operations, they are recruited to the RMH BC Board. Some experts we have been privileged to have on our board include financial, legal and business/marketing professionals.
Each Board member is expected to be on at least one committee of their choice.
The RMH BC Board of Directors meets once a month, from September to June.
Board of Directors
President
Peter Snell peter@rmhbc.ca
Vice President
Jon Festinger Q.C.
Treasurer
Gary Luedke
Directors
Tracey Arnish | Allan Beron | Nadine Cole | Bob Faulkner |
Barb Fitzsimmons | Rod Halladay | Stephen Krawchuck |
Jason Ludwig | Calvin MacInnis | Josephine Nadel | Gary Segal |
Board biographies
Tracey Arnish
As SVP, HR with SAP Tracey has global responsibility for furthering SAP’s innovation culture through leadership in organizational development, and organizational effectiveness, along with designing multi-functional solutions that support the cultural elements needed to promote innovation across SAP’s 65,000 + employees globally.
Prior to this role Tracey was responsible for SAP’s global talent experience. In this capacity Tracey was responsible for building a culture that strengthened SAP’s reputation as an organization where talent can grow their careers, along with leading the global employer through the strategic design and execution of the global programs in support of the talent identification and development of SAP’s entire talent landscape.
With over 15 years of progressive Human Resources experience, Tracey has worked in both the private and public sector with organizations such as Air Canada, Translink, the Vancouver Canucks and the British Columbia Transmission Corporation.
Supporting children and families battling pediatric cancer is an important personal priority for Tracey and her family who are involved with the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, Team Finn and Summits of Hope, all supporting finding cures for pediatric cancers. Tracey holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Commerce from Simon Fraser University and lives with her husband and two children in North Vancouver.
Allan Beron
Allan is President of the Urban One Builders group of companies. Urban One Builders is a full service construction company focussed on the multi-family residential, commercial and institutional markets. Prior to Urban One, Allan was the Chief Financial Officer at one of the largest general contractors in Western Canada. Allan has also worked in investment banking and corporate finance in the United States and Canada.
Allan lives in Vancouver with his wife and three young boys. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Ronald McDonald House BC, Allan sits on the Board of Directors of his children’s school, Vancouver Talmud Torah. Allan is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario, the Toronto Society of Financial Analysts and the Construction Finance Management Association and the Urban Development Institute.
Allan has been a director of Ronald McDonald House BC since May 2009.
Nadine Cole
Bio coming soon
Bob Faulkner
Bob Faulkner is SVP Sales and Marketing for Metropolitan Fine Printers in Vancouver, Canada’s most awarded lithographer. Prior to Metropolitan he was Vice President and partner of Agency Press / Vancouver. Born to the son of a Scottish military officer, he immigrated to Canada in 1966.
He has chaired the Vancouver Community College Foundation, sat on the board of Ducks Unlimited Canada, and is a member of the Patrons Corps of the Seaforth Highlanders.
When not being a husband and father to Tina, Reid and Caleigh he spends what free time he has competing in various ultra-endurance races in far flung remote destinations of the world.
Jon Festinger Q.C.
Jon Festinger is experienced as both a lawyer and business executive. His primary focus has been media, communications and sports. Jon arrived in Vancouver in 1981 as a graduate of McGill University’s Faculty of Law and began his legal career with the firm of Owen Bird. He left that partnership to become General Counsel of WIC Western International Communications Inc. Thereafter he was a Senior Vice President with CTV Inc. as well as the founding General Manager of Vancouver Television (VTV). Most recently Jon was Executive Vice President, Business & General Counsel of the Vancouver Canucks and GM Place. On the academic front Jon has been an Adjunct Professor at the Faculties of Law at both UBC and the University of Victoria. He is the author of a text on “Video Game Law” published by LexisNexis/Butterworths.
Jon is married to Corinne and they have three children ranging in age from 9 to 15. He is a member of the Richmond Golf and Country Club and a past Director of the Vancouver Board of Trade. Jon enjoys distance running, sports television and computer auto racing simulations.
Barb Fitzsimmons, RN, MSN, EDAC
Vice President of Patient Care Services at BC Children’s Hospital and Sunny Hill Health Centre
* Started career as a registered nurse in the paediatric oncology unit at BC Children’s Hospital
* Over 25 years experience in various leadership positions at BC Children's Hospital and Sunny Hill
* Adjunct faculty in the School of Nursing at UBC
* Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honour Society Xi Eta Chapter Member
* Served on professional/organizational boards and associations
* Was born and raised in Vancouver and currently lives in Burnaby
Rod Halladay
Currently the Director of Operations for McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada, Rod oversees the company-owned restaurants in BC and Alberta and is responsible for leading a team that manages the ongoing operations of the restaurants. Prior to this role, Rod worked for several years as Director of Field Service and Franchising in the Western Region working directly with McDonald’s Franchisees.
Rod’s professional experience includes working for a Franchisee for 14 years in Maple Ridge, BC, and since 2004 for the Corporation in both Winnipeg and Vancouver. He has been recognized multiple times with awards for excellence and for achieving outstanding results in various capacities.
Rod has served in various volunteer capacities with community groups over the years, including Rotary Club and Athletes in Action.
Rod holds a MBA from the University of British Columbia, and lives in the Lower Mainland with his wife Susan and their eight children.
Stephen Krawchuck
Steve is a Franchisee with McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada. He and his wife Johanna own 4 locations in the Richmond/Delta area. Steve has been with McDonald’s for 42 years starting at the first location in Canada in Richmond BC. Steve spent 32 years with the corporation before becoming a franchisee in 2001. His last position with the company was Operations Manager for Vancouver.
Steve and Johanna have 3 daughters and 2 grandsons. The girls were very active in sports and Steve spent 20 years coaching them in Ringette and Soccer. Some accomplishments along the way were a National Bronze medal, a Western Canadian Championship and recognition by the Delta Sports Hall of Fame as the sports team of the year in 2006. Steve stays active by playing ball hockey. Steve and Johanna enjoy travel with a favorite destination being Maui.
Steve was a director in 2000 and is a current director of Ronald McDonald House BC since May 2011.
Jason Ludwig
Jason Ludwig is currently the Vice President of Reader Services for the Pacific Newspaper Group. In this role his current responsibilities include sales, marketing and distribution of The Vancouver Sun and The Province newspapers. Prior to working at Pacific Newspaper Group, Jason held various management positions at The Toronto Star, Calgary Herald and The Kitchener-Waterloo Record. Jason is a past President of the Canadian Circulation Management Association.
Jason is married to Christine. He is a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade and Terminal City Club. Jason and Christine enjoy traveling and playing golf. Other interests include hockey, football and reading.
Jason has been a director of Ronald McDonald House BC since June 2007.
Gary Luedke
Gary is a partner at Smythe Ratcliffe Chartered Accountants, where he is Leader of the Private Enterprise group. He works with clients in many industries including small family businesses, technology industry start-ups and one of the largest Vancouver based Real Estate developers and landlords. Gary also has significant experience in assurance and advisory services for not-for-profit organizations, from large pension plans to small charities.
Gary obtained his Bachelor of Commerce from the University of British Columbia and completed the Institute of Chartered Accountant’s in-depth tax course. He was the recipient of the 2004 Community Service Award for the Institute of Chartered Accountants of British Columbia.
In addition to acting as Treasurer for Ronald McDonald House BC Gary is also the Treasurer for BC211 Services Society, an information referral service, and is currently involved with another charitable endeavor, a UBC Campus Area Redevelopment Task Force for a religious organization.
Gary has coached minor-league hockey for the past 12 years. He still actively plays hockey and enjoys swimming, golfing and other fitness challenges. He lives in the Dunbar area of Vancouver with his wife Charlene and has two University-aged children.
J. Calvin MacInnis
Calvin is the Co Founder, Director & Managing Partner of Qtrade Financial Group. Qtrade provides wealth management platforms and financial solutions to the retail public as well as the customers of over 180 financial institutions including credit unions, banks, trust companies and financial planning companies across Canada. Prior to Qtrade, Calvin was Managing Director with Assante Canada and President of many subsidiaries of Assante Canada.
Josephine Nadel, BA, LL.B
Josephine Nadel is a senior business lawyer and family business consultant at Owen Bird Law Corporation. Prior to joining Owen Bird, Ms. Nadel was a partner at a national law firm and was Director of the Centre for Family Business and Entrepreneurs for PricewaterhouseCoopers, Western Canada.
She practices law in the areas of corporate, commercial, wealth management, succession, wills and estates. Josephine also advises private and family-owned enterprises on succession, governance and strategic planning.
Josephine holds numerous Board and Officer positions with private companies and charities. As a member of the boards of various charitable organizations, she has organized fundraising events and capital campaigns.
Josephine, a native of Vancouver, is a proud mother of two young adults, Ryan and Dara. In addition to philanthropic endeavours, Josephine’s main hobbies include cycling, hiking and fitness.
Gary Segal
Gary Segal is an executive and owner of Kingswood Capital Corporation and its group of related companies. The Kingswood Group is active in real estate investment and development as well as private equity investing in various sectors including manufacturing, finance and retail.
In addition to acting as a director of Ronald McDonald House BC, Gary's non-profit involvements include serving as President of Louis Brier Home and Hospital for seniors, Trustee of Jewish Community Foundation/Chair of Investment Committee, and Chair of Spread the Love Project for Ethiopia.
Gary is married to Nanci and has four adult children. He is a member of the Vancouver Board of Trade, Richmond Golf and Country Club, Vancouver Lawn Tennis Club, Terminal City Club, and Association for Corporate Growth. Gary's main hobbies and pastimes include golf, tennis, piano and languages, as well as travel throughout Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Currently he and his family are keenly interested in supporting and promoting education and health projects in Ethiopia. Gary has been a director of Ronald McDonald House BC since May 2008.
Peter Snell
Peter Snell is a partner in the Vancouver Office of Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP. His practice is primarily focused on domestic and international franchising, licensing, product distribution, business law and intellectual property/trademark law. Peter and his dog Scotia are volunteers with the St. John's Ambulance therapy dog program and Peter is a director of the Vancouver Board of Trade.
Peter and his wife Cari have two young boys and live in North Vancouver and also spend time at their cabin on Gambier Island. Peter enjoys playing tennis, golf, skiing, hiking, canoeing and kayaking. Peter has been a director of Ronald McDonald House BC since June 2006.