Board & Staff
The Board’s role
LITE Board members take a very active role in the direction and administration of LITE’s activities. The Board is responsible for carrying out LITE’s mission and for developing long-term strategies to achieve LITE’s goals in Winnipeg’s inner city. The Board hires the Executive Director and provides oversight to the fundraising, financial, personnel, disbursement, and policy areas of LITE’s work as an organization.
Nominations are now being accepted for LITE’s Board of Directors.
If you know someone who would make a significant contribution to LITE’s board, please nominate them! Click here to download LITE’s nomination ballot. The nominations deadline has been extended to April 26, 2013. Voting will take place by mail-out ballot in May 2013.
Board members
Board members serve for two-year terms (renewable). Besides directing the activity of the organization in regular board meetings, members participate in committees, help with events, and promote LITE in the community.
2012-2014 Board members
Allan Beach – Co-chair (renewed term until 2013)
Allan is currently the Executive Director of SAFE Workers of Tomorrow and a member of the Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board. He has a BA (adv) in Labour and Workplace Studies from the University of Manitoba and training in labour relations, human resources, and addiction issues. Allan has worked in the past as a Staff Representative with the Manitoba Government and General Employees’ Union, worker advocate at the Worker Advisor Office, claimant advocate at the Community Unemployed Help Centre, officer of the Manitoba Labour Board, special coordinator with the Manitoba Federation of Labour, and sessional lecturer at the University of Manitoba.
Brent Vandurme – Co-chair (renewed term until 2014)
Brent has been on the board of LITE since 2008. Brent is a research analyst with Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI). He has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Manitoba. Brent participated in a Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) internship in Nigeria that focused on economic development and good governance.
Billy Granger (renewed term until 2014)
Billy is a Business Counsellor with SEED Winnipeg, and joined the Board in 2010. Billy has spent much of the past 10 years working for non-profit organizations focused on protecting Canada’s pristine wild areas, waterways, and threatened species. He is passionate about the role that cooperatives, social enterprises, and a healthy environment can play in the effort to combat poverty in our community. Billy is a founding member of the Vasa Cooperative.
Denise G. – Treasurer (renewed term until 2013)
Denise has served on the LITE Board for many years and has previously served as LITE Treasurer. Denise volunteers at many community events and tends a community garden in her North End neighborhood where she spends time with her grandchildren, passing along her love of gardening. Denise is a graduate of RRC with a diploma in Business Administration.
Cory Bellhouse (renewed term until 2014)
Cory first got involved with LITE through an International Development Studies internship at the University of Winnipeg in 2004, and has been an active part of LITE ever since, helping coordinate the Pancake Breakfast for several years and serving as a board member since 2006. Aside from this and the regular human social activities in which he engages, he also works as a bike messenger/business owner at Natural Cycle Worker Co-op, teaches labs at U of W, and migrates to BC every summer to plant some trees.
Lindsey McBain (renewed term until 2014)
Lindsey McBain works for the Spark Service of the Canadian CED Network. Lindsey’s interest in LITE began when he volunteered for the annual pancake breakfast. His work with the national network gives him a broad perspective on the current CED work across the country.
Antonio Buccini (renewed term until 2014)
Antonio is currently employed as an Employment Services Advisor with Employment Manitoba; a department of the Province of Manitoba under Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade. Previously, he worked with New Canadians assisting them transition into the Canadian Labour Market. He has been actively volunteering within the community as a Board Member and Secretary for the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and has taken on leadership roles with Manitoba Commonwealth Conference, Manitoba Youth Parliament, and several federal, provincial and municipal election campaigns.
Jen Glenwright (term until 2013)
Jen is currently an EAL teacher with the Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba and the Rene Deleurme Centre. In October, 2008, she completed her B.A. in International Development and Conflict Resolution Studies. Jen has worked as an employment counsellor with the federal government and the Winnipeg School Division in the past and am interested in CED in the inner city.
Lucas Stewart (term until 2014)
Lucas is the general manager of Manitoba Green Retrofit Inc, a growing social enterprise located in Point Douglas. With a background in project management and maintenance coordination, Lucas spent a number of years as project manager with BUILD Inc. Lucas also worked for several years with Manitoba Housing and the YM-YWCA of Winnipeg. He is committed to social enterprise as a means of long term poverty reduction, through job creation and sustainable employment.
Maia Graham-Derham - Secretary (term until 2014)
Maia is currently the Manager of Financial Access Programs at Assiniboine Credit Union. Maia has worked for the North End Community Renewal Corporation, been a Board member of the North Point Douglas Women’s Centre and is a volunteer for the North End Community Helpers Network. She is committed to poverty reduction and community renewal. She has a B.A. in Politics and History from the University of Winnipeg.
Staff
Anne Lindsey, Executive Director
Anne comes to LITE after a long career as Executive Director of Manitoba Eco-Network, an environmental charity based in Winnipeg. She has volunteered in a wide variety of community and environmental endeavours and serves on the Manitoba Water Council, an advisory board to the Minister of Water Stewardship. She and her family are fierce practitioners of “localism” and were among the earliest supporters of LITE. Currently, Anne is a Vice-President at the Lord Roberts Community Centre, and tends a large vegetable plot in the Riverview Community Garden.
Jen Buhr, Operations Manager
Jen began working at LITE in October 2007 as an intern from Menno Simons College and is excited to continue working at LITE in a fuller capacity. She graduated from the University of Winnipeg with a Bachelor’s degree in International Development Studies.
Erika Frey, Social Purchasing Portal Coordinator
Erika is a graduate from the Community Development/Community Economic Development Program at Red River College. She emigrated from Peru in 2008 where she studied Communications for Development at the Pontific Catholic University of Peru. She has experience working with various communities in Winnipeg, Northern Manitoba, and Peru. Erika is interested in building and supporting CD/CED initiatives and helping build a more inclusive city. She is also motivated by the fair trade model and interested in food security issues.