Our Board & Committee Members
Central Okanagan Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. The management of the Foundation is executed by Leanne Hammond Komori, Executive Director.
COF has five standing committees:
- Investment & Finance Team
- Communications Team
- Fund Development Team
- Organizational Development Team
- Granting Team(s)
Our Grants Advisory Team is divided up into subcommittees of interested members of the volunteer community who help us decide how to best distribute the discretionary monies in accordance with the wishes of the various Fund donors.
These volunteer teams ensure that the application form, process and procedures are all in keeping with the mission and mandate of the Foundation.
OUR BOARD
Stafford McKergow - Past Board Chair
Stafford McKergow, President and founder of Devco Construction Ltd., grew up in Vernon and has lived in the Okanagan his entire life. Stafford started Devco Construction in 1968 building homes throughout the Okanagan. Devco now operates Devco Home LTD, Devco Properties Ltd, Devco Management and Seville Management in land development, commercial construction, industrial construction, and consulting.
Stafford has always been active in supporting his community. He was both the founding President of the Vernon chapter of the House Builders Association and a founding Director of the BC Home Warranty Program. He served as a Vernon City Councilor, representing the city on the Regional District Board and the Okanagan Water Basin Board, and was the Councilor in charge of the “Plan Vernon” 1983. He was also the Chairman of the Queen’s visit to Vernon for the city’s 90th birthday. Stafford is a long time active Rotarian joining Rotary in 1980 and serving as President of the Rotary Club of Kelowna. He successfully organized the first Rotary Pro-Am Golf fundraiser that is now in its 14th year. Staff is also past President of the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce, past President of the Predator Ridge Golf Society, past President of the Kelowna Golf and Country Club, and current President of the Central Okanagan Foundation.
Tom Fellhauer - Board Chair
Tom Fellhauer is the Tax Partner at the law firm of Pushor Mitchell LLP. He graduated in 1987 with a law degree from UBC. Tom’s practice includes tax planning, company law, corporate reorganizations, trusts, estate planning and succession planning for family business and the establishment of charitable organizations and foundations.
Tom is the Chair of the Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia (CLE) as well a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and also a member and past president of the Kelowna Estate Planning Society.
Tom and his wife Kim, have four children. They have lived in Kelowna since 1992 (after escaping from Vancouver).
Craig Gronsdahl, CA - Treasurer
CFP is a partner with the wealth management firm The Fraser Financial Group LLP. He received a BA in Economics from the University of Victoria and worked as a Chartered Accountant in public practice and industry prior to pursuing a career in financial planning and wealth management.
Craig is a member and past president of the Kelowna Estate Planning Society, is past chairman of the Junior Achievement (Okanagan chapter) and is the treasurer for the Central Okanagan Child Development Society.
Craig and his wife Linda have two children, son Stefan and daughter Sasha.
Louise Elliott - Vice Board Chair and Grants Chair
With over 20 years in the not-for-profit sector, Louise Elliott brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board. A graduate of York University, Louise has specialized in not-for-profit management with a focus on grant writing, and program and volunteer management. Louise currently works with Geoffrey W. White Law Corporation, assisting corporate and charity clients.
A COF Board member since 1999, Louise is past chair of the Communications Committee and currently chairs our two grants committees and serves on our Organizational Development Committee.
Don Turri, C.A., CFP
Don is the Managing Director of the Kelowna office of Mackay LLP Chartered Accountants.
He serves clients in a number of industries including manufacturing, forestry, aviation and broadcasting. He is an active member of the community and has been involved in many local charitable, service, sport and church organizations over the years.
Don is currently a Director of the Central Okanagan Foundation, and is 2008 Chair of the United Way Tribute Dinner.
Adrienne Skinner
After 20 years as a broadcast journalist for CHBC Television, Adrienne Skinner joined the Development Office at UBC Okanagan in 2006. She builds fundraising partnerships for the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies and the UBC Okanagan Learning Exchange. Adrienne is a graduate of the BC Institute of Technology and has lived in Kelowna since 1987. She welcomes the chance to work with the Board of the Central Okanagan Foundation to create opportunities for the community.
B.Gail Plecash, M.D.,C.C.F.P,F.C.F.P.
Gail has been a resident of Kelowna since 1977, practicing medicine and raising a family. Inspired by her late husband, Tom Capozzi, she has welcomed the opportunity to join the C.O.F. board.
Her career interests have been maternal and child care, adolescent psychiatry, and palliative care. She has been Family Practice Director of Adolescent Psychiatric Unit, and involved in Collaborative Care Initiative as well as Functional Integration Working Group for the development of resources around child and adolescent care.
Mary Jo Schnepf
Knowledge. Life. Experiences. We draw on them with each decision we make. A background in strategic business development, with a pinch of marketing savvy has meant for a deliriously interesting ride. Having worked on major fundraising initiatives throughout B.C., and shown support at more grassroots projects ... Eg. Connecting youth of Canada with Nature thru a Robert Bateman project ... The commitment to community by so many residents continues to inspire. As a partner of Kelowna Flightcraft, I am particularly drawn to the purpose and relevance of the COF ... Enabling donors to share the gift, their legacy to future generations (personally, corporately). The varied and timely projects that receive support thru the COF enrich this place we all call home.
Ross Langford
Ross Langford is a partner with the law firm of Farris, Vaughan, Wills & Murphy LLP where he provides business and strategic legal advice to a diverse group of businesses, business people and institutional clients. His legal training is complemented by a finance and business background; he holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and has completed both the Tax Practice Course from the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Canadian Securities Course.
Actively involved in many capacities in the community, and in addition to being a director with the Central Okanagan Foundation, he is currently the Past-Chair of the Economic Development Commission of the Central Okanagan. Mr. Langford has also served in many other business and charitable capacities, including: two terms as Chair of the EDC; many years as a Director of Pacific Safety Products Inc.; a founder of the Okanagan Science & Technology Council; as a member of the Investment Advisory Committee of the Altura Growth Fund (EVCC) Inc.; and, as a member of the B.C. Business Advisory Council for the Western Diversification Secretariat of Industry Canada. He is also a former president of the Kelowna Bar Association and contributing writer to Okanagan Business Magazine.
Kathleen Mackenzie
Kathleen Mackenzie is a local businesswoman involved with residential development projects in Okotoks, Alberta, Kelowna and Lake Country. She began her real estate development career as one of the owners and development manager of Gallagher’s Canyon Golf Resort. After Gallagher’s was sold she became involved in several small residential subdivision projects and then The Dunes at Kamloops Golf Course and residential subdivision. Current projects include: The Quarry in the Mission, Crystalaire in Okotoks, Prospect at Black Mountain and Cadence at the Lakes.
Kathleen was born in Calgary, Alberta and has lived in Kelowna for almost 30 years. She has two children, Jacqueline and Oliver. In addition to being a Director of The Central Okanagan Foundation she has been a director of The Okanagan Mission Resident’s Association, The Kelowna Hospital Foundation and The Kelowna Waldorf School. She is also a Director of a small public oil and gas company based in Alberta.
Harry Grossmith
Harry has 20 years experience in non profit sector with Red Cross, UBCO and currently CEO of United Way of the Central & South Okanagan/Similkameen. He lives, works and has raised a family in Kelowna for the past fifteen years. He has his Certified Fundraising Designation (CFRE) and a trained teacher. His personal motto is “What’s for you won’t go by you”.
Sharon McCoubrey
Dr. Sharon McCoubrey is an Associate Professor in the Faulty of Education at UBC Okanagan, with a specialty in art education. She serves as Director of International Affairs. She is currently President of the Canadian Society for Education through Art (CSEA) and has been on the British Columbia Art Teachers’ Association (BCATA) Executive for 20 years. She serves on the UBC Okanagan Senate, and is Coordinator of the Overseas Student Teaching Exchange with Australia. Sharon also Chairs the Lake Country Public Art Commission, is a Director of the Arts Council of the Central Okanagan, and is Chairperson of Lake Country ArtWalk.
Dr. McCoubrey obtained her Bachelor of Education and Master of Education Degrees from the University of Victoria and her Doctorate Degree from UBC, all in art education. She is the author of several art education resource books, and was Editor of the BC Art Teacher’s Association Journal For Art Teachers for 12 years. Sharon has given Conference presentations at the Provincial, National and International levels. She has been the recipient of Excellence in Art Education Awards from the BC Art Teachers Association (2002), the Canadian Society for Education through Art (1997), and the National Association for Education through Art (USA) (1993). She has also been presented with the Order of Lake Country for her work in Public Art, and with a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship for excellence in professional and community work. She was recently presented with a BC Achievement Award. When possible, Sharon spends treasured time in her watercolour studio, or in the peaceful gardens on their organic orchard in Lake Country, BC.
RJ Bennett
RJ Bennett was a Founding Member of the Central Okanagan Foundation back in 1977, and is still proud to contribute to the Foundation on an ongoing basis. RJ Bennett truly embodies the community foundation philosophy by seeing his family's philanthropic goals achieved through the growth of the COF and the ever evolving role the Foundation plays in the greater community. RJ continues to play a leadership role in many community endeavours and shares responsiblity for the Bennett family legacy throught the Central Okanagan Foundation with brother Bill and the next generation of Bennett philanthropists. With the Bennetts, giving truly is a family affair.
OUR COMMITTEES
COF Granting Team
Team 1 Health & Community Service/Children Youth & Family/ Education & Global Initiatives
COF Granting Team
Team 2 Arts & Culture/ Heritage& Historical/ Environment / Animal Welfare
City of Kelowna Granting Team (program administered by COF)
Community Social Development Grants/Grants to address the Sexual Exploitation of Youth/Emergency Grants
Harry Grossmith
Cynthia Waldek-Peters
COF INVESTMENT & FINANCE TEAM
Craig Gronsdal - Chair
Stafford McKergow
Don Turri
COF COMMUNICATIONS TEAM
Adrienne Skinner - Chair
Mary Jo Schnepf
Jodie Foster Sexsmith
Kirk O’Brien, Chair
Theresa Arsenault
Craig Gronsdahl
Rhonda Hymers
Ken Ihas
Don Turri
Tom Fellhauer, Chair
Louise Elliott
Ross Langford
Jackie Podger
PROJECT BUILD TEAM
Mary Jo Schnepf, Co-Chair
Kathe Mackenzie, Co-Chair
Rob Anderson
Don Erdely
Derek Trethewey