The JFSC Family

Kristen holds a Graduate Diploma from the University of Toronto in Social Responsibility and Sustainability, as well as a Community Investment Professional Extension Certificate from Mount Royal University, and two undergraduate degrees from the University of Calgary. She has more than 20 years of experience in the non-profit and community investment sector. She's an honoured recipient of the Hazel Gillespie Community Investment Leadership Award, Avenue Magazine's Top 40 Under 40 award in 2010 and the United Way of Calgary and Area's Power of One award. She currently serves on the United Way of Calgary's Campaign Cabinet and has a long and extensive history of volunteerism with a wide variety of Calgary based charities including Beakerhead, Hull Services, Calgary Reads and the Calgary Food Bank to name a few. She's served 5 short term field placements with a grassroots development organization in South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kristen joined the JFSC Board in 2017 with a passion to support the organization regarding emerging trends, best practices, and expectations from the Community Investment sector and to support fundraising activities and volunteer engagement strategies. Current JFSC Role: Board Chair.

Denis Levandovsky is a finance professional with extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate strategy, financial analysis, tax, and business planning. He has over 10 years of experience in the energy and infrastructure industries, and is currently a member of the Strategy and Corporate Development team of a large energy infrastructure company headquartered in Calgary. Denis holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree with distinction from the University of Calgary and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Charterholder. Denis is an active volunteer with the Calgary CFA Society, most recently as a grader and a judge in the CFA Institute Research Challenge. Denis joined the JFSC Board in 2018. Current JFSC Role: Vice Chair and Chair of the Governance Committee.                                                             

Zakeana is the Chief Operating Officer for the Canadian Council of Diversity and Inclusion (CCDI) Consulting Inc. She brings well rounded experience in all aspects of HR, as well as the strength of skill in the areas of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She has been an active parent volunteer with Calgary Jewish Academy for many years.

Victor is a finance manager at Birchcliff Energy (joined 2008) and has been a Chartered Professional Accountant for the past 15 years. He has extensive experience in the oil and natural gas industry, including in-depth knowledge of public financial reporting, assurance and advisory, debt and equity capital management, C-SOX internal controls, insurance, corporate taxation, financial analysis and business development. Prior to joining Birchcliff, Victor served as a Chartered Professional Accountant with PricewaterhouseCooper from 2004 to 2008. Victor holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Manitoba and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Winnipeg. Victor is committed to building a more open, accessible, and rewarding community for all Calgary residents. Victor joined the JFSC board in 2019. Current JFSC Role: Treasurer.
 

Bev is a retired management Consultant, specializing in Organization Effectiveness, Change Management and Leadership Effectiveness. Prior to opening her own firm in 1994, Bev worked for major organizations in Oil and Gas and the Industrial Sectors in Calgary and Toronto. Bev’s client work took her to many locations around the world. Bev has an Honors Business Administration (HBA) degree from the University of Western Ontario (London) and a Masters Degree of Science in Organization Development (MSOD) from Pepperdine University in California. Bev is a native Albertan, having lived almost 30 years in Toronto. Moving to Calgary in 2013, Bev became a Volunteer Alberta Health Services, visiting Jewish people in the Hospital on behalf of the Jewish Community. Bev is also on many committees at Rockyview Hospital and in the Calgary Zone. In 2014, Bev joined the Board of JFSC, contributing her business experience and HR/organization background. Current JFSC Role: Secretary and Governance Committee.

Sean has over 10 years experience in the Energy and Energy Infrastructure industries in diverse roles which include corporate social responsibility, stakeholder relations, market intelligence and financial and business analysis. Sean is currently employed in a portfolio management and corporate strategy role at a large infrastructure company. Sean holds an MBA (Finance) and an a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Calgary.

Paul has significant senior experience in talent acquisition, having worked for several large Calgary-based Oil&Gas companies. He's consulted for Calgary Catholic Immigration Services as an employer outreach coordinator and instructor, and currently teaches in the Faculty of Continuing Education at the University of Calgary.

Sonia has over 25 years experience in Strategic communications, crisis communications, public relations, brand development & strategy, advertising, marketing, team leadership, and strategic sales and has had numerous past volunteer engagements with JFSC. Currently, Sonia has her own consulting business focused on building, partnering and driving marketing/communication strategies for North American entrepreneurs with a focus on brand awareness, community growth, and loyalty programs. Sonia holds a communications degree with a minor in film from the University of Calgary and an Arts Administration diploma from Grant MacEwan college

Lisbeth (Libi) Hilzerman is honoured to join JFSC in 2019. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Design, Fashion, & Technology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Vancouver, BC in 2010, Lisbeth has devoted herself to business and fund development, both in the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Through her work experience, Lisbeth has had the opportunity to expand her creative talents in graphic design, marketing and communications with the world of development, fundraising, and event planning. Aside from her dynamic professional background, Lisbeth has a unique experience with the Jewish community both on a professional and personal level. As a Chilean born, who was raised in Israel and moved to Canada in her teenage years, Lisbeth has a fundamental sense of empathy and obligation for those facing integrational, social, and economic vulnerabilities. Her experience working as a Development Officer for Jewish Family Services in Vancouver and volunteering for Chabad Lubavitch of Alberta has brought her a direct insight and appreciation of the work necessary to achieve social justice while creating a healthy, sustainable and inclusive community comprised of individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life. Lisbeth currently works in the Development department of Calgary International Film Festival and is a proud new Calgarian resident. Lisbeth is excited to join the JFSC family and offer added skills and guidance in fundraising, branding, marketing, and event planning. Current JFSC Role: Fundraising Committee.

Chandra has worked in the non-profit realm for most of her career. She has served in both large post-secondary institutions in Canada and the United States as well as smaller regional and local non-profits. Her Alberta experience includes work with the Alberta Lung Association, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) and United Way. She has also served as a consultant, where her expertise has benefited several small charities looking to increase capacity and diversify revenue. Chandra currently serves as Senior Development Officer with Mount Royal University Foundation. During the course of her career, Chandra has achieved certification with CFRE International, an internationally recognized professional designation in the fundraising sector. She has written a variety of articles specific to philanthropy and the charitable sector. She is a graduate of Bowling Green State University in Ohio, USA, where her areas of concentration were History, English, and Women's Studies. Originally from the USA, Chandra has taken Canadian citizenship and is a now proud Calgarian. Chandra brings to JFSC a passion for empowering people to achieve dignity and a strong belief in social justice. She joined the Board in 2018. Current JFSC Role: Chair of Fundraising Committee.              

Will is a native Calgarian. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Facility Management from the University of Alberta in 2010. Following his undergraduate studies, Will pursued his interests in emergency medicine volunteering as an instructor and medic for Magen David Adom (the Israeli Red Cross). Upon his return to Canada in 2012, Will attended the University of Calgary and graduated in 2016 with a Juris Doctorate and Masters of Business Administration. While obtaining his JD/MBA, Will volunteered with Pro-Bono Students Canada and Student Legal Assistance gaining experience in family, civil, and criminal law. Will joined the board of JFSC of JFSC in 2017. As a child growing up in the City of Calgary, Will felt safe and secure knowing the Jewish community was always there to support him through life’s endeavours and being on the Board is a means of giving back to a community that has given him so much over the years. Besides serving on the board of JFSC, Will currently works as a civil litigator at the prestigious law firm JSS Barristers and is the acting Co-Chair of the Canadian Bar Association Articling Section. Current JFSC Role: Fundraising Committee, Governance Committee, Life and Legacy Team.

Monique is a born-and-raised Calgarian who has travelled the world, completing her MA at the University of Edinburgh and her MBA at UCalgary. She is currently a Southern Alberta intelligence analyst for the RCMP and the Vice Chair with the Board of the Calgary Folk Festival. She was the Finance and HR Manager for a Medecins Sans Frontieres Canada project in Nigeria, and has experience in cybersecurity and risk consulting with Deloitte.

June brings over 15 years of experience in government relations, supply chain, and corporate development (M&A). June holds an MBA from the University of Ottawa and a Public Relations Accreditation from the Canadian Public Relations Society.

Eric is Senior Manager at MNP specializing in insurance claims and litigation support. Eric is an accounting professional and achieved his Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA) designation in 2015. He brings strong analytical, financial modelling, damage quantification and insurance advisory skillset to the board. Eric has over 12 years of experience in the accounting industry and has worked with a variety of industries such as mining, IT and energy, construction, public sector, hospitality and not for profit companies. Eric joined the JFSC board in 2019.

Cynthia joined the JFSC Board in 2020. Cynthia is currently the Director of Human Resources for the United Way of Calgary. Previously, Cynthia was the Vice President People & Engagement at The Calgary Airport Authority and their head of HR for 16 years. She brings a wealth of knowledge in all facets of HR including culture, engagement, leadership development, change management and strategy. Previously, Cynthia held other HR roles in the insurance and long-term care sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta and is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (CPHR). A strong believer in the value of diversity and culture to create sustainable change, she is excited be a part of the JFSC Board where she can channel her passion for people and strategy with her drive for giving back to the community.

Lisa is a highly skilled in-house legal counsel with 15 years of experience in leadership, risk management, and complex negotiation on a national and international scale. She is highly regarded for her ability to deftly balance inherent risks with practical commerciality protecting her clients from liability and promoting profitability.Lisa’s area of practice is focused on consulting, design and construction contracts and negotiations in areas including Government, Oil and Gas, Transportation and Power along with Indigenous Relations, project rescue, and general corporate management. Lisa thrives in dynamic environments, and skillfully adapts to shifting demands of industry, clients, and environments through innovative problem solving within the legal landscape.