Angela Morgan, Chair

Angela has a passion for community service and giving back to her community. A leader in municipal government with over 30 years of experience, Angela’s strengths are in strategic thinking, building relationships and leadership. Angela’s previous volunteer experience involved serving as the President of the Board of Directors for the Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers (AMCTO).

Jill McKenzie, Vice-Chair

Called to the Bar of the Law Society of Upper Canada in 1994, Jill has a Master of Laws degree specializing in criminal law.  Since March 2015 Jill has been an Assistant Crown Counsel (Hamilton and Cayuga).  Her achievements include the Reuben Wells Leonard Prize in Sentencing from Queen’s University and the Sher Singh Award in Civil Liberties from the University of Western Ontario.   She is an Advisory Committee member of the Lawyer’s Legacy for Children and Fund and past volunteer of Welcome Inn’s Children’s After School Nutrition Program.

John Laratta, Treasurer

John Laratta, CA, CPA, FCPA (NT), FCA (NT) has 40 years’ of accounting and auditing experience. He is a retired partner with Crowe LLP Chartered Professional Accountants. He currently assists the firm in financial statement and audit quality control. He also assists in the financial training of clients. His experience includes assurance engagements of First Nations, government entities development corporations owned by First Nations, and corporate groups with multiple subsidiaries in diverse industries. In these roles he has reviewed management information systems, assisted with Board development, enhanced financial reporting of subsidiaries to parent corporations, assessing the financial return and KPI’s of subsidiaries. John has conducted many special projects in areas of contribution agreement management, reporting and auditing, board training, corporate strategy, and budget management. In his volunteer work, John currently sits on the Audit Committee of the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board and serves on the Board of Directors for the Hamilton Conservation Foundation. John is also involved with a Canadian Chartered Professional Accountants (CPA) advisory group and serves with the CPA NWT-NU awards committee.

Glenn Cooke, Past-Chair

Glenn Cooke is a career educator and currently the Principal at Saltfleet District High School.  Over his time with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board, Glenn has served in a variety of roles in the classroom, Student Services and as an administrator in both the elementary and secondary panels.  Most recently, he was Principal of System Programs where his portfolio included direct oversight for:  System Alternative Education, SAL (Supervised Alternative Learning), Education Community Partnership Programs (including those in Youth Justice), and Safe and Caring Schools (Expulsion & Long Term Suspension), and included Administrative Liaison for: ArtSmart, HWDSB Audition Based Program of the Arts, Strings, and International Baccalaureate programs.  Glenn has also volunteered with minor sports organizations in Hamilton, including Rosedale Minor Hockey and Gage Park Softball.

Sarah-Jane Adams

Sarah-Jane Adams, MBA is a senior leader at Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS), and has a passion for patient and client care, as well as people development.  Throughout her time at HHS Sarah-Jane has held leadership positions in Financial Planning & Analysis, Finance, Business Management and most recently as Director, Diagnostic Services and Nuclear Medicine.  She uses her mix of corporate and clinical experience to engage stakeholders across the region, leading to innovative change, designed to enhance patient care.  Sarah-Jane’s additional volunteer experience includes Board of Director and Treasurer for Alternatives for Youth in Hamilton, as well as member of the finance committee for Children’s Healthcare Canada (CHC).

David Borsellino

Dave graduated from McMaster University with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Metallurgy.  His career with Dofasco Inc. of Hamilton, now known as Arcelor Mittal Dofasco, spanned 35 years during which time he held a variety of positions in Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology.  He was appointed Vice President – Manufacturing, a position he held until his retirement. While at Dofasco, Dave served as a Board member and Board Chair of DJ Galvanizing Corporation and as a Board member of DSG Galvanizing Corporation, both joint venture subsidiaries of Dofasco. He also served as the Chair of the Hamilton Industrial Environmental Association and was a member of the Board of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.  Dave has a lifelong dedication to community through volunteerism as a Board member with St. Joseph’s Hospital (SJH) in Hamilton, the St. Joseph’s Healthcare System (SJHS), and the St. Joseph’s Villa Foundation.  He Co-Chaired the “Miracles and Modern Medicine” capital campaign for SJH. Dave also served on various Board committees such as the Governance, Resource, Quality and Mission, Finance, and SJHS’ Philanthropy Committee.  Prior to joining Banyan’s Board of Directors, Dave was a member of the Catholic Family Services of Hamilton Board of Directors for five years, holding the role of Board Chair.

Donnaa Fredrick

Donnaa has an Honours Degree in Psychology from York University and Certification in Physical, Mental and Developmental Rehabilitation from Seneca College. Her internship with Correctional Service Canada; authoring recommendations to the Parole Board of Canada propelled an interest in the legal field, to advocate for individuals in conflict with the law. She currently works as a Compliance and Quality Assurance Specialist within the private education sector. Donnaa hopes to service vulnerable populations, advance social justice, community empowerment and reintegration efforts.

Mark Garcia

Mark Garcia, CPA is an experienced financial professional with a demonstrated history of working in the Information Technology industry. As VP of Finance at MSP Corp Investment Inc., he is passionate about advancing business systems/processes and financial reporting. Mark graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) focused in Accounting, Audit & Information Technology.

Yvonne Kaczanowski

Yvonne Kaczanowski, CIP, joined the Banyan Board of Directors in 2020. She currently works in the Insurance Industry as a Commercial Lines Underwriter for a Fortune 500 company. Yvonne is in good standing with the Insurance Institute of Canada as a Chartered Insurance Professional, and is currently working towards obtaining her Canadian Risk Management Designation through the Global Risk Management Institute. Yvonne has a passion for humanitarian work, as shown with her current volunteer experience with Hamilton’s homeless shelters, as well as her past in volunteering with animal rescues.

Miles Markovic

Miles Markovic has been a member of the Canadian Forces since 1998 when he joined the Cadet Instructors Cadre (now COATS).  During his career he served in various capacities with 150 Squadron, 826 Squadron, 779 Squadron, 713 Squadron and Trenton Air Cadet Summer Training Camp.  The focus of his military career has been the ongoing development, guidance and training of local youth.  Miles graduated from St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto with an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree and the University of Guelph with a Master of Arts degree.  All academic research focused on policy, intelligence and espionage in foreign policy decision-making.  Miles is excited to join the Board of Banyan Community Services as an additional way to give back to the Hamilton Community.

Katharine Short

Katharine is excited to be a part of Banyan’s board, supporting the fiduciary duties in the delivery of Banyan’s valuable community programs. Katharine is a retired financial executive officer of ArcelorMittal Dofasco (AMD) and holds a degree in Engineering Science (Mechanical) and in Administrative and Commercial Studies (Finance). Katharine’s 34-year career at AMD included holding the position of Treasurer (eight years) as well as numerous other senior leadership positions across the organization, board positions on various AMD subsidiaries and chair of both the ArcelorMittal Dofasco Corporate Community Investment Committee and the Dofasco Employee Donations Fund.  In the Hamilton community, Katharine was a member of the board of directors of Hamilton Health Sciences (two terms) and a member of the board of the Catholic Family Services of Hamilton and is also as a keen supporter of a local youth cycling organization.

Goran Zivkovic

Goran attended Ryerson University and earned a Bachelor of Arts Major Degree in Criminal Justice and a Bachelor of Arts Minor Degree in Psychology. Goran is currently a Detective Constable with the Hamilton Police Service. During his policing career, he has completed 30 courses run by the Ontario Police College, the RCMP and the Canadian Police College. His previous work assignments include working in the Drug and Human Trafficking Unit. With his knowledge, he hopes to service troubled youth and use his experience to effectively reintegrate them positively back in the community. Goran is also a certified Muay Thai instructor and has helped guide individuals in conflict with the law in the right direction through the principles and discipline of Martial Arts.

Bart Halasa

Bart Halasa graduated Summa Cum Laude from McMaster University’s DeGroote School of Business in 2009 and subsequently obtained his Chartered Accountant designation while articling with KPMG LLP. He has experience working in various private and public industries and is currently the Controller for JNE Group of Companies in Hamilton. Bart’s previous roles include Senior Financial Advisor, Financial Planning & Analysis at Hamilton Health Sciences and Senior Manager, Corporate Finance at Fengate Capital Management Ltd. in Oakville. Bart is a proud Hamiltonian with a commitment to improving the quality of life in our community.

Dr. Julie L

Dr. Julie L. is an Anesthesiologist at St Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton and Associate Clinical Professor at McMaster University.  Her teaching interests include crisis management at the Simulation Centre at the DeGroote School of Medicine and one on one teaching in the operating room.  Dr. Julie L.’s administration interests include continuous process improvement within the healthcare system and is currently a surveyor for Accreditation Canada.  She is a Mom of four children and has experience with kids with special needs and boys with disruptive behaviour.  Dr. Julie L. has a strong belief that helping children develop life skills at an early age not only helps the child, but society as a whole.